Vancouver's location on the Pacific Coast makes it an ideal spot from which to see Orca, humpback and grey whales migrate. Tours are available on small Zodiac boats or larger vessels. Often, tour guides are certified naturalists or marine biologists who teach you about whales' migratory patterns. Many tour companies boast a more than 90 percent success rate in seeing whales during your adventure.
Western Canada's largest art museum is home to nearly 8,000 works of classic and modern art in its permanent collection. The museum also exhibits shows from famous artists from around the globe. In 2010, the museum had a visiting collection of the works of Degas, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec and others loaned by the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. Other past exhibits have featured Georgia O'Keefe, Dali, Monet, and famous Canadian artists like Roy Arden and Emily Carr.
Vancouver Art Gallery
750 Hornby St.
Vancouver V6Z 2H7
604-662-4719
vanartgallery.bc.ca
Christ Church Cathedral is the oldest church in Vancouver. It was completed in 1896 and is renowned for its stunning Gothic architecture. Meditate as you walk around the church's labyrinth.
Christ Church Cathedral
690 Burrard St.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
V6C 2L1
cathedral.vancouver.bc.ca
Take the aerial tram to the top of Grouse Mountain for a great view of Vancouver from more than 4,000 feet above sea level. Or, for the more adventurous, hike the grueling trail to the top, aptly called the "Grouse Grind." The approximately three-mile trek, with its 30 percent grade, can take 90 minutes or more to complete. Grouse Mountain is popular for skiing and snowboarding in the winter months.
Grouse Mountain
6400 Nancy Greene Way
North Vancouver, BC, Canada
V7R 4K9
604-980-9311
grousemountain.com
Catch a show at the IMAX, visit a traveling exhibit, or entertain the family at the permanent collection at Vancouver's science museum, Science World. Kids can explore the Body Works exhibit to give them a sense of the human body, or explore the wind tunnel, electricity wheel and solar panels at the Our World exhibit. Younger kids enjoy the museum's science-related play area, Kidspace. Centrally located, this is a great place to take the kids on a rainy afternoon.
Science World at TELUS World of Science
1455 Quebec St.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
V6A 3Z7
www.scienceworld.ca
Visit Granville Island on a warm, sunny day. The largest free water park in North America is on Vancouver's Granville Island, according to Tourism Vancouver. The waterfront area hosts music events and free entertainment, as well as the Public Market and kid's market, where you can buy locally made crafts and prepared foods. Granville Island also has a farmer's market for fresh local produce. Centrally located just southwest of downtown, you can reach Granville Island by train, car, bike or ferry.
granvilleisland.com
Visit Vancouver's Chinatown, where you can buy snacks, foods and sundries imported from China, and sample authentic Asian foods at the area's many restaurants. Chinatown also hosts a night market each weekend from May through September. Chinatown is located near Keefer and Pender Streets in downtown Vancouver.
The mammoth resort of Whistler-Blackcomb offers downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding and sledding. The mountain is about a 90-minute drive (about 75 miles) from Vancouver, or You take the shuttle from the city. If you're not the winter sports type, visit in the summertime, when you can ride a gondola to the top for a picnic in an alpine paradise.
Whistler Blackcomb
Whistler Creekside
Whistler, BC, Canada
V0N 1B4
604-905-2141
whistler.com
Rain or shine, Vancouverites spend a lot of time on two wheels. Ride a bike on the appproximately seven-mile trail through Stanley Park, along Vancouver's seawall, or cycle the nearly nine-mile route from English Bay to the University of British Columbia. Along the way you'll see Vancouver Science World, the Pacific Space Centre, and the Plaza of Nations.
After your bike ride, visit the University of British Columbia campus, where you'll enjoy the Botanical Gardens, beautiful Pacific Spirit Park, and the Nitobe Japanese Gardens. The entrance to the Botanical Garden is at 6804 SW Marine Drive, and the Nitobe Memorial Garden, which hosts summertime tea ceremonies, is at 895 Lower Mall. Save time for a visit to the fascinating Museum of Anthropology, near the Nitobe Garden.
