Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
Canada’s third-largest city and a major port, is situated in the southwest corner of British Columbia (also called ‘BC’), overlooking the Burrard Inlet on the Pacific Ocean and backed by the Coastal Mountain Range. Downtown Vancouver has one of the largest Chinese quarters in North America (celebrated by the new Chinese Cultural Centre), and large German and Ukrainian populations. Gastown, the reconstructed old centre of Vancouver, is a pleasant array of cobblestone streets, cafes and shops. Of the several museums and galleries, most notable are the Centennial Museum, H R MacMillan Space Centre, University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology (housing excellent examples of northwest First Nations art and artefacts), Vancouver Art Gallery, Science World (including four galleries of hands-on exhibits) and the Maritime Museum. More points of interest are Stanley Park, one of North America’s largest civic parks, Vancouver Aquarium, and the Grouse Mountain Skyride on the North Shore. The latter offers views of the city and the fjords of the Pacific coast. Adjoining Vancouver’s east side is the city of Burnaby, and Simon Fraser University, atop Burnaby Mountain. Burnaby Mountain Park, on the west side of the mountain, affords a spectacular view of the city and Gulf Islands on Vancouver’s west coast.
During the summer, Whistler and the adjoining Garibaldi Provincial Park, just north of Vancouver, are a delight for naturalists. The year-round resort offers over 200 varied ski runs covering two enormous mountains, as well as facilities for golf, windsurfing, tennis, mountain biking, and river rafting. Skiing and snowboarding are available 9 months of the year. Northwest of Vancouver, accessed by ferry, are the coastal towns of Sechelt, Powell River and Lund, popular for their sunny beaches and surrounding fjords and recreational areas.
150km (93 miles) east of Vancouver is the town of Hope and BC’s Fraser Canyon. The Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) links the Greater Vancouver Area with the dramatic river country of British Columbia’s western interior and the historic Cariboo Gold Rush route. In the Fraser Canyon, the Hell's Gate Airtram takes visitors down to the edge of the spectacular Fraser River, where visitors can learn about the lifecycle of the spawning salmon. River rafting tours can be arranged at numerous points along the river as well as on the more remote shores of the Nahatlatch River, 30 minutes' drive northwest of Boston Bar. The towns of Lytton and Lillooet are regaled as having some of BC’s warmest summertime weather, averaging around 40°C (104°F). Both towns are rich in First Nations' history and culture.
|
