By Fred Delkin

Three decades ago we learned how many active delights one can pack into a quick sojourn in Vancouver, B.C., one of our planet’s most rewarding cities and within easy reach of other Pacific Northwest areas. We took a city bus to the base of the Grouse Mountain ski lift tramway coinciding with its 8 a.m. opening and rented boards to enjoy a slope that overlooks an inspiring panorama of Vancouver’s waterfront. We lunched at the ski lodge, then returned to the city and the edge of Stanley Park, where we rented a kayak and took an afternoon paddling tour of an action-packed harbor. 

There are three ski areas (the first two on city bus routes) ...Grouse,  Mount Cypress and Mount Seymour, with sufficient elevation to gather a snow cover from December through March. Your family spring vacation can include world-class dining, particularly exploring Asian food. Vancouver has the largest Asian community in North America, and Japanese and Chinese cuisines here rival the best in their homelands. Seafood is also non pareil here. A visit to the Granville Island market unveils the spectacular range of native foodstuffs and challenges the diversidty of Seattle’s Pike Place market.

Coincide your trip with the March 14-18 CelticFest festival that fills downtown with art displays, live music and dance and a notable St. Patrick’s Day parade on Sunday, March 18. The Vancouver Art Gallery has just unveiled an Olympic Countdown clock which shows the remaining days, hours, minutes and seconds to the opening ceremony for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games to be staged in Vancouver environs (note: it’s still too early to confirm lodging bookings during this international extravaganza).

Detailed information on all the delights of this more than worthy destination can be found at http://www.tourismvancouver.com

© 2007 Oregon Magazine