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 Green, clean, safe, affluent, happily multicultural and and lushly nestled into the craggy northern Pacific coastline: that's Vancouver in a, well, pine cone. Home to two million residents, including roughly half a million people of Chinese and South Indian ancestry, Vancouver today looks to the Orient as often as it looks to Europe or the United States, its biggest trading partner.
Europeans first came to Vancouver in the mid-1800's, and the city was incorporated in 1886. During the 20th century, immigrants arrived from around the world in significant numbers -- and that has propelled Vancouver's evolution into one of the world's most charming multicultural cities.
These days, it's a modern, sophisticated metropolis with a broad range of businesses and services. Vancouver boasts two universities and many ESL (English as a second language) schools. The film industry thrives, so much so that Vancouver has been dubbed "Hollywood North." And while the city harbors artists of every ilk, Vancouverites are also passionate about the outdoors (free-style mountain biking was born on the precipitous slopes of the North Shore).
The Seawall -- enjoying unofficial National Treasure status -- extends 22 kilometers (13.6 miles) around the downtown peninsula, including Stanley Park. It then wends south along an inlet known peculiarly as False Creek to Granville Island, Vanier Park (with the Vancouver and maritime museums) and Kitsilano Beach Park. Walking, cycling, in-line skating or otherwise self-propelling along the seawall is a great way to experience the city (in manageable bites).
Vancouver's downtown peninsula -- from the beach at English Bay, through the city center, to historic Gastown, Chinatown and Yaletown -- is navigable by foot, bus and taxi. An electric trolley bus is usually at hand, as are yellow and black cabs.
The newly livable downtown -- you'll notice the forests of glossy new apartment towers from Coal Harbour in the north to False Creek in the south -- is a huge success. Streetscapes boast trees and green spaces, great lamp-lighting, comfortable benches, interesting public art, and lots of good restaurants, bars, coffee houses, theaters and clubs. City-dwellers are smitten -- and we think you will be too.
What to See
A trip to Vancouver wouldn't be complete without sampling the area's natural beauty, from kayaking English Bay to strolling through Stanley Park. But leave time to explore the city's varied neighborhoods.
  Vancouver's Chinatown is the second biggest in North America and on summer weekends it hosts a bustling pedestrian-friendly night market that runs from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. The best streets to stroll are Pender and Keefer featuring the classic Chinese gardens of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the ancient healing wonders of traditional Chinese medicine at Kiu Shun Trading Company and many other specialty shops.
Stanley Park, Vancouver's main tourist attraction, suffered a devastating blow in December 2006 when it was ravaged by a severe storm. But the 1,000-acre evergreen oasis surrounded by a 5.5-mile paved seawall is still as popular as ever. Visitors can walk, bike or just watch the ships go by (although there are still some sections of broken asphalt and rough surfaces as restoration continues several years later). Take the free shuttle around the park, stopping at numerous locations such as the Vancouver Aquarium. Other park attractions include the Variety Kids Water Park, a miniature train, a children's farmyard, totem-pole-carving demonstrations, beaches, playgrounds and picnic areas.
A handsome former courthouse is home to the Vancouver Art Gallery. The permanent collection includes the works of Emily Carr, a celebrated eccentric who best expresses B.C.'s early landscape and aboriginal culture.
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