One of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, Vancouver is a capital of the Pacific Rim, with as much in common with Asia as with eastern Canada or the United States -- it has the largest Chinese population outside of Asia. Vancouver’s culturally rich, easy-going lifestyle and dramatic location between sea and mountains elevate the city to the top of the most-livable cities lists. Be sure to visit the Granville Island Public Market, a cornucopia of the region’s bounty, and explore the native past at the Museum of Anthropology, with its haunting collecting of totem poles and ceremonial carvings. Enjoy exuberant street life and great shopping along Robson Street, at the heart of the city’s soaring downtown core.
As host city for the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver's enjoying the spotlight now, but savvy travelers would tell you this city's been an under-the-radar treasure for a long time. Beyond Cypress Mountain and Olympic and Paralympic Village, the city has a whole spectrum of perennial attractions. This is an all-season destination, and many of its main landmark attractions are outside, including Stanley Park, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and Granville Public Market.Vancouver is a fun and vibrant city whether you're twenty-something and single or forty-something with a family. Younger, unencumbered travelers are impressed by its restaurants and nightlife, as well as cool neighborhoods like Gastown and Chinatown. Families love attractions like Grouse Mountain and the Vancouver Aquarium. While temperatures get undeniably chilly in the winter, Vancouver doesn't go into hibernation like some Canadian cities instead, people just bundle up and venture out to see the holiday lights and enjoy the snow sports.
Nestled comfortably between snow- capped mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Canada's third-largest city is one of the world's most spectacularly situated metropolises.
It's an ideal base for sailors, rock climbers, skiers and other sports enthusiasts, all of whom can get active within an hour's drive of the city core.
But the great outdoors is also right in the city. Stanley Park, on the edge of the downtown, is one of the world's great urban parks. And on English Bay in the nearby West End, sandy beaches are literally minutes away from downtown's chrome-and-glass office towers.
As Canada's major Pacific Rim port, Vancouver is one of Canada's most ethnically diverse cities - with substantial portions of the population using Chinese and South Asian dialects as their first languages.
Vancouver is known to be wet, but it's also particularly "cool." Greenpeace was founded here. The X-Files TV series is shot here (among several other shows). And there's a much-used nude beach within walking distance of the University of British Columbia campus.