text:
Vancouver/Commercial Dr-Hastings Park

Commercial Drive-Hastings Park makes up part of "East Vancouver" (or East Van). Its main draw is Commercial Drive (known locally as The Drive), which is one of the most interesting areas of Vancouver in terms of ethnic and culinary diversity. There is also a strong artistic and activist community located in the Commercial Drive area. For the purposes of this guide, the district covers everything from Gore St in the west to Burnaby in the east, and everything from the Burrard Inlet in the north to King Edward Ave/25th Ave in the south.

Understand
East Van is traditionally the more working-class area of Vancouver. However, the area has become more gentrified as the Vancouver housing market develops.

Get in
See Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat.

By car
Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) passes through East Vancouver heading east from West Vancouver via North Vancouver, and heading west from Surrey via Burnaby.

By public transit
Passengers can pay for fares using Compass Cards ($6 refundable deposit), Compass Tickets, or tap-to-pay using contactless credit cards (only American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or mobile wallets. Passengers using Compass Cards and Compass Tickets pay discounted fares. Passengers can transfer for up to 90 minutes, except if taking West Coast Express, in which case they can transfer for up to 120 minutes. On bus and HandyDART, passengers can also pay in cash, but in that case will not receive change and are not eligible for transfers. Zone based fares apply between Monday and Friday for trips starting before 6:30 pm, if travel involves SkyTrain or SeaBus. Outside of those hours or for travel on only bus or HandyDART, a single zone rate applies. If traveling by West Coast Express, a higher cost zone based fare system applies regardless of time of travel.Children 12 and under can ride for free. People aged 13 to 18, and 65 and older pay discounted concession fares.

By SkyTrain
SkyTrain has a number of stations within the district. The main stop is Broadway/Commercial Drive station, which is close to the heart of Commercial Drive and has connections to bus routes. Broadway/Commercial Drive station serves SkyTrain's Expo Line and Millenium Line. The Expo Line connects to Vancouver's downtown, Gastown-Chinatown and Yaletown-False Creek, and beyond Vancouver to Burnaby, New Westminster, and Surrey. The Millenium Line connects to Burnaby, Coquitlam, and Port Moody.

By bus
There are a large number of bus routes servicing Commercial Drive-Hastings Park. The following are some of the most useful ones for getting in and around the district:

 * #9 runs the length of Broadway, connecting to UBC.
 * #14 & #16 share the same route along Granville Street then on Hastings Street. Both of these busses can be taken from Downtown Vancouver to the PNE.
 * #20 starts in the central business district and runs along Commercial Drive.
 * #135 travels between Burrard SkyTrain Station and Simon Fraser University. While in Vancouver, the 135 is an express bus and can be used to go to the PNE.
 * #99 B-Line is the express version of route #9.

By car
Driving is certainly doable, and likely faster than public transit, but it can be slow with the traffic and lights (remember, there are no expressways). Coming from the City Centre or Gastown-Chinatown, both Hastings St and Georgia St intersect with Main St, with Hastings continuing on to cross the district from east to west in the north end. Broadway or 12 Ave/Grandview Highway are good connectors if driving from Kitsilano or Mt Pleasant.

By bike
The Adanac bikeway (along Union St then Adanac St) goes from Downtown to the district, and connects to Burnaby's bike routes.

Do

 * Parade of Lost Souls takes place around Halloween in the Commercial Drive area. It is free to go, and features live music, fire dancers, lots of costumed revellers. Under-advertised, but one of the biggest yearly festivals in Vancouver.
 * Parade of Lost Souls takes place around Halloween in the Commercial Drive area. It is free to go, and features live music, fire dancers, lots of costumed revellers. Under-advertised, but one of the biggest yearly festivals in Vancouver.
 * Parade of Lost Souls takes place around Halloween in the Commercial Drive area. It is free to go, and features live music, fire dancers, lots of costumed revellers. Under-advertised, but one of the biggest yearly festivals in Vancouver.

Learn

 * VCC Broadway Campus Building.jpg

Buy
East Van has a wide variety of multicultural shopping districts.
 * A funky shopping area is Commercial Drive (also known by locals as "The Drive"), which was once was the city's Italian neighbourhood but which is now amazingly multicultural. Buskers, dogs, babies, pierced people, office workers, grocery shoppers share the Drive. The shops are relatively inexpensive and eclectic -- lots of coffee shops, tie-dye, toys, trinkets, and organic groceries. It's a great neighbourhood to live in because you can go out on foot and do all your shopping -- produce, cheese, sausage, stationery, pet food, hardware -- within just a few blocks. Commercial drive spans along Commercial Drive from approximately East 12th Avenue at the south end to Venables Street at the north end.   (SkyTrain Expo Line and Millennium Line) is located near the southern end of this shopping area.
 * There are a few farmers markets that occur in Vancouver, but this is the first, and probably the best. It is only open on Saturday mornings and only in the summer and the last market day of the year is around Canadian Thanksgiving (early Oct).
 * There are a few farmers markets that occur in Vancouver, but this is the first, and probably the best. It is only open on Saturday mornings and only in the summer and the last market day of the year is around Canadian Thanksgiving (early Oct).

Eat
The Commercial Drive area is blessed with a huge number of different restaurants, many of them drawn from cuisines all over the world and very reasonably priced. Walk a couple of kilometres along The Drive north from Broadway to Venables, and you will doubtlessly find something to match your taste and your wallet before you get to the end.

Breweries
East Van now has several microbreweries to choose from. Many have tasting rooms and offer growler fills. There's even a tourist map available for free at some of them.

Sleep
For such a large area, there isn't much accommodation in East Van. It is mostly older and in the budget to mid-level price range. The biggest concentration of motels/hotels is along Kingsway.

title: Vancouver/Commercial Dr-Hastings Park


text:
Vancouver/Gastown-Chinatown

Gastown and Chinatown are in the east end of downtown Vancouver between downtown and East Van. The area is one of the oldest parts of the city and much of the early architecture and character remains, giving it a different look and feel to the glass and concrete of the rest of downtown. Its boundaries are imprecise, but it is roughly bounded by Gore St in the east, Dunsmuir St to the south, the railway tracks to the north and Cambie St/Cordova St/Waterfront Station to the west. Hastings Street runs between the two neighbourhoods, with Gastown to its north and Chinatown to its south.

Understand
Much of the neighbourhoods' distinctiveness is derived from their early importance to Vancouver and subsequent decline. Gastown emerged from a collection of shanties around a sawmill in the 1860s, later becoming part of the city of Vancouver when it was incorporated in 1886. It was the early entertainment district of the city, with a large number of saloons and drinking establishments. Hastings Street, on its south side, became a commercial area with many of the city's early office buildings. Chinatown, to the southeast, was settled primarily by Chinese immigrants who came to Canada in the late 1800s to build the trans-continental railway. Many remained in Canada and started their own businesses that helped make Chinatown, and Vancouver, flourish.

The city's business district slowly shifted westwards towards the Granville Street area and Gastown and Chinatown began a long decline after the Great Depression. A proposal to demolish much of the area to make way for an expressway in the 1960s started a debate about their future and helped spark interest in the neighbourhoods. Renewal has been uneven, and today Gastown and Chinatown (and the broader Downtown Eastside, which they are part of) are in varying states of decay and restoration. Tourist spots and trendy bars sit just a couple of blocks from street-front drug deals, and hip new condos look over what is called Canada's poorest postal code.

The Gastown of today has all the appearances of mass-market tourism and can generate a bit of a love/hate feeling. It's a popular spot for the tour buses and the tacky souvenir shops know it... there's another one every few storefronts. But the wide sidewalks, street-level patios and old brick and stone buildings lend a charm and almost give it a European feel. Water Street has many of the tourist shops and restaurants while Cordova Street is more run-down (particularly east of Cambie St) and has a number of shops selling vintage items.

Chinatown, the second largest Chinatown in North America by area, is further from the tourist path and feels rougher around the edges than Gastown. It has the usual Chinese-influenced buildings, along with a handful of Chinese provision shops, restaurants and community associations. However, those expecting something like the Chinatowns in New York City, San Francisco or Sydney will likely be sorely disappointed; Vancouver's Chinatown has declined considerably since its heyday, and is today a shadow of its former self; it is run down with large numbers of homeless people, and turns into a ghost town in the evenings. Today, the heart of Chinese Vancouver beats in the suburb of Richmond instead.

In between these neighbourhoods (along Hastings Street) and east of them is the Downtown Eastside, an area known for its drug use, prostitution and homelessness. It's certainly walkable during the day, but some people may feel uncomfortable and it can be a dangerous area at night if you are not familiar with it. Other than cheap accommodation, there is little to attract the visitor so touring this area is not recommended.

Get in
See Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat.

Gastown begins outside of Waterfront Station (on Cordova St), so the easiest way is to walk in. Water Street, its main drag, will be the first street on the left.

Chinatown is also easily accessible on foot, just head east on Pender Street. The Millennium Gate, at Pender and Taylor, marks the entrance to Chinatown but most of the action is a few blocks further east and along Keefer Street, one block south.

If travelling by car, Hastings Street is the major east-west street and connects with the Trans-Canada Highway.

By public transit
Passengers can pay for fares using Compass Cards ($6 refundable deposit), Compass Tickets, or tap-to-pay using contactless credit cards (only American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or mobile wallets. Passengers using Compass Cards and Compass Tickets pay discounted fares. Passengers can transfer for up to 90 minutes, except if taking West Coast Express, in which case they can transfer for up to 120 minutes. On bus and HandyDART, passengers can also pay in cash, but in that case will not receive change and are not eligible for transfers. Zone based fares apply between Monday and Friday for trips starting before 6:30 pm, if travel involves SkyTrain or SeaBus. Outside of those hours or for travel on only bus or HandyDART, a single zone rate applies. If traveling by West Coast Express, a higher cost zone based fare system applies regardless of time of travel.Children 12 and under can ride for free. People aged 13 to 18, and 65 and older pay discounted concession fares.

By SkyTrain
The closest option by SkyTrain is to ride to the Expo Line to. Head north and just past the T&T will be Pender Street. The Millennium Gate is one block east.

If traveling to Gastown, the closest option is to travel to by the Expo Line, by the Canada Line, or by Seabus, then to walk east. The Expo Line travels to Vancouver's downtown, Yaletown-False Creek and East Van, and beyond Vancouver to Burnaby, New Westminster, and Surrey. The Canada Line travels to Vancouver's downtown and Mount Pleasant, and beyond Vancouver to Vancouver International Airport and Richmond. The Seabus travels to North Vancouver.

By bus
A number of bus routes run through Gastown-Chinatown on their way to and from Commercial Drive and the Hasting Park area. Routes 10 and 16 head out Hastings Street towards the PNE, Route 20 heads out Hastings Street and then down Commercial Drive and Route 3 heads down Main Street through Mount Pleasant and South Main.

See
Gastown and Chinatown are interesting places to wander around. Some of the oldest buildings in the city are found here and Gastown has been refreshed with distinctive lamps and paving stone streets. Perhaps not authentic, but a nice contrast to the glass and steel towers just a couple of blocks away.

 * Gastown Steam Clock 1.JPG
 * Dr-Sun-Yat-Sen-chinese-garden.jpg
 * SamKeeII.jpg
 * SamKeeII.jpg
 * SamKeeII.jpg
 * SamKeeII.jpg

Do

 * Vancouver, Chinese new year parade, 2005.jpg

Eat
While Chinatown might seem like a good place to get Chinese food, it has declined considerably since its heyday and today, most or the remaining restaurants are tourist traps serving mediocre food. If good authentic Chinese is what you are after, head to the suburb of Richmond instead, where a majority of the residents are ethnic Chinese.

Sleep
Accommodation in Gastown and Chinatown is of the budget variety, primarily hostels. If you are planning to stay in a hostel, it is probably better to ensure it is located west of Main Street and caters mainly to backpackers (tourists on a budget). If you are planning to find a cheap (significantly less than $90) hotel in this area, it is likely to be in the "East Side", infamous for its prostitution and drug problems.

Stay safe
Chinatown becomes mostly deserted after 5PM, and it filled with mostly homeless people at night. Most homeless people are harmless; they will likely only ask you for money and move on to the next person if you refuse, but you might still want to avoid walking through Chinatown in the evening and night if that makes you uncomfortable.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Vancouver/Gastown-Chinatown


text:
Vancouver/Kitsilano-Granville Island

Kitsilano (or "Kits"), South Granville and Granville Island form most of the northern part of the Vancouver west side. In the 1960s Kits was a neighbourhood where hippies "tuned in and dropped out" but today it has some of Vancouver's most expensive properties. It is situated right on the beach and very close to downtown. Granville Island and the nearby neighbourhood of South Granville is a focal point for the arts community in Vancouver with a number of studios and theatre groups.

Kitsilano
Kitsilano is one of Vancouver's most popular neighbourhoods. The first people living in the area were the Squamish people and the neighbourhood's name is derived from a Squamish chief, August Jack Khatsahlano. Its proximity to the early Vancouver settlement drew settlers and it became one of Vancouver's first suburbs.

It's long been a popular spot with young people and was a counterculture hotbed in the 1960s. Greenpeace opened one of their first offices in Kitsilano and the British Columbia Green Party's original offices were here, as well. The area has become more gentrified in the decades since, but it still has a vibrancy that is missing in the more staid neighbourhoods that surround it.

One thing that hasn't changed is the beach, which continues to be the focal point of the community. On a sunny day, the beach towels come out, the volleyballs fly and the patios fill. And while the neighbourhood beaches certainly cater to the sun worshipers and the see-and-be-seen attitude, they also host music festivals, live theatre and other community events.

Kitsilano also has the distinction of historically being an enclave of Greek immigrants and their descendants. The Greek neighbourhood's borders have never been defined, however the strip between Alma St and Trafalgar St is known as 'Greek West Broadway'; West Broadway at Trutch Street is generally considered the neighbourhood's heart. The Greek community of Vancouver continues to maintain a presence by hosting 'Greek Day' on the last Sunday of every June where West Broadway is closed to vehicle traffic between MacDonald and Blenheim for free, family-oriented festivities.

Kitsilano is defined as the area between Burrard St in the east and Alma St in the west, and from the water to 16th Ave in the south.

Granville Island
Located beneath the Granville Street Bridge on the south side of False Creek, Granville Island (actually a peninsula) started off as industrial land. Over time, its warehouses and shops were abandoned and left to decay when industry moved on. In the 1970s the Federal Government embarked on an ambitious plan of urban renewal, which involved cleaning up the pollution left by industry on the island and encouraging mixed-use development. Today, the restored original corrugated tin buildings and their new occupants – artisans, markets, boutique shops and restaurants – come together to give Granville Island its vibrancy and unique feel.

Get in
See Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat.

The neighbourhoods are easy to access by car, bike or bus, especially from downtown Vancouver. Parking is somewhat limited and traffic around the beach can back-up on weekend afternoons, so public transit (or walking/biking) will frequently be a better option.

There are multiple ferries (operated by False Creek Ferries and Aquabus) in Vancouver that can take you to the two ferry stations on Granville Island. Depending on where you are in Vancouver, this could be the quickest and cheapest way to get to Granville Island.

By public transit
Passengers can pay for fares using Compass Cards ($6 refundable deposit), Compass Tickets, or tap-to-pay using contactless credit cards (only American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or mobile wallets. Passengers using Compass Cards and Compass Tickets pay discounted fares. Passengers can transfer for up to 90 minutes, except if taking West Coast Express, in which case they can transfer for up to 120 minutes. On bus and HandyDART, passengers can also pay in cash, but in that case will not receive change and are not eligible for transfers. Zone based fares apply between Monday and Friday for trips starting before 6:30 pm, if travel involves SkyTrain or SeaBus. Outside of those hours or for travel on only bus or HandyDART, a single zone rate applies. If traveling by West Coast Express, a higher cost zone based fare system applies regardless of time of travel.Children 12 and under can ride for free. People aged 13 to 18, and 65 and older pay discounted concession fares.

By bus
Some good buses to get into and around the area are:

 * #4 runs from UBC to Powell St downtown, and passes most of the Kits/4th Avenue area, as well as stopping by Granville Island.
 * #50 that runs from downtown to the entrance to Granville Island.
 * #84 is an express bus that runs from VCC-Clark Skytrain station in East Van to UBC. In the Kits area, it follows 4th.
 * #99 B-Line is an express bus that runs down Broadway. In the Kits area, it stops at Alma, Macdonald, Arbutus and Granville, and is considerably faster due to its infrequent stops.

Bus fare travelling in and around Kits would be, whether travelling one stop or from end to end.

There is no direct access to the Skytrain's Canada Line or Expo Line, but the Olympic Village station (Canada Line) connects with the #50 bus to Granville Island.

By car
Burrard St, via the Burrard Street Bridge, links Kitsilano with downtown and Granville St links South Granville with downtown. 4th Ave and Broadway are the main east-west streets that connect the neighbourhood with UBC and Mount Pleasant. Cornwall Ave is the main street along Kits Beach.

By boat
It is also possible to take the Aquabus or False Creek Ferries from downtown, Yaletown and Scienceworld to Granville Island or the dock at the Maritime Museum on Kits Point. Fares vary between $2 and $6 depending on distance travelled.

See
There are a trio of museums in Vanier Park on Kits Point, the peninsula forming the mouth of False Creek just west of the Burrard Street bridge. There is some free parking in front of the Space Centre, and it's an easy walk from Translink bus #2 and #22 at Cornwall and Cypress streets. You can also walk down from the 4th Avenue buses (such as #4), or over from Granville Island about 1000 m away.

 * Van museum space centre.jpg
 * Vancouver Maritime Museum, BC (2013).jpg
 * Vancouver Maritime Museum, BC (2013).jpg

Do

 * Kitsilano Beach (29177590530).jpg
 * Stanley Theatre.jpg
 * Stanley Theatre.jpg

Granville Island (accessed from 4th Ave via Anderson St or bus #50 from downtown) is an eclectic mixture of shops, restaurants, theatres, art galleries, one hotel and a functioning concrete plant. It is a major tourist destination yet also a huge draw for locals with its variety of food, restaurant and entertainment options.

One of the easiest ways to see the island is to just wander around and take it all in -- browse a little bit, enjoy the views, watch a street performer, people-watch. Railspur Avenue is home to plenty of art galleries and an artisan sake shop. The Public Market on the far north end of the island has a revolving set of day vendors selling art and specialty food items, and permanent stalls that offer produce, meat, fish and natural herbs. Notable permanent vendors in the market include: the Stock Market (which sells ready-to-eat soups as well as sauces, stocks and dressings), Granville Island Tea Co., Stuart's Bakery and a la mode, the pie store. See Buy section for additional information about shopping opportunities on Granville Island.

Specific things to do on Granville Island include:

Festivals

 * The Tempest 2014 (14372421350).jpg

Buy
Shopping options are plentiful in Kitsilano and South Granville. 4th Avenue is one of Vancouver's best-known neighbourhood shopping areas. Broadway makes for nice walking and shopping and has mature trees that line the street. Along 'Greek West Broadway' (the strip between Alma St and Trafalgar St) you will find a Greek bakery, some restaurants, public house, delis and markets. There is also a cluster of shops at along Alma Street between 10th Avenue and Broadway, and another cluster at Alma Street and 4th Avenue. Finally, Granville Island has a range of craft, toy and gift shops with items from local artisans and imported goods.

4th Ave
4th Avenue was once the domain of small eclectic shops, but as Kits drifted from its hippie roots, more mainstream retailers have settled in. If you take your time though, you can still find the independent shops mixed amongst the clothing and home decor stores. The street also has a good selection of coffee shops, restaurants and fine dining. Street parking can be challenging along 4th Avenue. There is an underground parking lot in the 2200 block under Capers Market (east of Safeway).

The junction of Burrard Street and 4th Avenue has a good cluster of ski, snowboard, and skateboard shops, including:

Granville Island
There is shopping galore on Granville Island. Plenty of tourist stores with your usual array of Canadiana and B.C.-specific souvenirs. You can buy fresh seafood right off the boat throughout most of the year; follow the seawall on the west side of the island to find these public fish sales. Most of the shops and restaurants can be found by wandering the streets (it's not a big place) or in the markets.

 * Granville Island Public Market 1.jpg

Eat
The area has one of the highest densities of restaurants you will find anywhere, with a huge variety in the dishes offered. Most of them are along 4th Avenue, Yew Street, Broadway, Cornwall Ave, Granville Ave or on Granville Island.

Drink
There are a few nightclubs in Kits, but most of the nightclubs in Vancouver are Downtown.

A number of restaurants on Granville Island, such as The Cat's Meow in the theatre district, the Sandbar beside the Public Market, and The Keg Restaurant have fully licensed lounges.

Sleep
There are a few B&Bs in the Kitsilano area. People tend to stay Downtown.

title: Vancouver/Kitsilano-Granville Island


text:
Vancouver/Mt Pleasant-South Main

Mount Pleasant-South Main is a district of Vancouver south of 6th Ave. It has long been a mixed residential, commercial and industrial area. Its main draws are Queen Elizabeth Park, and the restaurants and eclectic shops along Main Street.

Get in
See Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat.

By public transit
Passengers can pay for fares using Compass Cards ($6 refundable deposit), Compass Tickets, or tap-to-pay using contactless credit cards (only American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or mobile wallets. Passengers using Compass Cards and Compass Tickets pay discounted fares. Passengers can transfer for up to 90 minutes, except if taking West Coast Express, in which case they can transfer for up to 120 minutes. On bus and HandyDART, passengers can also pay in cash, but in that case will not receive change and are not eligible for transfers. Zone based fares apply between Monday and Friday for trips starting before 6:30 pm, if travel involves SkyTrain or SeaBus. Outside of those hours or for travel on only bus or HandyDART, a single zone rate applies. If traveling by West Coast Express, a higher cost zone based fare system applies regardless of time of travel.Children 12 and under can ride for free. People aged 13 to 18, and 65 and older pay discounted concession fares.

By SkyTrain
The Canada Line follows Cambie Street in Vancouver. It connects to Vancouver's downtown, Yaletown-False Creek and South Vancouver, and beyond Vancouver to Vancouver International Airport and Richmond. The following two Canada Line stations are within the Mt Pleasant-South Main neighbourhood.

 * Olympic Village — Connects with the #50 bus to Granville Island.
 * King Edward — A few blocks walk to Queen Elizabeth Park and Nat Bailey Stadium.

By bus
The B-Line bus route #99, which runs along Broadway, connects the area with Kitsilano, UBC and East Van.

 * #3 runs up and down Main Street.

See

Buy
South Main (sometimes called "SoMa," the parts of Main Street south of 2nd Avenue or so) is rapidly becoming the new bohemian neighbourhood of designer boutiques, Asian religious item stores, and coffee shops. Many local designers have boutiques on Main between Broadway (the equivalent of 9th Ave) south to about 29th Ave where you can buy cutting-edge and handmade clothing for reasonable prices, and is the local area where hipsters tend to shop. Between King Edward Ave (the equivalent of 25th) and 29th is a cluster of antique stores, some of which are expensive and not very good, but you can find treasures there if you search.

One of the best places to look for outdoor equipment in Vancouver is on Broadway in the blocks just east of Cambie Street.

Drink

title: Vancouver/Mt Pleasant-South Main


text:
Vancouver/South

Vancouver South covers the southern portion of Vancouver. It is mostly residential and has some of the city's older and more prestigious neighbourhoods. The area is best known for its gardens and parks, such as VanDusen Gardens.

Understand
For the purposes of this guide, the district includes everything south of W 16th Ave between Pacific Spirit Park and Heather St and everything south of King Edward/25th Ave from Prince Edward St to Burnaby. 37th Ave forms the northern boundary between Heather St and Prince Edward St. This includes the neighbourhoods of Kerrisdale, Oakridge, Marpole, Killarney and portions of Dunbar, Arbutus Ridge, Shaughnessy, Collingwood and South Cambie. To the north is Kitsilano and South Granville, Mt Pleasant-South Main and Commercial Drive-Hastings Park; to the east is Burnaby; and to the south is Richmond.

Get in
See Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat.

By public transit
Passengers can pay for fares using Compass Cards ($6 refundable deposit), Compass Tickets, or tap-to-pay using contactless credit cards (only American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or mobile wallets. Passengers using Compass Cards and Compass Tickets pay discounted fares. Passengers can transfer for up to 90 minutes, except if taking West Coast Express, in which case they can transfer for up to 120 minutes. On bus and HandyDART, passengers can also pay in cash, but in that case will not receive change and are not eligible for transfers. Zone based fares apply between Monday and Friday for trips starting before 6:30 pm, if travel involves SkyTrain or SeaBus. Outside of those hours or for travel on only bus or HandyDART, a single zone rate applies. If traveling by West Coast Express, a higher cost zone based fare system applies regardless of time of travel. Children 12 and under can ride for free. People aged 13 to 18, and 65 and older pay discounted concession fares.

By SkyTrain
The Canada Line follows Cambie Street through Vancouver. In Vancouver, it travels to downtown, Yaletown-False Creek and Mount Pleasant, and beyond Vancouver to Vancouver International Airport and Richmond. Stations of interest include:

 * King Edward - four blocks north of Queen Elizabeth Park and Nat Bailey Stadium
 * Oakridge - adjacent to Oakridge Centre, one of the larger shopping malls in Vancouver and transfer point for buses that travel on 41st St.

By bus
UBC and South Vancouver is well connected to other parts of Vancouver by the Translink bus system. The following routes are good ways to get in and around:

 * #10 - Runs up and down Granville Street from downtown to Marine Drive.
 * #15 - Runs up and down Cambie Street from downtown to Marine Drive.
 * #17 - Runs along Oak Street and Broadway, connecting UBC and South Vancouver with South Granville and Kitsilano.
 * #41 - Runs along 41st Avenue from Joyce SkyTrain Station to UBC through the Kerrisdale area.
 * #480 - Travels along 41st Avenue and Granville making select stops between UBC and Richmond.

By car
Granville Street is the main street coming out of downtown into South Vancouver and also provides access to the airport. From Richmond to the south, Hwy 99 becomes Oak Street once it crosses the Fraser River and runs the length of South Vancouver up to South Granville. Cambie Street is an alternate way through the district to the east of Granville St and Oak St, and also provides access to downtown.

Going from east to west, SW Marine Drive/Marine Drive follows the Fraser River and wraps around Point Grey, connecting UBC and South Vancouver with East Van. 4th Ave, 10th Ave/Broadway and 16th Ave are the main roads into UBC from Kitsilano. West 41st Ave and West 49th Ave are other major east-west streets.

See

 * VanDusen Botanical Garden 1.jpg

Buy
Vancouver South is served mostly by community centres and one major shopping mall.

 * 2013-01 Marpole Granville Street.jpg
 * 2013-01 Marpole Granville Street.jpg
 * 2013-01 Marpole Granville Street.jpg
 * 2013-01 Marpole Granville Street.jpg

Eat
This area tends to have fewer restaurants than the rest of Vancouver.

Drink
There are no nightclubs and only a few neighbourhood pubs.

Sleep
Hotels are a mixed bag in this area, generally being older and cheaper. Most hotels are along Kingsway, with one or two on Marine Drive. A better bet is to look for one of the B&Bs located in the various residential neighbourhoods.

Go next

 * Richmond, the adjoining municipality to the south
 * The rest of Vancouver

title: Vancouver/South


text:
Vancouver/UBC-Point Grey

UBC-Point Grey is a district in the west side of Vancouver occupying a pretty spot at the tip of the Point Grey peninsula. Its main feature is the University of British Columbia (or UBC for short), the largest university in British Columbia and one of the larger universities in Canada.

For the purposes of this guide, the district includes the university campus, Pacific Spirit Park and the neighbourhood of West Point Grey. The boundary follows Highbury St / 16th Ave / Pacific Spirit Park in the east, while to the west and south is Georgia Strait and to the north is Burrard Inlet.

Understand
The main occupant of the University Endowment Lands is UBC. It includes not only the University, but also residential and commercial areas. The campus is surrounded by Pacific Spirit Park, a large nature reserve.

Get in
See Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat.

By public transit
Passengers can pay for fares using Compass Cards ($6 refundable deposit), Compass Tickets, or tap-to-pay using contactless credit cards (only American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or mobile wallets. Passengers using Compass Cards and Compass Tickets pay discounted fares. Passengers can transfer for up to 90 minutes, except if taking West Coast Express, in which case they can transfer for up to 120 minutes. On bus and HandyDART, passengers can also pay in cash, but in that case will not receive change and are not eligible for transfers. Zone based fares apply between Monday and Friday for trips starting before 6:30 pm, if travel involves SkyTrain or SeaBus. Outside of those hours or for travel on only bus or HandyDART, a single zone rate applies. If traveling by West Coast Express, a higher cost zone based fare system applies regardless of time of travel.Children 12 and under can ride for free. People aged 13 to 18, and 65 and older pay discounted concession fares.

By bus
UBC is well served by bus routes. Generally, the best bus to take is the 99 B Line which is an express bus that goes along Broadway and 10th Avenue from the Broadway/Commercial SkyTrain station (Expo Line and Millennium Line) to UBC. Other useful bus routes include:

 * #4 which connects UBC to downtown.
 * #9 which travels up and down 10th Ave/Broadway through Kitsilano and South Granville, and onto Mt Pleasant and East Van.
 * #17 which runs along 10th Ave/Broadway and Oak St, connecting UBC with South Vancouver.
 * #41 from Joyce Station, along 41st Avenue to UBC, from the Kerrisdale area of South Vancouver.
 * #44 which connects UBC to Waterfront Station downtown (with a connection to the SeaBus and North Vancouver).
 * #480 travels along 41st Avenue and Granville making select stops between UBC and Richmond.

Generally, from inside Vancouver, bus fare to UBC will cost about, but can range higher if more than one zone must be crossed.

By car
4th Ave, 10th Ave/Broadway and 16th Ave are the main roads into UBC from Kitsilano. Marine Drive SW enters the district from South Vancouver and follows the coast around the campus.

University of British Columbia campus

 * Irving K. Barber Library.jpg
 * Taiwania cryptomerioides UBC 2.jpg
 * [[Image:Vancouver anthropology museum.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Totem poles at the UBC Museum of Anthropology]]
 * Taiwania cryptomerioides UBC 2.jpg
 * [[Image:Vancouver anthropology museum.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Totem poles at the UBC Museum of Anthropology]]
 * [[Image:Vancouver anthropology museum.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Totem poles at the UBC Museum of Anthropology]]

Do

 * Summertime at Spanish Banks (5916723547).jpg
 * Summertime at Spanish Banks (5916723547).jpg

Eat

Drink
The UBC campus has a number of bars and pubs that cater to the student crowd.

Sleep
Staying in UBC tends to be quieter than some other spots in the city and the summer accommodation isn't bad value for what you get, but it is far from any attractions that aren't part of UBC. If you want to stay in the area, the university has a small hotel open year round and opens up some of the student residences during the summer. There is also a HI hostel near the beach in West Point Grey and some B&Bs. If you want to be close to both UBC and the other attractions, consider some of the options in Kitsilano and Vancouver South.

title: Vancouver/UBC-Point Grey


text:
Vancouver/West End

The West End of Vancouver is one of the most popular places to hang out in the city. Located on the western half of the downtown peninsula, the compact, mostly residential area is surrounded by a string of beaches and the beloved Stanley Park, and bustling with tonnes of shops and eateries on its main streets.

Understand
The West End was first conceived as the proposed city of New Liverpool. Too remote at that time, the investors were nicknamed the "Greenhorns" and the land remained an unrealized real estate dream. Eventually it was incorporated into the city of Vancouver. The arrival of the railway several years later provided the needed impetus for development and the area around West Georgia Street became Vancouver's first upscale neighbourhood. The rich moved on to other neighbourhoods early in the 20th century and a new wave of development began to bring in the middle class and a more transient population. Large mansions were converted to rooming houses, low-rise apartments were built and shops sprang up along the streetcar lines - Robson, Denman and Davie Streets. The West End's skyline really began to take shape in the 1960s and early 70s when 220 high-rise apartments were built in a 13-year period. To date, the West End is the most densely populated area in Canada.

Robson, Denman and Davie Streets continue to be the lifeblood of the neighbourhood jam-packed with bars, restaurants, cafes and shops. Robson is the renowned shopping street, with smaller eclectic stores closer to Denman that get increasingly more upscale as it climbs the hill towards the Central Business District. In addition, Robson has numerous tourist souvenir shops as well as a good mix of trendy restaurant chains and small businesses. Denman  is noted for its countless independent cafes and restaurants, particularly around English Bay (Denman and Davie). The expansive variety of food ranges from Asian, Mediterranean, European, North American to even African. Whether you are craving for an indulgent slice of cheesecake, looking for a quick kabob takeout or taking time to wine and dine, Denman Street will have something to offer almost any time of the day. Closer to West Georgia Street and Stanley Park, there are a number of bicycle and inline skate rental places for easy riding or skating around the Seawall. While Denman Street is known for its good food, Davie Street has its fair share of entertaining shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, bakeries and produce stores. Unique to Davie Street is Davie Village, between Burrard and Jervis, the heart of Vancouver's LGBT community and home to the annual Vancouver Pride Parade & Festival. Besides the ever popular gay nightclub, Celebrities, there are also a number of provocative adult stores and a thriving community garden. During the warmer months, the West End Farmers Market attracts the local/organic food crowd to mill away their Saturday mid-morning, just off Davie Village on Comox Street.

Coal Harbour, on the north side of the West End, is a relatively new, high-end area. Many of the condominiums were built in the last ten years and have million-dollar views coupled with multi-million-dollar price tags. It is a pleasant area to stroll or relax at the parks and the Seawall, but it lacks the raw energy and rustic character of English Bay.

Get in
See Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat.

The West End is easily accessible from the City Centre. Heading west on almost any of the streets from downtown will lead you there. The main thoroughfare is West Georgia Street, which runs through the neighbourhood to Stanley Park and into the North Shore via the Lions Gate Bridge. Robson Street and Davie Street are also busy streets that carry traffic between the West End and the rest of downtown.

By car
If you are driving, it is best to park your car and explore the area by foot. Many of the side streets are traffic calmed in some manner and are frequently blocked off so they cannot be used for through traffic. Parking lots are available in Coal Harbour ($12-15 for the day) and Stanley Park. There is also limited on-street parking in the residential areas.

By bicycle
The Seawall is the main bike route in and around the West End (including Stanley Park). The popularity of the Seawall has been good for the bike rental business — there are a number of shops, particularly near the entrance of Stanley Park, where you can hire a bike for a few hours, a day or longer. See the "Do" section below for some bicycle rental shops.

By public transit
Passengers can pay for fares using Compass Cards ($6 refundable deposit), Compass Tickets, or tap-to-pay using contactless credit cards (only American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or mobile wallets. Passengers using Compass Cards and Compass Tickets pay discounted fares. Passengers can transfer for up to 90 minutes, except if taking West Coast Express, in which case they can transfer for up to 120 minutes. On bus and HandyDART, passengers can also pay in cash, but in that case will not receive change and are not eligible for transfers. Zone based fares apply between Monday and Friday for trips starting before 6:30 pm, if travel involves SkyTrain or SeaBus. Outside of those hours or for travel on only bus or HandyDART, a single zone rate applies. If traveling by West Coast Express, a higher cost zone based fare system applies regardless of time of travel.Children 12 and under can ride for free. People aged 13 to 18, and 65 and older pay discounted concession fares.

By bus
Most buses reaching The West End travel from downtown Vancouver. If travelling from other parts of Vancouver by public transit, you will have to get downtown first and then board one of the following:

 * #5 - heads to English Bay via Robson Street (which travels past SkyTrain's Burrard station on the Expo Line)
 * #6 - heads to English Bay via Davie Street (which travels past SkyTrain's Yaletown-Roundhouse station on the Canada Line)
 * #19 - ends in Stanley Park with connections downtown, including within a block of SkyTrain's Burrard station on the Expo Line, and at Metrotown in Burnaby

If travelling from the North Shore, the following buses pass through the West End on their way downtown:

 * #240 - connects with the Central Lonsdale area of North Vancouver
 * #250, 251, 252 - connects with various parts of West Vancouver, via Park Royal Mall

With of mostly forested land at the western tip of downtown, Stanley Park is one of North America's largest urban parks, and quite literally, is an oasis of wilderness in the middle of the city. The park is surrounded in its entirety by a 9 km paved path called the seawall; a great place for rollerblading, cycling, jogging or just taking a pleasant walk. There are also hundreds of kilometres of inland trails crisscrossing the park in every direction. Stanley Park park attracts over 8 million visitors per year.

The park includes heavily forested natural areas, manicured gardens and totem poles. As tall and old as the trees appear, it is interesting to know that much of them are second-growth, as the area was heavily logged from 1860-1880. Every single one of Stanley Park's grey squirrels was descended from eight pairs given to Vancouver as a gift from New York City in 1909.

There is a free bus that shuttles visitors around the loop to the different parts of the park. The bus operates in the summer, every 12-15 minutes. It takes 45 minutes to do the full loop. There are stops near all of the major attractions including:

 * Stanley Park totem poles, Vancouver (2013) - 6.JPG
 * Lost Lagoon (Stanley Park) - panoramio (1).jpg
 * Stanley Park totem poles, Vancouver (2013) - 6.JPG
 * Lost Lagoon (Stanley Park) - panoramio (1).jpg
 * Lost Lagoon (Stanley Park) - panoramio (1).jpg
 * Lost Lagoon (Stanley Park) - panoramio (1).jpg
 * Lost Lagoon (Stanley Park) - panoramio (1).jpg

Do

 * Beaches
 * Third Beach Vancouver Stanley Park (44722108491).jpg and are sandy beaches spaced along the western part of the seawall in Stanley Park.
 * is a sandy beach on English Bay is a popular place to watch the sunset and probably the best place to see the Festival of Lights.
 * is a sandy beach on English Bay is a popular place to watch the sunset and probably the best place to see the Festival of Lights.

Buy

 * This shopping area extends partially into the West End.

Eat
The West End is thick with restaurants. If you walk along Robson Street between downtown and Denman Street, or along Denman Street between Georgia Street and English Bay, you will pass dozens of eating options with a wide variety of cuisines and price points. There is a particular concentration of Korean food along a few blocks of Robson Street from Denman Street uphill to the east, maybe because many English as a Second Language (ESL) students from Korea lodge here. At the English Bay end of Denman street, the water vistas have encouraged a cluster of high-price high-service restaurants.

Mid-range

Sleep
The West End has fewer options to stay than the heart of downtown, but can offer slightly cheaper rates.

Budget
Other than one hostel, there are no really cheap accommodation options in the West End. However, there are a few hostels in the neighbouring Central Business District and some more a bit further on in Gastown and the Eastside.

Mid-range

title: Vancouver/West End


text:
Vancouver/Yaletown-False Creek

Yaletown-False Creek encompasses the established neighbourhood of Yaletown and the still-developing area of Southeast False Creek (better known as the Athlete's Village from the 2010 Winter Olympics). Reclaimed industrial areas, both neighbourhoods are a mix of modern condo architecture and restored industrial warehouses. Yaletown, in particular, is considered the yuppie side of Vancouver. For sports lovers, Vancouver's two main sports arenas/stadiums are also located here.

Get in
See Vancouver for options to get in the Vancouver area by plane, by bus, and by train, and by boat.

By public transit
Passengers can pay for fares using Compass Cards ($6 refundable deposit), Compass Tickets, or tap-to-pay using contactless credit cards (only American Express, Mastercard or Visa) or mobile wallets. Passengers using Compass Cards and Compass Tickets pay discounted fares. Passengers can transfer for up to 90 minutes, except if taking West Coast Express, in which case they can transfer for up to 120 minutes. On bus and HandyDART, passengers can also pay in cash, but in that case will not receive change and are not eligible for transfers. Zone based fares apply between Monday and Friday for trips starting before 6:30 pm, if travel involves SkyTrain or SeaBus. Outside of those hours or for travel on only bus or HandyDART, a single zone rate applies. If traveling by West Coast Express, a higher cost zone based fare system applies regardless of time of travel.Children 12 and under can ride for free. People aged 13 to 18, and 65 and older pay discounted concession fares.

By SkyTrain
The area is well served by the SkyTrain's Expo Line and Canada Line. The Expo Line travels to Vancouver's downtown, Gastown-Chinatown and East Van, and beyond Vancouver to Burnaby, New Westminster, and Surrey. The Canada Line travels to Vancouver's downtown, Mount Pleasant and South Vancouver, and beyond Vancouver to Vancouver International Airport and Richmond.

Four stations within this neighbourhood provide easy access to the sights and restaurants.

 * (Expo Line) is across the street from Rogers Arena and a couple of blocks from BC Place.
 * (Expo Line) is a couple minutes walk from Science World and the Athlete's Village from the Olympics. It is located a block southwest of, where many intercity trains and buses stop (see Vancouver).
 * (Canada Line) is in the heart of Yaletown.
 * (Canada Line) provides access to the Seawall and is about a 5-10 minute walk from the Olympic Village.

By boat
Two ferry operators provide similar service to Yaletown, Science World and the Olympic Village, with connections to Granville Island and Kitsilano (serviced only by False Creek Ferries). East of Granville Island, the two operators use the same docks, but on Granville Island and at docks west of Granville Island, they use different docks. Fares range between $2.50 and $11.00 for a one way trip, depending on the distance traveled. Trips by both ferry operators generally depart on a schedule of every 15 minutes from roughly 7:30 am to 8:00 pm Ferry operators:

See

 * Rogers Arena.jpg
 * [[Image:Vancouver scienceworld.jpg|right|325px|thumb|Science World]]
 * Rogers Arena.jpg
 * [[Image:Vancouver scienceworld.jpg|right|325px|thumb|Science World]]
 * [[Image:Vancouver scienceworld.jpg|right|325px|thumb|Science World]]
 * [[Image:Vancouver scienceworld.jpg|right|325px|thumb|Science World]]

Do

 * False Creek Seawall during coronavirus pandemic (49767333551).jpg section of the passes through Yaletown and around the eastern end of False Creek, including Creekside Park, Science World and the Olympic Village.  is just off the path near Olympic Village and was built to restore some of the natural habitat for native birds. It's a nice place to stop and relax or take in the view (particularly in spring when the blossoms are out).
 * Aquabus False Creek "Mini-cruise" for $8/adult, $4/child or senior, leaving every 15 minutes from any Aquabus station. A 25-minute tour.
 * Aquabus False Creek "Mini-cruise" for $8/adult, $4/child or senior, leaving every 15 minutes from any Aquabus station. A 25-minute tour.

Yaletown
Yaletown, being rather yuppie, has many upscale and mid-range stores, including plenty of beauty shops and self-improvement facilities (such as cosmetic dentistry and plastic surgery). As an illustration of the neighbourhood's character, one cosmetic surgery office has valet parking in front. Start your tour at Yaletown-Roundhouse station located at David St and Mainland St (see marker in "By SkyTrain" above) and visit:

 * The immediate area of the station, an area bounded by Homer St to the west, Nelson St to the north, Mainland St to the east, and Drake St to south)

Sleep
There is a small but diverse range of accommodation in Yaletown and nearby areas. Midrange and high-end hotels can be found in Yaletown, while there a couple of hostels on the other side of False Creek near the train/bus station.

title: Vancouver/Yaletown-False Creek


text:
Vancouver eastern suburbs

The Vancouver eastern suburbs are a group of municipalities to the east of Vancouver in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. This region lies north of the Fraser River and west of the Pitt River. The region is fairly urban and defined by its relationship to Vancouver.

Cities

 * — home of the expansive Metropolis at Metrotown shopping mall, and the equally expansive Burnaby Central Park
 * — a small town that never grew up, it has a nice riverfront promenade and beautiful old neighbourhoods
 * — suburban sprawl with some beautiful parks, one of the tri-cities
 * — more suburban sprawl near the Fraser River, one of the tri-cities
 * — includes Belcarra and Anmore; more sprawl, but the 3-km Shoreline Trail provides some nice views, one of the tri-cities

Other destinations

 * — North of Coquitlam, it has canoe access to Widgeon Slough and from there hiking trails that lead to Widgeon Lake, and a network of old logging roads, hiking and mountain biking trails on Burke Mountain

Get in and around
See Vancouver for intercity to options to the region by plane, bus, and train.

By car
Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) and Highway 7 (Lougheed Highway) are the main roads connecting the eastern suburbs with Vancouver to the west and Surrey and the Fraser Valley to the south and east. Highway 91A connects New Westminster to Richmond and Delta in Vancouver southern suburbs.

By public transit
TransLink provides bus and SkyTrain service to the eastern suburbs.

SkyTrain provides reliable transit from Vancouver and Surrey to Burnaby, New Westminster and through Port Moody to central Coquitlam where you can connect to the limited West Coast Express train service out to the Fraser Valley communities of Maple Ridge and Mission. Travels times are approximately 20-30 minutes to Vancouver and 10-20 minutes to Surrey.

Buses provide service from Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, the North Shore and Pitt Meadows. Visit the TransLink website to get current fare information. The TransLink system is described in more detail in the Vancouver "Get around" section.

See
The eastern suburbs are smaller tourist destinations than central Vancouver or the North Shore areas, but there are some wonderful pockets to make it worth venturing out if you want to explore beyond Vancouver. There are a number of parks that are worth visiting as well as some small museums and galleries. One great destination in Burnaby is Deer Lake Park which has pleasant walking trails, boat rentals, the Burnaby Art Gallery and Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, public gardens and Burnaby Village Museum and Carousel. Towering over Burrard Inlet is Burnaby Mountain Park, provides wooded walking trails, including a segment of the Trans Canada Trail, a manicured rose garden, views of Vancouver and the Burrard Inlet and a fine dining restaurant, Horizons. Further north, where the mountains start in Coquitlam, Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park is a much more rugged experience. Its difficult to decide if the best park in the region is Coquitlam's Mundy Park, Belcarra Regional Park or the Buntzen Lake Hydro Recreation Site in Anmore, with its pretty lake, beach and varied hiking trails. The Port Moody waterfront with its bandshell, museum and string of craft breweries have become a local hub of activity and a great place to visit with easy transit access.

Do
If you want to do some walking or hiking, there's no shortage of trails in the region. Good spots for a gentle stroll are the boardwalk in New Westminster, the Shoreline Trail in Port Moody or the Traboulay Trail in Port Coquitlam. Buntzen Lake in Anmore offers a variety of hikes from short and easy to day-long climbs to ridge tops. And if you're looking for something more mountainous, Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park, located north of Coquitlam, has many miles of trails with day and multi-day hikes.

Many of the parks also have water activities. There are sandy beaches and boating options at Buntzen Lake and Belcarra Regional Park in Belcarra. Boat rentals are available in the summer at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody, in Belcarra, and Deer Lake in Burnaby. Swimming is also available at some of the city parks in Port Moody. Pinecone-Burke Provincial Park is a good spot for trout and salmon fishing.

For arts and culture, you can visit Burnaby Village Museum, the Port Moody Station Museum, or Irvine House in New Westminster.

Drink
Port Moody is home to what is referred to locally as Brewer's Row. You have your choice of four breweries along Murray St, three of which are across the street from Rocky Point Park with views of the Burrard Inlet. There is typically at least one food truck near by, so grab a beer and enjoy the scenery. The easiest way to get there is to use the SkyTrain (Millenium Line), and get off at Moody Centre.

title: Vancouver eastern suburbs


text:
Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is a large island off the coast of British Columbia. As a region, it includes the Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia. It is often referred to by the locals as simply 'The Island'. Vancouver Island is the largest island off the west coast of North America at about 450 km long and up to about 90 km wide. It has a population of over 870,000 people (2019), with a little less than half of those living in the Greater Victoria area.

The development on the island primarily follows the north-south highway that goes along the east coast of the island from Victoria to Port Hardy.

Cities

 * – the capital city of British Columbia that markets itself as a piece of England.
 * – a relaxing city 20 minutes from downtown Victoria, 5 minutes from the Victoria International Airport, Quiet, on the Waterfront with quaint little shops. A tourist vacation and retirement location with waterfront walkways and bicycle paths.
 * – a 2-hour scenic drive from Victoria on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Port Renfrew is a small west coast community that was built by logging and fishing. It is situated along 240 km (150 miles )of rugged uninhabited coastline.
 * – the second largest city, and largest port on Vancouver island.
 * – popular summer vacation spot with its many sandy beaches and wide range of accommodation. Off the beach, there are fun parks for the kids and some pleasant walking trails. Nearby are a handful of provincial parks where you can see waterfalls, try to wrap your arms around an old growth tree or go caving.
 * – ecotourism centre on the beautiful (if wet) west coast of the island. The main attraction is Long Beach which is part of Pacific Rim National Park. There's also surfing, whale watching and storm watching (in winter).
 * – the gateway to Mount Washington, Strathcona Provincial Park and some spectacular fishing. These two towns are a beautiful place to visit in summer and winter.
 * – small logging town on the north tip of the island, gateway to Cape Scott Provincial Park.
 * – voted one of the ten best "towns" in Canada to visit by travel writers (as published in Harrowsmith Magazine).

Other destinations

 * — Coastal hikes, amazing beaches and wildlife
 * — Established in 2003, Gulf Islands National Park Reserve safeguards a portion of the gorgeous Gulf Islands archipelago. Gulf Islands National Park Reserve offers visitors incredible opportunities for boating, kayaking, hiking, wildlife viewing and picnicking. The larger islands of Saturna, Mayne and Pender can be accessed via BC Ferries, with daily departures from Swartz Bay, Vancouver Island. Please visit the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve website for more information.
 * — park and hiking trail on the southwest coast
 * — alpine skiing, often with the most snow in Canada, and mountain biking
 * — scenic, multi-unit park on the west coast, includes
 * - a world-class coastal hike along scenic beaches
 * - over 100 small islands in Barkley Sound
 * - a sequence of long, white sand beaches near Tofino

Understand
Vancouver Island lies in the temperate rainforest biome. On the southern and eastern portions of the island, this is characterized by Douglas fir, western red cedar, arbutus, Garry oak, salal, Oregon grape, and manzanita. This southeastern portion of the island is the most heavily populated region of Vancouver Island and a major area for recreation. The northern, western, and most of the central portions of the island are home to the coniferous "big trees" associated with British Columbia's coast – western hemlock, western red cedar, Pacific silver fir, yellow cedar, Douglas fir, grand fir, Sitka spruce, and western white pine.

The island's economy is based on technology industries, logging, fishing, and tourism, with some food production as well.

History
Vancouver Island has been the homeland to many Indigenous peoples for thousands of years. The groupings, by language, are the Kwakwaka'wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth, and various Coast Salish peoples. While there is some overlap, Kwakwaka'wakw territory includes northern and northwestern Vancouver Island and adjoining areas of the mainland, the Nuu-chah-nulth span most of the west coast, while the Coast Salish cover the southeastern Island and southernmost extremities along the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

The island was explored by British and Spanish expeditions in the late 18th century. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, who explored the Pacific Northwest coast between 1791 and 1794.

In 1843, the Hudson's Bay Company built a fort as the basis for settlement and a fur trading post named Fort Albert (later Fort Victoria), 200 metres northwest of the present-day Empress Hotel on Victoria's Inner Harbour.

In 1849, the Colony of Vancouver Island was established. The colony was leased to the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC); the Company's responsibility in return was to increase the population by promoting colonization. The island's first legislative assembly was formed in 1856.

Fort Victoria had become an important base when prospectors, miners and merchants began arriving for the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush in 1858. The Hudson's Bay lease expired in 1859 and the island reverted to Great Britain. The burgeoning town was incorporated as Victoria in 1862.

The economic situation of the colony declined following the Cariboo Gold Rush of 1861–1862, and pressure grew for amalgamation of the colony with the mainland colony of British Columbia. The two colonies were merged in 1866 by the Imperial Parliament. The City of Victoria became the capital. By 1867, Canada was established British Columbia joined Canada in 1871.

Climate
The climate is the mildest in Canada, with temperatures on the coast even in January being usually above 0 °C (32 °F).

In summer, the warmest days usually achieve a maximum of 28–33 °C (82–91 °F). However, the rain shadow effect of the island's mountains, as well as the mountains of Washington's Olympic Peninsula, creates wide variation in precipitation. The west coast is considerably wetter than the east coast. Precipitation is heaviest in the autumn and winter. Snow is rare at low altitudes but is common on the island's mountaintops in winter.

Tourist information

 * Vancouver Island Travel

From within British Columbia

 * BC Ferries is the most common way to get to Vancouver Island.
 * There is scheduled vehicle ferry service from:
 * Vancouver (Tsawwassen) ferry terminal in Delta to Victoria (Swartz Bay) ferry terminal near Sidney (1 hour 35 minutes), operating every two hours normally and up to hourly in the summer. Public transit at both terminals.
 * Vancouver (Tsawwassen) ferry terminal in Delta to Nanaimo (Duke Point) ferry terminal (2 hours), operating every 2.5 hours. Public transit at Vancouver (Tsawwassen) ferry terminal only.
 * Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay) ferry terminal in West Vancouver to Nanaimo (Departure Bay) ferry terminal (1 hour 40 minutes), operating slightly less frequently than every 2 hours. Public transit at both terminals.
 * Powell River (Westview) ferry terminal to Comox (Little River) ferry terminal (1 hour 25 minutes), operating around 3 trips per day. Public transit at both terminals.
 * Prince Rupert ferry terminal to Port Hardy (Bear Cove) ferry terminal (16.25-22 hours) via Klemtu ferry terminal (7.75-10.75 hours to Port Hardy) and/or Bella Coola (McLoughlin Bay) ferry terminal (5.5 hours to Port Hardy), operating at most once per day during the summer and less often at other times. Public transit at Prince Rupert ferry terminal only.
 * Bella Coola ferry terminal to Port Hardy (Bear Cove) ferry terminal (10 hours), operating once per day, several days per week during the summer. No public transit at either terminal.
 * Scheduled vehicle ferry service also available on routes between Vancouver Island and most of the Southern Gulf Islands, some of the Discovery Islands, and some islands at the northern end of North Vancouver Island.

From Washington state in the United States of America

By plane

 * Campbell River airport with flights from Vancouver
 * Comox - airport with flights from Calgary and Vancouver
 * Nanaimo Airport - the second largest airport on Vancouver Islands, flights from Calgary and Vancouver
 * Port Hardy - small airport with flights from Vancouver
 * Tofino - small airport with flights from Vancouver
 * Victoria International Airport - the largest airport on Vancouver Island, located adjacent to Sidney.  Has flights from various locations in Canada.

Seaplanes
There are seaplane facilities with scheduled commercial flights on Vancouver Island at Victoria's harbour, at Maple Bay (near Duncan), and at Nanaimo harbour. Seaplane routes connect frequently from-to downtown Vancouver and Vancouver International Airport, and Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast.

By car
The easiest way to travel around Vancouver Island is to drive. There are car ferries to the island from Vancouver, Powell River and Port Angeles (Washington), and rental cars are available in the cities and larger towns.

There is one major north-south highway system on the island, which runs along the eastern side. It begins in Victoria as Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) traveling north to Nanaimo. From Nanaimo and north up to Port Hardy, Highway 19 (Island Highway) takes over.

By bus
There is coach bus service to most of the major cities on the island, but it is generally a patchwork, and traveling around by bus often involves inconvenient waits to catch connecting buses.

By public transit
BC Transit operates bus routes in cities around Vancouver Island. Intercity bus service is available on the following corridors:

 * Between Victoria and Qualicum Beach (same day travel between these cities is possible when the routes operate):
 * Routes 66 and 44 between Victoria and Duncan. Route 66 is available on weekdays, but only in the early morning to Victoria and in the afternoon to Duncan.  Route 44 is available for several daytime Saturday trips.  Offered by Cowichan Regional Valley Transit System
 * Route 70 between Duncan and downtown Nanaimo via Ladysmith. Operates Monday to Saturday.  Offered by Cowichan Regional Valley Transit System and Nanaimo Regional District Transit System.
 * Route 50 between downtown Nanaimo and Nanaimo (Woodgrove Centre). Operates daily. Offered by Nanaimo Regional District Transit System.
 * Route 91 between Nanaimo (Woodgrove Centre) and Qualicum Beach via Parksville. Offered by Nanaimo Regional District Transit System.
 * Between Campbell River and Courtenay with a transfer at Oyster River. Campbell River Transit System bus route 6 between Campbell River and Oyster River.  Comox Valley Regional Transit System bus route 12 between Courtenay and Oyster River.  Connections between the two routes are available Monday to Saturday.

See
In Arrowsmith Coombs Country, see the giant old growth forest at Cathedral Grove, funky "goats on the roof" market at Coombs.

Watch the tide go out for more than a kilometre at Parksville and Rathtrevor Beaches.

Do
A mild climate means year round tour opportunities including winter surfing, storm watching, mountain skiing and fall salmon viewing into December.

Go on a hiking or walking nature tour of ancient rainforests with their giant trees, visit alpine meadows and lakes or stroll along colourful sea side tide pools. Try bird watching or wildlife viewing in the area's diverse ecosystems. Journey on a whale watching or grizzly bear tour. Some operators of tours operating in multiple areas of Vancouver Island:

Out of Telegraph Cove on the north end of the island, kayak with the orca, and go on expeditions in Johnstone Strait & vicinity.

Golf at over 11 world-class courses on Vancouver Island.

The Sunshine Coast-Vancouver Island Circle Tour, a road trip involving ferries. The trip involves travel between Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, and eastern Vancouver Island between Comox and Victoria in circuit that does not involve backtracking.

Go next

 * Take BC ferries from Swartz Bay (near Victoria), Nanaimo or Comox to the Lower Mainland, with urban Vancouver and its environs offering a sophisticated experience and other areas such as the Sunshine Coast being more rural and natural.
 * BC Ferries from Port Hardy head through the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert, accessing the North Coast of British Columbia.
 * BC Ferries from Swartz Bay (near Victoria) to the Southern Gulf Island communities of Saturna, Mayne, Pender, Galiano and Saltspring. The Southern Gulf Islands have something to offer any kind of traveller. Visitors who love the outdoors can boat, hike or view wildlife in one of the Southern Gulf Islands' beautiful regional, provincial and national parks. For the culinary traveller, local wineries, fromageries, bakeries, and farms all offer tantalizing treats. For those interested in immersing themselves in the Gulf Islands lifestyle, check out the many local galleries, theatres and community events. Travellers who just want to be pampered can relax at any number of high-end resorts, retreats and spas, while the low-key traveller can experience a quaint bed and breakfast, or a rustic campsite in Gulf Islands National Park Reserve.
 * Black Ball Transport offers ferries from Victoria to Port Angeles, Washington, the gateway to the Olympic National Park
 * Washington State Ferries offer ferries from Sidney to the San Juan Islands and Anacortes.
 * Desolation Sound: is between Lund and Campbell River up to Dent Island filled with beautiful islands and few towns

title: Vancouver Island


text:
Vancouver southern suburbs

The Vancouver southern suburbs are a group of municipalities in Vancouver's metropolitan area located south of the Fraser River in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. They are fairly urban and are defined by their relationship to Vancouver. Much of the Lower Mainland's population growth and suburban sprawl is taking place here. This region lies between the north arm of the Fraser River in the north and the United States border in the south, and from the Georgia Strait in the west to Surrey in the east. Beyond Surrey is the Langley, in the Fraser Valley region.

Cities

 * — the fastest-growing municipality in the Lower Mainland
 * — home to a large Chinese immigrant population and Vancouver International Airport
 * — a collection of three communities: Tsawwassen, Ladner and North Delta
 * — beachfront community

Get in
See Vancouver for intercity options to reach to the region by plane, bus, or train. See Lower Mainland for information on reaching the region by car.

By public transit

 * You can take the TransLink's SkyTrain Canada Line from downtown Vancouver to, or to Richmond-Brighouse Station, and connect to TransLink buses there. The Expo Line will take you to Surrey Central (with connections to the Surrey RapidBus route R1) and on to King George Station.

By boat

 * in Delta connects with destinations on Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands. See Delta for details.
 * in Delta connects with destinations on Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands. See Delta for details.

By car
Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) travels east and west, passing through Surrey en route from Vancouver to Abbotsford.

Highway 15 travels north and south, connecting Highway 1 and Highway 17 at the north end with the Pacific Highway Border Crossing at the south end.

Highway 99 crosses the region between Vancouver and the U.S. border, passing through Richmond, Delta and White Rock. For travelers from Washington state, Interstate 5 becomes Highway 99, when crossing into Canada at Peace Arch Border Crossing.

Border crossings

By public transit
TransLink operates in all the southern suburbs. Richmond and Surrey are particularly well-connected, as there is a SkyTrain route serving each of those cities.

By boat

 * Ferry in this region:

See
Ride the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway in Surrey.

Visit Steveston, in the southwest corner of Richmond where the Fraser River meets the Pacific Ocean. This former fishing village is now a tourist destination, with good fish and chip shops, boutiques, historic buildings, and a nice boardwalk.

The George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary and the Boundary Bay Regional Park in Delta offer a chance to see a wide variety of birds in the wild.

Do

For sandy beaches, visit White Rock Beach in White Rock or visit Centennial Beach within Boundary Bay Regional Park in Delta. White Rock Beach has long sandy beach has many tidal pools during low tide where see marine life up close. The 2.2-km White Rock Promenade and the pier make for a pleasant walk, especially at sunset, and there are lots of restaurants nearby. For a quieter beach, visit Crescent Beach, located in an area of Surrey with a small-town, seaside feeling. Only the northern part of Crescent Beach is sandy.

The Riverport Sports & Entertainment Complex (SilverCity) in Richmond has a huge movie theatre with an Imax screen, bowling, a large swimming pool, Canada's largest indoor trampoline park, and an indoor waterpark.

Buy
Cloverdale, a historic village in Surrey, is the Antique Capital of BC, with many antique shops in its town centre.

The Richmond Night Market in Richmond, like night markets in Asia, features food booths with Chinese, Japanese, Bubble tea, and many other cuisines, kitsch items, cheap clothing, cell phone accessories, and other merchandise.

Go next

 * Take a quick visit to the United States from Delta, by traveling south to Point Roberts, an American exclave only accessible by land through Canada. Bring your passport.

title: Vancouver southern suburbs


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Vandalia

There is more than one place called Vandalia:

United States of America

 * Vandalia (Illinois) — A town in Illinois.
 * Vandalia (Michigan) — A town in Michigan.
 * Vandalia (Missouri) — A town in Missouri.
 * Vandalia (Ohio) — A town in Ohio.

title: Vandalia


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Vandalia (Illinois)

Vandalia is a city in Central Illinois. The town where Abraham Lincoln began his political career, Vandalia was the state capital of Illinois from 1820 to 1839. As a member of the state legislature, in 1837 Lincoln made his first comments against slavery in Vandalia.

Understand
The state capital moved to Vandalia only two years after Illinois became a state. Three separate buildings in Vandalia served as the Capitol: the first burned, the second was torn down, and the third remains as a historic site, maintained both as a part of Illinois history, and more importantly as a part of the life of Abraham Lincoln. In 1839, the legislature moved to Springfield, leaving the quiet town of Vandalia behind.

Long before the Interstate Highway system, the US federal government began building the National Road in 1811, planned to connect Maryland with Missouri. This was the first federally-funded road in the new country. While funding shortfalls stopped the road in Vandalia in 1839, the National Road served as the gateway to the west for thousands of settlers, bringing them as far as central Illinois. When the "modern" US highway system was developed in 1925, the National Road became a part of US 40.

Today, you may tour the last Vandalia State Capitol, sit in the chamber where Lincoln sat, visit the National Road Interpretive Center, and see Lincoln-era artifacts and antiques at the county museum.

Get in
Vandalia is on Interstate 70, between St. Louis and Indianapolis. US Highway 40 goes through the center of town.

title: Vandalia (Illinois)


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Vanderkloof

Vanderkloof is a town and holiday resort on the shores of the Vanderkloof Dam on the Orange River in the Northern Cape Karoo region of Northern Cape province in South Africa.

Get in
From the N1 at Bloemfontein, turn off to Petrusburg. From there follow the R48 to Koffiefontein, Luckhoff and the on to Vanderkloof dam. Follow the boards.
 * Lat 30° 49'46"S
 * Long 21° 12'7"E

Get around
Vanderkloof is small and therefore easily walkable. The road leading up to Vanderkloof is pretty steep.

See
The dam wall can be visited, Eskom hydro electric plant can be visited. There are wonderful sites from which to view the lake. There are great places from which to take photos.Bird watching, hiking and game drives in the Rolfontein game reserve. Bowling, cycling, skiing, rock climbing, abseiling and bridge swinging can all be done here. The dam stretches 100 km up stream so boating, kayaking, angling and camping on the shores of the lake are a perfect way to spend out gorgeous days and nights. On the river you can do fly fishing, fishing, tubing and kayaking or canoeing. Contact 082 6071194 for information.

Go next

 * Orania

title: Vanderkloof


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Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng (ວັງວຽງ), sometimes spelled Vang Viang, is a riverside town in Central Laos. It is the adventure capital of Laos, with a river flowing through the spectacularly wild karst formations, laid-back countryside and many caves. Many outdoor tours are available.

Understand
Once little more than a bus stop on the long haul between Vientiane at the Thai border and the World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng has managed to become a destination in its own right and a popular stop on the unofficial Banana Pancake Trail.

Anyone who has travelled in Southeast Asia will have heard about tubing, an activity that dominates this town and its visitors. It was opened up by hedonistic backpackers, and the atmosphere of the town is one of lethargy by day and debauchery by night. Tourists sprawl out in the pillow-filled restaurants, termed "TV bars", watching re-runs of US sitcoms, Friends and Family Guy episodes, until the sun goes down, and then party heavily until the early hours.

A couple of kilometres upstream, the pulsating music, drinking games and drug-fuelled debauchery of the increasingly lively riverside "tubing" bars starts at lunchtime. The majority of the bars from the start of tubing back into town have been closed in an attempt to improve safety; 27 tourists died in 2011 while partying on the river. In 2014 the government closed down many of the riverside bars to reduce the dangerously excessive partying. By February 2016 just two bars were open.

Vang Vieng may have established itself as the exception to the rule that Laos doesn't have nightlife. It does have potential as a base for adventure tourism which attracts a few more sedate foreign sightseers. However, it can be considered a noisy "backpacker hell", and so those wishing to avoid noisy, selfish teenagers away from their parents for the first time and instead seek something Laotian would do well to either use Vang Vieng only as a base to explore the surrounding countryside or avoid it all together.

Since the 2014, the city has developed into a popular base for outdoor activities. Tour companies are everywhere in the city and offer tubing, cave visits, kayaking, ziplines, swimming in waterfalls, dirt buggies, and combinations thereof.

By train
Five high-speed, standard-gauge trains run daily from Vientiane via Phonhong to Vang Vieng (1 hour), then north to Muang Kasi and Luang Prabang (another hour). One train each morning continues to Boten on the border with China, with four hours for border formalities, then onward to Kunming (ten hours in all) which has high-speed connections across China. This is by far the fastest, most comfortable way to reach Vang Vieng, the problem has been short booking horizons and sold-out trains. This may ease as more trains are put onto the route - see Laos for the latest.

is 3 km north of the main town. The minivan service (30,000 kip) can drop you at your hostel / guesthouse.

By bus
Vang Vieng is on Hwy 13 between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. By bus (road and bus conditions permitting) about 6–8 hr from Luang Prabang, around 3–4 hr from Vientiane.

Tickets for tourist buses and minivans can be purchased at almost every guesthouse and should include pick-up at the hotel.

VIP buses from Vientiane cost about 50,000 kip. Minivans leave Vientiane all day and cost 35,000–50,000 kip. The express bus to Vientiane costs 60,000 kip. Slower local buses to Vientiane without air conditioning run in the early morning (05:30–10:00) and cost about 40,000 kip for a 5-hour journey. You can board them either at the northern bus station or the bus stop south of the airstrip.

From Luang Prabang, VIP buses cost 150,000 kip and minivans cost between 80,000-120,000 kip. If you're susceptible to motion sickness you'll be much better off on the slower bus than the minivan (or bring appropriate medication).

Bus schedule from Vang Vieng

By car
Hwy 13 is a sealed, two-lane road that is slowly deteriorating. The road between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang is mountainous and boasts amazing scenery. The road between Vang Vieng and Vientiane is flatter and less interesting.

From the bus station
From Vientiane, buses will drop you off either at the old airstrip (from the Vietnam war, it's now just a giant gravel pad), and the tourist buses will drop you in front of a hotel on the main street in the town. The airstrip is directly behind the main street, so in either case there is no need to take a tuk-tuk or cyclo if you plan to stay in the main area of the town. The island and bungalows along the river are about a 10-min walk away.

Buses from the north Laos arrive at the new bus terminal 2 km north of the town. When leaving Vang Vieng, transport to the bus station is usually included in the price of your ticket.

Around town
Vang Vieng is so small that everything is easily reachable on foot.

If you want to venture out of town, bicycles are widely available and can be rented from hotels or local businesses. You should not have to pay more than 15,000 kip for a day's rental.

Motorbike rentals are also available. You can rent a small semi-automatic scooter starting from 40,000 kip (from morning till evening, 60,000 kip for 24 hr) or a dirt bike from 100,000 kip (125cc for a day) to 200,000 kip (150cc for 24 hr). There is a good selection of scooters for instance at M/c Rental (across the street and about 50 m east from Whopping Burger). Always check the condition of the bike and details of the contract before signing anything. At some places you will have to sign a contract which makes you completely responsible if something breaks or fails to function, even if it's normal wear and tear. Also you are not allowed to go out of Vang Vieng District, so don't count on renting a bike here to go on a longer tour of the district.

Several tuk-tuks are also scattered around town. 10,000 kip per person will be plenty to get to anywhere within Vang Vieng. It's also the price you'll pay to get to the tubing bars irrespective of how many other people are on board. It's better to sort out exact change with fellow passengers as tuk-tuk drivers are notorious for giving incorrect change.

To rent a tuk-tuk for the whole day costs about 130,000–150,000 kip.

The Hobo Map for Vang Vieng is excellent and shows the dirt roads and sites worth seeing. It can be purchased in few places in the town (Elephant Crossing Hotel, Maylyn Guest House, Pan's Place, Riverside Tours, Silver Naga Hotel, VLT Tour).

See

Buy
The small shops scattered throughout Vang Vieng sell the standard assortment of snacks, trinkets, sunglasses and bathing suits. The majority of tourists seem to leave with at least one T-shirt, vest, or dress with "In the Tubing - Vang Vieng" emblazoned on it.

Prices for tourist packages are quoted in both kip and US dollars. Restaurants, hotels, and pretty much everything else is priced in kip. Most places will accept kip, Thai baht and US dollars for larger purchases.

There are several ATMs that now take all major credit cards, but are known for running out of cash. Some tourists have reported only being able to use cards on the Maestro (MasterCard) network.

The Lao Development Bank changes money at good rates and processes cash advances. BCEL will also do cash advances on credit cards.

Eat
The numerous TV restaurants are interchangeable and all have a similar theme. When it comes to Wi-Fi some offer it free, others sell access. Others offer access only at certain times only. They all have similar menus. A selection of Lao, American, Italian, Chinese and Thai food is normally fresh but often of indifferent quality and poorly executed. Small servings average 20,000-45,000 kip.

For quick eats and late night snacks, numerous pancake and sandwich stalls dot the streets. But be careful, food hygiene may have been compromised by being in the heat all day and your gastrointestinal system may react accordingly. The street running next to the river just to the west of the tube rental office has a few vendors selling large chicken and pork kebab skewers for 5,000 kip each.

Many restaurants used to offer "happy" shakes and pizzas, although this practice is slowly disappearing. While this may be obvious to many, any food or drink with the words "happy", "special" or "ecstatic" will contain an undetermined amount of marijuana or magic mushrooms. There may also be plain-clothes police men around in the city watching out for tourists smoking weed and giving them hefty fines.

Drink
Beerlao is available everywhere in Vang Vieng, but the drink of choice is a cheap plastic bucket filled with liquor and soft drinks. A bottle of Tiger Whisky costs the bar 10,000 kip, so around a third of a bottle goes into your bucket, normally with a choice of 7-Up or Pepsi, lime and Red Bull.

Tubing area
There are eight bars within the first kilometre of the tubing route. Alternately, four of them open daily, two on each side of the river.

In town
Beerlao and buckets are available all around Vang Vieng in bars covered with Christmas lights (including all the "TV restaurants") and the buckets are usually very strong because Lao whisky is cheaper than soft drinks. There's no shortage of choice but a distinct lack of diversity, especially if you're looking for live music.

The Island
For serious drinking, the bars referred to collectively as The Island, reached via some ramshackle bamboo and wood bridges, are where most of the tubers end up after a day on the river, particularly after the bars in town start to close. The Sandwich Pancake pushers hover in a long line as people stumble over the bridge, waiting to prey on drunken Western tourists. But be aware of trying to buy eye drops for sudden onset conjunctivitis around this area. Stories abound of people being drunkenly extorted as much as 5x the normal price for treatment for their conjunctivitis.

As of 2015, there are only two bars open on the former party island. One, River View Guest house, has a stretch of low wooden tables along the river next to the restaurant. Smile Beach Bar is another bar at the north end of the island that is mainly a sunset place which closes early.

Sleep
There are now a couple of halfway-decent mid-range hotels and attempts at boutique-style residences.

Generally though, double rooms go for US$6-15, make sure you see the room (and bath) before paying. More local, low-key (which is pretty low-key in Vang Vieng to start with) places are by the market and more shiny set ups are on the main road. The party crowd tend to advocate choosing a bungalow on the island, but expect it to be quite noisy if you want to sleep during the night.

Most guesthouses have large TV-viewing areas, practically coated in the Southeast Asia signature triangular cushions, where they serve food. But be forewarned - you'll be hard pressed to find a place screening something other than the US sitcoms Friends and Family Guy.

Due to problems with ownership and corruption, backpackers are advised to stay away from Spicy Laos VV and LPB Hostels. (Spicy Thai is still successful.)
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.
 * Molina Bungalows, main street. Small, clean bungalows in a local families backyard. air-con and free wifi. Approx. 80,000 kip.

Stay safe
Thousands of tourists pass through Vang Vieng without incident every year, but the combination of outdoor activities, drink and drugs still makes it one of South East Asia's most dangerous destinations for travellers.

Even the town's main street can injure the unwary traveller: you'll need to watch out for the large holes in the pavement through to the drainage ditch below as they are not fenced off.

The medical care available in the town's hospital is rudimentary at best - for serious injuries you'll want to go to Vientiane, or better still, Thailand.

Watersports and alcohol
Floating downstream at a sedate pace in an inflated rubber tube shouldn't be a dangerous activity, provided you leave enough time to get back before darkness falls.

What raises the danger level is the bars offering a combination of hard liquor and high platforms to jump from.

Whilst you may find that risk reduced somewhat by the dismantling of some of Vang Vieng's infamous ziplines, swings and slides following deaths, you're still going to have use your common sense. If you want to jump into the river, be very careful about where you do so - the Nam Song isn't very deep except where the bar staff have cleared rocks from the river bed. Don't even think of pushing others in: at least one person has died that way.

If the alcohol or drugs you've consumed may impair your ability to swim or climb out, don't enter the water, even on a rubber tube. Remember whisky buckets can be deceptively strong and their effects can kick in very quickly.

The river current is strong in many places - even the stone-cold sober should avoid sapping their strength by swimming against it. It should be easy enough to swim across to shallower water instead.

Drugs
Historically accepted drugs, such as marijuana, mushrooms and opium are freely available in many bars and restaurants around town. The majority of bars have "magic menus" offering most of these drugs. Consuming them on the premises is fairly safe, although drugs are illegal in Laos and nothing is totally safe.

Yaa-baa (ยาบ้า), the Thai/Lao name for a narcotic made of methamphetamine and caffeine, is available in pill and smokeable forms. It used to be legal in Thailand as a way for long-haul truckers to stay awake. Yaa-baa is highly addictive. Manufactured locally, the drug can be cut with any number of substances.

Aside from the drugs already mentioned it is inadvisable to attempt to purchase any other substances not freely available on the magic menus around town. The dangers of most drugs should be well known to travellers, and additionally there is also a police presence. Plain-clothed policemen frequently take unsuspecting tourists to the local police station for smoking a joint. The usual outcome of this involves having your passport seized until you cough up a hefty "fine", typically between 3-5 million kip. Once the fine is paid, however, the matter is generally taken no further and the passport returned. But the punishment will depend on the officer you are dealing with. Several local policemen are best friends and drinking buddies with restauranteurs who sell opium, mushrooms, cannabis and yaa-baa. Customers are not harassed at these establishments. The police wait until they leave. Some of these same cops own guesthouses near the island. Never surrender your passport if you can help it, and often the best way out of the situation is simply to pay.

Medical issues
A minor annoyance around Vang Vieng (referred to by locals and long-time residents as the "Vang Vieng plague") is conjunctivitis, or pink eye. This is a viral, and sometimes bacterial, infection which can be caught from the river or other tubers. The onset of conjunctivitis is often felt as fatigue, and inability to fully open your eyes. If you sense this, or have been sharing buckets with people with conjunctivitis or wearing sunglasses at night, the best thing to do is shell out for eye drops as soon as possible to prevent the onset. If this should happen late at night, be aware that eye drops alone should cost a maximum of 20,000 kip. Some of the late night pharmacies attempt to extort tourists, charging up to 5 times the normal price for eye drops.

As well as eye drops, general antibiotics are available from any pharmacy. In some cases eye drops will cause an intense stinging sensation, this can be soothed with an eye bath formula also available at pharmacies. Of course the sensible solution would be to rest your eyes and ease the drinking, but Vang Vieng's non-stop party atmosphere makes this a hard option for most. Should your conjunctivitis last longer than a week you should probably seek proper medical advice, and stop drinking all that Tiger Whisky to give your body time to heal.

Taxiboat
When tubing home late and its getting cold and dark, there are taxi boats who offer to take you home for a price of around 10,000 kip each. These boats will just take you to some place and stop there, refusing to continue. They tie up the boat, take away the engine and go away, waiting for you to get out and grab a waiting tuk-tuk for a high price back home, because they know that you are freezing and want to take back your tube. If you don't want to pay the tuk-tuk, the only way to get home is to walk.

Scams
It's common for places offering laundry service (priced per kg) to 'rig' their weighing scales so that your bag of dirty clothes suddenly weighs (and costs) twice as much or more!

Connect
Internet speed and reliability is variable but not bad by Laos standards. There are a few Internet cafes around town. Most guesthouses and restaurants now offer free Wi-Fi for their customers.

 * Pan's place, has good quality Internet
 * Sakura, has good quality Wi-Fi (20,000 kip minimum spend)

Go next

 * Luang Prabang and Vientiane are normally the next stop, depending on the direction you're heading.
 * Rent out a motorbike and venture into Xaisomboun Province
 * The adventurous can make their way Vientiane down the river by kayak. The trip should leave in the early morning, placing you in the capital by 18:00. For your belongings, dry bags are available or you can opt to place them in the accompanying van which will take them along and carry you at least part of the way. Expect to pay 170,000-220,000 kip
 * You can book trips all the way to Bangkok (via Vientiane) but since you'll change mode of transport (there are excellent sleeper trains running from the Thai border town of Nong Khai) at least once anyway it's just as easy to arrange this trip at your own pace.
 * Travel agents will be willing to book you to anywhere in Thailand, but expect some very long bus journeys and probably several bus changes.
 * Buses to Vietnam are notorious for taking even longer than expected and being a really unpleasant experience.

title: Vang Vieng


text:
Van Horn

Van Horn is in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. It is the county seat of Culbertson County.

By car

 * I-10.svg Van Horn is accessed between Exits 138 and 140A/B
 * Business_Loop_10.svg Broadway The old US Hwy 80 serves as a business route through Van Horn as Broadway between Exits 140B & 138 of I-10. Broadway (Old US Hwy 80) continues east past Exit 140B, alongside I-10, to Moon Rd at Exit 159. Historically US Hwy 80 passed through town between El Paso and Dallas.

 * US 90.svg Van Horn Dr goes south from Exit 140A of I-10 towards Marfa and Alpine . It begins/ends three blocks north of I-10 (Exit 140A) at its intersection with Broadway (BL-10/old US Hwy 80).
 * Texas 54.svg La Caverna St goes ( north from its intersection with Broadway, north of town, to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. TX-54 ends at its junction with US 62.svg north.

By plane

 * is a general aviation airport NE of town via FM-2185 and Airport Rd. The nearest airport for commercial flights is in El Paso  which is  west/northwest via I-10.

Go next

 * Guadalupe Mountains National Park north of town

title: Van Horn


text:
Vanimo

Vanimo is the capital of West Sepik, or Sandaun, province in the Sepik region of Papua New Guinea. You can travel overland to or from the neighbouring Indonesian province of Papua via Vanimo.

Understand
A Malaysian-owned forestry company dominates the town's economy. The local hardwood, kwila, is exported mainly to China, but is now in danger of extinction. Vanimo attracts lots of shoppers from the other side of the border and often comes close to running out of basic supplies.

By plane

 * Air Nuigini flies here from the nation's capital, Port Moresby, and from Wewak.

There are no scheduled flights from Indonesia, but a charter is possible to arrange.

By road
Vanimo is reached by a north coast road from Aitape and Wewak. Boats connect Vanimo to Aitape in 3h. Departure from Vanimo beach.

From Jayapura in Indonesia by road takes around 3 hours. Public transport services are available on both sides of the border. From Jayapura to the Indonesian border there are taxis (RP 200,000 per person / 2 Hours). In PNG, Public Motor Vehicles travel regularly the coast-hugging road between the Wutung border crossing and Vanimo (K10 / 50 mins).

Do
Vanimo is an increasingly popular surfing location. A short drive west of Vanimo finds surfing that is good from September to March, with breakers of up to 3 meters. But this is not an area for the inexperienced.

Drink
Coca-Cola

Sleep

 * Yako village. Bungalow accommodation is available for surfers.
 * Yako village. Bungalow accommodation is available for surfers.
 * Yako village. Bungalow accommodation is available for surfers.

Consulates

 * 🇮🇩 Indonesia

Go next
A side trip to Jayapura in the neighbouring Papua province of Indonesia is highly recommended. Indonesia has a consulate in Vanimo that will issue visas, usually within 24 hours.

title: Vanimo