Attractions

A city perched on the edge of a great wilderness, Vancouver offers unmatched opportunities for exploring the outdoors. But within the city limits, Vancouver is intensely urban, with buzzy sidewalk cafes and busy shopping streets. The forest of high-rises ringing the central part of the city reminds some visitors of New York or Shanghai, and Chinatown inevitably invites comparisons to San Francisco. But comparisons with other places begin to pall as you come to realize that Vancouver is entirely its own creation: a young, self-confident, sparklingly beautiful city like no other place on earth.

360 Degrees of Vancouver

The most popular (and most touristed) spot from which to view Vancouver's skyline and surrounding topography is high atop the space needle observation deck at the Lookout!, Harbour Centre Tower, 555 W. Hastings St. (tel. 604/689-0421). It's a great place for first-time visitors who want a panorama of the city. The glass-encased Skylift whisks you up 166m (545 ft.) to the rooftop deck in less than a minute. The 360-degree view is remarkable (yes, that is Mt. Baker looming above the southeastern horizon), but the signage could be a lot better. Skylift admission is C$13 (US$11/£6) for adults, C$11 (US$9/£5) for seniors, C$9 (US$8/£4) for students and youth 11 to 17, C$6 (US$5/£2.70) children 4 to 10, and free for children under 4. It's open daily in summer from 8:30am to 10:30pm and in winter from 9am to 9pm, and tickets are valid for the entire day.

Historic Landmarks & Attractions

The Burnaby Village Museum, 6501 Deer Lake Ave., Burnaby (tel. 604/293-6501; www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca), is a 3.5-hectare (8 3/4-acre) re-creation of the town as it might have appeared in the 1920s. You can walk along boardwalk streets among costumed townspeople, shop in a general store, ride a vintage carousel, peek into an authentic one-room schoolhouse, and visit a vintage ice-cream parlor that's been in the same location since the turn of the 20th century. At Christmastime, the whole village is aglow in lights and Victorian decorations. Admission is C$10 (US$8/£4.50) for adults; C$7.50 (US$6.50/£3.40) for seniors, students, and youths 13 to 18; C$5 (US$4.25/£2.25) for children 6 to 12; and free for children under 6. It's open daily early May through early September from 11am to 4:30pm; November 24 through December 12 noon to 5pm; December 13 through January 1 from noon to 8pm; closed December 24 and 25. From the Metrotown Skystation take bus no. 110 to Deer Lake.

The Fort Langley National Historic Site, 23433 Mavis Ave., Fort Langley (tel. 604/513-4777; www.pc.gc.ca/fortlangley), is the birthplace of British Columbia. In 1827, the Hudson's Bay Company established this settlement to supply its provincial posts. Costumed craftspeople demonstrate blacksmithing, coopering, and woodworking, bringing this landmark back to life. It's open year-round, daily from 10am to 5pm March through October; call or visit the website for winter hours. Admission is C$7.25 (US$6.20/£3.25) for adults, C$6 (US$5/£2.70) for seniors, C$3.50 (US$3/£1.60) for children 6 to 16, and free for children under 6; a family pass is C$18 (US$15/£8). To get there, take the SkyTrain to Surrey Central Station and transfer to bus no. 501. Note: The main street of Fort Langley Village, Glover Road, is packed with antiques shops, a bookstore, and cafes, and it's only a 2-minute stroll away.