Vancouver Strikes Man-Nature Harmony
By Park Si-soo
Korea Times Correspondent
VANCOUVER ― Vancouver, Canada's major gateway at the western tip of the country, is where untapped nature and civilization meet in stunning harmony.
Various types of vessels ranging from luxurious cruises to bulky cargo boats sail on crystal blue water melted from million-year-old glaciers. Spacious public parks packed with hundred-year-old leafy trees are scattered around high-end skyscrapers and residential and shopping districts. Skiers armed with state-of-the-art equipment carve lines on uncharted snow plains and mountainsides during winter season.
As such, Vancouver is the best destination for travelers seeking the ``coziness'' that untouched nature provides and the ``convenience'' the city offers simultaneously.
Spectacular natural environment
For those seeking to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, the city of Vancouver is highly recommended. Unsoiled mountains, forests and gorges ― homes to various species of wild animals ― are in the vicinity of its downtown, enabling visitors to be refreshed by eating, watching, and inhaling uncontaminated ``nature.''
Among them, Stanley Park is a must-visit destination.
It's the city's leading recreational space, built upon 404 hectares (1,000 acres) of dense West Coast forest. Dozens of marked trails enable visitors to roam thorough countless giant trees, while a 10.5-kilometer-long seawall pathway provides some of the best sea-to-sky mountain views in the English-style town.
Every morning, the seaside pathways are crowed with health-conscious early birds. Jogging and strolling along the paths and wrapping up the exercise with a cup of morning coffee at a nearby coffee shop offer nice, healthy memories.
Other highlights of the park include a mini-forest of totem poles, an outdoor swimming pool overlooking the waterfront, and family-friendly Vancouver Aquarium.
For adventurous types, visiting Capilano Suspension Bridge and its forest is recommended. It's only some 30 minutes away from downtown Vancouver by car, but allows visitors to imagine what the ancient forests looked like years ago.
What welcomes tourists first is a lengthy suspension bridge that frequently sways depending on winds and visitors' movements. But worrying about the bridge's collapse is just a waste of time. According to a tour guide, a
5-ton tree fell onto the bridge in 200
after being hit by a gust of wind but failed to collapse it.
Alongside the 137-meter-long bridge ``flying'' over Capilano River, the forest-style park provides a series of seven suspended walkways between some of its towering trees.
At heights of up to 30 meters ― still far from the top of many of the 250-year-old trees ― they include viewing platforms where naturalists hold court on the area's ecological attributes.
Heaven of winter sports
Canada has long been known as ``heaven'' of winter sports.
In particular, Vancouver offers many world-class ski slopes and venues for other winter sports that are easily available in and outside the city.
Nestled in the mountains less than two hours from Vancouver by car, Whistler is Canada's premier year-round destination for skiers and snowboarders from nearby and abroad. The gigantic ski report has been designated as a main venue for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympic Winter Games and a festival to celebrate the one-year countdown celebration of the Olympics was held in Whistler last month.
If you guess the ski resort is just a bit larger in size than that in South Korea, you are completely wrong. It's ``huge!!''
It's build upon 3,037 hectares (8,171 acres) of land, the largest skiable terrain in North America, and shows off the country's longest ski season, which continues from November through July.
If Whistler is thought to be ``too far away'' for you, Mt. Grouse is the next best choice. It quite near downtown Vancouver, but winter activities available there are diverse enough to thrill visitors. Grouse's most popular winter activities include skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating and sleigh riding.
Multiracial city
For geographical reasons, Vancouver has become one of the nation's main multiracial cities. In particular, Chinese people began immigrating into the town from the early 1900s, resulting in forming the world's second largest Chinatown ― the world's largest Chinatown is based in San Francisco, in the United States. Many minority communities, including a Korea town and Japanese town, are also located here.
Thanks to the multicultural basis, a wide array of ethnic foods encompassing Asia, Europe, and Africa are available in the city.
Gastown ― a historic district and the oldest neighborhood of the city ― helps visitors widen their knowledge of the city's history and is within easy walking distance of downtown. A daytime stroll down its cobblestone streets reveals artist studios, designers' shops, galleries and antique stores in refurbished heritage buildings. Gastown is also home to the world's first steam-powered clock.
To enjoy a spectacular view of the city, visiting the Vancouver Lookout is recommendable. At approximately 167 meters above sea level, visitors can look down at the diverse faces of the city. The top spot is the best location for taking pictures, with scenic mountains and downtown Vancouver as backdrop.