Famed as the city where you can swim and ski on the same day only a few miles apart, Vancouver lies cradled between the ocean and snowcapped mountains. It's downtown district occupies a narrow peninsula bounded by Burrard Inlet to the north, English Bay to the west and False Creek to the south, with greater Vancouver south to the Fraser River. Beyond the comfortable suburbs of Nrth Vancouver on the north shore of Burrard Inlet, the Coast Mountains rise in steep, forested slopes to form a dramatic counterpoint to the downtown skyline and the most stunning of the city's many outdoor playgrounds.

With 1.8 million residents the city offers all the business, shopping and cultural services you could require.

Vancouver Island and area

The largest of North America's west coast islands stretches from southeast to northwest along the western coast of British Columbia. It is almost 500 km from north to south, about 100 km from east to west, approximately 3.35 million hectares in size, representing 3.5% of the land area of British Columbia. The population on Vancouver Island in 1997 was 702,000, representing about 18% of the total BC population. The majority of its residents are located along the south-eastern coast, with over half concentrated in the urban centres of Victoria, Nanaimo, and Campbell River. The economy of Vancouver Island reflects its geographic and ecological diversity.

Vancouver Island is a world leader in ecotourism, adventure tourism and cultural tourism. Vancouver Island’s natural and cultural resources are the key to the tourism industry. The Island’s east and west coasts provide contrasting opportunities – wild storms primeval rain forests and remoteness on the west coast- open to the Pacific Ocean, with protected waters and the amenities of larger urban centres on the sheltered eastern side. Inland, stands of old-growth forests attract nature-lovers from around the world, with rugged mountains and cave-riddled karst topographies each offering unique attractions. Tourism and recreational opportunities include saltwater and freshwater fishing, marine cruising and sailing, resorts and backcountry lodges, kayak touring, whitewater kayaking, windsurfing and surfing, camping, natural history and scenic/wildlife viewing, hiking, bicycling, climbing, beach combing, scuba diving, caving, and cultural tours to wineries, farms, museums, galleries and other attractions.

Seattle

Seattle is one of America's most likeable and vibrant cities, commercial and cultural star of the Pacific Northwest. Surrounded by water, densely packed with scenic hills and tree-lined streets, and snow-capped mountains visible in almost every direction, it's a rare urban environment, in which outdoor-style living has not been sacrificed for cosmopolitan culture. Its central core, narrowly saved from the wrecking ball by popular outcry, has been converted to colorful historic districts that also happen to hold the best in the city's arts, shopping and nightlife.