When in Vancouver, nature surrounds you, from the black squirrels in Stanley Park peninsula, to the tram ride up Grouse Mountain (elevation: 1,128 meters or 3,700 feet). Four restaurants greet you on its top, and the tram starts just 15 minutes away from downtown. Although you can ride year-round, summer would be the time to hike around and enjoy a grizzly bear habitat.
A few miles away can you walk yourself across the 135-meter (450-foot) long Capilano suspension bridge. At some places it is 30 meters (100 feet) above the forest floor, giving a bird's eye view.
The Richmond Olympic Oval will host speed skating. Built on the Frasier river in a neighborhood to the south of downtown, it is designed to resemble a heron wing when viewed from the sky. This building received the silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) award for how it interacts with the environment. The BC Place Stadium, originally built for the 1986 World Expo, will house the opening and closing ceremonies. It is the largest air-supported stadium in the world.
When you enter the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, you have stepped into an environment common for a wealthy Chinese scholar 500 to 600 years ago. Attention is paid to every detail, including the "floor" covered in mosaics from river pebbles. The surroundings invite reflection and a sense of wonder as each season reveals changes in the plantings and the reflection in the water.
The garden is just a few steps away from the second largest Chinatown in North America. Poke around in shops, and you are likely to find one or two things you've never known about before.
Visit a recycled neighborhood. When a bunch of rusty old factories morphed into a home for artisans to hand craft their paintings, jewelry, woodworking, glass and a permanent farmer's market, Granville Island earned the 2006 Best Neighborhood in North America award. You can reach this vibrant creative community by boat, on foot or bike, by bus or by car.
