Vancouver, its residents
are fond of saying, is one of the
few cities in the world where you
can go skiing and sailing on the same
day. How remarkable, then, that it
should also be one of the few where,
sitting outside a Neapolitan cafe,
you can eavesdrop on an impassioned
argument in Hungarian and see graffiti
in Khmer. Most major cities have a
mixed heritage, yet few can claim
to have attracted a more diverse cross
section of humanity than Vancouver.
The city seems living proof that a
benign environment will produce an
easygoing disposition.
In the summer months,
Whistler offers a bounty of activities
- the varied terrain of the Vancouver,
Coast and Mountains region accommodates
every outdoor recreation known to
man, including alpine sightseeing,
mountain biking, hiking, horseback
riding, backcountry tours and world-class
golfing, too.
Whistler
The
resort destination of Whistler is
nestled below the Whistler and Blackcomb
Mountains in the Whistler Valley,
north of Vancouver, British Columbia.
In recognition of its world-class
status as a ski resort, the cosmopolitan
Village of Whistler will co-host
the 2010 Winter Olympic Games with
Vancouver. Enchanting Whistler continues
to be the fastest-growing municipality
in BC, and has been recognized as
the Top Ski Resort in North America
for the past decade.
Victoria
There is a rich diversity
of landscapes within the cool Mediterranean
climate of the region, ranging from
the Douglas fir forests along the
coast to the drier, exposed conditions
of the higher, rockier elevations,
which support arbutus (madrona) and
Garry oak forests. Victorians display
their love for the natural world by
cultivating flower gardens at every
turn.
As you'd imagine
in a region where a large urban
population interacts with such a
delightful natural tableau, a vast
network of walking, hiking, and
biking routes leads through the
many parks with which the city is
blessed.