Nestled between the spectacular Pacific Ocean and the glorious North Shore mountains, Vancouver offers an unmatched visual splendor for nature lovers and is a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts. It is the largest city in British Columbia renowned for its beautiful forests, rains, mountains, totem poles, and seawall. Being the largest port in Canada, the port of Vancouver is a gateway to destinations like Alaska with its numerous world-famous cruises. The weather in Vancouver, though rainy, has moderate winters and comfortable summers making it an incredible destination for year-round tourism. Colloquially called ‘Hollywood North’, the city is home to several film-production houses. Its unmatched scenic beauty has led to many Hollywood movies being shot here.
Canada Jetlines uses the following terminals:
Terminal 3 | Toronto International Airport
Main Terminal | Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver
is very welcoming throughout the year. A well-connected city, it is the gateway
to famous nearby places like Whistler, the capital city Victoria, Vancouver
Island, and the Canadian Rockies. The city
has so much to offer with its lush green parks, rainforests, mountains, museums,
art galleries, shopping, and world-famous cuisines.
A highly walkable city, Vancouver boasts of an efficient public transportation. One can use the compass cards or passes to travel economically. The SkyTrains and the SeaBus ferries are punctual and affordable. One can also rent bikes for easy navigation in the city.
The city can be visited in all seasons. However, the best time to visit Vancouver is from March to May and September to November when hotels can be found at bargain prices and the weather is mild. For winter sports enthusiasts, December to February is the best period to visit Vancouver. From June to August, the temperature is still low 70s. Many tourists visit during the summers and head to the beach, or they take the cruises heading to Alaska.
Stanley Park and Seawall
A 1000-acre park of centuries-old cedar, fir and hemlock trees, Stanley Park is a large green oasis in the city. It boasts of lush botanical gardens, tennis courts, a golf course, an aquarium, a pool and splash park, playgrounds, miniature railway, and horse-drawn carriage tours. Several landmarks like the First Nations totem poles and beautiful sculptures dot the landscape of the park. The park has endless trails for hiking and bicycling and is flanked by the seawall which runs 9 km around Stanley Park along the water’s edge. The circular path provides breathtaking views of the Lions Gate Bridge, Burrard Inlet, North and West Vancouver.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Endowed with lush-green rainforests, the Park boasts of a suspension bridge spanning 450 feet and 230 feet high above the Capilano River. A year-round destination, the park offers panoramic views of the North Shore mountains, forests, and the river below. The Treetops Adventure provides viewing platforms and hikes along seven suspension bridges hanging high up in the trees. The Cliffwalk, a cantilevered walkway high along the Capilano Canyon provides jaw-dropping views of the forests and the river.
Grouse Mountain
Popularly known as the peak of Vancouver, Grouse Mountain can be visited any time of the year. It is famous for outdoor activities like hiking and ziplining in the summers, snowshoeing and ice skating in winters. The grizzly bear visits and lumberjack shows are an added attraction. To go up the mountain, one can take a gondola ride or try the Grouse Grind, a trail featuring 2830 stairs!
Granville Island
A charming shopping district, Granville Island is a peninsula and a former waterfront industrial site. One can take the aquabus to visit the public market. Featuring fresh produce, gourmet foods, sea foods, and baked goods, the indoor market is an endless array of food stalls. Outside the market, one can visit an art gallery, artisan workshops or craft studios. One can shop for souvenirs or have an impromptu picnic.
Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia
Designed by renowned architect Arthur Erickson, the Museum of Anthropology is one of the largest museums in Canada. It is home to thousands of First Nations art collections, ethnographic objects, artifacts and art works like totem poles, textiles, masks, sculptures, carvings, ceramics etc. The most popular creations are Haida artist Bill Reid’s cedar sculpture ‘The Raven and the First Men’.
Sea to Sky Gondola
On the stunning drive to Squamish, on the Sea to Sky Highway, you can experience this thrilling 10-minute gondola ride which takes you up 2800 feet up past Shannon Falls. Enjoy the sweeping views of Howe Sound and the mountains lined with thick alpine forests. There are numerous trails, Via Ferrata, skis and activities available to suit everyone’s adventure needs.
Gastown
A unique, trendy, and vibrant shopping district, Gastown is a must-visit for a great shopping experience. It is also known for its stylish art galleries, classic dining, and hip eateries. It is famous for its whistling steam clock. Known for its live music scene, Gastown has a lot of events on art and culture too. The most historic neighborhood in Vancouver, the streets of Gastown are lined with cobblestone walkways and stunning architecture with its heritage brick buildings.
Whale Watching Tour
This is an amazing opportunity to watch various types of whales like the Humpback and the Orcas. One can take expeditions along the San Juan and Gulf Islands for whale watching in a high-speed zodiac, kayak, seaplane or a fully-equipped cruiser.
Languages: English and French
Currency: Canadian Dollar
Airport: Vancouver International Airport (YVR)