Why You Need to Visit Vancouver
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I moved to Ireland over a year ago. When people here find out I am Canadian they immediately tell me they want to go to Vancouver. I’ve visited Vancouver several times myself. I understand why this city is so high on everyone’s travel list. Here are some reasons why you need to visit Vancouver.
Nature
Do you like the mountains? Do you like the ocean and beaches? What about parks with giant trees and beautiful gardens? If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then you’ll love this west coast city. The Pacific Ocean is right next to the city. There are several beaches like English Bay Beach, Third Beach, and Wreck Beach. The North Shore Mountains and Coast Mountain chain surround the city. This makes going to the mountains quick and easy. Within the city, there is no shortage of beautiful parks and gardens. The most significant and most well known is Stanley Park. This park has a seawall, several gardens, monuments and sculptures. It’s 400 hectares of west coast rainforest and it’s amazing.
Adventure
Vancouver is also an excellent place for adventure and active travellers. With the mountains surrounding the city, there are several ski resorts to visit in the winter. During the summer months, there are mountain bike trails, hiking, and rock climbing. You can walk on the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which is 230 feet above the Capilano River. With the ocean so close you can do aquatic activities like paddleboarding, and swimming. The city hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. If you want to feel like an Olympic athlete, then visit the Richmond Olympic Experience. Here you can simulate sports like bobsledding and ski jumping. You get to feel like an athlete ski-jumping down a mountain without all that pesky training or danger.
Culture & Festivals
Vancouver is a great place to visit for those who love the arts and culture. One of the most well known is the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden located in Chinatown. Built by Chinese scholars in 1986 this Garden promotes Chinese culture and understanding in Vancouver. Art lovers will want to visit the Vancouver Art Gallery. It has exhibits of Indigenous Art and Western Art from across British Columbia and Canada. Granville Island is a favourite market for locals and travellers to visit. Aside from the food market itself, there are also restaurants, shops, galleries, and theatres on Granville Island. Finally there a variety of different festivals and events throughout the year. Some festivals and events include Theatre Under The Stars, the Celebration of Light fireworks competition, the Vancouver Folk Festival, and the Vancouver International Film Festival.
Vancouver is a perfect city whether you want to enjoy nature, have an adventure, or take in a bit of art and culture. I always love visiting this city. It’s a beautiful city with a laid-back vibe. I’m looking forward to my next visit. I hope you’ll get to visit Vancouver for yourself one day too.
Things To Know
This post was originally sponsored by a third party (original sponsor link is now inactive and has been removed), but all opinions here are my own. While I’m lucky to have a friend to stay with in the area if you need to book a hotel in Vancouver you can do so here.
Have you been to Vancouver? Which of these activities would you do in Vancouver?