Vancouver and the Coast
VANCOUVER: Canada’s third-largest city and a major port, is situated in the southwest corner of British Columbia (also called ‘BC’), overlooking the Burrard Inlet on the Pacific and backed by the Coastal Mountain Range. Downtown Vancouver has the second-largest Chinese quarter in North America, celebrated by the new Chinese Cultural Centre, and large German and Ukrainian populations. Gastown, the reconstructed old centre of Vancouver, is a pleasant array of cobblestone streets, cafes and shops. Of the several museums and galleries, most notable are the Centennial Museum, H R MacMillan Planetarium, University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology (housing excellent examples of northwest First Nations art and artefacts), Vancouver Art Gallery, Science World (including four galleries of hands-on exhibits) and the Maritime Museum. More points of interest are Stanley Park, one of North America’s largest civic parks, Vancouver Aquarium, and the Grouse Mountain Skyride on the North Shore. The latter offers views of the city and the fjords of the Pacific coast. Adjoining Vancouver’s east side is the city of Burnaby, and Simon Fraser University, atop Burnaby Mountain. Burnaby Mountain Park, on the west side of the mountain, affords a spectacular view of the city and Gulf Islands on Vancouver’s west coast.
BEYOND VANCOUVER: During the summer Whistler and the adjoining Garibaldi Provincial Park, just north of Vancouver, are a delight for naturalists. The year-round resort offers 200 varied ski runs covering two enormous mountains, as well as facilities for golf, windsurfing, tennis, mountain biking, and river rafting. Skiing and snowboarding are available nine months of the year. North of Whistler, linked by Highway 101, are the coastal towns of Seachelt, Powell River and Lund, popular for their sunny beaches and surrounding fjords and recreational areas.
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