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| USA :: USA Travel Guide |
USA Travel Guide |
| USA - Places of Interest |
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| CANADA - Places of Interest |
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VANCUOVER |
There aren’t many cities in the world that offer Vancouver’s combination of big city lifestyle and outdoor fun in such cheek by jowl proximity. Ski in the morning, sail in the afternoon and still make it back to town in time for a cocktail or three.
Chinatown
 About 36,000 people of Chinese descent live in the city’s downtown Chinatown, a designated heritage area, centered on W Pender St at the base of the peninsula. For the most part it’s a real Chinese market and business district where most signs are in Chinese and English is rarely spoken. You can seek a peaceful respite from the crowded sidewalks and shops at the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the only full-scale Chinese garden found outside China. The garden incorporates numerous examples of the Taoist principles of yin and yang, and you won’t miss any of them if you take the guided tour, included in the admission fee. Partially hidden amount bulkier neighbours is the World’s Narrowest Office Building (also known as the Sam Kee Building), an architectural oddity listed in the Guiness Book of Records for its skinniness.
Queen Elizabeth Park
Vancouver’s third largest park occupies the highest point in the city. At the base are a beautiful sunken garden surrounded by small cliffs and some fantastic plants, and an Oriental style garden filled with pools and fountains. The centrepiece of the park is the hilltop Bloedel Conservatory, where you can peruse flora from three climate zones and observe 50 species of free flying tropical birds. The walk up to the conservatory affords splendid views of the city. The highlight of the neaby VanDusen Botanical Gardens is the Elizabethan Hedge Maze. You can also see a fine collection of ornamental plants. Queen Elizabeth Park is about 5 km (3mi) south of Gastown; the VanDusen Botanical Gardens are a few minutes’ walk west of Queen Elizabeth Park.
 Stanley Park
Jutting out from the end of the downtown peninsula is one of Vancouver’s chief attractions, the much-loved Stanley Park. This 400 ha (990ac) park offers outstanding views of downtown Vancouver, the North Shore and the mountains on Vancouver Island. The 10km (6mi) trail encircling the park makes for a good walk or bike ride, passing Brockton Point, where there’s a fine collection of totem poles. Also within the park is the Vancouver Aquarium, brimming with dolphins, killer whales and crocodiles. The aquarium has also recreated an Amazon rainforest, complete with toucans, pirahas and tree frogs.Nested between the Pacific Ocean and snow-capped Coast Mountains, this sophisticated city is sure to delight every visitor, from the history and culture buff to the outdoor enthusiast. Beaches, Parks, hiking cycling, golfing, theatre, shopping, dinning and music are all at your fingertips. |
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