Vancouver is great to visit if you love the outdoors, but also want the convenience and benefits of a city.
Two hours away from world-class ski resort Whistler / Blackcomb and perched on the Pacific Ocean coast, Vancouver holds appeal for soft to extreme adventure lovers.
Vancouver is surrounded both by water and mountains and its proximity to nature gives residents a love of the environment and a laid back charm and friendliness. And although Bierkenstocks are more the norm than Manolo Blahniks, this cosmopolitan city also has upscale shopping, fabulous restaurants and a happening nightlife.
Vancouver is on the south west coast of British Columbia, Canada's most westerly province. It is about a 3 hr drive from Seattle, Washington.
The City of Vancouver is one of more than 20 municipalities that makes up Greater Vancouver and sits on the edge of the Strait of Georgia, which separates it from Vancouver Island - home to the provincial capital of Victoria.
Vancouver's location is beautiful as it is surrounded by water and tucked into the slopes of the BC Coast Mountain Range.
Vancouver Weather & Climate
Vancouver is the Canadian city with the best climate and the worst weather according to writer Allan Fotheringham. Vancouver is infamous for the amount of rain it receives; however, the weather is mild year-round. From high 70's Fahrenheit (low 20's Celsius) in summer to mid 40's Fahrenheit (0° to 5° Celsius) in winter, the climate is seldom unpleasant. Winters are wet, but snow is rare, except on local ski hills.
The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is an elegant, historic favorite. The Listel Hotel is a smaller, art-infused downtown hotel with many perks, and the
Sandman Hotel is a perfectly acceptable less-expensive alternative.
Since the the 1920s, the Commodore Ballroom has been a live music Vancouver classic. The venue has general admission for about 900 and is famous for its big, bouncy dance floor.
Vancouver will serve as a stunning host and backdrop to the Olympic Winter Games in 2010. Event venues stretch over a wide area, from south of Vancouver to the spectacularly beautiful resort of Whistler / Blackcomb.
Vancouver Events & Festivals
HSBC Celebration of Light - The largest fireworks competition in the world is held over several nights every summer in Vancouver.
Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway, reaches Vancouver from points east. If driving, allow 12 hours from Calgary and five days from Montreal. Vancouver is three hours north of Seattle. Take Interstate 5, which becomes Highway 99 at the United States-Canada border
Vancouver, like so many Canadian cities, is relatively safe. Nevertheless, some parts of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside are notorious for high incidences of drug use, prostitution and crime. While gentrification is underway in this area, most notably in Gastown, and other communities like Chinatown continue to thrive, Main & Hastings is home to a legal supervised drug injection site and is thus a popular hangout for drug users.
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