hiking on Whistler Mountain
Vancouver International Airport (YVR, 3211 Grant McConachie Way, Richmond, 604/207-7077, www.yvr.ca) is a major international gateway with flights from across Canada, the United States, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. The airport is south of the city center in the suburb of Richmond. It’s 25 minutes from the airport to downtown by public transit, taxi, or by car. All the major car rental companies have offices at the Vancouver airport.
To get to most Vancouver destinations from the airport by taxi, you’ll pay a flat rate by zone ($31-37). The Canada Line branch of the SkyTrain subway network stops at the airport. One-way adult fares ($7.75-9) from the airport to downtown vary by time of day. Returning to the airport from downtown costs $2.75-4.
hiking on Whistler Mountain
Pacific Central Station (1150 Station St.), near the intersection of Main and Terminal Streets on the edge of Chinatown, is Vancouver’s main rail depot. It’s also the city’s long-distance bus station.
Amtrak (800/872-7245, www.amtrak.com), the U.S. passenger rail carrier, runs trains to Vancouver from Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. You can make connections in either Seattle or Portland to U.S. points farther south or east. Trains from Seattle (5.5 hours) operate twice a day; the direct Portland-Vancouver train (8 hours) runs once a day in each direction. These trains have electrical outlets and free Wi-Fi in both standard economy and business classes; the latter seats give you additional legroom.
Tip for cyclists: You can walk your bike onto the Seattle or Portland trains for a fee of US$5.
Canada’s national passenger rail carrier, VIA Rail (514/989-2626 or 888/842-7245, www.viarail.ca), runs cross-country trains to Vancouver from Toronto. The major stops along the Toronto-Vancouver route of The Canadian, VIA Rail’s flagship train, are Winnipeg (Manitoba), Saskatoon (Saskatchewan), Edmonton and Jasper (Alberta), and Kamloops (British Columbia).
If you do the 2,775-mile (4,466-kilometer) Toronto-to-Vancouver rail trip nonstop, it’s a four-night, three-day journey. The Canadian operates three times a week in each direction from May through mid-October, and twice a week from mid-October through April. It’s possible to get off en route and continue your journey on a subsequent train. For example, you could take the train from Toronto to Jasper in the Canadian Rockies, get off the train for two or three days, and catch the next train onward to Vancouver.
VIA Rail offers several classes of service on The Canadian. In Economy class, the cheapest option, you have a reclining seat and access to a washroom (but no shower). Meals aren’t included, although you can buy meals and snacks on the train or outside the train during a few brief stopovers.
A more comfortable alternative is Sleeper Plus class, which offers several choices of accommodations. The least expensive is a berth, which is a seat by day that converts into a bunk, shielded by a heavy curtain, at night; the bunks can be either a lower or upper unit. Berth passengers have access to men’s and women’s restrooms and private shower rooms in the corridor.
Another Sleeper Plus option is a cabin, which can sleep 1-4 people. Cabins have their own toilets and sinks, and passengers can use the shower rooms in the corridor. Note that in the one-person cabin, the bed folds down over the toilet, so if you need to use the facilities during the night, you have to fold up your bed or use the restroom in the hallway.
The top-end sleeper accommodations are in Prestige Sleeper class, which offers a more modern cabin with a private bathroom and shower. These units have an L-shaped leather couch by day with a Murphy bed for two that folds down at night.
All the Sleeper class fares include three meals a day in the dining car, nonalcoholic drinks, and access to a window-lined viewing car. You can also sit in the bar-snack car, with complimentary coffee, tea, fruit, and cookies.
Outside of the busy summer travel season, VIA Rail frequently offers discounts of up to 50 percent off their standard fares. Check their website or sign up for their newsletter to find out about seat sales. They also offer occasional last-minute travel deals, which are posted on the VIA Rail website (www.viarail.ca).
The Rocky Mountaineer (1755 Cottrell St., at Terminal Ave., 604/606-7245 or 877/460-3200, www.rockymountaineer.com, mid-Apr.-mid-Oct.) is a privately run luxury train that offers rail trips between Vancouver, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, and Calgary. You can travel round-trip from Vancouver to the Canadian Rockies and back, or you can book a one-way journey through the Rockies from Vancouver to Calgary (or vice versa). Another route starts in Seattle and stops in Vancouver before continuing to the Rockies. Rocky Mountaineer trains travel during the day and stop overnight in Kamloops, where you stay in a hotel, en route to or from the Rockies.
Unlike a standard train trip, many Rocky Mountaineer packages include activities that range from gondola rides to helicopter tours, as well as accommodations along the way. It’s also possible to book a Rocky Mountaineer holiday that covers rail fare and accommodations only; for example, they offer two-day train trips between Vancouver and Lake Louise, Banff, or Jasper. Rail packages start at $1,741 per person and depend on the destinations, number of travel days, and the level of service and accommodations.
Rocky Mountaineer trains do not use Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station, where VIA Rail and Amtrak trains depart; they have a separate depot nearby.
Greyhound (800/661-8747, www.greyhound.ca) runs buses to Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station (1150 Station St.) from across Canada and from many U.S. cities, including direct service from Seattle.
Between Seattle and Vancouver, other bus services include Bolt Bus (877/265-8287, www.boltbus.com) and Quick Shuttle (604/940-4428 or 800/665-2122, www.quickcoach.com). Bolt Bus arrives and departs from Pacific Central Station and often offers lower fares, while Quick Shuttle stops at Canada Place and will also pick up or drop off passengers at a number of downtown hotels, with advance reservations.
Coming from the United States, Interstate 5 takes you north from Seattle, Washington, to the U.S.-Canada border. When you pass through border control, you’ll be on Highway 99 in British Columbia, which leads to metropolitan Vancouver.
The main east-west route across Canada is Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway. It’s possible to follow Highway 1 from eastern Canada, Calgary, and the Canadian Rockies all the way to Vancouver; however, it’s not the fastest route.
If you’re coming from Calgary or Banff to Vancouver, follow Highway 1 west into British Columbia and continue west to the city of Kamloops. From Kamloops, take Highway 5, the Coquihalla Highway, southbound, toward Merritt and Hope. Highway 5 meets Highway 3, which you take westbound to rejoin Highway 1 at the town of Hope and continue west to Vancouver.
From Jasper to Vancouver, the shortest route is to follow Highway 16 west to Highway 5, where you turn south toward Kamloops. At Kamloops, continue south on Highway 5, to Highway 3 west, to Highway 1 west.
You don’t need a car to get around downtown Vancouver. The downtown peninsula is easy to navigate on foot, cabs are readily available, and the city has a good public transportation system with its SkyTrain subway and comprehensive bus network. It can be faster to go by car to some places outside downtown, like the University of British Columbia or the North Shore, but these destinations are not difficult to reach by transit.
TransLink (604/953-3333, www.translink.ca) runs the city’s public transportation system. Use the Trip Planner feature on the TransLink website to plot your route.
Vancouver transit fares (one-zone/two-zone/three-zone adults $2.85/$4.10/$5.60, seniors, students, and ages 5-13 $1.80/$2.80/$3.80) are divided into three zones, based on the distance you travel. Pay a basic one-zone fare if:
▪ your trip is entirely within the Vancouver city limits.
▪ you’re traveling only by bus. All bus trips are one zone, regardless of distance.
▪ you’re traveling anywhere after 6:30pm on weekdays or all day Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.
If you’re taking the SkyTrain between downtown Vancouver and the airport Monday through Friday before 6:30pm, you need to pay a two-zone fare. During those hours, the SeaBus between Vancouver and North Vancouver is also a two-zone trip.
When you board the SkyTrain at the YVR Airport station, you pay a $5 surcharge in addition to the regular transit fare.
If you’re going to be riding transit extensively, buy a day pass (adults $10, seniors, students, and ages 5-13 $7.75), which covers one day of unlimited travel on the SkyTrain, buses, and SeaBus across all zones.
At SkyTrain or SeaBus stations, buy a ticket or day pass from the vending machine, which accepts cash, credit cards, and debit cards.
On the bus, you can pay your fare in cash; you need exact change. If you’ve bought a ticket on the SkyTrain or SeaBus within the previous 90 minutes, you can use that same ticket on the bus.
For any mode of travel, you can also buy a Compass Card, an electronic stored-value card, which gives you a discounted fare (one-zone/two-zone/three-zone adults $2.20/$3.25/$4.30). Buy Compass Cards at station vending machines, online (www.compasscard.ca), or at London Drugs stores around the city.
When you purchase a Compass Card, you’re charged a $6 card deposit. You can get your deposit back when you no longer need the card, either by returning your card in person to the Compass Customer Service Centre (Stadium-Chinatown Station) or to the West Coast Express Office (Waterfront Station), or by mailing in a refund request. See the TransLink website for mail-in refund instructions.
Before boarding the SkyTrain or SeaBus, tap your Compass Card at the fare gates. After your trip, tap your card as you exit the station, so the system can calculate the correct fare and debit it from your card balance. Remember to tap out, or you’ll be charged the maximum fare.
When you board a bus, tap your card on the card reader. You don’t have to tap out when you get off the bus, since all bus trips are a one-zone fare.
Vancouver’s SkyTrain subway has two lines that converge downtown at Waterfront Station and a third line that travels to some of the city’s eastern suburbs.
Traveling to or from Waterfront Station, the Canada Line (5am-1am daily) makes several downtown stops. Its two branches can take you between downtown and the airport (take the YVR branch) or other destinations in Richmond (the Richmond-Brighouse branch). If you’re heading anywhere downtown or along the Cambie Corridor, you can take any Canada Line train; going south, the two branches diverge at Bridgeport Station.
The Expo Line (5am-1:30am Mon.-Fri., 6am-1:30am Sat., 7am-12:30pm Sun.) travels between downtown and the Vancouver suburbs of Burnaby, New Westminster, and Surrey, east of the city. Going east, the Expo Line splits into two branches, one terminating at King George Station in Surrey, and the other going to Production Way-University Station in Burnaby. Take either branch from downtown to Chinatown, Main Street (near Science World), or Commercial Drive.
The Millennium Line (5:30am-1:30am Mon.-Fri., 6:30am-1:30am Sat., 7:30am-12:30pm Sun.) serves Vancouver’s northeastern suburbs, operating between VCC-Clark Station and Lafarge Lake-Douglas Station in Coquitlam. Transfer between the Millennium and Expo Lines at Commercial-Broadway, Production Way-University, and Lougheed Town Centre Stations.
The main bus routes in downtown Vancouver run along Granville, Burrard, Robson, Georgia, Pender, Hastings, and Davie Streets. Useful routes outside downtown travel along West 4th Avenue, Broadway, Oak, Cambie, and Main Streets, and along Commercial Drive.
At any bus stop, text the posted stop number and the bus route number to 33333 and you’ll receive a reply listing the next two buses for that route scheduled to arrive at that stop. Or, from the TransLink website’s Next Bus page (http://nb.translink.ca), enter the stop number to see when the next buses are coming to that stop; this service uses GPS tracking data to determine buses’ current locations. Signs at every bus stop show the stop number.
Bus schedules vary by route, but regular service begins between 5am and 6pm and runs until 1am or 2am. Vancouver also has 12 Night Bus routes that provide limited service into the wee hours; get schedules on the TransLink website (www.translink.ca).
Two privately run ferry services shuttle passengers across False Creek between downtown, Granville Island, Science World, and several other points. Schedules vary seasonally, but in summer, service starts around 6:45am-7am and continues until after 10pm. These ferries aren’t part of the TransLink system and require separate tickets.
The colorful Aquabus ferries (604/689-5858, www.theaquabus.com; adults $3.50-6, day pass $15, seniors and ages 4-12 $2-4, day pass $13) stop at the foot of Hornby Street, Granville Island, Yaletown’s David Lam Park, Stamps Landing, Spyglass Place near the Cambie Bridge, the foot of Davie Street in Yaletown, Plaza of Nations, and Olympic Village. They operate 12-passenger miniferries, as well as 30-passenger boats that accommodate bicycles.
False Creek Ferries (604/684-7781, www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca; adults $3.50-6, day pass $16, seniors and ages 4-12 $2.25-4, day pass $12) follow a similar route, stopping at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre in the West End, Granville Island, Vanier Park (near the Maritime Museum and Museum of Vancouver), David Lam Park, Stamps Landing, Spyglass Place, the foot of Davie Street, Plaza of Nations, and Olympic Village.
The SeaBus (604/953-3333, www.translink.ca) ferry is the fastest route between downtown’s Waterfront Station and North Vancouver’s Lonsdale Quay, taking just 12 minutes to cross the Burrard Inlet. TransLink bus and SkyTrain tickets are valid on the SeaBus.
In downtown Vancouver, you can usually hail taxis on the street or find cabs waiting at hotels, restaurants, bars, and transit stations.
You can also phone for a cab or book one online. Local taxi companies include Blacktop & Checker Cabs (604/731-1111, www.btccabs.ca), MacLure’s Cabs (604/831-1111, www.maclurescabs.ca), Vancouver Taxi (604/871-1111, www.avancouvertaxi.com), and Yellow Cab (604/681-1111, www.yellowcabonline.com).
Vancouver taxis are metered, with a base fare of $3.20 plus $1.84 per kilometer, except for trips starting at Vancouver International Airport. From the airport, you’ll pay a flat rate by zone ($31-37) to most Vancouver destinations. Cabs accept cash and credit cards.
Vancouver’s on-street parking meters ($1-6 per hour) operate 9am-10pm daily, including holidays. Rates vary by location. You can park at most metered spaces for up to two hours. Pay for parking using coins, credit cards, or the Pay by Phone app (604/909-7275, www.paybyphone.com).
Find locations and rates for the EasyPark city-run parking garages and lots online (www.easypark.ca), or look for their bright orange signs. EasyPark garages are usually less expensive than privately owned parking facilities.
The major car rental companies have offices at Vancouver International Airport, including Alamo (604/231-1400 or 888/826-6893, www.alamo.ca), Avis (604/606-2847 or 800/230-4898, www.avis.ca), Budget (604/668-7000 or 800/268-8900, www.budget.ca), Discount (604/207-8140 or 800/263-2355, www.discountcar.com), Dollar (604/606-1656 or 800/800-6000, www.dollar.com), Enterprise (604/303-1117 or 800/261-7331, www.enterprise.com), Hertz (604/606-3700 or 800/654-3001, www.hertz.ca), National (604/273-6572 or 888/826-6890, www.nationalcar.ca), and Thrifty (604/207-7077 or 800/847-4389, www.thrifty.com). Most also have downtown locations.
For the most up-to-date requirements for visitors coming to Canada, visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada (www.cic.gc.ca).
Important note: If you have a criminal record, including misdemeanors or driving while impaired (DWI), no matter how long ago, you can be prohibited from entering Canada, unless you obtain a special waiver well in advance of your trip. Refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website for additional information.
The simple answer to the question of what documents U.S. citizens need to visit Canada is “a valid passport.” If you are driving over the border, you can use a NEXUS card, issued as part of the U.S. government’s Trusted Travel Program, as your entry document. See the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website (www.cbp.gov) for NEXUS details.
If you’re driving, a valid U.S. Passport Card can also be used instead of a passport. Get more information about U.S. Passport Cards, which cannot be used for air travel, from the U.S. State Department (www.travel.state.gov).
Several U.S. states and Canadian provinces issue Enhanced Drivers Licenses that can be used as an alternative to a passport or passport card when you’re crossing a land border; they’re not valid for air travel. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection website (www.cbp.gov) has details about Enhanced Drivers Licenses.
Citizens of the United States do not need a visa to visit Canada for stays of less than six months.
All other foreign visitors to Canada must have a valid passport, and depending on your nationality, you may also need either a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Check with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (www.cic.gc.ca) to confirm what documents you require.
British, Australian, and New Zealand citizens don’t require a visa, nor do citizens of many European nations. However, in 2016, Canada introduced the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), which is required for visa-exempt visitors who are traveling to Canada by air. For example, a British citizen who is driving into Canada from the U.S. would not require a visa or an eTA but would need the eTA to fly into Canada. If you need an eTA, apply for this document online on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website (www.cic.gc.ca).
American citizens in Vancouver, Victoria, or other parts of western Canada can get assistance from the U.S. Consulate General-Vancouver (1075 W. Pender St., Vancouver, 604/685-4311, www.vancouver.usconsulate.gov).
British nationals needing consular assistance can contact the British Consulate General-Vancouver (1111 Melville St., Ste. 800, Vancouver, 604/683-4421, www.gov.uk).
The Australian Consulate and Trade Commission, Vancouver (1075 W. Georgia St., Ste. 2050, Vancouver, 604/694-6160, www.canada.embassy.gov.au) provides consular assistance to Australian citizens in western Canada, while the New Zealand Consulate General, Vancouver (1050 W. Pender St., Ste. 2250, Vancouver, 604/684-7388, www.nzembassy.com/canada) can assist citizens of New Zealand.
Visitors to Canada can bring a reasonable amount of personal baggage, including clothing, camping and sports equipment, cameras, and computers for personal use.
Travelers must declare all food, plants, or animals they bring into Canada. In general, you’re allowed to bring food for personal use, although there are restrictions on fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products. Get the latest information from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (www.inspection.gc.ca).
As long as you’re of legal drinking age (19 in B.C.), you can bring a small amount of alcohol into Canada duty- and tax-free. You’re allowed to bring one of the following: two bottles of wine (up to 53 fluid ounces or 1.5 liters), one standard bottle of other alcohol (40 ounces or 1.14 liters), or 24 cans or bottles of beer or ale (up to a total of 287 ounces or 8.5 liters). Visitors are also allowed to bring in up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars.
In general, visitors cannot bring weapons into Canada. Check the detailed requirements with the Canada Border Services Agency (www.cbsa.gc.ca).
Note that when you’re flying to Canada from the United States or other international destinations, you clear immigration and customs at the Canadian airport after you land in Canada. However, if you’re flying to the United States from Vancouver, Calgary, or other major Canadian cities, you clear U.S. immigration and customs at the Canadian airport before you board your flight. For example, if you were traveling from Vancouver to Los Angeles, you would clear U.S. immigration and customs at the Vancouver airport. Allow extra time for these immigration and customs procedures, in addition to the time it takes for standard airport passenger screening.
To work in Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler, or elsewhere in Canada, you must apply for and receive a work permit before you enter the country. The government agency responsible for work permits is Citizenship and Immigration Canada (www.cic.gc.ca). In general, you must have a job offer from a Canadian company in order to apply for a work permit.
However, if you’re between the ages of 18 and 30-35, you might qualify for the International Experience Canada program, which enables young people to come to Canada on a working holiday (combining short-term work and travel), for an internship, or to work temporarily to gain international experience in your chosen profession. The options vary, depending on what country you’re from, but the International Experience Canada program is available to citizens of 32 countries, including the UK, Australia, New Zealand, many European nations, Mexico, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Use the planning tool on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website to determine if you’re eligible for the program and what options you might have.
The International Experience Canada program is not available to U.S. citizens. However, you may be able to work with an organization that helps arrange short-term work programs in Canada. Read more about applying through one of these “Recognized Organizations” on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
To go to school in Canada, you must apply for and receive a study permit before you enter the country. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (www.cic.gc.ca) is the government agency responsible for study permits.
Vancouver is a popular destination for people who want to study English. The city has numerous language schools catering to foreign students. Languages Canada (www.languagescanada.ca) has more information about language study in Vancouver and elsewhere in Canada.
Vancouver and Victoria are generally safe destinations, with no significant health issues for visitors. Travelers should use caution and be aware of their surroundings, especially at night. In Vancouver, avoid walking or running alone through the interior of Stanley Park or Pacific Spirit Regional Park, as many trails are quite remote; however, the Seawall path around Stanley Park is well traveled from dawn to dusk.
Call 911 for assistance in an emergency.
In British Columbia, to speak with a nurse for medical information 24 hours a day, call 811 to reach the HealthLink BC service (www.healthlinkbc.ca). You can also phone HealthLink BC at 604/215-8110.
Vancouver General Hospital (920 W. 10th Ave., 604/875-4111, www.vch.ca) has a 24-hour emergency room, which will assist patients ages 17 and older. If children under 17 need emergency medical attention, take them to B.C. Children’s Hospital (4480 Oak St., 604/875-2345 or 888/300-3088, www.bcchildrens.ca).
Downtown, you can get 24-hour emergency care at St. Paul’s Hospital (1081 Burrard St., 604/682-2344, www.providencehealthcare.org). On the University of British Columbia campus, the UBC Urgent Care Clinic (UBC Hospital, Koerner Pavilion, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, 604/822-7121, www.vch.ca, 8am-10pm daily) is a good choice for X-rays and nonemergency medical issues.
Check the website Emergency Wait Times (www.edwaittimes.ca) for the estimated waiting time at local emergency rooms.
Several locations of Shoppers Drug Mart (www.shoppersdrugmart.ca) have 24-hour pharmacies, including branches in the West End (1125 Davie St., 604/669-2424), on Broadway near Vancouver General Hospital (885 W. Broadway, 604/708-1135), and in Kitsilano (2302 W. 4th Ave., 604/738-3138). Other centrally located branches have extended hours, including Robson and Burrard downtown (748 Burrard St., 778/330-4711, 8am-midnight daily) and Yaletown (1006 Homer St., 604/669-0330, 8am-midnight Mon.-Sat., 9am-midnight Sun.).
London Drugs (www.londondrugs.com), another Canadian pharmacy chain, has several downtown locations that are open late, including 710 Granville Street (604/448-4802, 8am-10pm Mon.-Fri., 9am-10pm Sat., 10am-8pm Sun.) and 1187 Robson Street (604/448-4819, 9am-10pm Mon.-Sat., 10am-10pm Sun.).
If you become ill or injured while traveling in British Columbia, go to the nearest hospital emergency room or walk-in health clinic.
If you’re a resident of another Canadian province, your provincial health plan may not provide health coverage while you’re out of your home province. If the plan does provide coverage, it may pay only the amount it would pay for the service in your home province, not what you might be billed in British Columbia. Either way, before your trip, it’s a good idea to purchase supplemental travel health insurance to cover any unexpected medical costs while you’re on the road.
If you live outside Canada, make sure that you have health insurance that will cover you and your family in Canada. You normally have to pay for medical services provided in Canada and then file a claim with your health insurance provider after you return home.
Compared to many cities around the world, Vancouver is relatively safe. The most prevalent crimes are property crimes. Bicycle thefts are a particular problem, and car break-ins happen more frequently than anyone would like. Don’t leave valuables in your car, and always lock your bike.
Vancouver has a significant homeless population, many of whom congregate on the streets of Gastown and Chinatown, particularly along sections of Hastings Street, near Main Street. While that isn’t a reason to avoid the area, use caution as you would in any urban neighborhood. Hop on the bus or take a cab if you’re in this part of the city late at night.
In casual Vancouver, decent slacks and a blouse or collared shirt would be appropriate attire almost anywhere. You can dress up a bit when you’re eating out, and many people bring out their finery if they’re attending the opera, the symphony, or a dance club.
Bring comfortable walking or hiking shoes, and clothes for the outdoors. In summer, bring a jacket or sweater for the cool evenings; even during the day, temperatures rarely rise much above 75°F (24°C).
If you’re visiting between October and May, pack rain gear; a good rain jacket and an umbrella will protect you from the inevitable drizzle and frequent downpours. Temperatures typically don’t drop below freezing in the city, but it can be cool enough that you’d want a hat and gloves between November and March.
Many of western Canada’s attractions, hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, and transportation options are accessible to travelers with disabilities. A useful general resource about accessible travel to and around Canada is the government’s Access to Travel website (www.accesstotravel.gc.ca). It includes details about transportation between and around B.C. cities and towns, as well as general tips and travel advice.
Most national and provincial parks offer accessible facilities. Many picnic areas, campsites, and park washrooms, as well as some trails, can accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility aids. Get details on facilities in specific parks from Parks Canada (www.pc.gc.ca) or B.C. Parks (www.env.gov.bc.ca).
Western Canada is an extremely family-friendly destination. Not only are there tons of fun things for families to do, but plenty of resources also help support traveling families or make travel more affordable.
Many museums, attractions, and recreational facilities offer free admission for kids under a certain age (often 5 or 6, but sometimes 11 or 12). Many offer discounted family admission rates, which generally include two adults and at least two children. Ask about family discounts when you’re buying tickets.
Kids stay free at many major hotels. Other good lodging options for traveling families, besides the typical chain motels, include suite hotels (in cities) and cabins or cottages (in more rural areas), which often provide more space for the money, as well as kitchen facilities where you can prepare your own food. Some bed-and-breakfasts don’t accept kids, so always ask.
Many restaurants in Canada offer children’s menus with a few kid-approved food selections. Encourage your kids to try new things, though, since they may surprise you with their newfound love for bison burgers, handmade noodles, or sushi.
When you’re visiting a national park or national historic site with kids, ask for a free Parks Canada Xplorer booklet, which has child-friendly activities to help them explore that destination. At most parks, Parks Canada staff offer interpretive programs, from wildlife talks to guided hikes, that are designed for kids or suitable for families; ask at the park visitors center or check the Parks Canada website (www.pc.gc.ca) for details and schedules.
Note that if only one parent is traveling with his or her children, the Canadian government recommends that the parent carry a written letter of permission from the other parent. Divorced parents who share custody should also travel with a copy of their legal custody documents. If you are traveling with a child who isn’t your own (or for whom you’re not the legal guardian), you should carry written permission from the parents or guardians indicating that you’re allowed to travel with the child. You may be asked to present these letters at the border when you enter Canada. For a sample letter of consent, see the Travel and Tourism section of the Government of Canada’s website (www.travel.gc.ca).
The good thing about getting older is that you can often get discounts. Many B.C. attractions, lodgings, and transportation providers offer discounts for seniors. Normally, you need to be 65 to qualify for a senior discount, although occasionally these discounts are extended to travelers at age 60 or 62.
Parks Canada offers discounts at the country’s national parks and national historic sites, with reduced rates for single-day admissions and annual passes.
Canada is far more welcoming to gay and lesbian travelers than many other destinations. Marriage equality is the law in Canada.
Vancouver has a large LGBTQ community. The hub of the community is along Davie Street in the city’s West End, with another popular area along Commercial Drive in East Vancouver, although accommodations, restaurants, and other facilities across the city (and indeed across B.C.) welcome gay and lesbian travelers. Tourism Vancouver (www.tourismvancouver.com) publishes a quarterly LGBTQ newsletter, Out in Vancouver. Gayvan Travel Marketing (www.gayvan.com) can tell you more about the local community, events, and resources.
Other resources for gay and lesbian travel to Canada include Travel Gay Canada (www.travelgaycanada.com), the country’s gay and lesbian tourism association, and TAG Approved (www.tagapproved.com), which highlights gay-friendly hotels and attractions.
Canada’s currency is the dollar, and like its U.S. counterpart, it’s divided into 100 cents. Canadian bills include $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 denominations. Coins include five, 10, and 25 cents, and one and two dollars. The gold-colored one-dollar coin is called the “loonie,” for the picture of the loon on its back side. The two-dollar coin is nicknamed the “toonie” (since it’s equal to two loonies). Throughout this book, prices are listed in Canadian dollars (unless otherwise specified).
Major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express, are accepted throughout British Columbia, although some smaller establishments may take payment in cash only. You’ll find automated teller machines (ATMs)—which Canadian banks call automated banking machines, or ABMs—in almost every town. Debit cards are also widely accepted through the region.
Bank of Canada (www.bankofcanada.ca), the Canadian central bank, publishes the official exchange rate between Canadian dollars and other currencies. You can exchange U.S. dollars, euros, British pounds, Australian dollars, and other major currencies for Canadian dollars at banks across B.C. or at currency exchange dealers in Vancouver, Victoria, and Whistler. Some B.C. businesses will accept U.S. dollars, although the exchange rate is usually worse than the official rate, and you’ll get change back in Canadian funds. You’re nearly always better off paying in Canadian currency or using a credit card.
Purchases in Canada are subject both to a Federal Goods and Services Tax (G.S.T.) and, in most provinces, to an additional provincial sales tax (P.S.T.). The G.S.T. is currently 5 percent, and in British Columbia, the P.S.T. will add 7 percent to your purchases. Not every item you buy is subject to both types of sales tax; basic groceries and prepared food, books, newspapers, magazines, and children’s clothing are all exempt from B.C.’s sales tax.
However, on accommodations, you’ll pay an 8 percent P.S.T., plus an additional municipal and regional district tax of up to 3 percent. British Columbia charges a 10 percent tax on liquor.
Canada officially uses the metric system. Distances and speed limits are marked in kilometers, gasoline and bottled beverages are sold by the liter, and weights are given in grams or kilograms.
Electrical service in Canada is 120 volts, the same as in the United States, with the same types of plugs.
British Columbia has two time zones. Most of the province, including Vancouver, Victoria, and Whistler, is in the Pacific time zone. The easternmost part of the province, on the Alberta border, is in the mountain time zone; Cranbrook, Golden, and Invermere are among the B.C. communities that follow mountain time.
British Columbia observes daylight savings time. Clocks move forward one hour on the second Sunday in March and turn back one hour on the first Sunday of November.
Near Canada Place, the Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre (200 Burrard St., plaza level, 604/683-2000, www.tourismvancouver.com, 9am-5pm daily) provides helpful information about the city. Inside the visitors center, Tickets Tonight (604/684-2787, www.ticketstonight.ca, 9am-5pm daily) sells half-price same-day theater and event tickets.
Tourism Vancouver’s Inside Vancouver blog (www.insidevancouver.ca) details goings-on around town and provides event listings. Destination BC (www.hellobc.com), the provincial tourism agency, has a useful website with information about Vancouver and destinations across the province. The City of Vancouver website (http://vancouver.ca) provides details about city-run parks, theaters, and transportation. TransLink (www.translink.ca), the city’s public transit system, has an online trip-planning function that can help you get around town.
The city’s local daily newspapers include the Vancouver Sun (www.vancouversun.com) and Vancouver Province (www.theprovince.com). The daily Toronto-based Globe and Mail (www.theglobeandmail.com) covers news across Canada, including Vancouver, as does the CBC (www.cbc.ca), Canada’s public television and radio outlet.
The Georgia Straight (www.straight.com) provides arts and entertainment listings, restaurant reviews, and area news. Other community news outlets include the Vancouver Courier (www.vancourier.com) and the WestEnder (www.westender.com). Vancouver Magazine (http://vanmag.com), a glossy monthly also available online, covers city news, restaurants, and events.
The online Scout Magazine (http://scoutmagazine.ca) features Vancouver restaurant and food stories. Miss 604 (www.miss604.com) and Vancouver Is Awesome (http://vancouverisawesome.com) are established local blogs.
Throughout 2017, in honor of Canada’s 150th anniversary, admission to all of the country’s national parks is free.
Parks Canada (888/773-8888, www.pc.gc.ca) is the agency responsible for the country’s national parks. You can purchase an annual Parks Canada Discovery Pass (adults $67.70, seniors $57.90, kids 6-16 $33.30, family/group $136.40), valid at more than 100 national parks, national marine conservation areas, and national historic sites across the country. The family/group pass is good for up to seven people arriving together at a particular site. If you’re going to visit several parks and historic sites during your travels, a Discovery Pass can be a good value.
If you purchase your Discovery Pass at the beginning of a month, your pass will be valid for 13 months, rather than 12, since the pass expires on the last day of the month in which you bought it.
You can buy a Discovery Pass online or by phone from Parks Canada or in person at any national park or historic site. If you’ve already bought a day pass to a park or historic site within the past 30 days, you can credit the price of that ticket toward a Discovery Pass.
British Columbia has more than 1,000 provincially managed parks and protected areas, run by B.C. Parks (www.env.gov.bc.ca). The B.C. Parks system is the second largest group of parks in Canada; only the country’s national park system protects a larger area. The first provincial park in British Columbia, Strathcona Park on Vancouver Island, opened in 1911.
Among the most visited parks near Vancouver are Cypress Provincial Park (www.cypressmountain.com) on the North Shore, Shannon Falls Provincial Park (www.env.gov.bc.ca) and Stawamus Chief Provincial Park (http://seatoskyparks.com) in Squamish, and Garibaldi Provincial Park (www.env.gov.bc.ca), which extends from Squamish north to Whistler and beyond.
While there are fees to camp in B.C.’s provincial parks, day use at most B.C. parks is free.
At the end of Vancouver’s downtown peninsula, Stanley Park is the city’s marquee park, with 1,000 acres (400 hectares) of rainforest, beaches, and walking trails. Near the University of British Columbia campus on Vancouver’s West Side, Pacific Spirit Regional Park is even larger. This rainforest park measures more than 1,800 acres (760 hectares), with 40 miles (70 kilometers) of hiking paths. On the North Shore, West Vancouver’s Lighthouse Park (www.lighthousepark.ca) rewards visitors with beautiful waterfront views.
British Columbia has plenty of opportunities to hit the trail, whether you’re looking to tromp around in the woods for an afternoon or set off on a multiday hiking adventure. In Vancouver, you can hike in Stanley Park or Pacific Spirit Regional Park.
Just outside the city, there are numerous hiking routes on the North Shore, from the iconic Grouse Grind (www.grousemountain.com) to the trails in Cypress Provincial Park (www.cypressmountain.com). North Vancouver’s Lynn Canyon Park (www.lynncanyon.ca) has a suspension bridge that’s free to cross, as well as several easy-to-moderate hiking paths.
Within an hour’s drive of Vancouver, the Squamish area is a popular hiking destination. Among the area’s best hikes is the climb up “The Chief,” the imposing rock cliff in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park (http://seatoskyparks.com). Hikers also gravitate to the 750-square-mile (1,942-square-kilometer) Garibaldi Provincial Park (www.env.gov.bc.ca) for its more than 55 miles (90 kilometers) of hiking trails.
Whistler has several hiking trails in or near the village, including the 25-mile (40-kilometer) Valley Trail (www.whistler.ca) that’s open to both walkers and cyclists. Up on the mountain, Whistler-Blackcomb (www.whistlerblackcomb.com) has numerous hiking trails of all levels that you can access from the lifts or gondolas.
Mountain bikers head for the North Shore, particularly the trails near the three local ski hills, Grouse (www.grousemountain.com), Cypress (www.cypressmountain.com), and Mount Seymour (www.mountseymour.com). Whistler-Blackcomb (www.whistlerblackcomb.com) is a mecca for mountain bikers, with more than 70 trails open from mid-May through mid-October.
In bike-friendly Victoria, you can cycle around the city or pedal a longer rail trail. The 35-mile (55-kilometer) Galloping Goose Trail runs along a former rail line from Victoria west to the town of Sooke, and the 18-mile (29-kilometer) Lochside Regional Trail connects Victoria and Swartz Bay, where the ferries from Vancouver dock.
You can go swimming at Vancouver’s many oceanfront beaches, including English Bay and Sunset Beaches in the West End, Second and Third Beaches in Stanley Park, and Kitsilano, Jericho, Locarno, and Spanish Banks Beaches on the West Side. Even in summer, though, the water temperature is rarely above 21°C (70°F).
Vancouver’s several large public pools, particularly Kitsilano Pool and Stanley Park’s Second Beach Pool, are warmer alternatives. You can swim indoors at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre (1050 Beach Ave.) in the West End.
You don’t have to leave downtown Vancouver to go kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding either. Ecomarine Paddlesports Centre (www.ecomarine.com) rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards at English Bay Beach and Granville Island, and they have kayaks for rent at Jericho Beach as well. You can also rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards from Creekside Kayaks (www.creeksidekayaks.ca) on False Creek and from Vancouver Water Adventures (www.vancouverwateradventures.com), which has outlets at Granville Island and Kitsilano Beach.
Another destination for kayaking is Deep Cove (www.deepcovekayak.com) on Vancouver’s North Shore, where you can paddle for an hour or two (or many more) through the scenic waters of the Indian Arm fjord.
For white-water rafting, head for Squamish, north of Vancouver, where several outfitters offer trips on the gentle Cheakamus River and the faster Elaho-Squamish River.
Western Canada’s top surfing spot is Tofino, on Vancouver Island’s west coast. Hard-core surfers suit up and hit the waves in the winter, when the surf is largest. Summer brings gentler waves and somewhat warmer temperatures.
In winter, you can ice-skate at a public rink in Robson Square downtown (www.robsonsquare.com) or at the Richmond Olympic Oval (http://richmondoval.ca). Grouse Mountain (www.grousemountain.com) also has a mountaintop skating rink.
On Vancouver’s North Shore, less than 45 minutes from downtown, three local mountains, Grouse (www.grousemountain.com), Cypress (www.cypressmountain.com), and Mount Seymour (www.mountseymour.com), offer downhill skiing and snowboarding. The ski season on the North Shore typically runs from December through March. You can go snowshoeing at all three mountains, and Cypress offers cross-country skiing, too.
North America’s largest snow sports resort is just a two-hour drive from downtown Vancouver. Whistler-Blackcomb (www.whistlerblackcomb.com) has more than 200 trails for skiing and snowboarding. The mountain usually opens in November and remains open until April. Weather permitting, you can even go glacier skiing on Blackcomb Mountain in the summer.
Whale-watching trips depart regularly from downtown Vancouver, from the village of Steveston in Richmond south of Vancouver, and from the Inner Harbour in Victoria. These trips typically take you either among the Gulf Islands or south to Washington’s San Juan Islands, depending on where whales have been spotted. Whale-watching season runs April through October.
On Vancouver Island’s west coast, the Tofino area is another prime spot for whale-watching trips. A number of operators run whale-watching cruises from Tofino harbor from March or April through October or November.