Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
During the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, a worldwide audience was charmed by Van-
couver'sscenicbeautyandcosmopolitancharms.Indeed,ifyouviewthisgleamingmoun-
tain-andsea-dominatedcityforthefirsttimeonabeautifulsunnyday,you'reboundtofall
for it in a big way. See it on a dull, dreary day when the clouds are low and Vancouver's
backyard mountains are hidden and you may come away with a slightly less enthusiastic
picture—you'll have experienced the “permagray,” as residents are quick to call it with a
laugh.
But even gray skies can't dampen the city's vibrant, outdoorsy atmosphere. By day,
the active visitor can enjoy boating right from downtown or perhaps venture out to one of
the nearby provincial parks for hiking in summer and skiing and snowboarding in winter.
Moreurban-orientedvisitorscansavorthearomasofjust-brewedcoffeeandfreshlybaked
bread wafting from cosmopolitan sidewalk cafés, join in the bustle at seaside markets,
bake on a local beach, or simply relax and do some people watching in one of the city's
tree-shaded squares. By night, Vancouver's myriad fine restaurants, hip nightclubs, and
world-class performing-arts venues beckon visitors to continue enjoying themselves into
the wee hours. Vancouver also holds an abundance of world-class attractions and many
smaller gems that are easy to miss. The hardest part will be working out how to best fit all
of the activities into your itinerary.
