OK, so here’s the deal. I gave November a miss for a couple of personal reasons (Weekends were booked riding my new motorcycle 
), but there was really nothing going on. The weather finally turned into that icky period when hiking is less fun but it’s still too early for skiing. Prior to December, there were a couple of concerts and warm days but nothing to write home about.
Events in December
Well, let’s see, what’s happening in December, hmmm. I guess there’s always Christmas and New Years Eve! Planning these things needs to start now (Late November, early December), especially if you want to do anything for the Millennium.
New
Year’s Eve
The biggest thing here will be Kiss at BC Place Stadium, They’re putting the make-up on and putting on a show in the biggest indoor venue this side of skydive. Expect 40000+, I won’t be among them.
Personally, I’m planning on just hangin’ out downtown. I expect the party to spill out onto Granville Mall, and I’m gonna try to time midnight at Canada Place.
Concerts
This month, The Offspring are in town on December 14th, other than that, everyone else worth mentioning is saving it for New Year’s Eve. There looks to be a decent lineup in the clubs, so don’t overlook the smaller venues.
**Ticketmaster’s got a little schedule of events here, and there’s always the Georgia
Straight for the latest info.
The
Outdoors
Anyone in town who’s interested in some winter camping, send me a note. I’ve never been but I’m geared up and planning on doing a trip this year. Other
than that, the ski hills will be opening this month, so check them out.
(Here’s Whistler Blackcomb. The local hills won’t be cooking ’til January, but hit MyBC.com to get up-to-date info.)
Local
Air Transportation
Winter is not the best time to be in Vancouver. It’s cold, rains for days at a time, and it gets dark by 4:00pm! If you don’t mind cold, but can’t handle the gloom grab a flight to Calgary or into the interior of BC. Driving through mountain passes is dodgy at best, roads close regularly or require chains or four wheel drive.
WestJet is a charter airline that operates cheap flights all over Western Canada relatively cheaply. Call the number and book directly, it’s ticketless and they don’t deal with travel agents; you just call them with a credit card and show up at the airport with ID, done. The number is toll free 1-888-493-7853.
Another charter company for cheaper local flights is Canada3000. They also do international destinations as well, if perhaps you wanna head off to Las Vegas for the weekend? At least it’s warm there.
People
Watching Opportunities.
Robson and Denman Streets, a coffee shop called Bo Jangles; get a seat by the window on a weekend and watch people return the rental roller blades, or better yet, get their early enough and you’ll see them head off to the park for the first time on wheels! Nonstop entertainment for the sadistic among you.
Arts
/ Music Scene
The Commodore Ballroom is a classic room on Granville Street. A few years ago their lease came up and they closed. They’ve reopened under new management and are now a stop on the House of Blues tours. Check out what’s happening in the Straight when you get here.
Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our North America Insiders page.
General Info
Vancouver has one of the most beautiful natural settings of any city in the world. Because of this, it has become a destination for many immigrants and travelers.
I myself have only lived in Vancouver since ’94 and most of the locals you’ll meet here weren’t born here.
Info Available Online
Through a number of web sites, you can get up-to-date information
on everything I’ll tell you here.
Check out MyBC.com before you come out. Among other things, it has a searchable online yellow pages for tracking down phone numbers and securing accommodation if you’re coming in high season.
Vancouver.hm is another great resource.
Geography
Vancouver is the largest city in the province of British Columbia (BC). We’re on the West coast of Canada, within easy reach of skiing at Whistler Blackcomb as well as some of the best climbing and
hiking anywhere. Go here for a map.
Accommodation
Depending on what you’re planning on doing after you arrive, you may want to find a location Downtown, as well as in North Vancouver.
There are a few hostels in the downtown area and at least one in North Van. There is also a hostel in Kitsilano, at Jerico Beach – fairly convenient and generally a nicer area to live.
Just outside the downtown core is the C&N Backpacker’s Hostel. Check the online yellow pages for others.
Transport
Once again, you can get this information online. BC Transit operates a Ferry Service, Skytrain, city buses as well as the ‘Sea Bus’; basically a foot-traffic-only ferry between downtown and North Vancouver. You are allowed to take your bicycle on the Sea Bus.
Getting From the Airport
It is possible to take a city bus from the airport to where ever you
want to go for under $4, but that would require you to learn the bus system (my least favorite thing after a long flight). If you’re going downtown you can hop on a shuttle called ‘The Airporter’ and get off at a downtown hotel near where you want to go for about $10 one
way. There are also shuttles to Whistler and the Island; get your
tickets from the same place (Arrivals Level).
Money
Canadian dollar is the local currency. Figure about CAN$1.50 for US$1. There are loads of places to change money all over downtown, and at the Airport. Visa/MC are accepted widely and Plus and Cirrus system debit cards are also useful everywhere.
