Vancouver, BC: Experience Asian Cuisine, Native Arts

I go to Vancouver several times a year and always enjoy my visit—it is a city to dine for.

Over the last decade, there has been a monumental change both in the restaurants and in Vancouver’s population. There are more than 400 Asian restaurants and half of the city’s residents are of Asian descent. Vancouver has developed into a veritable culinary powerhouse, with a reputation for fine regional cuisine.

The shopping is outstanding and I usually make a dash for Hudson Bay Company, a department store. I was there after Christmas when the sales were on. I have never been anywhere in the world where I saw people having to queue up outside the stores. They were only admitting so many at a time and with sales at a 75% discount, people were happy to wait.

I’ve skied Grouse Mountain, only l5 minutes from downtown and the Whistler ski resort two hours away many times.  

The University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology has a wonderful display of First Nations (Indian) artifacts. The Great Hall with its huge totem poles is a must see. It has the finest collection of authentic Northwest Coast and Inuit arts and crafts I have seen.

Whether you are an accidental tourist or a seasoned traveler, your visit isn’t complete without a stop at a couple of these top attractions: Stanley Park, English Bay, Vancouver Art Gallery, Ballet British Columbia, the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Kitsilano Beach, Grouse Skyride, Granville Island and the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. I tried to get tickets for an ice hockey match but when I heard they were $300 each, I decided to watch it on the tele instead!

There are two myths about Vancouver that travelers should dismiss: that the weather is rainy and horrible and that the summer is uncomfortably humid. Both are incorrect.

There has been a building boom in the last ten years that is astonishing to watch and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Every apartment in a 38-story building just erected on the waterfront with prices from $520,000 to $5 million sold within 24 hours.

Side Trips

Vancouver built a new four-lane highway for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, and a new train route has started from Vancouver to Whistler, Prince Rupert and Jasper. The Rocky Mountaineer is a wonderful train to take. They have several routes to choose from. Do take the Gold Leaf service. You go up to the Dome car for meals.  

Another great side trip is to go on the ferry to Vancouver Island. Two lovely hotels are the Fairmont Empress, right on the harbor, or the Laurel Point Inn. A "must" is to go visit Butchart Gardens. I can spend all day there. It is one of the best horticultural gems in the world.

Fairmont Waterfront is my  favorite hotel in a great location for pre and post cruise passengers. It is across the street from the cruise terminal, and they will deliver your luggage to the ship for you. It's a unique hotel; it has a herb garden on the roof which the chefs use, and they have their own bee hives and the guests get a little jar of honey.      

Vancouver hosts more than a million visitors a year because of the Alaska cruise business and it is definitely worth going to Vancouver a few days early to explore the city.  It’s an easy place to walk around and my first stop is always Stanley Park on the waterfront.

Next Week:  Rome, Italy

Maureen Jones

Canadian Specialist

All Horizons Travel