Guide to Vancouver

In British Columbia’s south western corner, lies the fascinating city of Vancouver. British Columbia is, of course, the westernmost province in Canada. The greater Vancouver area covers 2,930 square kilometers around Fraser River delta and includes the city of Vancouver and 20 other different municipalities.

There is plenty to do while in Vancouver, such as winter sports, shopping, markets, museums, exploring, or just simply relaxing. Some of the top visited sites in Vancouver are:

• The Vancouver Lookout: This 130 meter (430 feet) high lookout can be found in the downtown Harbour Centre. It is the perfect place to go after a day of language classes to relax and reflect upon your lessons, while taking in the astonishing view of the city.
• The Capilano Suspension Bridge: Since 1889, the Capilano Suspension Bridge has ‘wowed’ visitors as they daringly walk 135 meters across the Capilano River that is 70 meters below their feet. This bridge is one of many suspension bridges located just minutes from downtown.
• The Vancouver Aquarium: At this Aquarium there are over 70,000 creatures from all around the world! There are plenty of exhibits and shows that will keep you entertained. If you’re still not satisfied and need more of a thrill, the Aquarium even offers hands-on animal encounters.

Directly on Vancouver’s north boarder is the city’s main harbor, Burrad Inlet. Adjacently to the west of the city’s downtown area and to the north of the city’s Point Grey area, the English Bay lies. The bay is in sorts a lingering area for large ships that idle and wait for a chance to enter the harbor. In between the English Bay and the Burrard Inles, a peninsula is formed that is referred to as Vancouver’s downtown “core”.

Directly to the south of Vancouver is the Fraser River. Directly to the east is the Burnaby municipality. A bit further south of the city are the suburban areas of Richmond and Delta. Vancouver benefits from its geographical location when it comes to the weather. The nearby mountain range and currents coming from the Pacific Ocean allow the city to enjoy mild temperatures all year round. It seldom gets colder than 0 degrees Celsius but it doesn’t ever get too much warmer than 22 degrees. There can be quite a bit of rain in the winter-time, however snow rarely falls in the city. Once you go a bit out of the city to the nearby mountains and ski hills, the temperatures a little bit cooler, allowing for plenty of snow for skiing and other winter sports!

The culture of Vancouver is mostly defined by the wide variety of theaters, art exhibits, museums and festivals. For two weeks every September, Vancouver is the host of the Vancouver International Film Festival. This festival is one of the largest film festivals in North America as there are over 350 films viewed.

The city also has the Museum of Vancouver(MOV), which is the largest civic museum in all of Canada. The museum’s collection is very broad, ranging from Egyptian mummy exhibits, to wildlife taxidermy, and to travel journals written throughout the British Empire by local middle and upper class women.

Vancouver also offers a variety of interesting shows, great restaurants, huge shopping centers and plenty of cultural events to keep you busy throughout your visit.

When the word ‘shopping’ is uttered on the streets of Vancouver, the locals who hear it immediately think of Robson Street. As you stroll down this premier shopping street, you’ll discover the main shopping district filled with shops, restaurants, coffee shops and much more…

Vancouver offers many unique, small shops and boutiques all over the city. Go from one to the other until you’ve found exactly what you’re looking for.

Some of the most popular shops can be found in these areas of Vancouver: Burnaby, Chinatown, Davie Village, Granville Island Market, Kitsilano, Main Street, Robson Street and Yaletown

Discover everything Canada has to offer year round! Enjoy skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and other exciting sports. Come and enjoy Canada's winter!