Vancouver At a Glance

Best Time to Go
The climate year-round is mild without extremes of heat or cold that you’d expect from such a northerly destination. Vancouver’s Chinatown has an annual cultural festival from June 30 through Sept. 1. A variety of exhibits and constant series of concerts and attractions change frequently during this time. The city is home to numerous museums and live performance venues.

Average Weather
From December through February daytime highs average in the low 40s. In July and August daytime highs average in the mid 70s. Winters in Vancouver are wet. Throughout the year, a wrap is essential in the evenings .

Transportation
Over 40 different carriers serve Vancouver International Airport. You can also easily reach the city by ferry, bus, or train. Once in Vancouver you needn’t have a car, as most of the city is accessible by public transport. Call 604-953-3333 for information about Translink, the inexpensive public transport system. For information about ferry service, call B.C. Ferries at 250-386-3431.

In-Season Costs
Expect to pay around $100 for a moderately luxurious room; you can pretty much pick your price range among Vancouver’s options. Meals will fall into a $3-$8 range for lunch and the $12-$20 range for dinner at a nice restaurant. Given the rate of exchange between the American and the Canadian dollar, USA residents often feel like everything in Vancouver is a bargain.

Day Trips
Accessible only by Ferry, the Sunshine Coast is an area of quiet beaches that welcome scuba divers, hikers and other outdoors enthusiasts. It's a mere two hours from Vancouver. Whistler Resort, 75 miles north of Vancouver, is home to the largest lift-serviced, Alpine-style ski area in North America.