| Vancouver is an incredibly vibrant, multicultural city | | | | English Bay.Be prepared to leave both restaurants |
| experiencing tremendous growth in anticipation of | | | | perfectly satisfied as you continue your |
| the 2010 Winter Olympics. Considered one of the | | | | exploration of the multicultural feast that is |
| world's most livable and beautifully-situated cities, | | | | Vancouver.4) Nightlife in GastownFor a night on |
| Vancouver offers a wealth of interesting | | | | the town Vancouver has a lot to offer the |
| experiences for the curious visitor. Here we | | | | adventurous. The Granville Street strip is where |
| present a few old favorites for travelers to | | | | revelers head to dance and drink the night away |
| enjoy, as well as one or two places off the | | | | under the flashing neon signs of the heritage |
| beaten path for the curious adventurer.1) Canada | | | | Orpheum and Vogue theaters at such bustling |
| PlaceThe first stop for anyone coming to | | | | nightclubs as Republic, Tonic, and Ginger 68, to |
| Vancouver should be to walk along the | | | | name but a few.Gastown along Water Street is |
| spectacular promenade of Canada Place at | | | | where the first European settlement was created |
| Waterfront Station. Constructed as the Canadian | | | | back in the old lumber camp days and the locale |
| pavilion for the World Expo 1986 and now housing | | | | saw one of Vancouver's first saloons opened up |
| the city's Convention Center, a stroll around | | | | by legendary 'Gassy' Jack Deighton in the late |
| Canada Place allows the visitor to take in the | | | | 1800's. On the cobbled streets one may find |
| beautiful harbor of Burrard Inlet, with its vista of | | | | some excellent watering holes that continue the |
| snow-capped mountains, Stanley Park, and the | | | | tradition set by Vancouver's pioneers.Close to the |
| modern glass towers of Coal Harbour | | | | original site of 'Gassy' Jack's own Deighton Hotel is |
| nearby.Canada Place also showcases the | | | | the charming Irish Heather Bistro, home of the |
| dynamism of Vancouver's economic might and | | | | best pints of Guinness in the city. In the rear, built |
| place in the global market. The inlet seethes with | | | | into the snug walls of the old city jail, is a cozy |
| container ships bound outward to China and parts | | | | glassed-in patio that hosts live Irish and Scottish |
| beyond. In the summertime cruise ships from the | | | | music most nights. The 'Heather' boasts a |
| world's major lines dock along the pier en route to | | | | progressive menu which combines old pub |
| Alaska. Floatplanes taking off for the wild natural | | | | standards together with modern flair.For a more |
| coves of the Inside Passage and helicopters | | | | raucous scene try the Blarney Stone pub across |
| departing for Vancouver Island augment the | | | | the street. A genuine Irish dance hall crammed |
| energetic scene.It was here that the Canadian | | | | with University Students on the weekends, the |
| Pacific Railway completed the transcontinental | | | | Blarney Stone is known throughout town as a wild |
| railway in 1889, bestowing on Vancouver the | | | | and rowdy place to make new friends and have a |
| nickname of 'Terminal City'. Since then Vancouver | | | | good time. There's free foosball tables on the |
| has changed from being the 'end of the line' and is | | | | upper level and be prepared to hoot and holler |
| now considered the 'Gateway to Asia' and the Far | | | | along with the fiddles and drums all night |
| North. It's a perfect introduction to the city of | | | | long.These are just a few of Vancouver's many |
| Vancouver and shouldn't be missed by the curious | | | | active hotspots. Recommendations for music |
| traveller.2) Spanish BanksFor another perspective | | | | venues, concerts and movies can be found in the |
| on the city ride out the beaches at Spanish | | | | entertainment section of the free weekly cultural |
| Banks, on the north shore of Point Grey. In | | | | paper 'The Georgia Straight', found everywhere |
| summer with the tide out, the golden sands of | | | | downtown. Pick one up and you won't fail to find |
| the lovely beaches seem to stretch out to infinity. | | | | something for every taste.5) Sports in the |
| The water remains shallow and warm with the | | | | CityVancouver boasts several professional sports |
| tide in during the hot months, but at any time of | | | | franchises and a history of excellence. In 1915 the |
| year the view remains breathtaking, with the tall | | | | Vancouver Millionaires hoisted up the renowned |
| modern condominium towers of Vancouver | | | | Stanley Cup on the ice at the old Denman Arena, |
| sparkling in the distance like shards of light within | | | | the first indoor artificial-ice hockey rink in North |
| the green jade bowl of the mountains | | | | America.Since then the city's teams include the |
| beyond.Treat yourself to a visit at the Jericho | | | | locally-beloved Vancouver Canucks of the National |
| Sailing Association and share an enormous platter | | | | Hockey League and defunct Vancouver Grizzlies |
| of nachos served up on the delightful terrace. | | | | of the NBA. The 1994 and 2000 Grey Cup |
| From your commanding perch you can watch | | | | Champion British Columbia Lions of the Canadian |
| boating hobbyists and windsurfers at play on the | | | | Football League play at BC Place Stadium, site of |
| water or see stately craft from the nearby Royal | | | | the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 |
| Vancouver Yacht Club pull up their sails. Further | | | | Winter Olympics.Throughout the year there is |
| inland, Ultimate Frisbee players sprawl out on the | | | | always a game on somewhere for fans of every |
| green fields and tennis courts attract some of the | | | | sport and every budget.Some of the best fun |
| city's best players.The area of the park was once | | | | can be had with Vancouver's minor league teams. |
| a seaplane base and military camp during the | | | | The Oakland Athletics affiliate Vancouver |
| Second World War and now contains a youth | | | | Canadians of the Single 'A' NorthWest Baseball |
| hostel, with a local community centre and theatre. | | | | league play in a jewel of a ballpark at Nat Bailey |
| It's a perfect spot for a picnic or just to escape | | | | Stadium near Queen Elizabeth Park. It's a fun |
| the hustle and bustle of the city and well worth | | | | afternoon of baseball in a lovely pastoral setting |
| the visit.3) Sushi in the West EndVancouver is | | | | for young and old alike that will often end with |
| world-famous for its venerable Chinatown and the | | | | music and fireworks, or a visit by the mayor. |
| hundreds of restaurants contained therein. The | | | | If Canucks tickets are too expensive or difficult |
| city has been a home for Asian immigrants since | | | | to find a great alternative in the winter are the |
| the construction of the railway in the 19th | | | | Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey |
| century. Those who braved the voyage to the | | | | League. This young team plays at the historic |
| 'Gold Mountain' brought with them culinary | | | | Pacific Coliseum on the grounds of the P.N.E. |
| traditions that have enlivened the palates of | | | | fairgound and come off a championship 2006 |
| generations of Vancouverites. In addition to | | | | season.Vancouver is also seeing a resurgence of |
| Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean neighborhoods | | | | interest in soccer, notably with the resurrected |
| Vancouver once had a thriving Japantown along | | | | Vancouver Whitecaps. The team was champion |
| East Hastings, now sadly in decline.These days, | | | | of the North America Soccer League in 1979 |
| thousands of English language students from | | | | during the height of 'soccernania' in Canada and |
| Japan and Korea have turned the area along west | | | | the United States, winning the Soccer Bowl in |
| Robson Street and Denman into a miniature | | | | New York City that year. They currently play at |
| Tokyo or Seoul. One of the best ways to sample | | | | Swangard Stadium close to a Skytrain station in |
| some of the city's delights is to visit a few of the | | | | Burnaby and there is talk of a new downtown |
| many restaurants offering affordable and delicious | | | | stadium in anticipation of Vancouver hosting the |
| all-you-can-eat buffets of sushi and | | | | 2007 U-20 World Cup.Stanley Park is named after |
| sashimi.Shabusen restaurant at the corner of | | | | the Governor-General of Canada who donated |
| Burrard and Robson is a great place to start, with | | | | the Stanley Cup to hockey and the city waits for |
| its wide selection and wonderful Korean barbecue | | | | its next championship and the eyes of the world |
| specials on the weekends, when you can cook | | | | in 2010 for the Olympics. With so much to do and |
| spicy marinated chicken, beef and pork at your | | | | see, a visit to Vancouver is more interesting than |
| own personal brazier. Another great stop is | | | | ever. It's a chance to share the excitement and |
| Tanpopo restaurant near the corner of Denman | | | | enjoy the hospitality of this 'City of |
| and Davie streets, with its wealth of fresh wild | | | | Tomorrow'.The Victorian Hotel offers great |
| salmon, tasty gyoza dumplings, salty spinach | | | | downtown accommodation and detailed maps and |
| ohitashi salad and a marvelous outdoor patio | | | | guides for Vancouver dining, shopping, arts, |
| where you can watch to world go by at nearby | | | | sightseeing and going out guide. |