Vancouver Condos

Vancouver Information

Framed by snow capped mountains on three sides and kissed by waves that have travelled half the globe, Vancouver's ever changing skyline is the perfect blend of man made beauty and nature's paintbrush. Those who have not discovered this mainland British Columbia coastal paradise will shortly as Vancouver plays host to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Born of gold rush fever in the 1860's, Vancouver went from a wild west style mining camp to a prosperous lumber port. The completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880's brought with it both a surge in population and an important link to the rest of Canada. One of the offshoots of this population boom was Vancouver's Chinatown, one of the largest in the nation. Visitors may shop for exotic items, sample authentic cuisine, or just experience Asian culture.

Today this modern, ethnically diverse city is the third largest in the nation and is favoured with a temperate climate by Canadian standards. Winters are the fourth warmest in Canada, bested only by Victoria, Nanaimo and Duncan, all on nearby Vancouver Island.

Accommodations range from upscale luxury hotels to bed and breakfast offerings in vintage residential areas. Intimate boutique hotels and inns may be found throughout the city. Yaletown, near the downtown business district, offers upscale apartments and condominiums.

Quirky Gastown was once Vancouver's downtown core. Named after Gassy Jack Deighton, it was home to the area's first saloon, built by local mill hands upon a promise of all the whiskey they could drink. Recreational drinking became legendary, as that one saloon eventually blossomed into over 300 in a twelve block radius.

The Great Depression of the 1930's rather put a cork in things and Gastown fell into decline until the 1960's. Destined to be demolished to make way for a modern roadway, the area was saved by public outcry and was granted Historic Site status in 1971.

Today visitors can explore the cobble stone streets, souvenir stands, art shops and cafes nestled in vintage Victorians. Visit the landmark steam clock for a local version of Westminster Chimes or indulge in a bit of recreational drinking of your own in one of the many pubs.

GM Place is home to the NHL Vancouver Canuks. The season runs from October to April; longer when the team makes the playoffs. Canadians are passionate about hockey. If you happen to be in town and are lucky enough to get tickets, this fast paced game is a special treat.

Granville Island is home to galleries, art studios, restaurants and theatres. The Granville Island Public Market is one of the most creatively stocked public markets around. The Kid's Market with its half-pint sized entry way to the toy, craft and book stores is an entire mall appealing to a child's point of view.

Vancouverites love the great outdoors and Stanley Park offers over 1,000 acres of coastal forest, manicured lawns, colour blazing flower gardens and tranquil lagoons accessible by meandering walking paths. Surrounding the park is an 8.8 kilometre sea wall along the Burrard Inlet and English Bay, perfect for jogging, biking, inline skating or just strolling in this scenic locale. The park is also attractive to local wildlife and is home to beavers, coyotes, bald eagles, raccoons, trumpeter swans, geese, ducks and skunks.

A favourite of Stanley Park is the Vancouver Aquarium, considered one of the best and biggest in North America. Though a delight for all ages, kids in particular enjoy getting up close and personal with the many varieties of marine life.

Stanley Park may also be explored from the seat of a vintage Victorian style horse drawn carriage. Tours operate from March 15th to October 31st. Reserve a carriage for two and indulge in your own private tour.

Bring a picnic to Stanley Park and enjoy a musical or light comedy presentation at the summer Theatre Under the Stars. Offerings range from well known standards to those created by today's budding playwrights.

Bard on the Beach presents its annual Shakespeare Festival in waterfront Vanier Park. Four different plays are hosted in two open ended performance tents taking full advantage of Vancouver's picturesque setting.

The Vancouver International Fringe Festival is the largest theatre festival in British Columbia. Celebrating new and innovative offerings, this festival draws performers from across Canada and the United States.

Offering over 350 films from 60 different countries the Vancouver International Film Festival is one of the largest in North America yet is one of the most accessible to both film lovers and film makers. The event attracts more than 150,000 participants annually.

The PNE (Pacific National Exhibition), Vancouver's annual summer fair offers over 800 performers and exhibits and more that fifty rides and attractions. Concerts, parades and fireworks are all part of the fun.

Golfing is a popular summer option and there are public courses offered through the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. The popular Langara Golf Course offers discounts for seniors, youths and for weekday tee times.

Fifteen minutes from downtown Vancouver, Grouse Mountain offers a year round recreational park. The visit starts with a breathtaking eight minute ride to the summit on the SkyRide gondola. In addition to winter skiing, snowboarding and ice skating, guests will find a restaurant, large screen theatre ( Theatre in the Sky), lumberjack show, endangered wildlife refuge and helicopter tours. Summer offers hiking and mountain bike trails to explore.

Vancouver's ocean side location makes both power and sail boating popular past times. Combine this with the fact that the local waters offer salmon, trout, steelhead and sturgeon for the taking and anyone with even the slightest itch to drop a line will be tempted. Various companies offer boats for rent and there are chartered fishing tours available.

The North Vancouver fiord known as Indian Arm offers 30 kilometres of paddling opportunities and the relatively calm waters of False Creek are equally enticing. Novice paddlers or those simply wanting to go in a group may sign up with one of the local tour operators.