Real reviews from real travelers.
Vancouver Pages by Carmanah
| Page Views: 35,490 Last Visit to Vancouver: - I Live Here | A Local's Perspective by Carmanah - last update: Sep 17, 2008 |
| Third Beach, Stanley Park |
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Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Location: 49° 16' North, 123° 04' West
Population: 578,041 (2006 Census)
Incorporated: April 6, 1886
Thanks for checking out my Vancouver page - the most informative VT page I have ever built! I'd like to think I can offer a unique perspective on Vancouver - a life long local's perspective. Not only of the city itself, but the atmosphere and attitudes you'll encounter. Sick and tired of typical touristy brochure shpeels of Vancouver as the place where you can ski and sail in one day? Do you want to know the real secrets, both pros and cons? Welcome to my page!
I will be adapting my Vancouver page to reflect life in Vancouver, not necessarily from the tourist's point of view, but definitely for the benefit of any visitor, whether they plan to vacation, study or work here. Since many generations of my family have called Greater Vancouver home, I feel a very strong bond with the city and the surrounding region, and this passion for my home inspires my writing. You'll notice that a lot of my writing will revolve around family traditions, anecdotes and experiences while growing up and living here. |
| | Vancouver or not Vancouver? I've written the following info so that people don't get false expectations about Vancouver. Vancouver's a fantastic city, but know its limitations. If you're looking for Las Vegas style nightlife, then no, don't come to Vancouver. If you're seeking hundreds of years of European-style history or London style museums, then no, perhaps Vancouver's not the city for you. But if go through my site, you should begin to understand what you're getting yourself into, where to spend your time, and where not to waste your time. Only then can you truly appreciate what Vancouver has to offer.
Reasons why you should visit Vancouver:
A "modern and cosmopolitan" urban environment
the scenery
the sandy beaches
the public waterfront walkways
the gardens and green space
the temperate rainforests
the Coast Mountains
the nearby islands
rich aboriginal history
the diverse topography
the mild climate
the social tolerance and multiculturalism
the outdoor activities (skiing, sailing, kayaking, snowboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing, scuba diving, fishing, whale watching, golfing, hiking, white water rafting, windsurfing, skateboarding, beach volleyball, etc. - all within a short distance of downtown!)
the ability to explore on foot
good public transit
small scale boutique shopping
the Asian cuisine scene
fresh local seafood
the burgeoning "foodie" scene
Reasons why you should not visit Vancouver:
A "quaint and charming" urban environment
to admire architecture
for a long-established colonial history
large museums and large art galleries
autumn colours
the Rocky Mountains
snowy winters
a white Christmas
a vibrant New Year's party
guaranteed sunshine
surfing
big city nightlife
legal marijuana
cheap booze
Mexican/Latin American restaurants
Texas BBQ or American "southern" style cooking
endless fast food chains
outlet shopping malls
cheap real estate
cheap rent
cheap hotel rooms
cheap parking
a city riddled with freeways
As you begin to read through my tips on Vancouver, my pros and cons list above should begin to make more sense. |
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| Pros: | "The mountains at the foot of the city (skiing, hiking, etc). Beaches surrounding the city (swimming, boating, etc). Multicultural and liberal-minded. Diverse cuisine options. Warm, dry summers. Wet but mild (no snow!) winters. Very modern." | | Cons: | "The visible social problems involving panhandling, drug use, and high property theft. Archaic liquor laws. Limited and often underwhelming nightlife. Gentrification is removing the character in many neighbourhoods. Costly housing. Parking hell." | | In A Nutshell: | "A cosmopolitan city located in a beautiful geographical setting, blending Asian and European influences, unique to both Canada and the world." |
Carmanah's Vancouver Travel Tips
 Carmanah's Vancouver Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for Carmanah about Vancouver | | | | |
skywalkerbeth Tue Jul 1, 2008 00:11 UTC
A Vancouver fix... I just saw your flickr pages, very nice! | victorwkf Sat May 31, 2008 15:57 UTC
Your vancouver page has lots of great tips and photos which will be very useful for my coming trip! Thanks a lot for sharing with all of us :) | oakleys Mon Apr 28, 2008 16:20 UTC
Thanks for sharing, i'll be in vancouver early mid June, and your Vancouver page certainly helps. | gabaile Fri Apr 25, 2008 16:19 UTC
I stumbled on to your site. Great info! I'll be visiting Vancouver for the first time in the next couple of weeks. It's great to have a locals perspective. You shed a lot of light. Thanks |
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