| TOP TEN FAMILY ACTIVITIES IN VANCOUVER |
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- Sail across the harbour or soar above the city. Heading across Burrard Inlet by SeaBus or travelling around the city by SkyTrain is a highlight for many visiting kids. Try for a seat at the front of a SkyTrain and they'll feel like they're driving.
- Granville Island is a hub for fun. Check out North America's largest free water park before exploring the Kids Market that offers two floors stocked with original toys and games, from hand-made finger puppets to one-of-a-kind kites. Make sure you take a colourful Aquabus to get to the Island - half the fun is the journey!
- Head to golden-sanded Kitsilano Beach for a day of fun in the sun. Younger kids can beachcomb and check out the playground, while teens can hit the salt water swimming pool or tennis courts.
- Stroll from Kits beach to nearby Vanier Park, home to the Vancouver Museum, Vancouver Maritime Museum and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. Vanier Park is also a great spot to fly a kite and is home to the Vancouver International Children's Festival every May.
- Hit Science World at TELUS World of Science for a plethora of hands-on activities, including blowing giant soap bubbles, playing a piano with your feet and freezing your shadow on a wall. There's also an OMNIMAX big-screen cinema.
- For an even bigger screen, head to Canada Place's IMAX Theatre on the waterfront where you can soar over mountains or stare into the faces of the wildlife towering over you.
- Sway across the river at Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park, complete with a swinging rope bridge, rainforest nature trails, a mini-forest of totem poles and the Treetops Adventure - a network of smaller bridges strung between the trees high up in the rainforest canopy.
- Visit Maplewood Farm, where kids can take a close-up look at 200 farm animals and birds, pet the bunnies and pat the horses. Spring is a favourite time to visit because that's when the baby animals are born.
- Check out the landmark Vancouver Public Library, and head downstairs to the Children's Library, B.C.'s largest.
- Tuck into a hearty lunch at Gastown's Old Spaghetti Factory. Try to snag a table inside one of the on-site trolley cars - then stroll up Water Street to see the hissing steam clock.
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| THIS LITTLE PIGGY WENT TO MARKET |
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Spring has sprung, the days are getting warmer, and annual farmers' markets are also "springing up" in Vancouver. Starting in mid-May and running through to late October, these small, grassroots markets offer visitors and locals the chance to get a taste of what's in season and to meet the farmers, cheesemakers and bakers that form the base of the city's fabulous local food community.
There are four main markets in Vancouver:
- West End at Nelson Park (downtown on Comox St. between Bute and Thurlow)
Saturdays, 9am to 2pm (June 7 to October 25)
This is one of the easiest markets for most visitors to experience as it is a short walk from most downtown hotels.
- Riley Park at Nat Bailey Stadium (30th Ave. and Ontario St.)
Wednesdays, 12:30pm to 5:30pm (June 4 to October 22)
As this is right next to Queen Elizabeth Park, it's a great place to pick up the fixings for a picnic or snacks to munch while you watch a baseball game at Nat Bailey Stadium.
- East Vancouver at Trout Lake Community Centre (East 15th Ave. and Victoria Dr.)
Saturdays, 9am to 2pm (May 17 to October 25)
This is the biggest of the farmers' markets in Vancouver and close to bustling Commercial Drive.
- Kitsilano at Kitsilano Community Centre (10th Ave. and Larch St.)
Sundays, 10am to 2pm (June 1 to October 26)
A great place to pick up some snacks before hitting Kits Beach.
Farmers' markets are more than just a great place to shop - they're also a terrific place to learn about the food of an area and meet some colourful characters for stories. Not that the shopping can be ignored - visitors will be tempted by handmade candies, preserves and pickles that make tasty souvenirs.
www.eatlocal.org
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| CRUISE INTO VANCOUVER |
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Vancouver is the homeport for the Alaska cruise itinerary and a popular destination on the cruising scene for pre- and post-cruise experiences. Visitors enjoy the city's spectacular setting, cosmopolitan flavour, diversity of attractions and fabulous cuisine. During the 2008 cruise season, the Port of Vancouver will welcome 25 ships on some 250 calls carrying more than 850,000 passengers through its two cruise ship terminals, Canada Place and Ballantyne Pier.
Berlitz, the London based travel publisher, recognized Vancouver as the most passenger-friendly cruise port in North America (2005). And according to a 2006 Vancouver Cruise Passenger Study conducted by the Pacific Rim Cruise Association (PRCA), passengers rated their Vancouver cruise terminal experience 4.5 out of a possible 5.0, giving the highest accolades to smooth and efficient baggage handling, security processing and Canada Customs procedures.
www.portvancouver.com
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| WHISTLER MOUNTAINEER TRAIN AN IDEAL COMPLEMENT TO ALASKAN CRUISE |
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The Whistler Mountaineer, Rocky Mountaineer's tourist train that launched just two years ago, is up and running for the summer. The three-hour rail journey not only offers a terrific way to travel alongside scenic shoreline, waterfalls and mountains, it also provides visitors the chance to visit the four-season resort town of Whistler. The trip is ideal for pre- and post- Alaska cruise excursions. For the 2008 cruise season, there are two packages specifically for cruise visitors. The "Pre-Cruise Escape" and "Post-Cruise Escape" are two nights/three days in length and include rail and motor coach transportation to and from Whistler (including cruise terminal transfer in Vancouver and luggage handling) plus two nights accommodation. Prices begin at $459.
www.whistlermountaineer.com
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| VANCOUVER TO SHOWCASE URBAN BEST PRACTICES AT EXPO 2010 |
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Vancouver has been selected as one of the participating cities to showcase its expertise in urban best practices at Expo 2010 in Shanghai, China, being held May 1 to October 31, 2010. The site will demonstrate Vancouver and British Columbia's leadership in sustainability, showing how Greater Vancouver has embraced livability and sustainability in planning a growing and dynamic region. The 15-hectare Urban Best Practices Area of the Shanghai Expo will constitute the largest thematic pavilion in the site, offering an important stage for cities to propose their solutions to urban issues from different perspectives and through their best practices.
en.expo2010china.com
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| THE LISTEL HOTEL GOES SOLAR |
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The Listel Hotel is the first hotel in Vancouver to install a cutting-edge renewable energy system. The hotel has partnered with BC-based renewable energy leader Swiss Solar Tech and is reducing its carbon footprint by installing solar panels and a highly efficient heat recovery system. The hotel expects to reduce its carbon gas emissions by 170 tons annually.
The Listel Hotel is known as "Vancouver's most art-full hotel" and one of the city's most well-appointed boutique hotels. Its other green initiatives include a comprehensive recycling program, composting; various water, energy reduction and air quality programs; a towel and sheet reuse program; bulk amenities; and a strong commitment to organic and local food and wine. The hotel's restaurant and bar, O'Doul's, is also an active member of both the Green Table Network and the Vancouver Aquarium's Oceanwise program.
www.thelistelhotel.com
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| VSO MUSIC DIRECTOR TO BE GUEST CONDUCTOR AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL |
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Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's music director, Bramwell Tovey, was recently appointed principal guest conductor of the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl for their upcoming summer season. Tovey will continue his work with the VSO, but will begin his two-year commitment with the LA Philharmonic this summer conducting six concerts and one opera each season. Highlights this summer include Tovey's own composition Urban Runaway, Strauss' Don Juan, Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, and Bizet's Carmen.
www.vancouversymphony.ca
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| VANCOUVER TRIATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS BEGIN JUNE 5 |
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The Vancouver Triathlon World Championships will take place in Vancouver from June 5 to 8, marking the 20th anniversary of the International Triathlon Union's (ITU) flagship event. Taking place in downtown Vancouver's English Bay, the event will be the final Olympic qualifier for Canadians to earn selection to the Canadian team for the Bejing Summer Games. Four Olympic spots (two men and two women) will be at stake for Canada's best triathletes. This will be the final event in ITU's 24-month Olympic qualification period, which began May 1, 2006. The event features a $250,000 prize purse equal for elite men and women. An estimated 2,600 athletes from 45 countries will be competing.
www.triathlonvancouver.com
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| AN INSIDERS' GUIDE TO DINING DEALS IN VANCOUVER |
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Vancouver is fast becoming known as one of Canada's best dining destinations thanks to chefs with a passion for local and seasonal ingredients, conscious seafood sustainability, Asian influences, and access to fabulous British Columbia wines and local craft beers. Great culinary experiences can be found all across the city, from top destination restaurants to happening Japanese izakayas, packed wine and tapas bars, steamy dim sum houses and even great cheap sushi joints. The following are a brief round-up of deals that can be found across the city during the next few months.
Your Food, Your Wine at Aurora Bistro
From May until late September, Aurora Bistro will offer their mid-week summer tasting series, "Your Food, Your Wine @ Aurora." Alongside the regular dinner menu, this special menu is available Monday to Thursday and provides diners a fresh taste of British Columbia. For $49 per person, guests enjoy three regional dishes prepared by Chef Jeff Van Geest, each paired with a local wine from various British Columbia wineries (wine is included in the price). Watch for featured local treasures such as beets, berries, asparagus and heirloom tomatoes. This deal is a great way to experience BC's abundance of amazing local foods paired with delicious regional wines.
www.aurorabistro.ca
"Start Smart" at YEW Restaurant + Bar
Everyone knows how great it feels to start the week off right, and nothing beats a delicious meal at an incredible price. On Sunday and Monday evenings, the newly renovated YEW Restaurant + Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver is offering a special $35 three-course dinner (excluding alcohol and gratuity) that will please your palate and your wallet.
www.fourseasons.com/Vancouver/dining
Five O'Clock Menu at West Restaurant
Think you have to save your pennies to dine at one of Vancouver's top restaurants? Think again. Highly-acclaimed West Restaurant offers a "5pm Menu" at an unbelievable price. Enjoy a five-course tasting menu for just $65 per person (excluding alcohol and gratuity). With great offerings like parfait of chicken liver and foie gras, roasted Polderside chicken with mushroom polenta, and a chocolate Marquis tart to finish, this deal is a local favourite and should not be missed.
www.westrestaurant.ca
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| MOTHER NATURE'S STAIRMASTER |
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Hikers rejoice! The "Grouse Grind" trail generally opens in late spring or early summer. This popular 2.9 km (1.8 mile) trail is commonly referred to by locals as "Mother Nature's Stairmaster." Over 110,000 hikers per year take on the challenge of the rugged terrain and steep climb. By the time you reach the plateau, your ascent will have gained 853 meters (2,800 feet) - one and a half times the height of Toronto's CN Tower! Average completion time is usually 1.5 hours, with the fastest completion time just over 26 minutes. The best part is that once you reach the top, you can then take the tram back down for just $5.
www.grousemountain.com
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| BEACHY KEEN |
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Which way to the beach? Well, in Vancouver you can find one everywhere you turn. Whether you're looking for a stretch of sand to spread out and relax with a good book, an outdoor court to spike a volleyball, or a catwalk to strut your stuff, Vancouver's got it. The following is a list of some of the best beaches in the city.
Kitsilano Beach
If Vancouver is "Hollywood North," then Vancouver's Kitsilano Beach - or "Kits Beach" to the locals - is our Venice Beach. Buff and bronzed bodies are sure to make their rounds, but don't be wary, you're sure to fit in somewhere amidst the mix of joggers, stroller-pushing families, sun-worshippers and your everyday loungers. Grassy patches above the tide line are perfect for tossing the disc, the tennis courts are always popular, and the beach attracts volleyball players from all over the city. And don't forget Kits Pool where kids and adults can splash away the day in an outdoor, heated salt-water pool with a wrap-around view of the city, ocean and mountains. It's almost three times the size of an Olympic pool.
Jericho Beach
When all the elements are right, fishing and a picnic at the Jericho Beach pier makes for a perfect evening. Enjoy the long, sandy stretch with stunning views of the North Shore Mountains and downtown core. It's also a great spot for sailing, windsurfing, sea kayaking and beach volleyball.
Spanish Banks
To commemorate the discovery of the Spanish explorers in 1792, the British named this particular shore Spanish Banks. The least crowded of Vancouver's beaches, this stretch of sand is a wonderful retreat for those who wish to escape from the pace of city life. Skimmers alert: this is the perfect place for skim boarding once you learn the optimal tidal conditions.
West End Beaches
The southern edge of the West End neighbourhood has two of the most attractive waterfront urban environments - English Bay and Sunset Beach. Amazingly, this large stretch of sand is no more than a 30-minute walk from anywhere within the downtown core - with no commercial exploitation intruding on the peaceful environment. In summer, English Bay becomes a jumping off point for rollerblading adventures, strolling for ice cream, and picnics. Kids will love the floating slide and parents will appreciate the full time lifeguard. It's also the place to lay down your blanket and look up to the sky during the HSBC Celebration of Light international fireworks competition (July 23, 26 and 30, August 2).
www.celebration-of-light.com
Second & Third Beaches
Second Beach is a quick stroll north from English Bay into Stanley Park. Like Kitsilano Beach, Second Beach also has an immense, heated outdoor pool. Further along the seawall lies secluded Third Beach, which is due north of Stanley Park Drive. Locals tote grills and coolers to this spot, a popular place for summer evening barbecues and sunset watching.
Wreck Beach
This six-kilometre long, secluded beach is Canada's first and largest, legal, clothing-optional beach. It's located at the western tip of Vancouver, adjacent to the University of British Columbia campus, down a long flight of steep stairs. On a summer weekend, as many as 14,000 visitors flock to the beach which stretches from the Musqueam Reserve to Spanish Banks West. Vendors Row, located down the middle of the beach below Trail 6, offers snacks and refreshments. Note: Wreck Beach enthusiasts are a loyal and protective bunch who take their right to "bare" arms, legs and everything else pretty seriously.
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| VANCOUVER CHARACTER PROFILE |
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Zosia Brown, competitor, 2008 World Triathlon Championships - Vancouver, June 5-8
Vancouver gets its reputation because of people like Zosia Brown. Zosia is one of those "quintessential Vancouverites" who runs, swims, bikes, kayaks and rock-climbs - all before heading off for a day skiing. This June, Zosia (who's also a University of British Columbia PhD student in Green Building) will compete against approximately 3,000 international athletes at the World Triathlon Championships, hosted in and around Vancouver's English Bay. And she's not quaking in her spandex about it either. Zosia has been competing in triathlon since before she could drive and has already has competed in two previous World Championships events. Zosia comments on the thrill of the sport and what makes Vancouver such a great place to run, bike, swim and live.
1) Are you excited to be competing in your home city for the World Tri Championships?
Yes - it's always great to have your family on the sidelines to cheer you on. I've also competed in this race in Madeira, Spain (2004) and in Edmonton, Alberta (2006) and it makes a huge difference to be able to sleep in your own bed the night before.
2) Should visitors come out to watch the World Tri Championships in June?
Triathlon is a great spectator sport and the course that has been set up for the Worlds is absolutely spectacular. We'll be doing an ocean swim in English Bay, riding through the rainforest in Stanley Park, and running along the sea wall. It's pretty unbeatable in terms of scenery for a race.
3) Triathlon has a long history in Vancouver. Why is it so popular here?
I've lived and trained in Montreal, Seattle, Pittsburg and Panama, and Vancouver is ideal for triathlon training. You can train outdoors all year round, plus there is a great tri community here. Also, Vancouver has such an active culture - triathlon just seems to fit with the lifestyle.
4) Do you have any secret running spots to share?
This city is made for runners. If it's your first time here you shouldn't miss running through the trails in Stanley Park and around the sea wall. The UBC Endowment Lands are also great trails. The Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve is a bit more of a secret. It's got great running trails as well as a ten kilometre paved road that is great for cycling or rollerblading.
For more information on the 2008 World Triathlon Championships in Vancouver visit www.triathlonvancouver.com. For more information on Zosia Brown, please contact Amber Sessions at asessions@tourismvancouver.com.
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