4. Dining

When it comes to eating out Vancouverites are experts at it.

More people in Vancouver eat out and we have more restaurants than anywhere else in Canada. Healthy eating is a big deal here. There is lots of emphasis on local, organic ingredients and we love our seafood.

Short of good company and an amazing view a great way to enjoy your meal is eating outdoors on the restaurant patio. Even in winter many restaurants with outdoor spaces have heaters and some even provide blankets.

5. Gardens and Parks

For garden lovers the very best time to come is late spring. That's when the city is truly alive and in it's glory.

Everywhere flowers sprout from flower boxes and th

1. Architecture

The Vancouver skyline is varied and attention-getting and even though the city is not exactly known for having structures that are hundreds of years old, there are a number of buildings that do have some most interesting shapes.

Library Square, the main branch of Vancouver Public Library system for example is constructed as a circle within a square. It looks a lot like a Roman Coliseum.

Canada Place, the cruise ship terminal and convention center looks commanding and majestic with a roof that is designed to look like five unfurled sails.

The giant puffy dome in the downtown sky is the fabric roof of BC Place Stadium and the only thing that holds the roof up is air. This is the largest air-supported dome of this type in the world.

Another unusual looking building is Science World which looks like a gigantic golf ball. At night it glows with hundreds of tiny lights.

2. Attractions

Vancouver's best attractions are the stunning natural vistas, mountains, ocean views and beaches.

Here are the three top ways to take it all in.

For a panoramic view, go to the lookout at the top of Harbour Centre. From there you will get a clear, 360 degree of the view of mountains, the harbour and the downtown core.

The next one is Grouse Mountain. There are two ways to the get to the top. One is to hike straight up the face of the mountain and the other is to take the gondola up to the plateau. Once you are there you can hop on the chairlift for a spectacular view of the city and the ocean.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is another top attraction. It's a bridge that sways 70 meters (230 ft.) above the River. Amidst the hiking trails, gift shop and interpretation centre is the largest private collection of totem poles in North America.

3. Festivals

There are a ton of festivals throughout the city all year. Here are some of the biggest.

The largest festival in Vancouver is the annual Celebration of Lights fireworks competition over the waters of English Bay. It's an amazing spectacle where competing countries light up the night sky showcasing their biggest and best fireworks.

Over a million people watch the fireworks display each year cramming every beach, every patio, every balcony, every rooftop and every elevator shaft to see the show.

There are several lantern festivals a year usually around the times of the solstice but the ones you really don't want to miss happen at Halloween and at Chinese New Year.

The strong Chinese population in Vancouver makes the Lunar New Year lively and colorful. And, at Halloween the Commercial Drive neighborhood is where the Parade of Lost Souls happens. Bring your homemade lantern. There's live music, fire dancers and costumed partiers.

The Dragon Boat Festival is another one you don't want to miss. Dragon boat teams from around the world cut through the waters of False Creek to the beat of drummers drumming.

Another big festival is the Gay Pride Parade and Festival. This fun filled festival attracts people from all over North America. A parade in the West End of Vancouver kicks off the festival happenings.

4. Dining

When it comes to eating out Vancouverites are experts at it.

More people in Vancouver eat out and we have more restaurants than anywhere else in Canada. Healthy eating is a big deal here. There is lots of emphasis on local, organic ingredients and we love our seafood.

Short of good company and an amazing view a great way to enjoy your meal is eating outdoors on the restaurant patio. Even in winter many restaurants with outdoor spaces have heaters and some even provide blankets.

5. Gardens and Parks

For garden lovers the very best time to come is late spring. That's when the city is truly alive and in it's glory.

Everywhere flowers sprout from flower boxes and the

Another unusual looking building is Science World which looks like a gigantic golf ball. At night it glows with hundreds of tiny lights.

2. Attractions

Vancouver's best attractions are the stunning natural vistas, mountains, ocean views and beaches.

Here are the three top ways to take it all in.

For a panoramic view, go to the lookout at the top of Harbour Centre. From there you will get a clear, 360 degree of the view of mountains, the harbour and the downtown core.

The next one is Grouse Mountain. There are two ways to the get to the top. One is to hike straight up the face of the mountain and the other is to take the gondola up to the plateau. Once you are there you can hop on the chairlift for a spectacular view of the city and the ocean.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is another top attraction. It's a bridge that sways 70 meters (230 ft.) above the River. Amidst the hiking trails, gift shop and interpretation centre is the largest private collection of totem poles in North America.

3. Festivals

There are a ton of festivals throughout the city all year. Here are some of the biggest.

The largest festival in Vancouver is the annual Celebration of Lights fireworks competition over the waters of English Bay. It's an amazing spectacle where competing countries light up the night sky showcasing their biggest and best fireworks.

Over a million people watch the fireworks display each year cramming every beach, every patio, every balcony, every rooftop and every elevator shaft to see the show.

There are several lantern festivals a year usually around the times of the solstice but the ones you really don't want to miss happen at Halloween and at Chinese New Year.

The strong Chinese population in Vancouver makes the Lunar New Year lively and colorful. And, at Halloween the Commercial Drive neighborhood is where the Parade of Lost Souls happens. Bring your homemade lantern. There's live music, fire dancers and costumed partiers.

The Dragon Boat Festival is another one you don't want to miss. Dragon boat teams from around the world cut through the waters of False Creek to the beat of drummers drumming.

Another big festival is the Gay Pride Parade and Festival. This fun filled festival attracts people from all over North America. A parade in the West End of Vancouver kicks off the festival happenings.

4. Dining

When it comes to eating out Vancouverites are experts at it.

More people in Vancouver eat out and we have more restaurants than anywhere else in Canada. Healthy eating is a big deal here. There is lots of emphasis on local, organic ingredients and we love our seafood.

Short of good company and an amazing view a great way to enjoy your meal is eating outdoors on the restaurant patio. Even in winter many restaurants with outdoor spaces have heaters and some even provide blankets.

5. Gardens and Parks

For garden lovers the very best time to come is late spring. That's when the city is truly alive and in it's glory.

Everywhere flowers sprout from flower boxes and th

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is another top attraction. It's a bridge that sways 70 meters (230 ft.) above the River. Amidst the hiking trails, gift shop and interpretation centre is the largest private collection of totem poles in North America.

3. Festivals

There are a ton of festivals throughout the city all year. Here are some of the biggest.

The largest festival in Vancouver is the annual Celebration of Lights fireworks competition over the waters of English Bay. It's an amazing spectacle where competing countries light up the night sky showcasing their biggest and best fireworks.

Over a million people watch the fireworks display each year cramming every beach, every patio, every balcony, every rooftop and every elevator shaft to see the show.

There are several lantern festivals a year usually around the times of the solstice but the ones you really don't want to miss happen at Halloween and at Chinese New Year.

The strong Chinese population in Vancouver makes the Lunar New Year lively and colorful. And, at Halloween the Commercial Drive neighborhood is where the Parade of Lost Souls happens. Bring your homemade lantern. There's live music, fire dancers and costumed partiers.

The Dragon Boat Festival is another one you don't want to miss. Dragon boat teams from around the world cut through the waters of False Creek to the beat of drummers drumming.

Another big festival is the Gay Pride Parade and Festival. This fun filled festival attracts people from all over North America. A parade in the West End of Vancouver kicks off the festival happenings.

4. Dining

When it comes to eating out Vancouverites are experts at it.

More people in Vancouver eat out and we have more restaurants than anywhere else in Canada. Healthy eating is a big deal here. There is lots of emphasis on local, organic ingredients and we love our seafood.

Short of good company and an amazing view a great way to enjoy your meal is eating outdoors on the restaurant patio. Even in winter many restaurants with outdoor spaces have heaters and some even provide blankets.

5. Gardens and Parks

For garden lovers the very best time to come is late spring. That's when the city is truly alive and in it's glory.

Everywhere flowers sprout from flower boxes and th

There are several lantern festivals a year usually around the times of the solstice but the ones you really don't want to miss happen at Halloween and at Chinese New Year.

The strong Chinese population in Vancouver makes the Lunar New Year lively and colorful. And, at Halloween the Commercial Drive neighborhood is where the Parade of Lost Souls happens. Bring your homemade lantern. There's live music, fire dancers and costumed partiers.

The Dragon Boat Festival is another one you don't want to miss. Dragon boat teams from around the world cut through the waters of False Creek to the beat of drummers drumming.

Another big festival is the Gay Pride Parade and Festival. This fun filled festival attracts people from all over North America. A parade in the West End of Vancouver kicks off the festival happenings.

4. Dining

When it comes to eating out Vancouverites are experts at it.

More people in Vancouver eat out and we have more restaurants than anywhere else in Canada. Healthy eating is a big deal here. There is lots of emphasis on local, organic ingredients and we love our seafood.

Short of good company and an amazing view a great way to enjoy your meal is eating outdoors on the restaurant patio. Even in winter many restaurants with outdoor spaces have heaters and some even provide blankets.

5. Gardens and Parks

For garden lovers the very best time to come is late spring. That's when the city is truly alive and in it's glory.

Everywhere flowers sprout from flower boxes and th

4. Dining

When it comes to eating out Vancouverites are experts at it.

More people in Vancouver eat out and we have more restaurants than anywhere else in Canada. Healthy eating is a big deal here. There is lots of emphasis on local, organic ingredients and we love our seafood.

Short of good company and an amazing view a great way to enjoy your meal is eating outdoors on the restaurant patio. Even in winter many restaurants with outdoor spaces have heaters and some even provide blankets.

5. Gardens and Parks

For garden lovers the very best time to come is late spring. That's when the city is truly alive and in it's glory.

Everywhere flowers sprout from flower boxes and the gardens, parks and neighborhoods are alive with hundreds of cherry blossoms, plums and azaleas in full bloom. Great places to stroll and admire the flowers are Stanley Park, Van Dusen Botanical Gardens and Queen Elizabeth Park.

6. Outdoor Adventure

There really aren't that many places in this world where you can ski in the mountains, go boating or windsurfing in the ocean and play a round of golf all in the same day but Vancouver is one of them.

The many recreational areas include tennis courts, beach basketball or volleyball and heated ocean-side swimming pools.

7. Shopping

Vancouver is blessed with many diverse neighborhoods and unique shopping areas. The downtown core is unofficially the tourist zone. You will love it but just know that pretty much everything will be more expensive!

The main high end shopping district is Robson Street here you will find all the major designer store fronts. Yaletown used to be a warehouse district now there is all kinds of up scale salons and off the beaten track shopping. In Gastown you will find multitudes of souvenir shops. If you want to get some thing with I love Vancouver on it, this is where you'll find it. There are also some nice places to find First Nations (Indian) carvings. Vancouver Chinatown is the second largest Chinatown in North America. There are all kinds of Chinese import shops here with lovely, inexpensive gifts items.

Anyway you want to look at it Vancouver offers the best of many worlds.

The city is ideally located on the Pacific Coast, and boasts a mild climate and offers activities ranging from a challenging hike straight up to the face of a mountain to romantic walks through manicured gardens.