Incredible mountains, sparkling ocean, and a cosmopolitan flair make Vancouver perfect for work or play.   Vancouver will host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games in February and March respectively.      To learn more about the city, average temperatures, maps, what to see and its history, go to www.tourismvancouver.com.

What to Do in Vancouver

Gardens of Delight

Nitobe Memorial Garden, a traditional Japanese Tea and Stroll garden, is located at the University of British Columbia.

Van Dusen Gardens is located in the heart of Vancouver and features a large plant collection divided into botanical and geographical themes.

The mission of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research is excellence in plant research, education and conservation.  Experience Vancouver’s coastal forest from exciting new heights at the Greenheart Canopy Walkway.

The Dr Sun Yat-sen Classical Chinese Garden is the first full-size Chinese or ’scholar’s’ garden built outside of China and is located in Chinatown in Vancouver.  It provides visitors with insights into Chinese culture, life during the Ming Dynasty, architecture, horticulture and a rare cultural experience.

Outdoor Fun

Visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge for a thrilling trip, totem poles, rain forest hiking trails, treetop adventures and more.

The Grouse Grind©, as we know it today, was first developed in 1981 by mountaineers looking for a challenging, convenient aerobic workout.  It is a steep hiking trail that starts at the base of Grouse Mountain and takes you to the summit.  Very strenuous.

Grouse Mountain is one of the more popular attractions in the Vancouver area.  If you not interested in the Grouse Grind, you can ride to the summit via the gondola.

Cultural Interests

Bard on the Beach is one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals.  Each night of the festival two plays are presented at Bard on the Beach’s ‘village’ located at Vanier Park on English Bay.  The 2010 season begins on the 3rd of  June 2010 and continues to the 25th of September and will feature four plays:  Much Ado About Nothing, Anthony and Cleopatra, Falstaff (Henry IV, parts I and II) and Henry V.

The 25th anniversary Vancouver International Jazz Festival will feature more than 1800 musicians from Canada and the world performing at more than 40 venues throughout Greater Vancouver.  The festival begins on the 25th of June 2010 and ends on the 4th of July.

Housed in the former Court House, the Vancouver Art Gallery houses a permanent exhibition of the works of Emily Carr in addition to a collection that contains old masters and rising stars.

UBC’s Museum of Anthropology has recently undergone a significant renovation and houses one of the world’s finest displays of Northwest Coast First Nations art, culture and artifacts as well as other collections chronicling the Pacific Rim.

The Vancouver Aquarium and Marine Science Centre is Canada’s largest marine science centre and is located in Stanley Park.  Among its permanent residents are otters rescued from the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Gastown, situated at the northeast corner of the downtown area, is the birthplace of the city and filled with shops, restaurants and the architecture of the early days of the city.

Make Your Own Fun

Visit www.findfamilyfun.com or www.tourismvancouver.com for more information about our metropolitan area and its attractions.