Love the Diversity of Vancouver, BC

What began as Gastown, a small settlement built around a sawmill and a tavern, is now the vibrant coastal city of Vancouver, British Columbia. Positioned between the water and the North Shore Mountains, Vancouver is a busy port for ships bound for Alaska. Some ships even home port in Vancouver, providing an opportunity to spend a few extra days in the city.

Cruise ships dock at one of two terminals: Canada Place, just steps from downtown’s hotels, restaurants, and attractions; or Ballantyne Pier, just a 10-minute taxi ride away.

You can still walk the cobblestoned streets of Gastown, which is now a hip neighborhood of fashion and design boutiques, antique stores and galleries. There are lots of enticing restaurants, as well as clubs that spring to life at night.

Vancouver’s Chinatown is the second largest in North America (after San Francisco’s). There’s an impressive China Gate on Pender Street; the historic Sam Kee building, the world’s narrowest commercial building; and classic Chinese gardens. Browse the shops and markets for traditional Chinese foods, crafts, and herbal treatments.

Vancouver is a diverse city full of interesting neighborhoods. In trendy Yaletown, old industrial buildings have been renovated into loft apartments, with shops, microbreweries and galleries at the street level.  The Kitsilano neighborhood was an enclave of hippie counterculture in the 1960s and still has a bohemian vibe. It’s near to Granville Island, which has a terrific public market.

Vancouver’s most popular attraction is the beautiful 1,001-acre Stanley Park, which is almost completely surrounded by water, as well as a 5.5-mile paved seawall. It’s a wonderful place to walk, bike, or just watch the ships go by. The park’s free shuttle service will take you to the Vancouver Aquarium, a water park, and a display of First Nations totem poles as well as beaches, playgrounds and picnic areas.

A popular excursion for ship visitors is a visit to Stanley Park combined with a ride up Grouse Mountain, where a tram whisks passengers up to 3,700 feet in just eight minutes. At the top, you can have lunch while enjoying the spectacular view.

There’s much more to see and do in and around Vancouver. Talk with your True Vacation Travel personal expert about s that call or depart from there – and about how you can lengthen your stay in this world-class city.

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