Vancouver Area

Those who love the outdoors will feel right at home in Vancouver. This is a city that is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but that offers a wide-range of outdoor activities that are definitely not for sissies. Whether it's boating, climbing, hiking, skiing, diving or just fishing you're interested in, Vancouver has it all-and then some. The best part is that all of these activities are right on Vancouver's doorstep, due to its ideal location next to the ocean and the mountains. The history, scenery, and wide variety of activities available to visitors keep people coming back again and again.

Highlights of Vancouver

• Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park
• Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Center
• Vancouver Museum
• VanDusen Botannical Garden
• The Lookout

Historical Sites

Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park
Known as one of Vancouver's first visitor attractions, The Capilano Suspension Bridge is built high-up in the trees offering a glimpse from the treetops of this beautiful cedar-scented rainforest. Visitors walk along swaying planks and can enjoy a unique perspective that usually only the birds can enjoy. Please visit: www.capbridge.com to learn more about this unusual attraction. ISE Cardholders are eligible for a reduced admission price of $6.75 + 7% GST.

Vancouver Museum
The Vancouver Museum was founded over 100 years ago and is currently housed in a building that was designed by a well-known architect named Gerald Hamilton who incorporated a planetarium into the design. It soon became one of the best-known landmarks in the city skyline. The museum offers exhibits showing the natural, cultural and human history of the Vancouver region. The museum's website is: www.vanmuseum.bc.ca. ISE Cardholders will receive a special discounted rate of $5.50 on the admission price.

Activities

The Arts Club Theater Company
(Grandville Island Stage and The Stanley Theater)
To catch a play while in Vancouver, we recommend The Arts Club Theater Company. They have a wide variety of plays on offer. Additional information may be found at: www.artsclub.com. Admission at the Grandville Island Stage is only $21 for ISE Cardholders (Mon.-Thurs) and $17 for Matinees. The Stanley Theater offers ISE Cardholders a special price of $25.00 from Tues.-Thurs., with a price of $19 for Matinees. Both offers exclude Friday or Saturday nights.

Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures
One of the best ways to explore the beauty of the British Columbia coastline is to embark on a sea kayak tour. Kingfisher Wilderness Adventures offers a variety of tours which take visitors through areas which are ideal for viewing some of the wildlife in the area including orcas, bald eagles, humpback whales, seals and deer. All of the equipment and camping gear is provided and information about the tours that they have available may be found at: www.kingfisher-adventures.com. Those with an ISE Card will receive 10% off on any multi-day tour package.

Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Center
The Vancouver Aquarium is Canada's largest, and has an excellent variety of fish, as well as dolphins, sea otters, beluga whales, sharks and sea lions (nearly 9000 sea creatures in total). More information about the aquarium may be found by visiting their website at: www.vanaqua.org. ISE Cardholders will receive $2 off of the regular adult admission price.

VanDusen Botannical Garden
Those interested in soaking-up a little nature should pay a visit to the VanDusen Botannical Garden. Stunning gardens make for an enjoyable stroll and an interesting glimpse into the plant-life of the region. Those with an ISE Card will receive a discount of 50% off admission.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and Park
Another relaxing option is this Chinese garden and park which offers shaded pavilions, stone paths, and employs the Taoist principles of yin and yang. It is recommended that visitors take the 45 minute tour to fully appreciate the subtle details of the garden. Entrance is $5.00 off for ISE Student Cardholders and $1.00 off for ISE Faculty Cardholders.

The Lookout
This is a great place to visit if you want to get a glimpse of Vancouver from above. Visitors are taken up to a height of 169 meters via a glass elevator and can then walk around on top to see some spectacular 360 degree views of the city. There are tours available every hour. Visit: www.vancouverlookout.com for more information. ISE Cardholders are eligible for a discounted admission price of $6.00.

Places to Stay

Best Western
Information about Best Western hotels in Vancouver may be found at: www.bestwestern.com. ISE Cardholders will receive 10-15% off of the rack rate at all Best Western Hotels. In addition to showing an ISE Card, each Best Western Hotel requires that cardholders mention the corporate ID number, 00140160, in order to obtain the discounted rate.

Hostels
There are a wide variety of hostels in Vancouver. To search for hostels online with full descriptions, photos and availability features, please click here. The $2 reservation fee will be waived when booking through this site.

Places to Eat

Il Buco Italian Restaurant
833 Bute Street (just off Robson)
604-685-3287
A great spot for some good Italian food. ISE Cardholders receive 25% off of any main course item (not valid with any other coupons).

Getting Around

Ferry
There are a variety of ferry services available in Vancouver. The Seabus Passenger ferries go from Waterfront Station downtown to Lonsdale Quay. The trip takes about 12 minutes. There are also two mini-ferry companies (Aquabus and False Creek Ferries). For route information, please visit: www.aquabus.bc.ca for Aquabus or www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca for False Creek Ferries.

Shuttle
The Vancouver Airporter offers shuttle services from Vancouver International Airport to most major downtown hotels.

Car
While in town, a car is not necessary. In fact, traffic can be very congested due to the fact that Vancouver has no expressways that run through the middle. In addition, car rentals in Vancouver can be quite expensive, not to mention the high car park rates. Therefore, if you can do it, it's probably best to find an alternative mode of transport while visiting.

Bicycle
One of the best ways to get around the city is by bicycle. Vancouver is a bit too large to walk, but by bicycle, you can stop where you like, yet cover a significant amount of ground. In addition, Vancouver was made for cyclists with 16 cycling routes that cover about 130km (80 miles). If you go to a bicycle shop or bookstore, you can get a map. Please be aware that helmets are required and you are not allowed to ride on sidewalks.

Bus
A cheaper alternative to the shuttle is to take the Translink bus (#424) to Airport Station. Then transfer to bus 98-B-line (Bay no. 1) to Burrard SkyTrain station downtown.

Light-rail
The SkyTrain has two lines, the Expo and the Millennium. The Skytrains run every 5-10 minutes.

Taxi
It's best to phone ahead if you would like to take a taxi. They tend to be a more expensive way to travel and there are a lot of other options available in Vancouver.

Moving On

Air
Vancouver International Airport is Canada's second-busiest airport. It's located about 13km (8 miles) away from the city and is serviced by all major carriers that will take you to just about any destination in the world.

Ferry
British Columbia Ferries offer a variety of services in BC's coastal waters. For more information regarding routes, times, etc., please visit: www.bcferries.com.

Bus
Buses run to both Canadian and US destinations. Greyhound Canada goes to the north and eastern regions of Canada. Pacific Coach Lines and Quick Coach Lines also offer long-distance services.

Train
Trains leave regularly from the Pacific Central Station. Via Rail has one service which heads east to Toronto. Amtrak services the route between Vancouver and Seattle. Amtrak also offers bus services to help passengers connect with LA or Chicago-bound trains (www.amtrak.com). It is recommended that you book your train tickets at least one week in advance. These are desirable routes as the journey by train (especially that offered by Via Rail) is said to be quite beautiful.

Car
Travel by car is a convenient way to head out of Vancouver as it allows you to stop and explore at will. The major highways leading out of Vancouver are the I-5 that heads towards the US, and the Trans-Canada Highway 1 that goes towards the east.