Vancouver folks are fortunate to have remarkable hiking easily accessible to them. Not only are the trails close by, there are dozens of them, each offering different views and terrain.

North and West Vancouver have the serious trails, as the mountains are the backdrop for all of the trails if you’re heading in that direction.

BC has about 40 species of native trees, and when you’re hiking, you’ll find trees such as Cedar, Fir, Hemlock, and Alder. The ground cover may include Salal, Huckleberry and Lupine. With the exception of Stinging Nettle, (which is not in many areas), the plants are benign. Thankfully, there is no Poison Oak or Poison Sumac.

Some North Vancouver Hikes

Capilano River Regional Park
Capilano Park is a wonderful hiking spot because it has a canyon, a dam, a fish hatchery and it’s close to major arteries. You can enter at 2 points from Capilano Road, and do a loop, or just walk out to various places to enjoy the views of the river and mountains.

Lynn Canyon
You enter Lynn Canyon if you go up Lynn Valley Road and take a right onto Peters Road. There is a wonderful suspension bridge which you can cross for free. The trails are easy, and you can go up or down the trails that wend their way through the forest above the canyon. Lynn Headwaters is at the top of Lynn Valley Road, and offers more extensive and challenging hikes.

Grouse Grind
The Grouse Grind is a very popular trail that is like an endurance test for some as it is difficult. Imagine climbing stairs of various heights in an overall elevation gain of  about 2800 feet in just under 2 miles!

If you’re feeling especially fit, you can hike up to the top of Grouse Mountain and take the SkyRide down. The descent costs only $5.00. The trail, called the Grouse Grind starts on the east side of the road just at the beginning of the parking lot. It’s 2.9 km pretty much straight up.

If you’re in good shape, you can make it in about an hour, give or take a few minutes. The Grind is very popular with locals who like to brag about their times. There’s a race to the top every year. This year’s winner did it in 27.5 minutes. The fastest woman did it in just a second over 34 minutes.

For more information, check out the Grouse Mountain website or give them a call at 604-980-9311.

Some West Vancouver Hikes

Hollyburn Mountain/Cypress Park
Cypress Provincial Park has some magnificent hikes that vary from easy to difficult. You can snowshoe in the winter and hike in the summer. At Hollyburn Mountain, you can climb to the peak in about 3.5 hours, or you do an easy hike around First Lake, which is 15-20 minutes from the parking lot. Click HERE for more information about Cypress Provincial Park.

Baden Powell Trail
The Baden Powell Trail is a 25 mile long trail extending from Horseshoe Bay In West Vancouver to Deep Cove in North Vancouver. It’s fun to do parts of it, but some enjoy doing the entire length in a race fittingly called the Knee Knacker. Some sections are very rugged and steep.

Vancouver has some of the best language schools in the world; and learning English in Vancouver is very popular because the city is beautiful, safe and lively.

Vancouver also offers diversity, a cosmopolitan but friendly atmosphere, excellent affordable housing for students and more fun than just about any other city in the world. These factors make Vancouver a language school mecca. It offers a wide range of language schools, ESL programs and Language Institutes to choose from.

Planning Your Studies

If you’re planning to study in Vancouver, there are a number of ways to proceed. Some students prefer to do all the work on their own. If you choose to do things yourself, your best bet is to attend a local community college or one of the recommended language schools listed below.

Most schools help you find a place to stay. Some schools charge an extra fee for this service. And if you wish to change schools, you may have to find another place to live. Find out whether you can change schools without changing homestays before you sign any forms or pay any money.

Choosing A School

Choosing a school is difficult because there are so many options in Vancouver. However, you can narrow down your choices once your goals are clear. If you want to develop language skills, but also have fun, choose a school with classes that emphasize conversation, culture and fun.

If your goals are academic because you plan to attend a North American University, then it’s best to study English at an institution of higher education, either a local community college listed below or one of the two local universities, Simon Fraser or the University of British Columbia. All these schools offer excellent ESL programs.

Local Community Colleges with ESL Programs

• Vancouver Community College

• VCC International Education
• Douglas College

Local Universities with ESL Programs

• Simon Fraser University

• English Language and Culture Centre

• English Bridge Program

• International & Exchange Student Services
  
• University of British Columbia

• English Language Institute

• Summer Study Abroad

Recommended Vancouver Language Schools

The schools listed below have all been in business for a long time, and all have excellent reputations.

• VanWest College
• Pacific Language Institute
• ELS Language Centres
• YMCA International College
• Language Studies International

Dogs (and Cats) in Vancouver

Many dog related services are available for local and visiting dogs in Vancouver: dog walkers, day care and boarding, vets, dog food, supply, toy and dog accessory stores.

Vancouver Dog Walkers

North Shore Dog Walkers

Bow Wow Avenue
BowWow Avenue is the premiere dog walking service on the North Shore. Great hikes, great dogs and the best dog walker. If you want your dog to have a great outing, Bow Wow is the place for you.

Recommended Dog Day Care in Vancouver and the North Shore

Zen Dogs Canine Care
7520 6th Street
Burnaby
604-523-WOOF (9663)

The Doghouse at Granville Island
(for small dogs only)
Corner of 1500 W. 2nd
604-737-7500

Camelot Dog Daycare and Spa
309 Mansfield Place
North Vancouver
604-984-0611
Email:admin@camelot-petcare.com

Noah’s Barque
1835 Ambleside Lane
West Vancouver
604-926-5575

Dog Stores
In Vancouver, we like Three Dog Bakery. Located on Fourth Avenue, a great place for shopping, Three Dog Bakery is a patisserie for dogs. It has cakes, cookies and all kinds of other dog treats that will make your dog love you forever, as if she/he doesn’t already.

Three Dog Bakery
2186 W. 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
604-737-3647 (dogs)

If you’re in Burnaby, visit Big Dog Little Dog Bakery. This friendly store specializes in all-natural cookies, cakes, and deli-items for dogs. They have dog treats to please the most finicky eaters plus a variety of unique dog clothing, accessories and gifts.

Big Dog Little Dog Bakery
4631 Hastings Street
Burnaby, BC
604-299-3644

Overnight Stays For Dogs or Cats:
This great boarding kennel is on the Sunshine Coast. Three mornings a week, MWF, dogs are picked from a vet on the North Shore and ferried to Gibsons. Dogs get excellent care in excellent facilities. The owner is a registered animal health technician. This is really a resort for dogs.

Bullocks Boarding Kennel
RRI 277 Parker Rd
Gibsons, BC
604-886-8659

This place, as the name implies, is for cats only. It is a veterinarian with an adjoining boarding facility called The Palms. Cats sleep in extra large cages and spend at least 6 hours a day out of the cages socializing if they want. Cats must be healthy, have all vaccinations and no fleas to stay at The Palms.

All About Cats
105-1550 Marine Drive
North Vancouver
604-986-2287

Dog Fun on the North Shore – just a few of the miles and miles of trails open to dogs and their happy companions on the North Shore:
Lighthouse Park – located on Beacon Lane just off Marine Drive in West Vancouver
Cypress Falls Trail – located at the end of Woodgreen Place in West Vancouver (Caulfeild Exit off Highway 1)
Ambleside Dog Park – located on the beach at the east end of Ambleside Park in West Vancouver
Millstream Trail – located on Millstream Road just off Eyremount in West Vancouver
Capilano Regional Park – located on Capilano Park Road just off Capilano Road in North Vancouver
Mosquito Creek Trail – easiest entry from the end of the Griffin Rec Centre parking lot in North Vancouver
West Powerline Trail – located at the top of Skyline Drive in North Vancouver
East Powerline Train -located at the top of St. Mary’s Street in North Vancouver
Lynn Headwaters Park – located at the end of Lynn Valley Road in North Vancouver
Lynn Canyon Park – located at the end of Peters Avenue off Lynn Valley Road in North Vancouver
Seymour River Walk – located at the end of Riverside Drive in North Vancouver

Vancouver’s Dog Friendly Hotels

Best Western Chateau Granville
1100 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2B6
604-669-7070

Bosman’s Hotel
1060 Howe Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1P5
604-682-3171

Coast Plaza Hotel And Suites
1763 Comox Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 1P6
604-688-7711

Comfort Inn Downtown
654 Nelson Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 6K4
604-605-4333

Marriott Pinnacle Hotel
1128 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 4R5
604-684-1128

Delta Vancouver Suites Hotel
550 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 3Y6
604-689-8188

The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
900 W Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 2W6
604-684-3131

The Fairmont Waterfront
900 Canada Place Way
Vancouver, BC V6C 3L5
604-691-1991

Four Seasons Vancouver
791 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 2T4
604-689-9333

Georgian Court Hotel
773 Beatty Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 2M4
604-682-5555

Granville Island Hotel
1253 Johnston Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 3R9
604-683-7373

Holiday Inn Vancouver Downtown Tower & Suites
1110 Howe Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1R2
604-684-2151

Holiday Inn
711 W. Broadway
Vancouver, BC V5K 3Y2
604-879-0511

The Landis Hotel & Suites
1200 Hornby Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1W2
604-681-3555

Metropolitan Hotel
645 Howe Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 2Y9
604-687-1122

Pacific Palisades Hotel
1277 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 1C4
604-688-0461

Pan Pacific Hotel
300 999 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC V6C 3B5
604-662-8111

Renaissance Vancouver Hotel
1133 W Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 3T3
604-689-9211

Rosedale  Suites Hotel at Stanley Park
838 Hamilton (at Robson Street)
Vancouver, BC V6B 6A2
604-689-8033

Rosellen Suites Stanley Park
2030 Barclay Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 1L5
604-689-4807

Sutton Place Hotel
845 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6 2K6
604-682-5511

The Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina
1601 Bayshore Drive
Vancouver, BC V6G 2V4
604-682-3377

The Westin Grand Vancouver
433 Robson Street (at Homer)
Vancouver, BC V6B 6L9
604-602-1999

Vancouver Fast Facts

To keep distance and size in perspective, consider this: Vancouver is located in British Columbia the fifth largest province or territory in Canada.

Nunavut, Quebec, Northwest Territories and Ontario are bigger.

British Columbia has a total area of 944,735 sq km or 364,764 sq. miles.

England by contrast has a total area of 130,395 sq km or 50,346 sq miles. So British Columbia is 7.24 times larger than England.

Latitude: N 49º 16’ 36” / Longitude: W 123º 07’ 15”
Size: 113 sq. km
Population: 580,000
Area Population: 2.2 million
Largest Port on the West Coast of North America
Largest City in British Columbia
Eighth Largest City in Canada though Metro Vancouver is the third largest metropolitan area in Canada

Annual Rainfall: 1117 mm (44 inches) 10% of that during the summer months
(For comparison: Seattle gets 36 inches a year and San Francisco 21 inches.)
Average Temperatures: 3°C (37.4°F) in January 18°C (64.4°F) in July.
Daylight: 16 hours in June / 8 hours in December

Features: Vancouver is surrounded by water on three sides and is overlooked by the Coast Mountain Range with peaks above 1,500 m. (4920 feet)

Canada Fast Facts

Area: 9,976,140 sq. km
Population: 33,006,347 (2002 est.)
Capital: Ottawa
People: British descent, French descent, German descent, aboriginal, and minorities of Italian, Ukrainian, Chinese, other Asian
Language: English (official), French (official)
Religion: Roman Catholic, United Church, Anglican, others
Government: Federation with parliamentary democracy
Prime Minister: Stephen Harper
Entry Documentation:  US permanent residents need a passport or birth certificate and picture ID to enter Canada.
Economic Rating: First World Nation
Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time (west) is GMT/UTC -0800 hrs
Currency: Canadian Dollar = approx. 1.02 US Dollar
Weights & Measures: Metric

Here is a timeline of Daily Tours With Times and Dates

Vancouver has some of the best food trucks and Food Carts in North America.

They are in all the best locations downtown so you are never far from delicious food at a fraction of the cost of restaurant food. And some of the food trucks are extensions of great restaurants.

Here are a list of some of the best along with their locations. Vancouver food truck locations, of course, are subject to change.

Feastro the Rolling Bistro
Location: Thurlow and West Cordova, across from the 2010 Olympic torches
Feastro boasts one of the largest menus of any truck in the Lower Mainland, which includes a variety of local seafood, pork and chicken smoked right inside of their purple truck.  Be sure to try their bonzai prawns – local prawns, sautéed in white wine, garlic, tomatoes and lemon, all served on a bed of basmati rice and topped with a grilled pineapple skewer.  Or, if you are craving a taco or two, you are in luck!  Vancouver Magazine has rated Feastro with “the best soft tacos in the city…an unexpected and delicious take”.  Full breakfasts have recently been added to their menu.

Bada Bing
Location: Near 655 Burrard
Bada Bing specializes in (generously sized) philly cheesesteak sandwiches.  The sandwiches come on a foot-long Italian-style bun with your choice of chicken or steak, melted Monterey Jack cheese, sauteed mushrooms, onions and green peppers.  Once you receive the sandwich, you have the option of dressing it with BBQ, honey mustard or teriyaki sauce.  If you are really hungry, I suggest ordering a side of fries, poutine (my personal preference), or the “Animal Fries” (grilled onions and melted Cheddar, topped with the Bada Bing creamy and tangy “secret sauce”).  Highly recommended if you are looking for a hearty carnivorous meal.

La Brasserie Street
Location: West Georgia and Granville
If you are hungry but you don’t know what to eat, La Brasserie Street will do the decision making for you.  La Brassierie, the popular Franco-German restaurant in the West End, serves only one main and one dessert item from their food truck – the “Brass Chicken Sandwich” and the “World’s Best Butter Tart”.  Don’t be deterred by the seemingly simple sandwich.  The meat (from La Brasserie’s famous rotisserie chicken) is beer brined and covered in gravy, served on a buttermilk bun and topped with crispy onions.  The crunchy texture of the onion perfectly compliments the moistness of the chicken and the softness of the bun.  The sandwich itself is $6.25, the combo (sandwich with a drink) is $7.15, and the butter tarts are $1.79 each.  A delicious meal all for under $10 – you can’t go wrong!

Cartel Street Food
Location: Dunsmuir and Hamilton, in front of the BC Hydro building
This socially conscious and environmentally responsible truck specializes in hand-made Korean fusion tacos.  All of their ingredients are all made or sourced locally.  For the meat eaters, you have two options – grass-fed, free range ribeye beef from Pemberton Meadows Farm and free range pork butt from Fraser Valley Farms, both prepared in the traditional Korean style of Bulgogi.  The meat is topped with your choice of house made salsa (red or green), kimchi, onions and cilantro with a lime wedge on the side.  The tacos are gluten-friendly as the tortillas are made from corn, water and lime.  Make sure you try the delicious and fresh green papaya salad with kimchi vinagrette and toasted pepitas as well!

Finest at Sea Fish Kart
Location: Robson, in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery
Experience fresh locally sourced seafood on the go!  Finest at Sea Fish Kart offers a variety of seafood chowders, sandwiches, rolls and salads.  One of their most popular menu items is the curry halibut seafood roll ($6) – grilled halibut, eggplant and crispy coleslaw all wrapped in grilled naan bread.  The flavourful yellow curry is creamy and perfectly compliments the crunchy and tangy coleslaw.  There are also a number of sandwich options on the menu (or “Fish on a ‘Weck, as they call it), which include your choice of wild B.C. salmon fillet, local albacore tuna steak or seared B.C. ling cod fillet.  I definitely suggest rounding out your meal with their roasted halibut bisque and a refreshing green tea ginger lemonade.

JapaDog
Location: Four Downtown Vancouver locations – Trucks: Burrard & Smithe, Burrard & Pender, Granville & Cordova (in front of Waterfront Station); Bricks and Mortar: 530 Robson, just off of Seymour
JapaDog is arguably Vancouver’s most popular food truck.  They have revolutionized the hot dog world by remixing the traditional hot dog by giving it a Japanese twist.  Their menu consists of 15-20 of both their own creative concoctions and more standard options.  Their most popular dog is the “Terimayo”, which is topped with teriyaki sauce, mayo and thin strips of seaweed.  More adventurous items include my favourite, the “Oroshi”, which is topped with freshly grated daikon radish and a special soya sauce, and the “Okonomi”, a juicy Kurobata pork hot dog topped with dried bonito (fish) flakes.  The carts are equipped with a variety of toppings, and the service is fast and friendly.  The menu varies from cart to cart, so check out their website for each location’s offerings.  If you get a chance to drop by their restaurant location, make sure you order a side of the “Shaked Fries”, which come in a variety of Japanese flavours.

The Juice Truck
Location: Abbott & Water
The Juice Truck offers cold-pressed juice made from the best locally sourced organic produce.  The cold pressing technique uses no heat and preserves the natural flavours of the produce, which yields more essential vitamins, minerals and enzymes than any other juice extracting method.  Their menu includes creative and combinations like “The Remedy” (pineapple pressed with cucumber, wheatgrass, mint and ginger) and “The Almost Chocolate” smoothie (banana blended with medjool dates, almond butter, raw cacao, raw maca and soy milk).  Healthful non-juice items are offered as well.

The Kaboom Box
Location: Robson & Granville
The Kaboom Box offers fresh, sustainable, healthy and local food using only Oceanwise seafood and sustainably produced meat.  My favourite is “The World Famous Hot Smoked Salmon Salmwich”.  The salmon is hot smoked on the cart and served on a toasted whole wheat bun with spicy mayo and house-made maple-mustard slaw.  Other items include “The Kaboom Box Fish and Chips”, “The Gulf Island Fried Oyster Po’Boy”, “The Vanburger Veggie Burger” and “The BC Venison Burger”.  My friend tried the venison burger and returned the following two days because it was just that good!  Poutine, fries and salads are also available to round out your meal.

Nu Greek Street
Location: Granville Street, in front of the Bay by Granville St. Skytrain station
The Nu Greek Street food truck was opened by Harry Kambolis, the owner of the award-winning RainCity Grill and C Restaurants.  The menu includes a number of salads, grilled souvlaki pitas, dips with pita, filo triangles and even Greek poutine!  Meat options for the grilled souvlaki pitas include the regular suspects (chicken, lamb, vegetable and falafel), in addition to salmon and octopus.  For a well-rounded meal, select from one of their “Nu Combos”, which includes both a wheat-free and a dairy-free option.  The meat is tender and flavourful, the salads fresh and the pita is made in-house.  Finish off your meal with your choice of baklava or Greek cookies.

Mom’s Grilled Cheese Truck
Location: Howe & Georgia, on the Vancouver Art Gallery corner
Mom’s Grilled Cheese Truck serves up classic and creative versions of everybody’s favourite childhood sandwich – grilled cheese.  Build upon the “Mom’s Classic” – first, choose from a selection of fresh made daily artisan breads and cheeses.  Then, if you desire, there are deluxe and super deluxe add-ons, which include options like a scoop of chili, sliced dill pickle and double smoked bacon (yum!)  Speciality options, like “The Jackson 3″, are also on the menu.  This triple cheese, triple decker grilled cheese is not for the faint of heart.  Three pieces of sourdough are surrounded by melted brie, boursin and gruyere.  If you are looking for something sweet, order the “Sweet Little Vals” (caramelized apples, candied pecans and cinnamon marsarpone cheese on brioche) or “The Fat Elvis” (peanut butter and banana with a sprinkle of smoked sea salt on white).  Delicious and comforting food, just like your Mom’s!

Re-Up BBQ
Location: Hornby & Georgia (Thursdays and Fridays only, from 11am-3pm)
The Re-Up BBQ is one of Vancouver’s most loved food trucks, and Vancouver Magazine voted it the best Vancouver Food Cart award for 2012.  Their menu is basic with two items – a pulled pork and a beef brisket sandwich.  The pulled pork is the more popular of the two options.  The meat is moist and plentiful, and is served on a soft Portuguese bun with “secret sauce” a side of fresh coleslaw.  Wash it all down with a refreshing Southern sweet tea.  The Re-Up BBQ has been featured on the Food Network’s Eat St., which features notable food trucks across North America.  If you are having a hard time deciding which truck try first, the Re-Up BBQ is the perfect place to start!

Roaming Dragon
Location: Robson & Burrard
Roaming Dragon offers a unique spin on Pan Asian cuisine.  Their most popular item is the Korean short rib taco ($3).  The flavourful meat is accompanied by bean spouts, carrots, sauteed spinach, shitake mushrooms and seaweed.  I also suggest the Chinese Pork Slider – at 2 for $5, you can’t go wrong.  The braised pork is served on incredibly soft pillowy buns with pickled cucumber, green onion and hoisin sauce.  The refreshing lychee and basil lemonade will act as the perfect compliment to your meal.  Roaming Dragon won the 2011 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Award for “Best Food Cart”, and was featured on the Food Network’s Eat St.

Tacofino
Location: The Orange Truck – Robson Square (closed during winter); The Blue Burrito Truck – Burrard & Dunsmuir, Monday to Friday, 11am-3pm
Originally from Tofino, Tacofino takes tacos to a whole new level.  They accomplish this by making everything from scratch, and using fresh local produce.  Their menu boasts items such as the popular Baja-inspired fish tacos, burritos, tortilla soup, and other local seasonal specials.  The fish taco uses tempura battered ling cod with chipolte mayo, shredded cabbage and salsa fresca on a fire-toasted flour tortilla.  The fish is lightly battered and crunchy, with the chipolte mayo and salsa fresco adding the perfect amount of spice, citrus and freshness to the taco.  Tacofino has been accurately decribed by the media as having “possibly the best Mexican, or at least the best fish tacos in BC”.

**For more information, check out the Street Food app and the Eat St app in the iTunes App store.
**As locations and hours vary, check the website for more information.

This is the perfect package for celebrating a birthday, anniversary or family reunion. It’s also a great place to propose.

This great package begins with a 20 minute float plane tour as you travel from downtown Vancouver’s Coal Harbour float plane terminal to Horseshoe Bay for a delicious and memorable dinner at the Boat House Restaurant, located right on the water.

Horseshoe Bay has a harbour and a BC Ferries terminal so you will see ferries come and go from the dock during dinner.

Enjoy dinner, and a walk through the village of Horseshoe Bay before boarding a limousine for your 30 minute return to downtown Vancouver.

Tour includes

• 20-minute scenic seaplane flight & tour
• three-course dinner and gratuity
• limousine transportation from Horseshoe Bay to downtown Vancouver

Tour Price
Adult: $229 per person + 12% tax
Private Limousine: Add $50

Tour Dates: May – September 2012

Tour Duration
3 hrs with 20 minute flight

For more information or reservations, call 604-990-9299 or 1-800-913-9207 Email or Book Now

See the best of Vancouver’s North Shore on this tour that includes both the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park and Grouse Mountain.

Tour includes an exhilarating ride to the top of Grouse Mountain aboard the Grouse Mountain SkyRide and admission to the world famous Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park with access to the suspension bridge and the Tree Top Adventure. You also go to the Capilano Fish Hatchery to see the spawning salmon and trout in a setting which is stunning.

Times

Year Round: 11:00 AM
May 1 – Oct 31: 10:00 AM
May 18-September 23: 8:00 AM

Duration

6 hours with pick up and drop off at your hotel.

Price

All prices are in Canadian dollars and include tax, hotel pick up and drop off and all admissions.
Adult: $145
Child: (4-11) $99

or Email us or call 604-990-9299 or 1-800-913-9207 for more information and reservations.

Destinations

* Lions Gate Bridge and Capilano Fish Hatchery: Get in touch with nature.
* Capilano Suspension Bridge: A treetop adventure
* Grouse Mountain: Summer Activities
* Skyride to Grouse Mountain with breathtaking views
* Theatre in the Sky “Born to Fly”
* Chainsaw Carvings
* Lumberjack Show
* Scenic Chairlift
* Grouse Mountain Grizzly Bear Refuge and more

Capilano Fish Hatchery: Capilano Fish Hatchery: Designed to restore the dwindling stocks of Coho salmon, Chinook salmon and Steelhead trout, this hatchery produces over 1 million Coho, up to 2.5 million Chinook and 10,000-20,000 Steelhead every year. The salmon hatchery has extensive educational displays covering many aspects of the salmon life cycle and the functioning of the hatchery.

Capilano Suspension Bridge: Often voted the best attraction in BC, the Capilano Suspension Bridge has, along with its 450 foot suspension bridge stretched over Capilano Canyon, a beautiful collection of totem poles and totem pole carvers, a rainforest nature park, a large gift shop and history centre.

Grouse Mountain: Travel by gondola to the top of Grouse Mountain, a summer and winter mountaintop playground. Watch the movie “Born to Fly,” an eagle’s eye view of the area, in the Theatre in the Sky, ride the Peak Chairlift to the top of the mountain, eat in the café, shop in the gift shop or watch the logger’s show. Finally, visit the orphan grizzly cubs who now make their home in a habitat designed especially for them.

or Email us or call 604-990-9299 or 1-800-913-9207 for more information and reservations.

Vancouver offers some of the best and most unusual modes of transportation of any city in the world. You can travel by air, land and sea: by boat, ferry, train, gondola, bus, float plane, helicopter, subway, bicycle and by foot.  Listed below are the most exciting and most enjoyable ways of getting around in Vancouver.

Feet

– One of the best ways to get around Vancouver is on foot. The downtown core is compact, scenic, historic and very safe, and walking is a wonderful way to explore from a human perspective. You’re not whizzing through, flying over or floating by. but seeing it slowly and at eye level.

Consider walks along Robson Street, the Coal Harbour waterfront, Denman Street from Georgia to English Bay, through Stanley Park,
around Yaletown, Chinatown, Gastown and along Davie Street in either direction.

Perhaps, Vancouver’s best walk is the Seawall walk that spans 22 km (13.7 miles) and follows Vancouver’s coastline from the Vancouver Convention Centre, around Stanley Park, past Second Beach and English Bay Beach, around False Creek, through Yaletown and Granville Island. The walk ends at Kitsilano Beach.

En route you’ll go over or under all three bridges that link downtown with the rest of the city: Burrard Bridge, Granville Bridge and Cambie Bridge. If you want to halve the hike, you can do so by eliminating the False Creek portion. Instead, cross the Burrard Bridge and walk to Kits Beach from the end of the bridge.

SkyTrain

– We might as well start here because the Canada Line skytrain station is a short walk from Vancouver International Airport Arrivals. The Canada Line skytrain, a light rail system, transports you from the airport to downtown Vancouver in 26 minutes. Can’t beat the speed, convenience or price.You can purchase tickets at the airport station before you board the train.

Vancouver Buses

– Vancouver has hundreds of city buses, and bus stops are located on many downtown street corners and at many skytrain stations. From any bus stop, you can get the arrival time of the next bus from your phone:
mobile: m.translink.ca
text: 33333
web: translink nextbus

Use the bus stop number located in the upper right hand corner of the bus stop sign, (51755 in the picture to the right) to identify your location and get the arrival time of the next bus.

Buses require exact fare so you will want to have some Canadian coins: preferably dollar (loonies) and two dollar (toonies) coins before you board the bus. You can purchase Canadian coins at an airport currency exchange kiosk or you can simply make a purchase, pay with US or Canadian dollars and get Canadian change.

Float Planes

– also called Seaplanes – Because Vancouver is surrounded by water on three sides and because Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is located on an island, Vancouver Island, 39 miles from the mainland, Vancouver relies on float planes.

Float planes transport people and packages back and forth between Vancouver and Victoria and between Vancouver and Nanaimo, the second largest city on Vancouver Island more than 50 times a day. Vancouver’s downtown float plane terminal is located in Coal Harbour, right downtown and next to the Convention Centre.

From downtown Vancouver, flights are available to and from Victoria, Nanaimo, and Whistler.

And although flights are weather dependent, there are not many days a year when the float planes don’t fly. Only dense fog and extreme weather conditions ground them. Otherwise, they reliably fly between Vancouver and Victoria in 30-35 minutes and between Vancouver and Nanaimo in 20 minutes.

The most scenic flight, between Vancouver and Whistler, is available from May 18 to September 26. There are no flights to and from Whistler in Winter since Whistler’s Green Lake, the location of the Whistler float plane dock,  is frozen in winter, so planes can’t take off or land.

Flightseeing above Vancouver and the nearby mountains is available daily year round.

For visitors wanting to see Victoria and the Butchart Gardens while you’re in Vancouver, then our Fly and Ferry option is the most enjoyable way to travel because you get both the float plane experience and the ferry experience.

Ferries

– Most people don’t know it, but Vancouver actually has three ferry systems.  The biggest, BCFerries, is the main transportation system between Vancouver and the nearby islands, including Vancouver Island, and between Vancouver and the Sunshine Coast (part of the mainland cut off from Vancouver and the lower mainland by the Georgia Strait).

Aquabus

The second ferry system operates in False Creek, a short inlet that separates downtown from the rest of Vancouver. False Creek is served by the Aquabus.  The Aquabus departs from the bottom of Hornby Street, Science World, David Lam Park at the bottom of Homer Street, Yaletown at the Marina on Davie Street, the Plaza of Nations Casino, Olympic Village and Granville Island.

SeaBus

The SeaBus is a 12 minute passenger only ferry that crosses the Burrard Inlet that separates downtown Vancouver from the North Shore.

The SeaBus operates between Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver and the Lonsdale Quay Market across the Burrard Inlet in North Vancouver. Waterfront Station is the last Skytrain station in Vancouver, and only a short walk from the Canada Place Cruise Ship terminal, the Convention Centre, the float plane terminal.

From the Lonsdale Quay, you can catch the #236 bus to Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain. The Lonsdale Quay is a destination in its own right with a food court, shops and wonderful views of downtown Vancouver from across the inlet.

Grouse Mountain SkyRide

– This gondola provides transportation from the bottom to the top of Grouse Mountain.  The one mile, 8 minute ride from the base of the mountain to the peak includes spectacular views of the city and North Shore. Once you get to the top of the mountain, you’ll find a lot to do. In winter, all winter sports are available.

In summer, you can visit the Grizzly Bear refuge, ride the chairlift, watch a lumberjack show, eat lunch or dinner, have a snack, shop, watch videos of the area from an eagle’s perspective, ride the zipline, hike or visit the resident wind turbine (windmill), the Eye of the Wind.

Bicycles

– Vancouver has miles of bike lanes on city streets, a separated bicycle lane across the Burrard Bridge and all 22 km of the Seawall is open to bicycles. There are a number of bicycle rental shops near the corner of Denman and Georgia in downtown Vancouver, adjacent to Stanley Park and bicycle rentals are available in Yaletown, Granville Island and other places around the city. You can get an idea of the number of city bike lanes, take a look at the Vancouver Bicycle Map.

What better way to explore a city than on foot?  Whether you want to explore Vancouver’s hidden culinary gems or learn more about the city’s neighbourhoods from an architectural perspective, these walking tours will offer you an insider’s perspective on the best of Vancouver.  All you need is a comfortable pair of walking shoes and you are set to go!

Tour Guys

Vancouver Tour Guys offer a number of free (yes, I said FREE!) walking tours that not only cover the history of the city, but also insider tips on places to eat, sights to see and neighbourhoods to explore.  The free tours include Granville & Gastown, Downtown & Olympic Waterfront and Downtown East & Chinatown.  There is no charge for the tour itself but tipping the guide is encouraged.  The paid tours include Eat Your Cart Out ($32 includes a guided tour, samples at each of the food carts and discount coupons) and Beer Makes History Better ($40 includes a guided tour and craft brew samples at each of the pubs).  Private tours are also available.

Edible Canada

Edible Canada, Canada’s largest culinary tourism and locavore retail company, offers a handful of walking tours which include the Granville Island Market Tour, the Granville Island Sample & Shop Tour and the Chinatown Tour with/without Dim Sum.  The Granville Island Market Tour includes a 2 hour tour for $35, while the Granville Island Sample & Shop Tour includes a 1.5 hour tasting tour, followed by a 1.5 hour shopping tour around the Island, and introduction to Island vendors and artisans for $75.  Both tours also include 10% off purchases at the Edible Canada Retail Store.  The Chinatown Tour includes a 2 hour tour of Chinatown & surrounding area for $40, with the option of a guided Dim Sum lunch for an additional $25.  All tours also include an Edible Canada recycled tote bag, regional food tastings, tips on food selection and preparation and bottled water.

A Wok Around

Join Robert Sung for a culinary and cultural walking tour of Vancouver’s Chinatown.  The tour begins at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and explores the diverse specialty shops and vendors.  The itinerary also includes a visit to a Taoist temple and a viewing of historical landmarks.  At the end, you will have the opportunity to replenish all those calories burned with a delicious dim sum lunch.  The tour takes place year-round on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (rain or shine) from 10am-2pm and costs $80.

AIBC Architectural Walking Tours

The Architectural Institute of British Columbia’s Architectural Walking Tours program offers unique perspectives of Vancouver.  The six tours include: Victory Square & Gastown: Where the City Began, Chinatown: Yesterday and Today, Strathcona: Neighbourhood of Change, False Creek North & Yaletown: Industrial to Residential, The West End: The Manhattan to Mole Hill, and The Downtown Business Core: Modern and Contemporary.  Tours are $10 (including tax) per person and are offered throughout July, August and early September (refer to the website for the updated schedule), with no tours on Sundays or Mondays.   Tours start at 10AM and 1PM and last approximately 1.5 to 2 hours (rain or shine).

Vancouver Food Tour

These guided culinary tours showcase local artisinal fare and restaurant gems in BC’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.  Two regular Vancouver tours are offered: the Gastown Tasting Tour and the Gastown Craft Beer ‘n Bites Tour.  The Gastown Tasting Tour includes a guided walking tour, four tasting courses (including dessert), one craft cocktail, one full wine tasting (three wines) and one sherry sample for $125 (including tax).  The Gastown Craft Beer ‘n Bites Tour includes a guided walking tour, beer tastings at each of the four destinations and hand-selected food pairings for $80 (including tax).

* Listed prices do not include HST (unless otherwise specified) and are subject to change.  Please refer to the websites for the most up-to-date information.