Home to one of the mildest climates in Canada, Vancouver is a year round vacation destination. With hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, it has become a city of never-ending adventures and thrills. To start your trip off right, visit the Lookout Tower for a 360 degree view of the city, mountain ranges and Canada’s largest sea port. Chinatown is a major highlight in Vancouver. Flooded with centuries of culture, customs and tradition, it is a definite must. Enrich your senses with a visit to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, the first classical Chinese garden built outside of China. Next, discover the natural wonders of the VanDusen Botanical Gardens which showcase twenty-two hectares of plants and trees from around the world set in a backdrop of incredible scenery.

For those seeking thrill and adventure, take a daring walk along the 450-foot Capilano Suspension Bridge, raised more than 200 feet above the Capilano River, that shifts with every step you take. The adventure doesn’t stop here. Experience being on top of the world by travelling up Grouse Mountain on the Skyride to the 4100’ summit where you will find a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Vancouver skyline and harbour. Take the two day train tour on the Rocky Mountaineer to get up-close and personal with the luxurious surroundings of the Rockies, truly an unforgettable experience.

For the avid skier, Whistler is just a short drive away but is well worth the visit as it is recognized around the world as one of the top ski destinations. It will also be host to the 2010 Winter Olympics. If the thrill of shopping is your passion, then Robson Street is the place to be! It is the most popular shopping district in all of Vancouver, with chic boutiques, high-end retailers and unique shops, making it a shopper’s paradise! Reward your appetite with the culinary delights that Vancouver has to offer from casual to gourmet dining, an experience that is sure to tingle your taste buds.

If you have the chance, take a stroll through Stanley Park, Vancouver’s first park, where you can immerse yourself into an oasis of nature, wildlife and stunning surroundings. Travel back in time to Vancouver’s oldest and unique neighbourhood, Gastown, where you can view the world’s first steam-powered clock. Purchase a City Passport, which acts as a guide and can save you money on a number of attractions. The currency used is the Canadian Dollar (CAD) Vancouver's climate is one of the mildest in Canada, and is generally an area of heavy winter precipitation. Apart from being rather wet, winters are fairly mild but often tempered by days of brilliant blue skies and warm clear evenings. The city of Vancouver receives only a few snowfalls in the average winter, but the nearby mountains have snowy peaks from November to May. Relatively cool summers are the rule. Temperatures range from an average of 2 degrees C (36F) in the winter and 26 degrees C (90F) in the summer, and most rainfall occurs between October and March. Vancouver has one airport, Vancouver International Airport. It is located 13km (8miles) south of Vancouver. Yellow Cab and Black Top Cab are some of the taxi companies who will take you into Vancouver city centre. Limousine services are also available.  The Vancouver Airporter Service (tel: 604 946 8866) departs from the Arrivals terminals every 30 minutes to Vancouver city centre, stopping at major hotels en route. This service starts at 6.00am until 11.30pm daily. Public bus transport is also provided by Translink. 110-120V 60Hz The official languages are English and French, but with Vancouver being such a multicultural city, various other languages are spoken throughout. Toronto to Vancouver: 4hrs. 57mins. Government of Canada
Address: Parliament Hill, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A9
Tel.:1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232)
Fax: (613) 941-1827 Time: GMT - 8 (GMT - 7 from first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October)