Tourism Vancouver: Vancouver, BC - Host City for the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games
Olympic Winter Games: February 12-28, 2010
Paralympic Winter Games: March 12-21, 2010
On July 2, 2003, the International Olympic Committee selected Vancouver as the host city for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Athletes and spectators from around the world will gather in Vancouver and the alpine resort of Whistler in February and March 2010 to celebrate winter sporting excellence. The Games, along with the region's spectacular natural playground and its vibrant venues, will put Vancouver in the spotlight as a premier sporting destination.
Official Travel Site of the Canadian Tourism Commission:
Perched on the sparkling Pacific beside majestic mountains, Vancouver is a world-class, multicultural city attracting visitors from around the world. Discover the formal gardens, beaches and trails of 1,000 acre Stanley Park - the park is also home to the Vancouver Aquarium featuring killer whales, dolphins, and beluga whales. Enjoy the bustling Public Market and the art shops of Granville Island. Browse the antique stores and boutiques of Gastown. The exquisite Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden in Chinatown is the only authentic classical Chinese garden outside China. The Vancouver Art Gallery, located in the city's original 1910 courthouse, houses a major collection by Canadian artist Emily Carr, while the University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology contains an exceptional collection of totem poles and Northwest Native art. In North Vancouver, walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge, 70 meters (230 feet) above the rushing Capilano River. Ride the gondola up to Grouse Mountain and dine overlooking the panorama of the city.
Tourism Vancouver:
What To Do In Vancouver:
Winter (January - March)----Vancouver enjoys mild winters with blossoms coming out as early as February. Bikers, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts need not hibernate here. Winter is a fantastic time to unwind and getaway in Vancouver, with some of the best hotel rates and package specials all year. With year round activities, there is much to do - or just cuddle up in front of a fire with that special someone.
Summer (July - September)---- Vancouver is the City of Summer Festivals and there are events for every taste in music, art, film and more...Not to mention International events like the Molson Indy Vancouver and the HSBC PowerSmart Celebration of Light - a spectacular yearly fireworks competition that lights up the downtown sky of the city each summer.
Spring (April - June)----You really can ski and golf on the same day! Vancouver comes alive in the Spring with outdoor activities, wine festivals, Springtime shopping sales and more. Unique, West Coast attractions abound and truly make for a Spring Break like no other for visiting families.
Fall (October - December)---- Fall in Vancouver means NHL Hockey, cuisine from all points of the globe, museum visits, the launch of the theatre, opera and symphony seasons and holiday shopping - so much to see and do! Enjoy a Christmas Carol Cruise and stay in Vancouver's finest luxury at Fall season rates.
Why Visit Vancouver?
Vancouver was voted the "Best City in the Americas" for 2004 by Condo Nast Traveler magazine, based on the categories of ambience, friendliness, culture and sites, restaurants, lodging, and shopping. This is just one of our city's many awards and accolades that clearly demonstrate the many reasons to visit Vancouver!
Vancouver is a dynamic, multicultural city set in a spectacular natural environment. No matter what time of the year you visit, there are indoor and outdoor activities to please adults, families, couples and friends to no end. As the proud host of the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver looks ahead to ongoing growth and great success in tourism, hospitality and business services each year.
Consider just a few reasons why you should plan a trip to Vancouver:
Olympic City
Spectacular & Safe Setting
Exciting Activities
Gateway to Adventure
Welcoming & Accessible
Superior Service & Value
Scuba Diving----Most people think of the tropics when they think of scuba diving, but Vancouver has some of the best cold water scuba diving in the world. Scuba divers plunge the frigid waters between Vancouver Island and the mainland to view spectacular marine species like the wolf eel and octopus, as well as a brilliant red coral found in few other places around the world.
Cates Park in Deep Cove and Whytecliff Park near Horseshoe Bay are popular diving sites, and many Vancouver scuba enthusiasts get their feet wet here first. On the Sunshine Coast, the jagged coastal fjord of Jervis Inlet near Powell River provides a stunning backdrop for finding a sunken mermaid that has been submerged by local diving enthusiasts. Some shipwrecks off the Malaspina Strait still yield buried treasures!
Sightseeing----The Vancouver area is surrounded by some of the most stunning natural beauty in the world. Mountains. Ocean. Rainforest. Parks. Beaches. This is a city like no other!
With endless options for activities, sights and attractions, Vancouver is a city to explore. By coach or minibus, horse-drawn carriage or helicopter, bicycle or on foot - on your own, as a couple, group or family - your choices for fun, excitement and enjoyment are limitless!
Performing Arts----Vancouver has a long history of supporting all areas of the Performing Arts. Unofficially known as 'Hollywood North', Vancouver is the location of choice for countless international films. Maybe that, and the beautiful setting of the city, influence our interest in the arts - movies, theatre, dance and much more are prevalent in Vancouver.
Stanley Park----Stanley Park is truly a walker's paradise right in the heart of the city. It's one of the largest urban parks in North America, with 400 hectares (1000 acres) of woodlands, gardens, flowers, trails, lakes, beaches and wildlife.
Circumnavigate the park via the seawall (a brisk 2-hour walk) or take the road less traveled around Lost Lagoon or Beaver Lake to view the resident geese, swans and raccoons. Stanley Park is home to the Vancouver Aquarium as well as a children's farmyard, tennis courts, pitch and putt golf course which makes it a great family outing.
Granville Island----Known for its public markets, fresh bakeries and unique stores, you can spend an entire day exploring all that this area has to offer. After checking out all the wonderful foods and fares of the market, navigate your way through the narrow roads and lanes of Granville Island, stopping to go through book stores, art exhibits, the Kids Only centre and head to the walking paths along the water. Going East, you can walk the beautiful False Creek Walk, continue to Science World, or even further to Yaletown.
Heading West you pass the marinas of Granville Island, more enviable waterfront condominiums with views across False Creek to downtown Vancouver, and eventually cross under the Burrard Bridge. Continuing along the water and following the pathways eventually leads you to Vanier Park, which is where the summer Bard on the Beach Shakespeare festival and Children's Festivals are held each year. The Vancouver Museum and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre are also located in this area, so if your feet need a rest, stop in at these attractions.
West Vancouver Seawall----The West Vancouver Seawall starts at beautiful Ambleside Park in West Vancouver, across the Lions Gate Bridge, about 20 minutes from downtown. The Seawall runs from the Park to the community of Dundrave.
Located directly across from Stanley Park, this walk provides extraordinary views of the park, ocean and Lions Gate Bridge. West Vancouver has taken great care in ensuring the Seawall is well maintained, lined with wonderful flora and foliage, and a special fenced path for dogs.
As it is literally only a few feet above the ocean waters, there have been several times during its history when huge storms have damaged the walk, sending large logs and other debris up onto the Seawall! But due to its beauty and popularity, it has always been quickly fixed and available for the morning, noon and night regulars.
Dundrave has many wonderful restaurants, quaint shops and coffee bars to stop for a refill before making a return walk to Ambleside.
Capilano River - North Vancouver Trails---- The Capilano River runs from the base of Grouse Mountain at the Cleveland Dam, down through North Vancouver into the Pacific by the Park Royal shopping centre, Ambleside Park and underneath the Lions Gate Bridge. Along the river there are many outstanding walking and hiking paths.
You can begin your walk at the mouth of the Capilano River by Park Royal. At the end of the West Vancouver Seawall is a pathway that leads you to the beginning, or end - depending on your start - of the Capilano Pacific Trail. This path leads you along the west side of the river, up into the Capilano canyon to the Fish Hatchery and eventually to the Cleveland Dam. The entire trail takes between three to four hours to complete round trip and can range in difficulty as there are some steep areas within the canyon.
Grouse Mountain Vancouver Tourism:
There’s so much to explore-just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver! Come and experience a spectacular mountaintop of adventure 365 days of the year at The Peak of Vancouver. During summer, enjoy helicopter rides, our World Famous Lumberjack Show, the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife, Birds in Motion demonstrations, and so much more. In winter, discover a snowy wonderland renowned for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice skating and sleigh rides. Throughout the year, relax and savour great tastes at any one of our superb restaurants from casual to elegant dining.
