Travel to Vancouver

Travel to Vancouver

Vancouver is Canadas third largest city and is blessed with natural beauty, ethnic diversity and cosmopolitan flair. The city has garden parks, beaches, mountains, heritage buildings, huge sprawling shopping malls and skyscrapers. The city offers the traveller a wide choice of accommodation, ease of travel within the city, international banking facilities, bars, pubs and restaurants, cinemas and theatres, literary readings and plenty of sights and activities. Vancouver has been said to be one of the most seductive urban settings in the world.

Transportation to Vancouver

There are so many fast and convenient ways to get into Vancouver. Vancouver's International Airport handles both international and domestic flights andis located 9 miles away from downtown. Airlines from more than 14 different cities around the world land here daily and the airport is well equipped to serve its passengers. There are buses running frequently from the airport to all major downtown hotels. Taxis are also available and it never takes long to hail one as there are more than 400 waiting at the airport terminals. It is also possible to hire a car from the airportas there areseveral rental companies. Trains pull into the Pacific Central Station from many places in the eastern half of Canada beginning at Toronto and from the southern parts starting at Eugene, Oregon. Trains from British Columbia, in the north, also chug into Vancouver. Buses from the north, south, east and west of Canada pull up at the Pacific Central Station. Vancouvers port handles more than a million passengers per year from all parts of Canada. The scenic route of the Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1) links with the United States and other main cities within Canada.

Public transportation in Vancouver is excellent with a good network of sky trains, buses, ferry services and taxis. Vancouver also provides many biking only lanes for cyclists throughout the city.

What to see

Downtown Vancouver is a busy andexciting place, yet it blends so naturally with the peace and calm of naturein Stanley Park which is located in the centre of the area. The park covers more than a 1000 acres and this includes the Seawall esplanade, forests and the Vancouver Aquarium. Gastown is a heritage zone and takes us back to Victorian times with cobblestone streets, old street lamps and Victorian style buildings. There are several shops selling native art, antiques and souvenirs. Little India is the place to get all things Indian, from spices to fabric and jewellery. The Punjabi market is an interesting place to stroll around looking at all theunique items for sale. Chinatown has many speciality shops, heritage buildings and fine restaurants. The night market is worth visiting as it is very colourful and sells everything. Little Italy is an artist hideoutwith itsmany art and curio shops. Just a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of downtown is Kitsilano with its beaches and spectacular mountain views. There are plenty of cafes, bars and boutiques to browse round.The area of Point Grey is home to the rich and wealthy where beaches stretch for miles. This is an ideal place to relax, swim, sail or walk. West Point Grey accommodates the campus of the University of British Columbia which is the site of many museums including the Museum of Anthropology. Lonesdale Quay Market, Lynn Canyon Park, Grouse Mountain, Cypress Mountain and the exciting walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge are all located in the north downtown area. Lighthouse Park is an old growth forest where visitors may sometimes catch the sight of seals basking on nearby rocks.

Day trips

For nature lovers a trip to Steveston village is a must as it is the gateway to killer whale watching. Along the way the boat will pass shady islands where you can visit old fish canneries andwatch seals, herons, cormorants and swans in their natural habitats.

Activities and leisure

Activities include boating, fishing and other water sports, golfing, cycling, walking or hiking. Golfers will enjoy choosing from the three golf courses and three pitch and putt courses around the city when they want to have a round of golf. All the courses and clubs have excellent facilities including gyms and saunas. Fishing enthusiasts will be thrilled to learn that there are several experienced tour operators that arrange for deep sea fishing trips. Also,Vancouver has more than 15 kilometres of beach front that is accessible to the public. Here you can cycle, play in the sand, walk, swim, windsurf, sail or just sunbathe. During the winter months, skiing, sleigh riding, snowboarding, ice skating on frozen lakes and other winter sports are available just a short drive away.

Shopping is such a pleasure in Vancouver. Apart fromthe unique Little India, Little Italy and Chinatown, Vancouver also offers sprawling malls to browse around.One of the most popular malls is thePark Royal Centre. Downtown Vancouver is packed with fashion boutiques, huge malls and independent stores. There are also plenty of cafes, eateries, pubs, bars, theatres, jazz clubs and much more, giving you the opportunityto relax or party.

Safety issues

Vancouver is a safe place to visit. There is little crime in this city and the citizens are very helpful and conscientious. However travellers are always advised to keep an eye on their wallets and purses. It is always best to take a travel policy, for peace of mind, and especially if you intend to participate in the more extreme activities available at Vancouver.