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Easily one of the most spectaculary scenic cities in Canada - if not the world - Vancouver lies nestled between the sea and the mountains. The natural world intrudes on the city's busy urban life at every turn : Vancouver's impressive high-rise centre is dwarfed only by the snow-clad mountains rising immidiately north of the city, inlets of the Pacific reach far inland, isolating parts of the city on thumb-like peninsulas and sandy beaches dot the shoreline. Parks are numerous and large. |
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The port is the busiest on north America's west coast, operates year round in the beautiful natural harbour of Burrard Inlet, and it handles nearly all of Canada's trade with Japan and Asia. The frequent takes-off and landings of float planes are reminders of the vast wilderness just to the north. Vancouver is Canada's second largest English-speaking city, making this a national centre for the arts, business, fashion, sports and politics. The city is one of Canada's film making centres. |
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There is more NewAge awareness, progressive politics and recognition of alternative lifestules here than anywhere else in Canada. Eastern often refer to Vancouver as the California of Canada. |
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Hiking
: There are tons of hiking opportunities in the many provincial mountain parks just north of Vancouver. Cypress Provincial Park is the closet, just 8km north of west Vancouver off Hwy 99. It has eight hiking trails, including Badenpowell, Yew Lake and Howe Sound Crest trails. Mt Seymour Provincial Park, 13 km nort-east of downtown, has 10 trails varying in difficulty and lengh. |
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At both parks you should be prepared for continually changing
mountain weather conditions. There's hiking in Garibaldi Provincial Park, north of Vancouver and also Golden Ears Provincial Park is 48 km north-east of Vancouver. Take Hwy 7 as far as Haney, then turn left and follow the 13 km road to Alouette Lake. The parks has 11 hiking trails, plus camps sites and picnic areas. |
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| Skiing
: Vancouver has some great downhill and cross-country skiing just minutes from downtown. Each of following ski areas allows snowboarding. Grouse mountain, off Capilano Rd in North Vancouver, is the nearest to the city and is notable for its night skiing, when most of the downhill runs are illuminated and open till 10 pm. Other nearby ski resorts include Cypress Bowl and Hollyburn both in Cypress Provincial Park on Vancouver's north shore, Mt Seymour in north Vancouver is a semi wilderness provincial park only 13 km from downtown. The park countains downhill runs, groomed cross country trails and a bogganing slope. It also has night skiing. |
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Canoeing,
Kayaking & Windsurfing :
If you've got energy for canoeing or kayaking, the Fraser river and the Chilliwack river offer plenty of oppurtunities for the beginner to the experimenced. On Granville Island you can hire canoes. Scuba Diving : It's popular north-west of the city off Lighthouse Park and at Porteau Cove 26 km of Horseshoe Bay, both in Howe Sound and on Indian Arm at the eastern end of Burrard Inlet. |
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West
Vancouver : West of the Capilano River and north of Burrard Inlet are the communities of West Vancouver, one of the wealthiest municipalities in Canada. Marine Dr passes by the Park Royal Shopping Centre into Ambleside with its waterside park on Burrard Inlet. Farther west is Dundarave, a commercial strip with a number of restaurants and cafes, some with balconies overlooking the water, amid the shoops. Antique shopping is good in is area. Northward up the hill and on the other side of the Upper Levels Hwy are expensive houses with good views over the harbour. Marine Drive follows the coast to Horseshoe Bay. |
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