Vancouver

Surrounded by mountains and ocean, Vancouver is a juxtaposition of steel skyscrapers with old-growth forest, towering coast mountains with Pacific Ocean. It began as a nineteenth-century mill town, boomed with prospectors and adventurers during the Klondike gold rush, and hosted millions of visitors at the 1986 World Exposition. Today, Canada's third largest city is a thriving centre for international trade. Filmmakers flock to local sites and executives from Europe and Asia book downtown hotels. For travellers, Vancouver offers sports events and cultural performances as well as unequalled recreation. Visitors and locals alike can stroll through Stanley Park, ski nearby peaks, or sail in English Bay.