Travel to Vancouver, a pretty enviable spot in the world
Vancouver is often called one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It's a city that attracts both tourists and residents alike, and there are plenty reasons why it’s such an appealing place to live or visit. It has some great neighborhoods, excellent restaurants and cafes, plus it has a waterfront location right on the water.
The thing that makes Vancouver unique though is that it isn't just one big city with one downtown area—it's made up of many smaller communities each with their own distinct vibe. So while this may be an ideal spot for a vacation or getaway, it also makes a great place to call home if you're looking for something different than what other major cities have to offer!
Fly to Vancouver International Airport
YVR is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia. The airport is served by two international airports and several regional airports nearby. It's the second busiest airport in Canada and one of the largest airports in North America. Vancouver International Airport has an extensive network of flights to cities around the world including Tokyo, London, Paris and New York City. If you're flying from YVR then your best options for getting into town are taxi or public transit (bus).
Stanley Park and the West End
Stanley Park is a beautiful, natural park that's perfect for hiking and biking. It's also home to one of the best beaches in Vancouver--Siwash Rock Beach. The West End is another great place to stay when visiting Vancouver thanks to its proximity to Stanley Park, but it also boasts some excellent dining options. You'll find everything from casual cafes and pubs to high-end restaurants here (and everything in between).
It's easy enough to reach Stanley Park from downtown Vancouver; just take public transit or rent a car!
Gastown-Chinatown
Gastown-Chinatown is a popular tourist destination in Vancouver, and for good reason. The neighbourhood is home to many restaurants and bars as well as shops and boutiques. It's also one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Vancouver; it was founded by "Gassy" Jack Deighton in 1867 when he built his first saloon there!
The Steam Clock is one of Gastown's most iconic landmarks--it was built in 1977 as part of Canada's centennial celebrations by local artist Andy Thomson (who also designed several other famous sculptures around town). You can see this clock at any time during your trip: it chimes every hour on the hour from 8am - 10pm daily!
Yaletown-False Creek
Yaletown is a neighbourhood in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. It is located between False Creek and the West End, and is bounded by Main Street to the north, Drake Street to the south, and Hamilton Street to the east. The name "Yaletown" was derived from the Yale Hotel which opened in 1907 at Nelson Street and Pacific Boulevard (now Homer Street).
The area began as an industrial district but has since been transformed into an urban village with over 6500 residents living in high-rise condominiums around False Creek as well as low rise townhouses along Mainland Street where it meets up with Coal Harbour.
Kitsilano & Granville Island
Kitsilano is a great place to stay. It's home to some pretty incredible restaurants, including the classic Vancouver spot Granville Island. This island is the heart of Vancouver's arts and culture scene, so it's not unusual for you to find yourself walking through an open-air market with musicians playing their hearts out on every corner. If you're looking for some inspiration (or just want a good meal), this is an excellent place to start!
UBC-Point Grey
If you're looking for a great place to study, live and visit, UBC is it. With over 200 hectares of green space, UBC offers plenty of opportunities to get out into nature--but if you prefer your classroom confines, there are more than 300 buildings on campus. The campus also has a number of attractions worth visiting:
- the Museum of Anthropology;
- Botanical Garden;
- Nitobe Memorial Garden (a Japanese garden);
- Koerner Library (the largest academic library west of Toronto);
- War Memorial Gymnasium (which was built in 1950).
UBC's location makes it easy to get around Vancouver as well as other parts of British Columbia thanks to its proximity with BC Ferries and Translink bus service.
Mt Pleasant-South Main
Check out the boutiques and restaurants on Main Street. Walk along the seawall, which stretches from Stanley Park to False Creek and is a great place to watch boats go by or just enjoy some fresh air.
Visit one of Vancouver's many parks--there are over 730 in total! Some of my favorites include Queen Elizabeth Park, Strathcona Park, Crab Park and Trout Lake Park (which has an awesome playground). You can also check out our beaches if you want to soak up some sun with your family or friends--they're never too crowded here because we have so much space! But even if you don't feel like going outside at all today, there are still plenty of things for you here in town: Granville Island is always fun no matter what time of year it is; visit our aquariums (if they aren't closed due to budget cuts); try out some new restaurants...the possibilities really are endless!
See for yourself how awesome Vancouver is
If you're not familiar with Vancouver, it's a pretty enviable spot in the world. The city has a lot to offer--from incredible food and drink to gorgeous scenery and an active community of artists, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs-turned-artists. It's also home to some of Canada's best coffee shops.
Vancouver is known for its natural beauty: there are miles of hiking trails along oceanfront cliffs; bike paths connect neighborhoods with parks full of flowers; beaches are dotted with palm trees and sand sculptures made by local artists (in fact, one of those beaches is named after artist Andy Goldsworthy).
Vancouver is a great city, and it's easy to see why. It has some of the best views in the world, amazing food and culture, and is full of friendly people. Whether you're visiting or moving there permanently, we hope this guide has helped give you an idea of what makes Vancouver so special!