Vancouver Information - hotels, restaurants, golf, weather, maps & more

Perhaps no city in the world possesses the pure, unadulterated beauty that Vancouver does. Nestled between towering, snow capped mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the city of Vancouver has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 30 years, from a simple mill town that had a terrible reputation for rain and dreariness to the host of the 2010 Olympic Games, along with nearby ski resort Mecca Whistler-Blackcomb. Although the city only sports a metro population of just over two million, very few spots on the planet offer the kind of multicultural experience that Vancouver does. From the dining to the shopping to the many fine hotels, a stay in Vancouver is a stay amongst friends. Above all, Vancouver prides itself on hospitality and good will; one of the major reasons the city managed to land the Olympics.

Like most major cities, the number of things to do, see and experience all start in the downtown core and radiate outwards. Downtown Vancouver is made up of several intriguing neighborhoods, all of which have something to offer. Gastown, the oldest neighborhood in the city, is now a huge nightlife center that both locals and tourists flock to. In the day time, Gastown is full of quaint little shops, restaurants and tourist attractions. Near Gastown is Yaletown, a mostly residential area full of upper-middle class condos and apartments. It is also a neighborhood full of wonderful cafes and beautiful steel and glass architecture. In fact, the gleaming glass tower is the signature architecture of Vancouver and Yaletown has many of the finest examples of this.

Moving up Davie Street from Yaletown, you find yourself in the Davie Street Village, home to a bustling gay and lesbian community, although this particular area is mostly gay, while Commercial Street on the east side of the city, is mainly a lesbian neighborhood. The Davie Village is filled with cute shops, dining and some of the older residential areas in downtown. Also located downtown is Chinatown, which happens to be one of the largest in North America. Lunar New Year celebrations here last weeks, and the large open market located on Pender Street is a must see for those that aren’t familiar with Chinese culture.

While Vancouver welcomes guests year round, you will find the best weather in the summer, spring and fall. The winters here can be a bit rainy, but most folks simply escape to Whistler for some of the best skiing in the world. Winters in Vancouver are much warmer than they are anywhere else in Canada, with temps barely dipping below freezing at any time during the season. Summers are warm, but seldom hot.

Vancouver is a city that surprises many since it seems to have so much more to offer than its size and age would suggest. Many people visit here on a whim or as a layover on a cruise, and discover that Vancouver is where they have meant to be their whole lives. Perhaps the same will happen to you as you venture to this incredible destination.