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Vancouver, British Colombia, Canada
Flower-clad Vancouver is one of Canada's most charming cities. Visit the excellent museums and historic Gastown district, or admire the natural setting of the city tucked between a sheltered cove and the majestic British Columbia mountains. Ties with the Orient give Vancouver an Asian mystique, and make its China Town one of North America's largest.
Contents | Description | Map | Explore | Excursions | History
From the downtown district with its gleaming, sophisticated architecture, to historic Gastown, famous for cultural diversity, palate-tickling cuisine, tucked-away galleries, fabric and ceramic studios, jewelry, basketry, and home of the Vancouver Regional and International Art Gallery. From outside sports: hiking, rock climbing, fishing, water sports and seasonal snow sports. To inside sports: museums and galleries, literary shrines and Omnimax. From parks to totem poles. Vancouver’s got it! Although Burrard Inlet borders the city proper to the north and the Fraser River to the south, Vancouver reaches across Burrard Inlet to the West Vancouver and North Vancouver neighborhoods. Both are primarily residential. West of Downtown sits the Kitsilano Beach section, a magnet for young professionals and students from the nearby University of British Columbia (UBC) who seek out waterfront shops and romantic restaurants along the south shore of English Bay. Getting around is easy. Public transportation is available with skytrain, bus, Seabus, and taxi. Rent a car or ride a bike; "bike and ride" ammenities are provided by B.C. Transit’s Cycling B.C. Vancouver is proud of its city and will help you see as much of it as possible. With the radiance, sparkle, and unspoken promise of a beautiful jewel, Vancouver beckons. You won’t be disappointed! Contents | Description | Map | Explore | Excursions | History
Contents | Description | Map | Explore | Excursions | History Vancouver’s attractions are as diverse and appealing as a gourmand’s Sunday brunch. Whether your interests lie in sports, history, art, culture, music, fashion, food, or just raw hedonism, you’ll find it here. Somewhere. For the hunters and gatherers, your shopping pursuits will be satisfied, if not in the more traditional downtown stores and boutiques, then in Gastown or Kitsilano. Those who cruise to eat should explore Greek Town, a section of Kitsilano, which has enticing and authentic restaurants, small markets offering pita bread, flaky honeyed baklava, cheese and spinach filo snacks, imported olives, and oceans of olive oils. The aromas drifting from doorways of Greek bakeries will stop you dead in your tracks. Irresistible. For lighter fare, try a sushi bar in Japan Town. French bon vivants will head for the West End or Downtown. Gastown has a showering of international cuisines and is a target for endless meal choices. Sports’ enthusiasts will find an early history of British Columbia’s most famous athletes, coaches and referees spotlighted in documentaries and video at the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. There’s something for everyone at Stanley Park’s 1000 Acres: Gardeners behold! Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to witness the closest thing to the gardens of the Ming Dynasty. It is the only one of its kind outside China. Compare this to the stately Queen Elizabeth Park in Central Vancouver or VanDusen Botanical Garden. The UCB’s collection of exotic plants and trees will interest horticulture historians, as some species are nearly a century old. Many other beautiful and inspiring garden displays will be found throughout the Vancouver area, and a guidebook would be a very useful tool. Keep an eye out for Totem Poles, the legendary tributes to Native People who have lived around Vancouver for hundreds of years. In the old times, spotting a totem pole in the wilderness meant you were entering the territory of another. Totems are used to express respect, disrespect for a certain person, to tell a family story, point to a tragedy, or celebrate joy. Some villages prohibit photographing their totems; others do not, so it is wise to check in advance. It is considered disrespectful to sit on, climb, use as a leaning post, or any way deface these beautiful carvings. Some are signed by the artists, others remain anonymous. All tell a story. The Shore Excursion staff has the knowledge that comes with many years experience guiding visitors to spots of interest. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions! Contents | Description | Map | Explore | Excursions | History Prosperous and vibrant Vancouver is Canada's third largest city and British Columbia's most cosmopolitan center. Blessed with an unsurpassed natural backdrop, it is set amidst a gorgeous landscape of water and mountains. On a clear day one can view mountains, sea and emerald-green parklands from almost any vantage point. Explore the restored Gastown district or lose yourself in the intigue of Chinatown. You'll enjoy sampling delicacies from the sea and strolling through colorful Stanley Park, the largest natural park of any city on the North American continent.
Contents | Description | Map | Explore | Excursions | History Historical evidence points to the Salish Indians as the first inhabitants of the Vancouver area, around 3000 B.C. Their influence has laid the groundwork for an ongoing regional respect for diversity. Native artifacts, paintings, basketry, and ceramics are displayed proudly in museums. Totem poles throughout the territory tell their own stories. Don Jose Maria Navarez from Spain was the first European to see the Vancouver region in 1791, followed by English navigator, George Vancouver, who in 1792 sailed into Burrard Inlet, charted it, and claimed it for England. Both seamen were searching for a Northwest Passage to the Atlantic Ocean. In 1865, the Hastings Timber Mill was completed; a settlement had begun. Two years later, a town was born with a tavern for its center. It was called Gastown for Jack Deighton’s popular bar, "Gassy." Gastown was officially incorporated as Granville in 1869. Nineteen years later, a fire raged through the town and destroyed it, killing 21 people. A reconstruction meeting was held in a tent, and articles of incorporation were drawn up for a new town to be called Vancouver. Rebuilding began immediately. The Canadian Pacific Railway’s west end terminus, built between 1884 and 1887, brought more people to Vancouver. By 1889 population had swelled to 8000. Fishing and timber have been the foundation of Vancouver’s economy since the early days, but modern times have brought changes. Important employers today are in telecommunications and computer/technology fields, senior management, professional arenas, consulting, education, and many other facets of private industry with their attenuate employees. Tourism is steadily growing and is a projected big player in the City’s future economy. A 1991 census showed a population of 471,840, making Vancouver the third largest city in Canada and the largest in British Columbia. English, at that time, was the predominant language spoken in homes, with Chinese second, followed in descending order by Punjabi, Vietnamese, Spanish, Tagalog (Filipino), French, and others. Recent population figures indicate a huge increase over the last eight years, with the most current figure at 1.8 million people. Many of these are immigrants from Hong Kong who chose to enter Canada on a British passport before Hong Kong reverted to Mainland Chinese control. Visitors find no language barriers in Vancouver, however, for the universal language here is friendship. The populace in general is warm and outgoing, welcoming to tourists. Vancouver today is a dynamic and rewarding place to live and visit, rich in Native history, diverse in cultural attractions, and awesome in natural splendor. The miraculous blend of nature with human invention is typified by the intricate lacework of landforms stitched together by bridges and road systems as if with a wizard’s magic needle. Contents | Description | Map | Explore | Excursions | History |
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Vancouver
is much like the pattern inside a kaleidoscope—brilliantly colorful and constantly
changing. From rigid, jutting snow-tipped mountains, to low-slung rivers, slipping
unnoticed into bays and inlets, sliding quietly toward the sandy beaches of the Pacific
Ocean.
