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Everyone who visits Vancouver seems to fall in love with this northwestern Canadian city. Why? Because Vancouver is down to earth, diverse, relaxed, and beautiful.
Some people love the food culture of the city, and it’s easy to see why. Dine on superb sushi at authentic Japanese restaurants like Miku or Toshi Sushi, sample local brews at the Craft Beer Market (85 West 1st Avenue) or shop for fresh produce on Granville Island.
For others, the great outdoors is the main attraction. During the summer, beaches like Jericho and Kitsilano are safe, family-friendly places to enjoy the sunshine. Vancouver Island offers kayaking, hiking, and climbing, and cycle paths across town make pedal-power a great way to get around.
There are festivals, shops, galleries – everything a world-class city should have. But above all else, Vancouver is welcoming. Wherever you come from, the city will offer you something to taste, see, or do.
British Columbia is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The snowy slopes of the Rockies and the dramatic valleys around Vancouver are fantastic places for budding nature photographers to show off their skills, but the coastal scenery around Vancouver harbor is as stunning. Head to the Capilano Suspension Bridge for a family-friendly spot with great views that is close to the center of town.
Above all else, Vancouver residents have a passion for eating out. With a diverse population featuring large communities from China, Japan, Korea, South-East Asia, Europe, and India, gourmet food lovers will surely find something to love. Check out the sushi at Miku (200 Granville St), the Thai dishes at Sawasdee (4250 Main St), and the Korean selection at Royal Seoul (1215 W Broadway) to see why foodies rate Vancouver so highly.
If you love art, Vancouver won’t disappoint. The Vancouver Art Gallery is the place to start, with its collection of works by Canadian artists, but serious art lovers should head to smaller galleries as well. Centre A (229 East Georgia St) showcases Asian-Canadian work, and the Catriona Jeffries Gallery (274 East 1st Avenue) has a constantly changing array of works by leading contemporary artists.
Sports are a major part of life in Vancouver. It’s definitely a city where hockey is king, and watching a Canucks match at the Rogers Arena (800 Griffiths Way) is a thrilling experience. If hockey isn’t your passion, you can also watch the BC Lions in the CFL or the Vancouver Whitecaps, one of the leading Major League Soccer franchises.
Vancouver has always had a thriving alternative music scene, much like Seattle not far to the south. Venues across the city are taken over in June and July by the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, there’s the Folk Festival at Jericho Beach Park in July, while Rock the Shores features major rock artists.
The TransLink public transit system should allow you to get where you need to go in Vancouver, with a wide range of buses, trains, and ferry boats to use. Basic fares on all forms of transport are C$4, but day passes are a better option for most visitors and cost C$12. When using the buses, remember that you’ll need to present your ticket or purchase a ticket straight away. You can pay by cash, but the drivers won’t issue change, so be prepared.
Taxis are a relatively expensive but convenient way to get around Vancouver. The basic meter drop is C$4 for all journeys, and then C$3 per mile.
Renting a car is a great way to see the city and the surrounding countryside, and most major car rental agencies are represented either at Vancouver Airport or in the suburbs. Expect to pay around C$25-35 per day depending on the vehicle you choose. The roads in Vancouver follow a standard grid system, with horizontal avenues and vertical streets. However, getting into central Vancouver can be a pain, as the downtown area is situated on a peninsula that can only be accessed by bridges. To avoid traffic jams, try to park at outlying stations and avoid driving into the center if you can.
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