Quezi

Vancouver - courtesy D'Arcy Norman - CC-BY

When you go to Vancouver for the 2010 Olympic Games, you’ll be amazed at the variety and bustle that is the city life, and you will also be greeted by clean streets and friendly locals.

Lying between snowy mountains and the ocean, Vancouver is one of the most attractive cities in Canada, in fact, in the world.

Vancouver’s natural wonders offer tourists the chance to experience the true beauty of nature while enjoying all the comforts of a big city. From the vast green wilderness and mountains to the blue coasts, you’ll find breath-taking beauty. For an escape from the excitement of the big city, a number of gardens including the UBC and VanDusen Botanical Gardens, the Bloedel Floral Conservatory and the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens, all offer peace and quiet for those looking for it. Shop ’til you drop in the fashion shops on Robson Street, and the variety of gift shops in historic Gastown and Chinatown. Vancouver has over a thousand restaurants. A single block can have an Italian restaurant, West Coast bistro, Japanese noodle shop, Thai takeaway, Indian buffet, and Persian tea house. The options are amazing.

Vancouver sits mostly on a peninsula, which makes it compact and easy to explore on foot. To keep one’s bearings, use the mountains as “true north” and we can’t go too far wrong. Central Vancouver is quite walkable, the transit system, which is a mix of bus, ferry, and the SkyTrain, a fully automated rail system, is easy and practical to use. While most Vancouver residents don’t let a little drizzle stop them, heavier rains might inspire you to look for indoor activities. Options include museums such as the Museum of Anthropology at UBC or the Vancouver Art Gallery is good, as is the Vancouver Aquarium.

This only skims the things to do and see in Vancouver between your favorite Olympic events.