Information on Vancouver

Vancouver is a dynamic, multicultural city set in a spectacular natural environment. It offers many indoor and outdoor activities that will please you and your family.

Come early or stay late for AOSD.07 and bring your family!

Ten great things to do in Vancouver

  1. Jog or bike the Stanley Park Seawall
  2. Go skiing or snow shoeing
  3. Wander through a coastal virgin rainforest in Lighthouse Park
  4. Take the seaplane or helicopter to Victoria.
  5. Go kayaking or rent a motorboat and head up to Deep Cove
  6. Stroll among the City's most fashionable shops on Robson Street.
  7. Bargain for bargains in Chinatown, the third largest in North America
  8. Enjoy the Public market of Granville Island
  9. Go to the UBC Museum of Anthropology
  10. Walk along the cobblestone streets of Gastown and watch its famous Steam Clock

And this is just the beginning of what you can do in and around Vancouver. See our photos section for more ideas.

Seeing Vancouver from Up Above

Grouse mountain, nearby in North Vancouver, is an excellent place to get a full perspective on all of Vancouver. On clear days, you can see the US border (over 40 km away)! Eating at the Observatory restaurant at the top of Grouse Mountain, chefs will delight you with the finest and freshest in West Coast and seafood dishes. Experience fine dining and a breathtaking view of the glittering city and ocean.

Vancouver has two rotating restaurants that give you 360° views of the city:

Top of Vancouver
Fine continental dining at 553 feet (167m) for an unobstructed view of Vancouver, the coastal mountains and the ocean. Windows specifically angled for maximum viewing of the city below. One revolution completed every 60 minutes.
Cloud 9
View junkies will think they're in heaven. As this sleek hotel-top lounge rotates 6 degrees a minute, your vantage point circles from volcanic Mount Baker to the Fraser estuary to English Bay around Stanley Park to the towers of downtown, the harbor, and East Vancouver. And who knew you could get such a good martini in heaven?

Skiing, Snow Shoeing, Ice Skating

World-class skiing at Whistler is only two hours away, and served by a variety of public transport.

There are three ski areas located within 20 minutes of downtown Vancouver: Grouse Mountain, Cypress Mountain, and Mount Seymour. You can take public transportation to any of these mountains. At the slopes, you can rent skis, and spend a day in the mountains overlooking the city. You can downhill or cross-country ski. You can also snow-shoe, tube, tobaggan and ice-skate.

Although the season should be winding down, the ski slopes will still be open in late March, before, during, and after AOSD.07. This means lots of sun and warm conditions at the peaks of the mountains.

Taking the Seaplane or Helicopter to Victoria

Taking a seaplane or helicopter to Victoria is a beautiful flight, first you fly over the city of Vancouver, then the Georgia Strait, then the Gulf Islands and finally into downtown Victoria, the Capital of British Columbia. There are many things to do in Victoria, and you can either fly back, or take a ferry, which is good fun in and of itself.

More information on travelling around Vancouver and vicinity

The Lonely Planet site has very detailed and reliable information on Vancouver. Its Thorntree bulletin board is a great place to get specific questions answered by other travellers. The Vancouver Travel wiki has a good selection of facts and ideas on what to do and where to go, and it is constantly being updated. In Vancouver! has a comprehensive list of things to do in Vancouver and British Columbia.