Vancouver

Vancouver is blessed with coastline, mountains, and lush vegetation. It is a cosmopolitan city of glass towers, Vansterdam, gateway to Asia, and haven for outdoor enthusiasts. It's one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, with just under half its residents born outside Canada.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is the main gateway, with flights from across the globe. Budget travellers can also fly into Bellingham or Seattle and take a bus or train to Vancouver. Pacific Central Station serves Amtrak and Via Rail trains, and intercity buses from cities like Seattle, Calgary, and Whistler arrive there.

While Vancouver is a comparatively young city, founded in 1867, its history begins long before. The Coast Salish indigenous peoples have lived in the area for at least 6,000 years. The first settlement on the downtown peninsula was Granville, on the spot of today's Gastown.

Late fall and winter are typically damp with clouds, but spring and summer shine. Summer days are long and usually sunny with little humidity. Temperatures peak in late July and early August with average daytime highs around 23°C. Winter daytime highs are around 5-8°C, with a chance of snow.

Vancouver is one of the few major cities in North America without a freeway leading directly into the downtown core. As a result, development has taken a different course, resulting in high use of transit and cycling, a dense walkable core.

While Vancouver is still a young city, it has a variety of attractions and points of interest for the visitor.

Vancouver offers a wide range of activities including dragon boating and watching local sports teams like the Simon Fraser Red Leafs and UBC Thunderbirds.

Vancouver has a rich assortment of educational institutions including the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Langara College, and others. It is also a popular destination to learn English, with many learners from Asian countries.

Traditionally, Vancouver's industry centered around port facilities and forestry. Now the largest employers are hospitals, educational institutions, and companies like Telus. Many jobs exist in software development, biotechnology, and film.

Shopping areas include Robson Street, Pacific Centre, Gastown, Yaletown, Kitsilano, Commercial Drive, and Main Street. Note that there is a 7% PST and 5% GST on most goods, except for food, books, and children's clothing.

Vancouver is a foodie's delight with many Asian cuisines, especially Cantonese. Dim sum in Richmond is among the best in the world. For budget, sushi all-you-can-eat lunches start at $12, and meals under $12 are common if you skip alcohol.

Most nightclubs are in the central business district along Granville Street and in Gastown. Closing times for pubs begin at 1AM, nightclubs close between 2-3AM. Liquor stores close by 11PM.

Accommodations in Vancouver are expensive. Upscale hotel rooms start at $200-250/night, but you can find rooms in the $100-180 range. Hostel beds start around $30/night, more reasonably $35-50. Camping in city parks is prohibited.

Free Wi-Fi is available at most hotels, cafés, and restaurants, as well as over 500 city-operated hotspots downtown. Translink buses and SkyTrain also offer free Wi-Fi. Payphones cost 50 cents for local calls.

Vancouver is generally safe, but use caution in the Downtown Eastside (Hastings Street between Abbott and Gore). The Granville Mall area on weekend nights can be rowdy. Property crime, especially theft from vehicles, is common. Panhandling is common but not problematic.