Vancouver Celebrates Peak of Christmas on Grouse Mountain!
During the winter months, Vancouver commemorates one of the most important events in its city, the Peak of Christmas, which lasts from November 27 to December 24. On top of Vancouver’s famous Grouse Mountain, visitors can ready themselves for Christmas with seasonal entertainment, outdoor ice skating, a fun sleigh ride across the fluffy snow and even breakfast with Santa. You’ll want to bring your small children along to pet the reindeer and see the beauty of Santa’s busy workshop as well. Each of these activities takes place at different times through the month-long event, so you’ll want to book Vancouver lodging during the ones you’re most interested in.
Besides the Peak of Christmas event, Vancouver has other mountaintop experiences for you and the family including the Whistler Mountain Tour, which transports you past snow covered areas like Howe Sound, Horseshoe Bay, Whistler Village and the 1,000 foot tall Shannon Falls. It’s all part of the experience in the mountains, and the scenic view alone will be worth your time. Don’t forget to check out the West Coast Railway Heritage Park which is also located on Whistler Mountain.
Your time on top of Vancouver isn’t done, as you can also enjoy the North Shore, Capilano, and Grouse Tour, too. Grab a seat on the Grouse Mountain Skyride, which pulls you 3,700 feet above Vancouver, or view the Capilano Suspension Bridge, a towering sight not far from Lion’s Gate Bridge. If you’re still up for a little shopping and exploring you can visit the Lonsdale Quay, a market filled with arts, crafts, cuisine and clothing.
View the world from a different perspective on top of one of Vancouver’s mountains during your holiday vacation. You’ll remember the sights and sounds even after you return home.
Take a Bite Out of Vancouver During Taste of Yaletown
Food and wine enthusiasts everywhere love visiting Vancouver during their Taste of Yaletown event. This year is the 6th annual event, and it is expected to be just as big as the year before. During the event, some of the top restaurants in Vancouver serve special, three-course meals at a fixed price. This gives everyone a chance to get delicious foods at a lower cost than the average three course meal. Some of the top restaurants that will be participating include Hurricane Grill, Hapa Izakaya Yaletown, and Society Dining Lounge. The event will only be available October 13th to the 31st, so start packing and get ready for a delicious culinary experience!
If you’re visiting Vancouver to get a taste of gourmet meals and fine wines at a delicious price, you also need to go on the Vancouver Wine Tour. This tour will take you through the regions where Canada’s top wines are produced. During the tour you will stop at several wineries including Township 7 Vineyards and Winers, Lotusland Vineyards, and Domaine de Chaberton to learn how they make their wines. As you visit each winery, you will get the chance to taste some of their signature and new wines.
Don’t spend all of your time in Vancouver eating and drinking when there is so much natural beauty to enjoy in the area. Take the Whistler Mountain Tour to get stunning views of the area’s mountains, waterfalls, and other attractions. This tour will take you along Howe Sound, Horseshoe Bay, Shannon Falls, and charming Whistler Village for a full day of sightseeing and a little bit of shopping. It’s a fun way to see the natural beauty that the area is known for.
Autumn Puts on a Spectacular Show in the Vancouver Area
Explore the beauty of Vancouver and the surrounding areas as autumn turns the countryside into a tapestry of brilliant fall colors. With tours that cover Whistler, Victoria, and Vancouver, you don’t have to miss out on any of the wonderful sights that the area has to offer. Bring your camera and take pictures to go along with the memories that will last you a lifetime.
Start out your journey with the Vancouver Island, Victoria and Butchart Gardens Tour. This tour will give you the chance to see both Vancouver and Victoria as well as the famous Butchart Gardens. Different seasons dictate the flowers that are used throughout the gardens on this tour, so you can expect to see fall flowers and plant life everywhere you go. Don’t forget to take pictures of the famous places you see as well as the incredible gardens. This tour will take you on a relaxing journey that will fill your whole day with wonderful scenery and experiences.
If you feel you haven’t seen enough of Victoria and you want the chance to see some of the whales the area is known for, make sure to go on the Victoria Bus Tour and Whale Watching Cruise from Vancouver. This tour will combine the best of both worlds, so you get to see some of the famous places in Victoria like the Inner Harbor as well as the awe-inspiring killer whales in the ocean. During the whale watching portion of your time, you will be aboard a ship with the capabilities to allow you and the other guests to listen to the whales communicate. It’s an incredible adventure that will give you plenty of opportunities for photos.
Don’t forget to see the charming town of Whistler while you’re in Vancouver. The Whistler Tour via Sea to Sky Highway will give you the chance to see the wilderness and resort attractions that the area is known for. Gorgeous views and history await around every corner in Whistler. You won’t want to put your camera down as you take in scenic views throughout the experience. It’s a lovely way to round out your knowledge and appreciation of the area.
Get Some Vancouver Variety Sightseeing Experiences
Explore Vancouver multiple ways on your next vacation. This city can be seen by foot, bike, bus, or even boat for a diverse experience of all the lovely Vancouver has to offer. Check out these four great tours for a fun way to get to know Vancouver.
Get to know the beautiful downtown areas of Vancouver with the Vancouver Walking Experience. Some of the places you will visit with this walking tour include Chinatown, Sinclair Center, Waterfront Station, and Victory Square. This walking tour is a great way to get some real sightseeing done at a relaxed pace.
Vancouver Half Day Bike Experience
A two hour bike tour is the perfect way to get acquainted with the city of Vancouver. You get some exercise as well as getting to see incredible sights like Stanley Park, Gastown, and Yaletown. Your knowledgeable guide will be able to tell you about the various places you see along the way, so you get to learn while you bike!
Let an experienced guide lead you through Vancouver with the Vancouver Highlights Tour. This tour will show you the places where the Olympics took place in the city as well as the Vancouver Harbor. Throughout your tour experience, the guide will be pointing out interesting sites and telling you fun facts and information about the history and culture of this lovely city.
Take a walk on the wild side with the thrilling Fraser River Safari. This exhilarating boat ride takes you down Fraser River to see the wildlife along the river. A guide will tell you about local legends and lore while you cruise along, so you can get even more fun history about the Vancouver area. You will be fascinated with the sights and stories on this activity.
International Children’s Festival Brings Youth and Laughter to Vancouver, BC
The International Children’s Festival brings Vancouver, BC to life with its exciting activities and events. This year, the event takes place on Beatty Street from May17th to the 24th. Acrobats, theaters, dancers, and musicians come to the city to entertain children and adults alike. In the past, there have even been children’s artists and authors at the event. You can’t help but get caught up in the enthusiasm and excitement of the festivities.
For more family-friendly fun outside of the children’s festival, go on the Victoria Bus Tour and Whale Watching Cruise from Vancouver. The bus tour portion of the activity will take you by some of the exciting cultural and historic sites of the city like Empress Hotel, BC legislature building, and Royal BC Museum before stopping at the glorious Vancouver harbor. If the harbors don’t take your breath away, the killer whales you see on this tour will. These incredible creatures are spectacular to see in person.
Another activity the whole family can enjoy is the Fraser River Safari. Hop aboard a custom-made boat that will take you along Fraser River’s most scenic areas. See both the Coast and Cascade Mountains as the guide tells you about missionaries, fur traders, and gold miners who used to populate the area. Legends and native wildlife will have you and your children captivated during the entire tour.
International Wine Festival Flavors Vancouver
The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival is back in Vancouver to thrill wine lovers and educate budding wine enthusiasts. From April 19th to April 25th, you can delight your taste buds at the Vancouver Playhouse with over 1,500 wines from 180 wineries. Dinners, seminars, and tastings will be held all 7 days, so you can get a taste of the incredible samples brought by the wineries. While you’re in Vancouver for the festival, enhance your experience with the Vancouver Wine Tour and get access to more wineries.
After spending so much time enjoying the wonderful wines presented at the festival, you may want to get outdoors and see Vancouver in spring. This beautiful area has so much to see and do. Go on the Vancouver City Tour with Lookout to make sure you don’t miss any of the wonderful sights and attractions in the city. After your tour, you will be escorted to the lookout where you will be treated to a glorious view of Vancouver.
After viewing the city, you will undoubtedly be ready to see nearby Whistler Mountains. With spring bringing everything to life, the mountains are more impressive than ever in their size and beauty. The Whistler Mountain Tour offers you the chance go and experience the beautiful area and stop in the charming Whistler Village for some shopping. After your tour of the village, you will visit the West Coast Railway Heritage Park.
Tracing Night by Ed Pien Brings Artistic Flavor to Vancouver
Ed Pien is taking Vancouver by storm with his revolutionary work called Tracing Night. The showing of his work began February 4th and continues through April 11th in a breathtaking display of the very essence of night. Pein’s work has been displayed nationally and internationally for years, and his newest work is as unusual as it is incredible. Built in a labyrinth style, it is a collection of art that viewers are allowed to walk through to explore the layers of artwork inspired by Chinese and Inuit beliefs. The portrayal of nature and beliefs is sure to stir the imagination.
If you enjoy nature, then you will want to continue the exploration of nature with the Victoria and Butchart Gardens Tour. The gardens are located in the capital city and are a stunning display of all nature has to offer and although they are not on a canvas or any other medium, the gardens really are a work of art. There are well over 5,000 different types of plants to delight your senses.
Continue your exploration of nature with the wildlife that Vancouver has to offer. See the whales in the All Day Victoria and Whales Experience. A team of marine biologists lead this tour, so all questions anyone may have about the amazing creatures are certain to be answered by a knowledgeable crew member. Once you’ve seen the whales, the gardens, and the artwork, you may be surprised Vancouver still has more to offer. Make sure you don’t miss a thing with the Vancouver Highlights Tour.
Experience the Beauty of Vanouver with a Winter Ski Vacation
Vancouver offers a variety of activities for all visitors. It is a city that hosts many arts festivals, it has a beautiful location on the coast, and it is also just an hour away from world-class skiing on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. With so many options, Vancouver is the perfect place to spend a winter vacation.
If you would like to spend your vacation enjoying the beauty of the wintry landscape around you, the Vancouver’s Winter Getaway vacation package may be the perfect option for you and your family. With three nights of lodging, the Butchart Gardens Christmas tour, and the Whistler Mountain tour, this package offers many of opportunities to experience the breathtaking vistas of British Columbia. The Butchart Gardens Christmas tour will take you to nearby Victoria to the world-famous Butchart Gardens, which have been decorated especially for the holiday season. On the Whistler Mountain tour, you can enjoy stops at Horseshoe Bay, Howe Sound, and Shannon Falls, as well as Whistler itself, where you will be able to do some shopping. On the return trip to Vancouver, you will stop at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park.
Nearby Whistler offers some of the best skiing in Canada. In fact, Whistler will be the site of many of the outdoor activities for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. With the Whistler, BC Winter Vacation, you can enjoy two nights of lodging as well as the Bonnie and Clyde Dogsled Tour. On the dogsled tour, you and your family can enjoy a unique and fun experience in the snowy wonderland of Whistler. This tour includes a snowshoeing experience, a trip to Alexander Falls, and a real dogsledding adventure accompanied by an experienced musher. This vacation package is a perfect choice for those who want to experience the beauty of the area without risking their body on the ski slopes.
In addition, Whistler has many options available that will allow you to build your own ski vacation package. We offer lift tickets to Blackcomb Mountain, which will give you access to over 8,000 acres of winter fun. Blackcomb is also open to snowboarders and offers terrain parks and half pipes, so every member of your family will have something fun to do. In addition, you can enjoy outdoor activities like sledding, snowshoeing, and tubing. Lift tickets may easily be combined with any of our fantastic lodging options in Whistler, which include ski resorts, romantic retreats, and more.
Catch the Olympic Spirit in Vancouver
Although the 2010 Winter Olympics are still months away, now is the perfect time to start planning your trip to British Columbia to take in the games. The athletes have been preparing for this event for years, and you only have a few months left to get ready! The Vancouver Winter Games takes place February 12 through 28. Primary Olympic Venues are found in Vancouver, Richmond, and Whistler.
Lodging in a prime Vancouver location will likely be hard to come by as the Games draw closer. Downtown Vancouver and Whistler offer the best locations to stay at that will provide proximity to many events and attractions of the Winter Games. Lodging in Downtown Vancouver will place you near many of the city’s popular entertainment attractions, as well as the David Lam Park, which will host many events for the Games. Whistler, BC also has many lodging options available, including upscale resorts and spacious condos for rent. The Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains will play host to many of the outdoor Olympic events.
If you cannot make it to Vancouver during the games but would still like the Olympic experience, the Vancouver Olympic Venue Tour will let you experience the Olympic facilities first hand. This guided tour takes visitors around Vancouver to the various Olympic sites, to Richmond to see the Richmond Olympic Oval, and to Mount Seymour, where many of the Olympic athletic events will take place. Sights on this tour include Vancouver Olympic Centre, UBC Thunderbird Arena, and the Canada Hockey Place.
For another taste of the Winter Olympics before or after the games, the Whistler Mountain Tour is an excellent choice. This guided tour takes visitors to Whistler, British Columbia, which will play host to many of the athletic events of the games. Sites on this tour include Howe Sound, Horseshoe Bay, Blackcomb Mountains, and Shannon Falls. Guests also have the opportunity to shop at Whistler Village. This tour does not focus on Olympic sites, but you will certainly be able to see the same gorgeous scenes that the Olympians will see in February.
Even if you will not be able to make it to Vancouver for the Olympic Games, this beautiful city still offers many options for a gold medal worthy vacation!
Fall Vacation Ideas in British Columbia
Fall is a beautiful time to visit Vancouver and British Columbia. The leaves change as the temperatures drop, creating an atmosphere with crisp fall air and beautiful foliage. In addition to the great activities found year round, if you time your vacation right you can enjoy the Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival.
The Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival will take place October 18 through 25 on Granville Island. This annual event is in its 22nd year and draws thousands of visitors and award-winning writers each year. This year, headline speakers and writers include Margaret Atwood, Alice Munro, and David Sedaris. Other authors scheduled to appear are Alistair MacLeod, Michael Crummey, and Elaine Arsenault. Special features of the festival include special French readings by writers from Quebec and a writing contest. Of course, there will also be book vendors on site. A variety of books and readings will be available, with everything from non-fiction to children’s books. Readings and events will be held at various venues on Granville Island, including Waterfront Theatre, Granville Island Hotel, and the Revue Theatre.
To take advantage of the changing foliage of the season, a trip to Butchart Gardens in Victoria on the Vancouver Island, Victoria & Butchart Gardens Tour will reward you with a garden in full bloom with vibrant reds, oranges, and golds. The Butchart Gardens is a 55 acre garden that has foliage that changes seasonally. Beginning in October, the highlight of the gardens is the Japanese Garden. In autumn this garden features red, russet, and golden maple trees accompanied by arbutus and copper beech trees. Chrysanthemums are also in bloom. In addition to admission to the Butchart Gardens, this tour also features a guided tour of Vancouver Island and Victoria. In total, the tour takes 13 hours to complete.
