Some people holiday in Vancouver to escape the stress of work, some go for the wide-open spaces, the sandy beaches, majestic rainforest and rugged West Coast mountains. Some take the family eager to visit the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, Science World and the Kids Only market. Still others go to take pleasure in international entertainment, delicious cuisine and some of the best and most diverse shopping around. What’s your reason?
Making Vancouver among the most liveable in the world is 18 km of beaches surrounding the city, and a walker's paradise right in the heart, 400 hectares of woodlands, gardens, flowers, trails, lakes, benches and wildlife. If you’re a shopping junkie searching for designer labels or kitsch; pottery mugs or expensive jewellery; artisan handcrafts, antiquarian books, Italian shoes or organic green tea-Vancouver has got it all covered. And Vancouver's restaurant scene has exploded in the past few years offering world-class cuisine from every corner of the globe.
The Vancouver Aquarium, Canada’s largest, is an unforgettable attraction for the whole family. Here the kids can take a Beluga Encounter where they’ll get to touch the whales and feed them a fishy treat. The Kids Market on Granville Island should keep the tackers quiet for a while. Housed in an old factory this family-friendly is chockers with activities and attractions designed purely for kids.
Vancouver is Mecca for the boating enthusiast with its stunning coastline and endless waterways, and anglers will be in seventh heaven. For golfers, Vancouver’s golfing season lasts at least eight months of the year, the longest season in Canada. For the adrenaline junkie, many thrilling outdoor activities abound; skiing, snowboarding, ice and inline skating, world-class bike trails, swimming, beachcombing and hiking are just a few.
For more subdued pursuits, theatre is a major cultural activity in Vancouver. Having an exciting variety of annual festivals and celebrations, as well as a dazzling line-up of performing arts will enhance your stay in Vancouver.
Vancouver fun facts
Vancouver is Canada's third largest city
The Vancouver Aquarium's boardroom has a glass wall onto a whale enclosure
The longest and highest suspended footbridge in the world, spans 137m across the Capilano River canyon at a height of 70m
Oahu, Hawaii
Friday 3rd September 2010
Travel Counsellor: Sylvia Paggiaro
My trip to Hawaii began with my Qantas Flight from Brisbane to Sydney and a connecting Qantas international flight arriving in Honolulu. Luggage was never a problem as I had checked this in from Brisbane and not seen again until collected in Honolulu.
This was a familiarisation trip with a small group of my fellow Travel Counsellors. It was an incredible experience hosted by Qantas Holidays. The warmth and hospitality shown to us by the Hawaiian suppliers made our stay even more memorable.
My first impressions of Hawaii as we were being transferred to our hotel was, just how BLUE the Pacific Ocean is. With the white soft sands of Waikiki and the azure ocean, the water was inviting!
Our first evening we headed to Germaine's Luau (included a buffet dinner and Polynesian Show). It was a perfect beach location. The rolling waves and balmy breeze mixed with great company, good food and great entertainment, made this a fun evening.
Other activies to include would be to visit Pearl... view full story
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