Rated as one of the 10 best convention cities in North America, Vancouver is also beautiful, clean and friendly. Vancouver is British Columbia's largest city and is home to North America's largest urban park, and diverse cultural and recreational attractions.

The city lies on a peninsula, with the water, mountains, and skyscrapers creating a dramatic skyline. To the west, Vancouver and the Canadian mainland are separated by Vancouver Island by English Bay and the Strait of Georgia. Beyond Vancouver lie coniferous and rain forests, mountains, and breathtaking scenery.

Vancouver's attraction isn't limited to natural beauty though: the city boasts a thriving television and film industry; sports teams; world-class museums; orchestras; and operatic, theatrical and dance companies. In the downtown area, you will find a flourishing Chinatown, as well as Italian, Greek, and Japanese influences.

Vancouver was originally inhabited by the Salish people: skilled carpenters, canoe-makers and artists. During the late 18th Century, Spanish and British explorers came to British Columbia and began colonization. In 1792, Captain George Vancouver claimed the land for Britain. In 1827, the Hudson's Bay Company set up a fur-trading post at Fort Langley, 48km east of present-day Vancouver. Fort Langley was the first white settlement in BC; however, it was kept free of homesteaders out of the desire to protect the lucrative fur trade. Major colonization began in 1858, following the Fraser River and Cariboo gold rushes. In 1862, three British prospectors bought some land on Burrard Inlet and started a brickworks. By 1867, this had been replaced by the Hastings Sawmill and a shantytown of bars, known as Gastown. In 1869, Gastown became incorporated as the town of Granville.

1884 marks the official birth of the city of Vancouver; the Canadian Pacific Railway decided to make the city the terminus of Canada's transcontinental railway. The town of Granville was renamed Vancouver in 1886.

Modern day Vancouver encompasses 44 square miles and has a population of 521,048 (1.8 million for Greater Vancouver). It is characterized by a mild--although frequently wet--climate. Average daily highs range from 5°C in January, to 23°C in July, and 14°C in October. The telephone area code for Vancouver is 604, and the city is situated in the Pacific time zone.

From Vancouver, you can visit Whistler Resort--one of North America's top ski resorts--or British Columbia's capital, Victoria.