The Great Bear Rain Forest - Bring Your Camera

Bring Your Camera

A city carved out from the forest which surrounds it, Vancouver’s Stanley Park (www.seestanleypark.com) gives visitors a visual history of the natural habitat the city once was. The greenery of Stanley Park and the craggy, and frequently snow-capped peaks of the North Shore Mountains, combine to form a spectacular 180-degree view of Vancouver’s harbor, (www.portsalive.com) which offers tourists a variety of sightseeing tours.

The Granville Island Public Market (www.granvilleisland.com) features some of the most culturally diverse gastronomic delights from around the world representing Greek, Japanese, Indian, Polish and Italian culinary fare. Speaking of culture, how about Chinatown. Yes, Vancouver has one too – offering a walking tour which begins in a classical Chinese garden and meanders through the areas various specialty shops and vendors (www.awokaround.com).

For those who really love to shop and people watch, Robson Street, Vancouver’s premiere shopping district, is the place to be. Set in the heart of downtown, the street features over 200 brand-name stores, boutiques and restaurants (www.robsonstreet.ca). For families, a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium, Canada’s largest, makes for a fun-filled day, showcasing a number of exotic sea life exhibits throughout the year (www.vanaqua.org).

A sparkling, cosmopolitan and culturally diverse metropolis, Vancouver has been ranked by numerous publications as the top city in the world to visit. As the gateway to the Great Bear Rainforest, it is a destination that will require an overnight stay both coming and going. But don’t settle for a short layover, as Vancouver cannot be relished in less than three days.

Other Notes of Interest

About British Columbia

• Capital: Victoria
• Area: 364,764 sq mi
• Population: 4,402,931
• Currency: Canadian dollar (1CAD=$.95)

The Canadian Federal government is required to provide services in English and French, but the majority of the population speaks English. Some of its multi-cultural languages include Chinese, Punjabi, German, Italian, French, Filipino and Spanish.

While residents of British Columbia are comprised of all religions, almost a third of its population claimed to practice no religion during the last census.