Many people believe that
Vancouver is the prettiest
city on the planet, and who’s
to argue? The mountains
meet the sea in grand form,
while a rainforest sprouts
at downtown’s edge. The
people here are outdoorsy
and laid-back, with a taste for
adventurous eating.
TOWERING
TOTEM POLES
The Museum of Anthropology
holds an awesome collection
of totem poles. Carvers from
the surrounding First Nations
have been making them for
centuries. The First Nations
are the native people of
Canada, who lived here long
before Europeans arrived.
Each totem pole is a record
of a community’s or a family’s
history. The artists sculpt
animals – such as the eagle,
grizzly bear, orca, frog and
raven – into the poles to
convey the story. They use
red or yellow cedar wood, as
it doesn’t rot easily. Even so,
the typical pole only lasts 100
years before it starts to decay.
URBAN RAINFOREST
Take a short walk from the glass
skyscrapers of downtown Vancouver and
suddenly you’re in the heart of a forest. Stanley Park
has a vast spread of cedar, fir and hemlock trees. There are half a
million of them, to be exact, with many towering giants boasting
centuries of growth. The park is surrounded by sea. Trails take you
past harbour seals while bald eagles swoop overhead. It’s hard to
believe that all this is just a few blocks from the city centre!
SWINGING IN THE TREETOPS
You have to be brave to walk across the
Capilano Suspension Bridge. Not only is it
one of the longest and highest of its kind, it
also sways and bobs as you make your way
across. Did we mention it’s set way up in
the trees, over a racing river in a gorge 70m
(230ft) below? The handrails help you stay
steady, but fearless types cross
without holding on.
WORLD’S
GROSSEST GELATO?
Vancouver’s famous La Casa Gelato store
scoops 218 flavours of Italian-style ice
cream. There’s chocolate, of course, and
fruity licks like pineapple and strawberry.
Vanilla gummy bear is delicious, but would
you eat garlic or seaweed flavours? Best not
to ask about the peanut butter curry and
purple yam! Luckily you can try
before you buy.
SUSHI, SUSHI
AND MORE SUSHI
Sushi is mega popular in Vancouver.
Chefs flash long knives to make the
dish – sliced fish served with rice and
seaweed – at more than 600 sushi
restaurants. One out of every ten
restaurants here serves sushi.
SAILING SHIPS
Vancouver is Canada’s largest port. More than 3,000
cruise ships, oil tankers, fishing boats and vessels glide in
and out of the bays every year. Most of the cruise ships
head north to Alaska. Most of the cargo ships sail to China,
Japan and elsewhere in Asia, carrying wheat, cars and
lumber, amongst other goods. Sometimes the ships have
company – orcas and other whales share the port’s waters.
LONGEST SWIMMING POOL
The neighbourhood of Kitsilano has the longest saltwater pool in North
America. The swimming lanes stretch for 137m (450ft) – almost the
length of three Olympic pools. Even the greatest Olympic swimmer of
all time, Michael Phelps, might be out of breath after freestyling his way
from one end to the other!