Trifter

As Vancouver British Columbia prepares to welcome citizens of the world for the 2010 Winter Games, I thought I would share with you some of the great features of our city.  I have lived in Vancouver my whole life, and wouldn’t trade it for any other place in the world.  We are a diverse, cosmopolitan city whose great glass towers are showcased against a backdrop of huge, purple mountains and deep blue Pacific Ocean. 

I invite you to explore and enjoy the many unique and interesting locations of our fair city.  We are home to Rob Feenie, world class chef who was not only invited onto the prestigious show “Iron Chef America,” but even won the challenge!  We have nearly unlimited parklands, and has become a Mecca for skiers, hikers and nature enthusiasts from around the world.  Whistler BC is famous for its gorgeous ski resort and fine dining.  The famous Araxi Restaurant was the last season’s prize for frazzled chefs from Gordon Ramsay’s “Hell’s Kitchen” which was won by the talented young chef Dave. 

Of course, many of my favorite places are in the Downtown Core.  For shopaholics, I strongly encourage you to visit “Robson Strasse” which is home to quaint little cafes, exclusive boutiques and wonderful restaurants.  The European concept of Robson Strasse is beautiful and is definitely worth a visit during your travels.

Another wonderful place for shoppers to visit would be the Pacific Centre Mall, situated at 700 West Georgia, the heart of our city’s core. This huge mall has shopping to suit every budget, and is a fashionista’s dream come true.

If historical landmarks are your thing, you must come to our Water Street strip known as “Gastown”.  Named after Gassy Jack, a prospector and founder of the town, this small portion of the city was all that remained after the great fire in 1886.  Over 400 buildings burned to the ground that year, and many people died in the fire.  This part of town is a fun and exciting place for tourists to visit.  It has been preserved to look almost exactly as it did during the turn of the century.  There is everything from kitschy little souvenir shops to elegant, pricey boutiques and much, much more.  The huge steam clock located on the Water Street has drawn people from all around the world.

 From Gastown, you may visit our Waterfront Station which is the main destination for buses, the West Coast Express, and the Sea Bus.  The Sea Bus is a small ferry which transports foot passengers from Downtown to the Lonsdale Quay for the price of regular bus fare.  Lonsdale Quay bears a striking resemblance to some areas in San Francisco and boasts a fantastic view of the city and park from across Burrard Inlet. 

You can’t visit Vancouver without paying our jewel, Stanley Park, a visit.  The Sea Wall, which surrounds the perimeter of the 400 hectare park, is visited by thousands of people every year.  The walk is 8.8 Kilometers of pure natural glory.  As you walk along side of the Pacific Ocean, you can peer over to the inlet where huge freighter ships are docked waiting to be loaded with cargo to be shipped around the world.  When the sea is misty and there is a chill in the air, these massive ships are almost hauntingly beautiful.  Stanley Park is also home to the Vancouver Aquarium.  Fun for children and adults alike, the dolphins, otters and beluga whales are definitely worth a visit.  The Aquarium is instrumental in protecting endangered sea life.  It is a full day’s worth of fun, so come early and take your time. 

Granville Island is home to one of the greatest outdoor food markets around, as well as a hub for countless artists.  There are fun little theatres there as well as pubs and cool little eateries.  I have gone to some of the quirky little theatre productions and had an awesome time with friends.  It is only minutes away from Downtown, and if you love theatre or improve, I strongly recommend it as a great place to go.

If culture and class is your thing, don’t miss our gorgeous “Vancouver Art Gallery” which houses beautiful and valuable works of art from many famous artists throughout the ages, including works from “The Group of Seven” and Emily Carr.  It is located at 750 Hornby Street downtown Vancouver, and I’m sure you will find something there that will inspire you and touch your heart. 

If a gorgeous view with dinner is something that strikes your fancy, please come to our famous landmark The Harbor Centre”.  Its profile is what makes our Vancouver Skyline unique and different, and houses a fine revolving restaurant on top.  As you go up the side of the building in the glass elevator, you are transported to one of the loveliest bird’s eye views our city can have.  I had the privilege of dining there, and the food is divine.  If you are looking for a romantic, beautiful place to take your sweetheart, I strongly recommend the Harbor Centre Tower. 

I hope that while you are here, that you take full advantage of everything our city has to offer.  I suggest that before you travel here for the Winter Games, to check out some of our tourist attraction sites online to get a sense of where you would really like to go.  There are so many wonderful and exciting things to see and do, that I can only mention a couple of them in this article.  The Gateway to the Pacific welcomes all of our Olympic hopefuls, and we wish for all of our visitors to come and enjoy the amenities and have a fabulous time!

So until then, see you at the 2010!