Looking out over the waters of the Johnston and Georgia Straits, Vancouver occupies one of the most beautiful places in any world. The coastal mountains form a majestic backdrop to glass towers and skyscrapers with the copper peaks of the city. It was Captain James Cook, who claimed that the area was for the British when he went ashore in Notoka Sound, Vancouver Island, in 1778. Until then, this area was settled for more than 10,000 years by the Salish Coast peoples, whose cultural heritage is celebrated in Canada’s two best museums: the UBC Anthropology Museum in Vancouver and the Royal BC Museum of Victoria. Founded as a city after a fire destroyed the rain-fed city of Granville in 1886, Vancouver offers historic areas, lush gardens and wildlife parks within its vicinity. A short ferry ride, the world famous Pacific Rim National Park in Vancouver is a whale watching center in Canada.
Exploring Vancouver
The heart of Vancouver - its center of the city, the finger of the earth, bounded by the waters of the English Bay. The city center radiates Robson Square. Stanley Park area of 404.7 hectares (1000 acres) occupies the top of the peninsula, near the West End. The historic districts of Chinatown and Gastown are located close to Main Street, from the city to the north axis.
Glances
Historic streets and buildings
- Chinatown
- Shopping center Old Hastings
Parks and gardens
- Suspension bridge Capillano
- Dr. Sun Yat-sen Chinese Garden
- Mountain groove
- Lighthouse Park
- Lynn Canyon Park and Environmental Center
- Queen Elizabeth Park and Conservatory of Bludell
- Stanley park
- Botanical Garden Van Dusen
Modern architecture
- BC Place Stadium
Museums and galleries
- Maritime Museum
- Scientific world
- University of British Columbia Museum of Anthropology
- Vancouver Gallery
- Vancouver Museum and Pacific Space Center
Retail space
- Granville Island
- Lonsdale Waterfront Market
- Gardens and Areas of Natural Beauty
- Butchard gardens
- Kochishansky District
- Port renfrew
- Telegraph Bay
Historical cities and cities
- River campbell
- Chemainus
- Golden river
- Nainamo
- Port Alberni
- Victoria
National parks
- National Reserve of the Pacific Region
Get around
Because most of the city center is surrounded by water, Vancouver’s integrated transport system includes the SeaBus, a bus and the SkyTrain light rail line, a driverless system that runs above and below ground. SeaBus runs between Lonsdale Waterfront in North Vancouver and the Waterfront Station Center, where you can connect to the bus and the SkyTrain system. Many Vancouvertians travel by car, and traffic should be avoided during rush hours because access to the city center is limited to several bridges, including the brainless Lion's Gate Bridge.
