Currently, there are about 56 species of amphibians and reptiles, about 30,000 invertebrates, and 300 species of fish in the Vancouver Aquarium. In addition, it is home to three Pacific white-sided dolphins and six beluga whales, not to mention around 60 mammals and birds. Spread over 100,000 square feet, the aquarium uses 2.5 million gallons of water for its 150+ aquatic displays.

Tourists are captivated by the sights of performing dolphins, captivating otters, white whales, powerful sea-lions, sea stars, soft corals, and sea urchins and the different pavilions in the aquarium have different and interesting aquatic exhibits.

The Pacific Canada Pavilion is the central exhibit inside the aquarium and it has a huge tank that has 260,000 liters of water. You can’t miss it since it is right next to the entrance. Here you can see aquatic life from the Strait of Georgia is displayed in the exhibit. If you are interested in the beluga whales, the Arctic Canada gallery is your destination

The Wild Coast Pavilion is located outside the aquarium and on permanent display here are harbor porpoises and sea otters. This pavilion also has quite a few “touchpools” where you are allowed to actually touch and feel invertebrates from British Columbia. You can also spot other species like harbor seals, northern fur seals, and Steller’s Sea Lions but they displayed in turns. When they are not on display, they are transferred to their habitats which are not accessible to guests.

Treasures of the BC Coast is a gallery that recreates the habitat found on the coast of British Columbia and among the animals housed here, you will find octopi, anemones, and rockfish. The Tropic Zone treats you to the sights of blacktip reef sharks and green sea turtles while the Amazon Rainforest pavilion introduces you to snakes, caimans, fresh water fish, birds, sloths, and other creatures native to Amazon environs.

Also worth a mention is the Canaccord Exploration Gallery which has a children’s play area “Clownfish Cove.” There are also several classrooms for groups from various educational institutions, including the wet lab education room. Children are sure to enjoy their classes at the Vancouver Aquarium.

Whether your purpose is brush up some educational facts about aquatic life or to simply have fun looking at fish and dolphins swimming around freely in their habitat, Vancouver Aquarium offers you both. A trip to this place is an eye opening experience since you learn so much about life underwater, something you may not usually spare much thought too. However, this is an interesting way to know about a whole new world

Originally the site of an old cargo pier, the Canada place was rebuilt for the 1986 Expo that was held in Vancouver. Vancouver officials realized the beauty and tourist potential of the site and turned the pier into an attractive and unique structure. Today, this building that resembles the sails of a boat is home to several Vancouver businesses and attractions.

Visiting Canada Place is the most inexpensive fun thing you could do in Vancouver. It doesn’t cost you any money to explore this place and all you have to do is shell out money for the parking, or maybe the fare for the Skytrain or Seabus. Once you reach Canada Place, visit the Welcome Centre in the Main Plaza. Canada Place Ambassadors are ready with answers to all your questions and they will provide you all the information you need about this facility.

Then, travel along the walkway at the “Promenade into History” and go on a self-guided tour that will take you into Vancouver’s past, told with the help of photos and anecdotes. On the West Promenade you will find an eclectic collection of musicians from Canada who make the most mesmerizing music that seems to bring to life the beauty of the water front. All the visitors also enjoy a visit to the IMAX Theatre at the Canada Place which shows a wide variety of 2D and 3D films. If you are planning a trip to Vancouver between May and October, there will be another treat waiting for you at Canada Place. Several cruise ships dock at Canada Place dock at this time of the year on their way to Alaska. They do make a magnificent sight!

The walkway christened the “Canada Place Pier” is perhaps one of the most beautiful areas at Canada Place. It’s a great place for a stroll and you can take in the sights of the harbor front, the mountains in the backdrop, and the trees that dot the horizon. Its panorama is indeed breathtaking! From the Canada Place Pier to the North End Pointe, you will find many stunning view points that you’d love to capture on camera.

If you have the time, don’t miss the Sails of Light – a visual event that illuminates Canada Place and narrates the story of Canada. The iconic sails of Canada Place burst into extravagant colors and animations and displays keep the visitors enthralled. Starting from spring 2010, the Canadian Sails of Light will be featured every night. Some of the prime locations to view the Sails of Light are the Coal Harbor Seawall, Stanley Park, the North Shore and waterways, and the Vancouver Convention Centre West.

During summers, the Kitsilano Beach is a hip and happening spot. Sunbathers, swimmers, adventurers, laid-backers, volleyball players, tennis players, Frisbee players, and even non-players make a beeline for the beach. You can spot children making sand castles, families enjoying a cozy picnic, teens flirting with gorgeous hunks, and guys keeping a lookout for beautiful babes. Some work on their tans while others work on their bodies. Whatever it is you want to do or not do here, you will be sure to find a place for it.

This public beach was, once upon a time, a private property and was known as Greer’s Beach and Sam Greer, a non-native settler, owned it. He was unfortunate enough to challenge the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) for rights to the land, a battle that he eventually lost. Much later, private citizens got together to raise money to buy back the land from the CPR. The Vancouver Park Board leased additional lots to create popular Kitsilano Beach Park, locally also known as the Kits Park. The heated seawater swimming pool forms the main attraction of this park. At 137 meters, it is the longest outdoor pool in Canada. This park is a delightful place to be, no matter what the season – great to soak up the sun in the warmer months and fun to walk around, cycle and walk your pet dogs in the cooler months.

Yet another attraction at Kitsilano Beach is the restaurant located on the beachfront “Watermark.” This upscale restaurant has been serving delicious food to its patrons for more a hundred years. Their wine cellar is extensive and the food is traditional and contemporary seafood. The patio can accommodate up to 180 people and it’s enclosed and heated to make it a great place to dine all through the year. However, having a meal at this restaurant means enjoying more than world-class cuisine. It means enjoying the “panoramic vistas of English Bay and beyond to the Gulf Islands and North Shore mountains.” One can imagine how romantic such a setting would be – the perfect place to impress that special someone.

Kitsilano Beach is the perfect place for families, kids, youngsters, teenagers and adults because there is something for everyone to do here.

The Granville Island was a major industrial center in the 1917 and was later on used as a ship building center during WWII. It soon fell into disuse around the sixties and the site became totally run-down. In the beginning of the 70s, the federal government encouraged new and people friendly developments and Granville Village was turned into a multi-use facility, which included industry, commerce, and entertainment. It was decided that this unique town would maintain its original look and as a result, buildings that were formerly factories and warehouses were turned into galleries, restaurants, artist studios, and theaters.

The best way to describe Granville Island is to call it a huge playground with a lot of things that will catch your fancy. There’s a Kids Only Market that has an indoor play area for … well, children, along with shops where you can buy toys, kits, art supplies, and several other things that will keep your little angel happy.

If you have some time, you can rent a kayak and go for a row around the island and explore water creek. If you don’t feel confident enough to do that alone, you can opt for a guided tour, and those who are keen to learn can opt for lessons. A 3-hour kayak lesson will teach you some basic strokes, which will be enough to get you started.

For those with a cultural bent of mind, the Granville Island Museum is the hot destination. You can check out their collection of miniature trains and model boats. Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5:30pm, the Museum is sure to have some exhibits that will intrigue you.

Do what your heart desires here or do nothing at all, it’s your call. Browse through the popular Granville Island Market, considered to be one of the best all-around markets in North America, sample delicacies at the various food stalls, watch a theater performance, stroll along the waterfront under the moonlight, have some home brewed ale, pick up mementos for your friends, or simply take in the character of the village by walking about it. Like we mentioned before, Granville Island is best explored at your own pace and you are free to chart your own itinerary here. That’s just the best way to do it.

The Hotel is located at a vantage point and is only a block away from Robson Street, a major attraction for shopaholics. Stanley Park, Gastown, and Granville Island Market are also a stone’s throw from Four Seasons as is the Pacific Center, which is known as the premier indoor fashion mall of Vancouver.

The 373 guest rooms, including 67 suites, are large, bright, and airy, and you can see interesting sights of the downtown and even some glimpses of the mountains in the distance. The rooms are done up in soothing colors the give the rooms a warm and soothing touch. The beds are comfortable and you can sink into them and sleep off your tiredness. Even if they are smaller than you expected, the marble bathrooms have a tub and shower combination and they are well designed. The private bars and dresser drawers are housed in a custom-designed credenza with a rich cherry finish. The rooms are luxurious in a subtle manner with none of pomposity usually associated with hotels.

When you step into any hotel, the first thought that crosses your mind is what your dining options are. The Four Seasons doesn’t disappoint you here either. The YEW restaurant (named after the rare Pacific Yew Tree) has been the talk of the town since it was inaugurated in Dec 2007. 12 meter high ceilings, rich wood paneling, floor-to-ceiling sandstone fireplace, large windows and skylights, and contemporary design elements complete the look of this restaurant. You can choose to eat at the communal table that can seat up to 14 people and has been made from a slab of native maple from Vancouver Island. You can also choose to dine in the exclusive glass enclosed private dining room that is skylit. Of course, there are the intimate dining booths as well. The open kitchen and the dramatic bar set off by the massive green wall in YEW make for an interesting décor to take in as you enjoy culinary delights created by Chef Oliver Beckert.

Be it food, convenience, facilities, rooms or service, Four Seasons is going to exceed your expectations, season after season …..all seasons!



When it comes to food, Vancouver boasts of having some of the finest restaurants in the whole of Canada. Local specialties, Oriental food, continental, fusion, Italian…you name it and you are bound to find it here. One such notable restaurant that has to find its way into your list of ‘things to experience in Vancouver’ is the Stone Grill restaurant.

Stone Grill Restaurant in Vancouver offers its patrons steak and seafood extraordinaire. Situated underneath the Granville Street Bridge, this upscale restaurant offers a stunning view of False Creek and Granville Island through its glass windows. Surrounded as you are by the mountains and the ocean of Vancouver, Stone Grill matches the mood created by the surroundings and view by dishing out delectable, tasty, and healthy food cooked in the most unique manner.

Stone Grill makes use of the ‘dry cooking’ method, where your entree is brought to the table on a slab of rock. This is no ordinary rock. It is molten rock, which is heated to the temperature of 400 degrees Celsius. Cooking on this slab of rock is done without the used of any added oils or fats, and this ‘dry cooking’ method allows the food to be cooked evenly.

Since no open flame is used, there are no chances that your food will be burnt. ‘Stone grilling’ sears the food in its own natural juices, giving you entrees that are nutritious, with a taste that has to be eaten to be believed. At Stone Grill, you get to see how nutritious food can also be lip smacking. No added fats, no extra spices as marinades, food cooked on a molten rock to preserve its inherent natural flavor….would you want to miss out on this experience at all?

The décor of the restaurant matches up to the food served here. The view is romantic, the 18 foot high ceiling is breath taking, and the dining style is casual elegant. Lunch is served Sunday to Saturday from 11:30am – 3:00pm, and dinner timings are as follows – Monday to Thursday from 5:30pm – 9:15pm, and Friday to Sunday from 5:00pm – 10:15pm. Stone Grill is a non-smoking restaurant with bar dining facilities. With the largest parking facilities in downtown Vancouver, you will not have to worry about where to park your four wheel drive.

So, as you can, make your way towards this restaurant for an experience that you aren’t likely to forget as long as you live.