In Vancouver, it seems everyone you meet is from somewhere else.

Info Available Online
Through a number of web sites, you can get up-to-date information on everything I'll tell you here. MyBC.com has online yellow pages with search engines and maps including ways to generate directions.
Vancouver.hm is another great resource.
You don't need me for this!

Geography
Vancouver is the largest city in the province of British Columbia, on the West coast of Canada. Within easy reach of world class skiing at Whistler Blackcomb as well as some of the best climbing and hiking anywhere.

Accommodation
Depending on what you're planning on doing after you arrive, there are a couple of hostels in the Downtown area, as well as in North Vancouver.

Downtown, we have the Cambie International Hostel. Or, just outside of the downtown core is C&N Backpacker's Hostel. You'll also find the International Youth Hostel at Jerico Beach. 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 this one.)

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
Loads of places to change money all over the downtown area, and at the Airport. Visa/MC are accepted widely, and Plus and Cirrus System debit cards also useful everywhere.

We're just getting used to the sun again after an unusually wet winter and spring.

Hiking
Hikers and backpackers will not like the outlook for mountain weather this summer. This winter we had double the normal snow pack in the mountains and June was very cool (There was snow on July 1st at one of the local mountains).

The coolish temperatures saved us from flooding but killed any mountaineering for this summer. There is just no way this stuff will all melt by the fall. If you're planning on doing any hiking beyond the normal day-trips into the north shore mountains, be prepared for snow.

Summer Events
Snowy mountains notwithstanding, its summer everywhere else and with that comes the usual annual summer events.

August 1st, Gay Pride Parade. Quite the spectacle, if you're anywhere near the West End (west end of downtown) be sure to stop and watch.

Symphony of Fire
Annual fireworks competition will be held throughout August. A different country puts on a fireworks display set to music. Several hundred thousand watch from all over the lower mainland. The stage is a barge in English Bay, typically, roads and public transit are overwhelmed, so be patient if you're on either side of the bay that night, you'll be going nowhere fast before and after the shows. The first show is Saturday, July 31, and the Wednesday and Saturday for the first couple of weeks of August.

Granville Street is still trying to revive the 'Theater District' feel it had in the 50's. The Vogue and Orpheum theaters will have anything from the Vancouver Symphony to the Violent Femmes as well as drama and dance productions.

Kitsilano (aka Kits) is another area with an abundance of places to see. The Kings Head Pub and the Urban Well are a couple of places to check out for food and drink. The Jerico Hostel is in the area and there's always Kits Beach.

It's Summer! Head out to Wreck Beach, clothing optional. Aside from nudity, a blind eye is turned to other stuff as well. An interesting place.

Arts/Music Scene
The live music scene in Vancouver oscillates between awesome and really mediocre, but there's always something. The band Ween is here August 2nd. Click here to see what else is goin' on.

Once you're here, grab a copy of The Georgia Straight. It's a tabloid style newspaper you can pick up free all over the place. Check here to see what's going on as far as live music and theater go. The live music scene in Vancouver this summer has been pretty good. Clubs in the downtown East side like The Columbia Hotel, and The Brickyard are great for live hard rock bands playing their own music. The Starfish Room on Homer Street is another good venue.

The Outdoors
Just north of the city is the Pacific Coast mountain range. You can take public transit to the edge of the forest and start walking up any of hundreds of well marked hiking trails. Grab a copy of a book called 103 Hikes in Southwestern British Columbia by Macaree and Macaree once you get here. There are also opportunities to go sea kayaking out of English Bay, or Deep Cove. Do a little search of the yellow pages to get a map and phone number.

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our North America Insiders page.