Vancouver is a coastal seaport city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. It is among Canada’s densest, most ethnically diverse cities.
It is well known for its majestic natural beauty, as it is nestled between the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. It is frequently ranked as one of the “best cities to live in” and is certainly a beautiful destination to visit.
Here are the top 10 Things Vancouver Is Famous For
Photo credit: Leo MaFollow / Flickr
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is a magnificent green oasis in the midst of the urban landscape of Vancouver. The park is a 405-hectare public park that borders the downtown of Vancouver and is mostly surrounded by waters of Burrard Inlet and English Bay. The park has a long history and was one of the first areas to be explored in the city and enjoy scenic views of the water, mountains, sky, and majestic trees along Stanley Park’s famous Seawall. Enjoy kilometers of trails, beautiful beaches, local wildlife, great eats, natural, cultural and historical landmarks.
Photo credit: Ruth Hartnup / Flickr
Olympics Games
In 2010, the Olympic Games came to Canada and were hosted in the winter ski resort of Whistler Blackcomb, less than 2 hours north of downtown Vancouver. For the first time, Canada won gold in an official sport at an Olympic Games hosted at home and broke the record for the most gold medals won at a single Winter Olympics.
Photo credit: Giuseppe Milo / Flickr
Hollywood North
The term “Hollywood North” has been used to describe aspects of Vancouver film and television production since the late 1970s. It became known as “Hollywood North” for its role as a production center for US feature films shot in British Columbia.
Some of the most popular movies filmed in Vancouver include four films in the Twilight Saga (New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn Parts I & II), three X-Men films (X2, X-Men: Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine), Night at the Museum, and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.
Marijuana Vancouver
Cannabis in Canada is legal for both recreational and medicinal purposes. Cannabis in British Columbia (BC) relates to a number of legislative, legal, and cultural events. The British Columbia cannabis industry is worth billions annually and produces 40 percent of all Canadian cannabis. Drug-impaired driving will continue to be illegal.
Photo credit: Tom Harpel / Wikipedia
Vancouver is famous for its rain
Vancouver has surprisingly mild winters compared to many other cities in Canada. The city is Canada’s third most rainy city, with over 161 rainy days per year. As measured at Vancouver Airport in Richmond, Vancouver receives 45.40 in of rain per year.
Photo credit: Alex Costin / Flickr
Gastown
Gastown is the original settlement that became the core of the creation of Vancouver. Today the district retains its historic charm and independent spirit with victorian architecture houses and some of the best culinary fare in Vancouver. Gastown is a mix of “hip” contemporary fashion and interior furnishing boutiques, tourist-oriented businesses, restaurants, nightclubs, poverty, and newly upscale housing.
Photo credit: Xicotencatl / Wikipedia
Museum of Anthropology
The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada is renowned for its displays of world arts and cultures. It is a major tourist destination, and a research and teaching museum. MOA houses close to 50,000 ethnographic objects, as well as 535,000 archaeological objects in its building alone.
Photo credit: Andreina Schoeberlein / Flickr
Dr. Sun Yat Sen
The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is the first Chinese or “scholars” garden built outside of China, and is located in Chinatown in Vancouver and named the World’s Top City Garden by National Geographic. Entry is free to the Sun Yat-Sen Park, but there is an admission fee to enter the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
Photo credit: Hiroki Nakamura / Flickr
Culture and Festivals
Vancouver isn’t all about the outdoors as it offers a variety of theatre, concerts and other cultural events. Vancouver has all kinds of festivals and events during the year. From culinary to culture, performing arts to Pride, you’ll find a festival or special event that attracts your interests. During summer, various communities take advantage of the sunny weather to put on big celebrations with tons of different events open to everyone with unique food experiences, dynamic entertainment through celebrities and diverse food.
Photo credit: Matt Biddulph / Flickr
Grouse Mountain
Just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, Grouse Mountain attracts locals and tourists and provides spectacular views of Vancouver’s North Shore. Grouse Mountain is a popular all year-round mountain playground.
Main photo credit: Mattia Valente / Flickr
Want to learn more about other sustainable destination? Check out section sustainable travel destinations.
