Travel Excursion –Vancouver British Columbia (Part II)
The city lights shimmer, casting reflections on the harbor, as a cool breeze drifts inland. Pedestrians button coats and stroll down the avenue gazing in colorful boutique windows and pointing out their favorite architecture against Vancouver, British Columbia’s beautiful skyline.
Vancouver B.C. is a wonderful cultural cauldron that melds together in a vibrant metropolis featuring diverse and fascinating attractions. From multitudes of fashion shops and restaurants, to the scenic splendor of Stanley Park and hum of Grandville Island, Vancouver is an active and exciting destination.
Whether you plan to attend the thrilling, 2010 Winter Olympics in February, or you want to visit outside of the games, Vancouver has a moderate climate and is perfect to explore year-round. For additional information, visit www.tourismvancouver.com.
A good choice for familiarizing yourself with the city and an inexpensive way to explore is to purchase a ticket for the Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing the Vancouver Trolley Company. The company provides various interesting tours (including Stanley Park) and drives by most of the cities major attractions. The trolleys have large, open windows for unobstructed views and photographs as well. For additional information, visit www.vancouvertrolley.com.
The heart of the city is Robson Street, where you’ll find the widest selection of fashion shopping, excellent hotels and a restaurant located on every block. Situated on the south end of Robson is the Vancouver Art Gallery. This gallery is one of Canada’s finest and includes an extensive Emily car collection. For additional information, visit www.vanartgallery.bc.ca.
One of Vancouver’s most charming aspects is the numerous lush and beautiful parks located throughout the city. Stanley Park, the most famous and certainly one of the outstanding parks of the world, is a must-visit. The park consists of 1,000 acres of majestic wooded and plant landscapes, surrounded by bays and inlets on all sides. Visitors will find activities year-round with lovely restaurants, horse-drawn carriage rides, biking, swimming or simply meandering down a serene, wooded path. If the weather is inclement, visit the Bloedel Conservatory, located on 30 East 30th Avenue, adjacent to Queen Elizabeth Park. The triodetic dome is the second largest in the world and is an exquisite, walk-through tropical paradise. Exotic White Ginger plants exude an intoxicating aroma while you follow the path through delicate orchids, bromeliads and numerous bird species, such as Macaws and a Moluccan Cockatoo. For additional information on Stanley Park and the Bloedel Conservatory, visit www.vancouverparks.ca.
Grandville Island is a popular market place and a fun way to spend the afternoon with loads of fresh produce, bakeries, retail shops, cafes and activities for the entire family.
The market is also home to delicious Roger’s Chocolates. For additional information, visit www.granvilleisland.com.
There are accommodations for every style, taste and budget in Vancouver; however, if you want a stellar view of Coal Harbour and the best service in Western Canada, try the Fairmount Waterfront. This hotel is lovely, yet unpretentious, features light and airy rooms, and is located a few blocks away from Robson Street. The gracious staff makes this hotel number one on our recommendations list for Vancouver and the rates are reasonable. For additional information, visit www.fairmont.com/waterfront.