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