Where can you get the best view of the city? What's coming up in the underground arts scene? What festivals are running next month? Check back here for the scoop on what's fresh in Vancouver.

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TOP TEN FAMILY ACTIVITIES IN VANCOUVER

1. 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.
2. 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 mini ferry to get to the island -- half the fun is the journey!
3. Head to golden-sanded Kitsilano Beach (Kits) for a day of fun in the sun. Younger kids can beachcomb and check out the playground, while teens can hit the saltwater swimming pool or tennis courts.
4. Stroll from Kits beach to nearby Vanier Park, home to the Museum of Vancouver, 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.
5. Hit Science World 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.
6. For an even bigger screen, head to Canada Place's IMAX Theatre on the waterfront where you can be surrounded by underwater creatures or blast off into space.
7. Sway across the river at Capilano Suspension Bridge, 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.
8. Visit Maplewood Farm, where kids can take a close-up look at 200 farm animals and birds, feed them, and even ride the ponies. Spring is a favourite time to visit because that's when the baby animals are born.
9. Check out the landmark Vancouver Public Library, and head downstairs to the Children's Library, BC's largest.
10. 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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VANCOUVER FARMERS’ MARKETS OFFER CHANCE TO EAT LOCAL

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. 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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GURSKY’S WORK NOW ON DISPLAY AT VANCOUVER ART GALLERY

The Vancouver Art Gallery will be the only North American museum to present a truly ground-breaking exhibition, Andreas Gursky: Werke/Works 80-08, on display from May 30 through September 20. Gursky's renowned ongoing project, a compilation of an "encyclopedia of life," captures countless settings where often the individual human's significance relative to the environment is emphasized. Expect to see over 130 awe-inspiring photographs that have been celebrated as some of the most compelling images of the modern world.
Vancouver Art Gallery

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SHUTTLE FOR FREE TO ONE OF VANCOUVER’S TOP ATTRACTIONS

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of Vancouver's most popular attractions and now it's even easier for visitors to get there from downtown via a free shuttle service. Located just over the Burrard Inlet on the North Shore, this 230-foot high swaying footbridge is a must-see. Breathe in the cedar-scented rainforest air as you make your way across the bridge and enjoy the unique perspective of Treetops Adventure, a walk high in the trees. Shuttles depart daily from three convenient locations in the downtown core (Canada Place, Hyatt Regency, and the Blue Horizon Hotel).
Capilano Suspension Bridge

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GROUSE GRIND – MOTHER NATURE’S STAIRMASTER

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
Grouse Mountain

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CULTURAL OLYMPIAD 2010 – TICKETS ON SALE NOW

January 22 to March 21, 2010
Think of it as the Olympics for the arts world. Next year, from January 22 to March 21, the best artists from Canada and around the world will show off their incredible talents. Genre-bending theatre; stunning virtuoso dance; fierce, fresh music; breathtaking visual and digital art extravaganzas -- Cultural Olympiad 2010 will bring it all to Metro Vancouver and the Sea to Sky corridor. This is the third and final edition of the Cultural Olympiad festivals, and the extensive program will include more than 600 ticketed and free performances and exhibitions in 50 venues. Twenty projects have been announced, including works by Robert Lepage, the Alberta Ballet, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan. Tickets are on sale now.
Vancouver 2010

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VANCOUVER OLYMPIC ‘HOODS: FALSE CREEK AND THE OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC VILLAGE VANCOUVER

A new neighbourhood is emerging in Vancouver, and Olympic and Paralympic athletes competing in the 2010 Winter Games will be the first to call it home.

Located on the southeast shore of False Creek, the area is presently a beehive of activity as construction crews transform this former industrial zone into a model for sustainable living that will become be a vibrant community with parks, activity centers and shops after the 2010 Winter Games.

From this prime location, it's a short mini-ferry ride to Yaletown's chic streets or an easy walk or bus ride to Main Street's funky boutiques and cafés. During the 2010 Winter Games, athletes will enjoy easy access to Granville Island and the Canada Line Olympic Village Station on Cambie Street thanks to a demonstration streetcar project.

Here is a sampling of what visitors will find when they explore the neighbourhood.

VISIT:
Relaxed strolling is the name of the game on Granville Island, another former industrial zone that sits on the southwestern shore of False Creek. With an exceptional public market and kid-oriented market, the island is home to restaurants, cafés, theatres, shops, a marina and a thriving artist and artisan community.

It seems fitting that one of the most recognizable landmarks from Expo '86 -- the 17-storey geodesic dome that housed Expo Centre -- is in the same neighbourhood as the village that will be a lasting legacy of the 2010 Winter Games. The giant silver ball is now home to Science World where visitors of all ages enjoy interactive, mind-bending and delightfully educational exhibits as well as movies on the oversized OMNIMAX screen.

DO:
Put on your walking shoes or rent a bicycle from Cycle BC Rentals on East 6th Avenue and follow the scenic seawall that winds along the shores of False Creek. To enjoy a circle tour, begin at the new pedestrian bridge that spans an inlet in front of the village development. Head west past Habitat Island, a man-made island that is aiding efforts to re-introduce flora and fauna to the area, then pass a series of parks and green spaces before reaching Granville Island. Cross the water via the Burrard Street Bridge, then reconnect with the seawall heading east. Pass the edge of historic Yaletown, BC Place Stadium, and Science World before arriving back at your starting point.

Or take to the water aboard an Aquabus and enjoy aquatic views of False Creek from one of the charming little ferries. Consider making a day of it with stops at the Vancouver Museum, Maritime Museum and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre.

EAT:
"Meet you at Monk's" is a phrase you're likely to hear from jazz-loving locals and visitors who flock to Monk McQueen's Fresh Seafood & Oyster Bar for contemporary seafood dishes and stunning views of False Creek and the downtown skyline. At the casual Chutney Villa, be prepared for a flood of flavours and textures drawn from the rich heritage of South Indian cuisine. Campagnolo Restaurant serves up delizioso rustic Italian dishes in an invitingly casual room that boasts original old-growth wood beams, exposed brick, and tables made from recycled butcher blocks.

STAY:
The Olympic & Paralympic Village neighbourhood is a mini-ferry ride away from two boutique hotels, the waterside Granville Island Hotel and the luxurious Opus Hotel in historic Yaletown. For a different style of stay consider Douglas House, a bed-and breakfast manor located in a circa 1900 heritage neighbourhood close to Vancouver City hall.

Note: During the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games period some of the above attractions, restaurants or hotels may be closed for private events, or have changes to operating hours or programming. Please check with each individual business before visiting.