Lace up your most comfortable walking shoes and head out on this six-kilometre urban hike that includes some of Vancouver’s Olympic venues and attractions with interesting stops along the way.

Start: Canada Place (kilometre 0.0)
The Vancouver Convention Centre at Canada Place (999 Canada Place Way) stands on the waterfront in the heart of downtown Vancouver. During the 2010 Winter Games, the Convention Centre will house the International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre. From the water-side railings you can drink in the views of Stanley Park (with its statue of Canadian Olympic sprinter Harry Jerome who held seven world records) and Cypress Mountain where freestyle skiing and snowboarding events will take place during the 2010 Winter Games.

Stop 1: Vancouver 2010 Countdown Clock (kilometre 0.75)
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Countdown Clock sits in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby Street). The six-metre high clock logs the hours, minutes and seconds remaining until the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games begin. After getting your photo taken in front of the clock, hop across the street to pick up some Vancouver 2010 souvenirs at Hbc (The Hudson’s Bay Company - Canada’s oldest corporation, opened in 1670 - and the official clothing supplier to 2010 Winter Games’ athletes and volunteers).

Stop 2: BC Place Stadium (kilometre 1.5)
BC Place Stadium (777 Pacific Boulevard) is ground zero for the 2010 Winter Games as the venue for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as nightly Olympic Victory Ceremonies. Throughout the rest of the year, this busy stadium hosts football games, concerts and a multitude of special events. While you’re there, check out the BC Sports Hall of Fame (a great place to learn about past Olympians and other sports figures). Also in the area is the Terry Fox Memorial, a postmodern interpretation of a triumphal Roman arch that honours Fox’s heroic effort to run across Canada to raise funds for cancer research.

Stop 3: General Motors Place (kilometre 2.0)
General Motors Place (800 Griffiths Way) will be filled with face-painted and flag-waving hockey fans during the 2010 Winter Games. Home to the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, “The Garage” (as the arena is affectionately nicknamed by locals) will be transformed into “Canada Hockey Place” for the Olympic men’s and women’s ice hockey competitions. Expect tickets to the hockey finals to be one of the hottest commodities at the 2010 Winter Games. Outside gate seven you will find a granite statue of Rick Hansen, a Paralympic multiple medal winner who in 1987 embarked on the Man in Motion tour, wheeling around the world to raise awareness and funds for spinal cord research.

Stop 4: Olympic and Paralympic Village Vancouver (kilometre 3.0)
Olympic and Paralympic Village Vancouver is located on the southeast shore of False Creek. During the 2010 Winter Games, this stunning and sustainable village will house over 2,000 athletes and officials. Afterwards, it will be Vancouver’s newest community neighbourhood with a mix of housing and services – as well as killer views of the water and downtown Vancouver. Follow the seawall that runs in front of this busy construction zone, taking a break on one of the white, jumbo-sized chaise lounges that face the water. At the Cambie Street Bridge (kilometre 4.0) you have a choice: continue walking along the seawall for two more kilometres (past community parks, homes and a marina), or take a break and hop an Aquabus to Granville Island.

Finish: Granville Island (kilometre 6.0)
Have you worked up an Olympian-sized appetite? The Granville Island Public Market is the perfect place to pick up picnic supplies.