Vancouver, B.C.

City Guide for Vancouver British Columbia

Vancouver is a beautiful city filled with wonderful natural scenery and is decorated by the mountains on one side and clear blue waters of the sea on the other. In the international airport the visitors can enjoy the Pacific Northwest Coast Indian art carvings, one of the aspects that make Vancouver a cauldron of cultural and artistic offerings. The city guide for Vancouver, British Columbia indicates that the ideal time to visit this wonderful place is in the summer months, with the best weather typically from June to September. For most tourists September is the ideal time to visit this place and explore its offerings.
The west side area of downtown Vancouver has one of the popular tourist spots called Stanley Park. This area comprises of a park that is spread over 1000 acres and is easily accessible from downtown Vancouver. Admission in Stanley Park is free of charge but tourists have to pay for parking. Some other attractions located within Stanley Park charge certain amounts. The area around the park provides plenty of magnificent spots for photography. In case you choose to visit this area from late June to late September you can take benefit of the free shuttle bus operating within Stanley Park.
Some popular attractions in Stanley Park include the Children’s farmyard, traffic school, miniature train and second beach pool. Tourists can rent bikes near the park to explore its offerings. Vancouver’s Aquarium is also a popular tourist destination and tourists can also admire the Pacific Northwest Coastal Indian art totem poles in this park.
Another popular destination in downtown Vancouver is the Granville Island. Tourists can visit the different docks around the False Creek area and use the False Creek ferries or the Aquabus to visit other popular destinations like Yaletown, Maritime Museum or Science World. Vanier Park houses the McMillan Space Centre, the Maritime Museum and the Vancouver Museum. Chinatown is also a popular destination with the beautiful Dr Sun Yat Sen Chinese Garden forming its centerpiece.
The Lion’s Gate bridge is another popular spot. This bridge is the connecting link between Stanley Park and North Vancouver. Grouse Mountain, which is located in North Vancouver, is a popular ski location and it has become one of the favored tourist destinations. Even in non winter months tourists can take gondolas to the Grouse Mountain and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Vancouver skyline. Hiking in this area has also become rather popular in the non winter months.
Popular North shore attractions include the Capilano Canyon Suspension Bridge and tourists can also visit the Horseshoe Bay located in West Vancouver. The Capilano River Regional Park along with the federal Capilano Fish Hatchery is also located along the Capilano Road route. A day trip to Bowen Island can also be a popular north shore option. Tourists looking for some adventure can explore exciting outdoor pursuits such as hiking, skiing and mountain biking in the north shore regions. Some popular hiking areas include the Lighthouse Park located in West Vancouver and Deep Cove and Lynn Headwaters Regional Park located in North Vancouver.
Downtown Vancouver has a lot to offer for those individuals looking for some exciting shopping experiences. The Gastown district is an extremely popular tourist area for boutique shopping. Vancouver’s cultural offerings include exciting line ups of festivals and events. These events are lined up from May to September and include the famous Vancouver International Children’s festival, dragon boat festival, Vancouver International Jazz festival and Celebration of Light Fireworks Competition.
Popular attractions to the south of downtown Vancouver include Queen Elizabeth II Park, Museum of Anthropology at the British Columbia University along with the VanDusen Botanical Garden. For art aficionados, visiting the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art and the Vancouver Art Gallery can be a fascinating experience. The TELUS World of Science is another popular downtown Vancouver attraction.
There is no shortage of hotels and places offering accommodation in Vancouver. There are some popular hotels in downtown Vancouver and other regions including North Vancouver that offer excellent amenities and are known for their flawless services. It is advisable to ensure that the booking is done in advance after enquiring about the services and amenities offered.