| As one flies over Vancouver during the decent into | | | | round attraction. During the non-winter months, one can |
| the Canadian city's airport, the surrounding beautiful | | | | take the gondola up Grouse mountain for some |
| natural scenery is already noticed with mountains on | | | | wonderful hiking and views of the Vancouver skyline. |
| one side and the sea on the other. Once inside the | | | | The Capilano Suspension Bridge which visitors walk |
| baggage claim area of the international airport, visitors | | | | across to a nice nature area is another must see |
| are greeted with large Pacific Northwest Coast Indian | | | | nearby. One of the cuisine highlights in the British |
| art carvings. This adds to the overall flavor of nature | | | | Columbia province is the salmon and one of the best |
| and the environment that makes Vancouver so | | | | restaurants to sample it is the Salmon House in |
| different from other major cities. When driving along | | | | adjacent West Vancouver. Dinner there with the |
| Granville Street towards the city center, one can't help | | | | Pacific Northwest Coast Indian art décor and |
| but notice that the trees and hedges in the residential | | | | spectacular nighttime views of the city is one of the |
| areas are so much larger and taller than the ones we | | | | best ways to finish off a day of sightseeing. |
| normally see elsewhere. One of thelocals claims that | | | | Back in downtown Vancouver, the Gastown district is |
| the superior growth of the area's plant life is due to the | | | | one of the top tourist areas for boutique shopping and |
| huge amount of rainfall. Vancouver is close to both the | | | | souvenirs. Don't miss the steam clock that rings on the |
| ocean and the mountain range so lots of rain is | | | | hour. Vancouver has one of the largest Asian |
| expected. In fact, the rain here can actually be a | | | | communities in North America so the Chinatown |
| problem as grey skies, especially during the winter | | | | nearby as expected has some of the best dim sum |
| months, are one of the few negatives of living in | | | | luncheons outside of Hong Kong. Further boutique |
| Vancouver. Fortunately, there is very little snowfall | | | | shopping can be found in the Yaletown and Granville |
| within the city so for Vancouverites, it is a trade off of | | | | Island districts. |
| some sort to have to deal with rain rather than | | | | If time permits, one of the recommended day trips to |
| shoveling snow during their winters. As for tourists, the | | | | do out of Vancouver is to drive up the Sea & |
| best time to visit Vancouver is the least wet season | | | | Sky highway to Whistler, one of North America's |
| which is during the summer months. I've been told by | | | | largest ski resorts. During the off ski season, Whistler is |
| another local that September is one of the best | | | | all season resort with many activities such as hiking, |
| months to visit. When the sun is shining in Vancouver | | | | biking, festivities and shopping in the village. A ride up |
| with both the ocean and mountains as the background, | | | | the gondola here will enable visitors to get a bird's eye |
| it really doesn't get any better. | | | | view of the majestic Canadian Rockies mountain |
| Stanley Park on the west side of downtown | | | | range. The drive itself to Whistler, about two and a half |
| Vancouver is the most visited attraction. A drive | | | | hours along the coastline, offers many wonderful |
| around the island will reveal great photo spots of both | | | | scenic points as well. |
| the city and the ocean. Vancouver's Aquarium is also | | | | Vancouver is a great city to visit as one can really see |
| on site in Stanley Park as well as a magnificent | | | | how a major city can still be in very scenic |
| collection of Pacific Northwest Coastal Indian art totem | | | | surroundings. For those coming to Vancouver as the |
| poles. Of course, one can always marvel at the tall | | | | departure port of a cruise to either Hawaii or Alaska, it |
| trees which seem to touch the skies here. The Lion's | | | | is highly recommended to allocate at least a full day |
| Gate Suspension Bridge connects Stanley Park with | | | | before or after the cruise to see what the city has to |
| North Vancouver on the other side of the harbor. On | | | | offer. As I mentioned before, on a sunny day with the |
| the north side is Grouse Mountain, the area's closest | | | | sea on one side and the mountains on the other, |
| ski resort to the city that has turned into an all year | | | | Vancouver is really hard to beat. |
