| Introduction:
Vancouver will be the host city for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Vancouver has a lot to offer. From many beaches to world famous parks and mountains. Here we will give you many different options on what to do in Vancouver.
Vancouver Attractions:
Stanley Park
 
Stanley Parkis a world famous park with lakes, beaches, lawn bowling, water park, children's zoo, and many other activities to take in. Plan on taking a whole day to see Stanley Park.
Gastown
 
The Gastown area of Vancouverwas named for a talkative Yorkshire-born saloon owner, John Deighton, nicknamed Gassy Jack. Gassy Jack showed up with a barrel of whisky on the south shore of Burrard Inlet, and told the mill workers there they could have all the whisky they could drink if they helped him build his saloon-which they did. It only took 24 hours.
Granville Island
 
Granville Island touris the place to spend a leisurely afternoon. Part farmers market, part artist studio and part magnet for the creative and flamboyant-it's one of the busiest spots in Vancouver.
Queen Elizabeth Park
Queen Elizabeth Park is Canada's first civic arboretum-a botanical garden devoted to trees, A must in your Vancouver dinner tour.
Lions Gate Bridge
Walk across the beautiful Lions Gate Bridge and stop midway for a bird's-eye view of Burrard Inlet and the North Shore mountains. The bridge was built and paid for by the Guinness Brewing Company in order to give people access to the North Shore and property owned by the Guinness family. The BC government now owns the bridge. For the Expo '86 World's Fair that was held in Vancouver , the Guinness family donated money to decoratively light the bridge in the evenings. The lights still adorn the bridge today and have become a romantic fixture of the Vancouver skyline. You will cross this bridge on your way to Whistler.
Things To Do:
Notable buildings within the city include Christ Church Cathedral, the Hotel Vancouver (now part of the Fairmont chain), the Museum of Anthropologyat the University of British Columbia(with a world-class collection of Native American art including work by Bill Reid), and the Vancouver Art Gallery(notable collections include illustrations by Chagall and paintings by Emily Carr). There are several striking modern buildings in the downtown area, including the Vancouver Law Courts and surrounding plaza known as Robson Square (Arthur Erickson, architect) and the Vancouver Library Square (Moshe Safdie, architect), reminiscent of the Colosseum in Rome. Currently topping the list of tallest buildings in Vancouver is One Wall Centre at 150 m and 48 stories. This will be eclipsed by several new skyscrapers[5]in the coming years, including the new 196 m tall, 60 story Living Shangri-La tower[6], currently under construction. However, traditional limits on tower height as well as protective view cone restrictions have ensured that no existing buildings are remarkably tall when compared with other Canadian cities (Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal all have taller skyscrapers).
In North Vancouver the Capilano Suspension Bridgein a private park carries hikers across the Capilano River to nature trails and a unique rain forest canopy walk.
General Information:
Some well-known neighbourhoods and other interesting places within the city of Vancouver include the following:
- the downtown peninsula, including:
- Burrard Street is home to high fashion retail, posh hotels, and—interestingly enough—the Financial District. There is an underground Sky Train station near the end of the street, in the middle of the Financial District.
- Canada Place, a convention center, cruise ship terminal, and an Imax theatre built over the harbour
- Chinatown, including the Dr. Sun Yat-Senclassical Chinese garden, the Chinese Cultural Centre, shops, restaurants, and open-air markets. The Sky Trainstation is located less than two blocks from Keefer Street in Chinatown
- the Downtown Eastside)
- Gastown, with brick streets and original buildings reflecting Vancouver's history
- Granville Mall, a pedestrian street, characterized by blazing neon signs and a 24/7 urban scene in the centre of downtown is a hip area of dance clubs, bars, theatres, concert halls, shoppes, and restaurants. It is also the main transfer area for many of the TransLinkbuses and has its own underground
- The "pot block" of 300-block of West Hastings, home to the [BC Marijuana Party], [Pot-TV], the [Urban Shaman] and the Museum of Psychoactive Substances.
- Robson Street, a hip and fashionable shopping and dining district
- Sports arenas BC Place Stadiumand GM Place, home to major sports teams like the BC Lionsand the Vancouver Canucksas well as major touring concerts and gatherings. The Chinatown-Stadium SkyTrain station is the closest rapid transit access.
- SkyTrainstation.
- the West End, one of the most densely populated areas of North America, including access to English Bay, Sunset Beach, and Stanley Parkincluding the Vancouver Aquarium
- Yaletownand Coal Harbourneighbourhoods (previously industrial areas, now reclaimed with high-end residential high-rises, dance clubs, restaurants, and bars)
- False Creek, one of Vancouver's first planned condominium neighbourhoods, on the site of what was the largest lumber mill in the city.
- Kitsilano, Kits Beach and the Planetarium
- Kerrisdale, a cozy, relaxed neighbourhood in the southwest, with sushi-bars galore.
- West Point Grey, the westernmost neighbourhood of Vancouver where you can relax on one of the many beaches.
- Queen Elizabeth Park(the highest point in Vancouver) known as Little Mountain. The park was at one time a gravel quarry. The BloedelConservatory and the QuarryGarden are situated near the peak.
- VanDusen Botanical Garden, a 22-hectare garden in the middle of the city with guided tours offered daily, major events include the yearly garden show and the winter Festival of Lights.
- Granville Island, including artist galleries and a bustling fresh food market. Tiny passenger ferries known as the "Aquabus" connect Granville Islandto the downtown core.
- Commercial Drive("The Drive") for Little Italy, arts, restaurants, cafes, and "multiethnic" shopping; also the nexus for the Millennium and Expo Skytrainlines (Commercial Drive Station and Broadway Station)
- Main Street from around 4th Ave to 25th Ave, an area of coffee shops, vintage clothing stores, second-hand and antique shops, and artists' lofts, popular with Vancouver's hipstercommunity.
- the Punjabi Market/Little India along Main Street around 49th Ave, for South Asian savours and treasures
- The University of British Columbiacampus and adjacent parklands, including clothing-optional Wreck Beach, the huge Pacific Spirit Regional Park, the Museum of Anthropology, and the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research. The University of British Columbiaalso operates the TRIUMFparticle/nuclear physics laboratory.
- The Pacific National Exhibition(PNE) grounds, located in Hastings Park, is the site of the annual fair of the same name held at the end of August. It also has exhibition buildings and the coliseum, used for concerts and where the Vancouver Giants play
- Playland, sharing its location with the PNE, is the city's amusement parkand operates from Aprilto Septemberevery year
- Science World, built for Expo 86.
|
|
Email