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Vancouver, BC Vacation Guide

Canada's west-coast city extraordinaire, Vancouver is well known for its cosmopolitan spirit and natural beauty. Whether you come to shop on Robson Street, check out the scene on Commercial Drive, dine in Yaletown or hike across Stanley Park, you're sure to be won over by Vancouver's many charms.

Vancouver, Canada

Neighborhoods in Vancouver, BC

Downtown Vancouver

The heart of Vancouver includes the city's main shopping and business districts, as well as a number of picturesque neighborhoods. Check out movies, concerts and clubs on Granville, the city's Theatre Row. Yaletown's renovated warehouses house trendy shops, bars and restaurants; Gastown offers visitors a look at the city's old-time charm. Other central areas include Chinatown and Granville Island.

The West End

Robson Street brims with boutiques, coffee houses and chic restaurants in the center of town, but follow it westward into this neighborhood -- a short walk or bus ride to the urban core -- to find high-rise condos rubbing shoulders with sweet Edwardian homes. At the neighborhood's western edge lies venerable Stanley Park, North America's second-largest urban forest and home to the Vancouver Aquarium.

Richmond

Ten miles from downtown, suburban Richmond is home to Vancouver's modern airport and the city's major Asian enclaves. Explore Asian food and shops at Asia West, Aberdeen Mall, Yao Han Centre and the Richmond Centre Mall. Take a stroll along the Dyke Trails or through Fantasy Garden World. Visit the historic Gulf of Georgia Cannery, a national historic site dedicated to local fisheries.

Fairview and Mount Pleasant

These two neighborhoods are popular for their close proximity to the False Creek waterfront and downtown Vancouver. Just outside the neighborhood boundaries, you'll find Granville Island and its famed Public Market. Plenty of shops line South Granville, as well as nearby West 4th Avenue and West Broadway in the Kitsilano neighborhood. Mount Pleasant is home to City Hall and City Centre mall.

Vancouver, BC Travel Tip

A trio of similarly named areas leave many Vancouver visitors scratching their heads. The residential West End, the home of Stanley Park, occupies the westernmost part of downtown. The West Side area -- south of downtown and False Creek -- is home to University of British Columbia as well as the Kitsilano and West Granville neighborhoods. And then there's West Vancouver, a separate city entirely.

Vancouver, BC Activities & Attractions

Granville Island
On south shore of False Creek a quick ferry ride from downtown, Granville Island is best known for its world-class Public Market produce. But you'll also find handmade crafts, artists' studios, theatres, restaurants and a gorgeous view of downtown.
Chinese garden
On the edge of Chinatown and Gastown, Dr. Sun Yat-sen Classical Chinese Garden offers a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city. Explore its bamboo-fringed paths on your own, or take a guided tour to learn more about the garden's Taoist-inspired design.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
Built in the late 1800s, the Capilano Suspension Bridge rises more than 200 feet above the Capilano River... suspended by just two cables! The surrounding 20-acre park also offers displays by Native carving artisans, and guides in frontier-era costume.
Totum Pole
Located at the UBC campus in the West Side neighborhood, the Museum of Anthropology hosts a collection of totem poles and many sculptures by Native artist Bill Reid. Nearby, you'll find both the UBC Botanical Garden and Nitobe Japanese Garden.

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