When in Vancouver
Nestled on Canada's stunning Pacific coast, Vancouver is one of the most picturesque and welcoming cities in the world. It combines a breezy big city sophistication with an open air zest for life, being one of the few urban centres in the world where visitors can easily blend white water rafting and trendy bar hopping in the same day's activities.
Vancouver is consistently ranked among the top cities in the world and not just for its oft-noted reputation for cleanliness. It has a well deserved reputation as a tolerant city, open to experimentation, and consequently is constantly expanding as young professionals and artists flock there from across Canada.
The city was officially founded in 1886, more than 20 years after the first Europeans settled in the area. Following the arrival of the railway it grew rapidly. It now boasts a population of two million, making it the third most densely populated city in North America after New York and San Francisco. It is easily the largest metropolitan city in western Canada, evident in its abundance of attractions and facilities.
The picturesque city is framed by the stunning North Shore mountains, while on a clear day visitors can even see the snow tipped Mount Baker volcano south of the border in Washington. Known as a "city of neighbourhoods", its sprawling suburbs surround a dense, pedestrian-friendly, urban core. Vancouver can also claim to be home to one of the largest urban parks in North America, further boosting its green credentials.
For a Canadian city, Vancouver is remarkably temperate, with an average minimum temperature of 22 degrees Celsius during July and August. The best time to visit is from June to October, when visitors can enjoy a relatively warm and dry climate with long hours of daylight. Winters are wetter, while the respected snow season, in January and February, should be an indication that the city can still get pretty cold.
Vancouver is a safe city, with its tolerance making it particularly attractive for gay and lesbian travellers. The gay and lesbian scene is engrained in the local culture and, with same-sex marriages legalised in British Columbia, many couples head to Vancouver to get married. Otherwise the city's West End has a vibrant gay scene. The city is also generally safe for female travellers, although there are places to avoid at night, namely Main and Hastings Streets in east Vancouver.
Travel within the city is easy, with many places accessible on foot. There are also frequent buses and the SkyTrain metro system, as well as foot and bicycle ferries. International travellers are well connected by Vancouver International Airport.
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