Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Across the Fraser River from Surrey,
Tourism New Westminster
(604/526-1905,
www.tourismnewwestminster.org
)
operates
New Westminster Visitor Centre
(788Quay-
sideDr.,604/526-1905,10am-6pmdailyJune-Aug.)intheriverfrontmarket.Thislocation
is out of the way for highway travelers, but if you do make the detour, take Brunette Av-
enue south from Exit 40 off the TransCanada Highway.
Approaching Vancouver from the east along Highway 7,
Mission Visitor Centre
(34033 Lougheed Hwy., 604/826-6914,
www.missionchamber.bc.ca
, 8am-5pm Mon.-Fri.,
9am-5pm Sat.-Sun. June-Aug., 8am-4pm Mon.-Fri. Sept.-May), in the town of the same
name, has a wealth of Vancouver information.
Operated by the local chamber of commerce,
Coquitlam Visitor Centre
(1209 Pinet-
ree Way, 604/464-2716,
www.tricitieschamber.com
,
9am-5pm Mon.-Fri.) is also by High-
way 7, at the north side of its intersection with Highway 7A. As well as Coquitlam and
Port Coquitlam, the center represents Port Moody and the wilderness areas to the north.
Postal Service
Vancouver's
main post office
(349 W. Georgia St., 604/662-5722) is open Monday-
Saturday.
Postal Station A
(757 W. Hastings St.) and the branch at
Bentall Centre
(595
Burrard St.) are also open Monday through Saturday.
Visitors can have their mail sent to them c/o General Delivery, Postal Station A, Van-
couver, BC V3S 4P2, Canada. The West Hastings Street post office will hold the mail for
two weeks and then return it to the sender.
Libraries
Vancouver Public Library
(350 W. Georgia St., 604/331-3600,
www.vpl.ca
,
10am-9pm
Mon.-Thurs., 10am-6pm Fri.-Sun.) is a magnificent nine-story facility that was completed
in 1995—a far cry from the city's first library, which opened with a grant of £250 back in
1887.Itsellipticalfacadecontainsaglass-walledpromenaderisingsixstoriesabovearow
ofstylishindoorshopsandcafés.Onceinside,you'llsoondiscoverthatthecityalsofound
enoughmoneytostocktheshelves;thelibraryholdsmorethanonemillionbooks.Tohelp
you find that one book you're searching for, use the self-guided tour brochure available at
the information desk.
More than 20 other affiliated libraries are spread across the city. Call 604/331-3600
or go to
www.vpl.ca
for addresses and opening hours. One branch library of particular
