On the shores of the Pacific Ocean, nestled beneath the majestic Coastal mountains, Vancouver is a place of unparalleled natural beauty. It is one of the few cities in the world where you can splash around in the ocean in the morning and get off a chair lift at the top of a mountain by lunch time, and be ready to enjoy some of the best skiing anywhere.
Vancouverites put a great emphasis on their quality of life. Graced with a mild, temperate climate, the city attracts active people who enjoy outdoor pursuits year-round. Being selected as the host city for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Winter Paralympic Games came as no surprise to its residents. The World Council of Cities ranks Vancouver in its top-ten places to live in or visit, and ranks it second only to Geneva for overall quality of life.
Vancouver offers all of the amenities and services of a large city, but feels smaller and cozier than a bigger center. The city is a fusion of neighbourhoods, each with its own unique character, history and opportunities.
Yaletown: The city's newest (and oldest) community sits adjacent to False Creek, one of Vancouver's main ocean inlets. Formerly the city's warehouse district, Yaletown underwent an urban renewal in the 90s that has seen the construction of several residential condos. In addition, its old buildings have been converted into unique lofts, designer shops, fine restaurants and some of the city's coolest working environments.
Robson Street: Home to some of the finest shopping in the country, downtown Robson Street is a bustling place where people from all over the world come to shop, browse or just sit on a patio and watch the beautiful people walk by.
Granville Street: Running the entire length of the city, Granville Street is a main artery of commerce and traffic. In the downtown, Granville Street is a hub of activity and is a common central meeting space, home to movie theatres, bars and restaurants.
Stanley Park: Girding the downtown's West End is Stanley Park, the city's crown jewel. As North America's largest city park it offers a wide range of activities, trails and beaches, and some breathtaking coastal and mountain views around its 10.5 kilometer/6.5 mile circumference.
Chinatown: Vancouver is home to one of Canada's oldest Chinese communities. Enter through the towering Millenium Gate and explore a variety of different markets, restaurants and possibilities. The summer night market is an especially frantic and exciting place.
Gastown: Adjacent to the waterfront, Gastown's brick streets and old, gas-style lamps harken back to an older, more refined era. Right next to Canada Place and its gigantic cruise ships, Gastown is a mixture of shops, restaurants, bars and local designers selling their wares
Commercial Drive: Referred to simply as "The Drive" by area residents, the Commercial Drive neighbourhood is Vancouver's bohemian hideout. Natural foods stores, second-hand clothing shops and nickel-and-dime coffee joints line the street as far as the eye can see. Without question the most colorful part of the city, The Drive beckons a wide array of eccentric and independently-minded people. |
