Vancouver Map

Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver, located in British Columbia in Canada, has consistently been named one of the top five cities in the world for quality of life. It was also named as the ’Top Destination’ in Canada in 2012. It is a sea-level port city and is a leading industrial center of the country.

About the Vancouver City

Vancouver lies in the southwestern corner of British Columbia and is one of the most linguistically and ethnically diverse cities in Canada. It covers an area of 114.97 sq km and has an estimated population of 662,248 (2021)

The territory of the city was historically occupied by Squamish, Musqueam, and other people of the Coast Salish group. Modern Europeans arrived in 1791, and the city is named after George Vancouver who visited the area in 1792. The city grew during the Fraser Gold Rush and was incorporated in 1886. Today, it is one of the leading industrial cities in Canada and also contains the head offices of a number of mining and logging operations.

Geography

The city of Vancouver is a sea-level port, surrounded by snow-covered mountains. It is located between the Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River. The cityscape is dominated by the North Shore Mountains. Vancouver contains one of the largest urban parks in Canada called Stanley Park.

Modes of Transport

You can travel to Vancouver in the following ways:

• The city is served by the Vancouver International Airport, which has regular flights to various destinations in America, Asia, and Europe. The airport is located immediately to the South of the city.
• Vancouver is also served by Abbotsford International Airport, which is located 60 km to the East of the city.
• Helicopter and float plane services are also available to get to the city.
• Highway 99 connects Vancouver to the US border. The Trans-Canada Highway connects the city to the eastern part of Canada.
• The city is served by the Pacific Central station. Traveling to Vancouver by train can be time-consuming, but the route is very scenic.
• Ferry connection exists with places like Bowen Island, Sunshine coast, and Victoria.
• Vancouver is also a popular port for the famed Alaska cruise.

Weather

Vancouver has one of the warmest climates in Canada. It has an Oceanic climate, with dry summers and wet winters. Some snowfall occurs in winters. The best time to visit the city is between July and September when you are likely to get excellent weather.

Culture and Traditions

The ethnically diverse population of Vancouver has given rise to a colorful culture. Some of the festivals celebrated in the city are as follows:

• The Chinese New Year is celebrated with many festivities and a colorful parade.
• The Chinese population also celebrates the Dragon Boat Festival in False Creek in June.
• Celebration of Light is a major festival that draws a huge crowd. This four-day festival held in late July and early August includes a fireworks extravaganza and a competition between countries of 30-minute displays, choreographed with music.
• ‘Eat! Vancouver is a cooking festival that takes place in May. Celebrity chefs, restaurants, wineries, and food and beverage merchants take part in the three-day festival.
• The Khatsalano Music and Arts festival takes place every summer. More than 50 bands take part in it to form a giant street party.
• The Vancouver Pride Parade, held in July draws a huge crowd.
• Finally, the Fringe festival presents a number of street theatres in a variety of venues.

Points of Interest

There are several places to visit in Vancouver. Some of them are:

• Downtown Vancouver has several historic buildings including Canada Place, the Vancouver Convention Center, Vancouver Aquarium, etc.
• The Museum of Anthropology contains interesting historical artifacts from the area.
• The Vancouver Art Gallery, in addition to a permanent exhibit of works of Emily Carr, also displays the works of prominent local artists.
• There are a number of parks and gardens in the city, out of which Stanley Park is the most renowned.

Accommodation

Vancouver has a variety of accommodations for travelers with all kinds of budgets; hence whether you are eyeing a luxury stay or on a budgetary option you are sure to get the hotel of your choice. Five-star hotels include Fairmont Pacific Rim, Pan Pacific Vancouver hotel, Shangri-la, and Opus, while four-star hotels include Georgian Court, Listel, Sheraton, Metropolitan, Fairmont, etc. There are a number of three and two-star hotels, hostels, and other accommodations in the city, though accommodation in the city itself can be somewhat expensive.

Reference Links :

• About Vancouver (British Columbia Official Website)
• Vancouver (Wikipedia Website)