For the most part Vancouver is a pretty safe city. The downtown area and tourist areas are generally quite safe, but like most cities there are always spots to avoid. Below is a list of safe, not so safe tourist sights.

Safe

• Stanley Park (parking lot car break-ins, don’t leave bags out in open)
• Canada Place
• Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Center
• Sunset Beach
• Chinatown
• Gastown
• Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden
• BC Place
• Yaletown
• Granville Island
• Robson & Burrard Street shopping
• Pacific Centre Mall

Not Safe

• Main St. & E. Hastings street (homeless, drug addicts, addiction center, mental illness center)
• Avoid the city of Surrey (most dangerous city in the Greater Vancouver Area) , if you are heading outside of Vancouver (gangs, violent crimes, robbery, shootings).

Like most metropolitan cities in the world there are homeless people that pan for money from people on the street, also there is purse snatchers…according to Vancouver police this happens 2-3 times a week, so hold or hide them purses.

Practice common sense safety precautions like look out for suspicious group of men (gangs), put your purse or wallet not accessible by pick-pockets and purse snatchers. Keep belongings in car hidden.

Make sure you know your driving route before putting car in gear, you don’t want to pull over somewhere where you can be robbed on the street (Surrey, BC). Go to gas station / restaurant or place of business if you need directions.

This is a beautiful attraction and great place for tourist and as well for locals to get away from the city to enjoy nature.  Capilano Suspension Bridge picture gallery.

As stated above the hotel is in a great location. You can also walk to downtown attractions and shops. It is also close to the subway station, which means you don’t need a cab from the airport, just take the subway right to near the Metropolitan hotel.

The Metropolitan was built in accordance to Feng Shui, which is a ancient Chinese art that ensures placement is in harmony with nature to achieve a positive energy flow. The lobby features golden Chinese Temple carvings plated with 24 kt. gold leafs. Black stone lions at the hotel entrance were shipped from an old Chinese temple. The lions guard against evil spirits.

If you are in Vancouver for business the Metropolitan hotel also offers 7,600 sq. ft. of meeting, banquet and conference space designed to house anywhere from 10 to 250. The Metropolitan also had 197 luxurious hotel rooms and suites with spacious marble washrooms, separate glass showers and soaker tubs.

The bathrooms are well designed and large with marble everywhere. There is a separate glassed-in shower as well as a tub. The large mirror over the sink is well lit and there is a stool so getting ready or putting on your make up is a breeze.

The regular rooms have two twin beds but the suites have a king size bed. Though the regular rooms are small, the beds have comfortable down duvets to make up for small room size. As for missing that important phone call, don’t worry all rooms have 3 telephones. Mini bar, coffee maker and bath robes are all standard and a newspaper is left outside your room each morning.

For dining there is a great restaurant in the Metropolitan Vancouver it is called “Diva at the Met” and it features Vancouver’s finest cuisine, celebrated Chef’s Table and distinguished wine cellar.

Close by is the Pacific Centre shopping complex that is partially underground. This large shopping centre is directly across the street of the Metropolitan hotel. Other attractions close by are the Art Gallery and trendy Robson Street shopping which is only a few blocks away.

Amenities:

• Pet Friendly
• Business Center,
• Dining
• Fitness Center
• Internet Access
• Meeting Rooms
• Parking
• Pool
• Room Service

General Information:
Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver
Address: 645 HOWE STREET
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6C2Y9

Prices start at $245. (CDN) for a standard twin bed room.

1. Visit the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver

2. Window shop at Vancouver’s best shopping areas

3. Mountain biking in the North Shore
4. People watch in Vancouver neighbourhoods
5. Visit the Christ Church Cathedral

6. Go celeb-spotting

7. Tour Vancouver’s art and other museums
8. Watch the cruise ships go by at Dundarave Pier
9. Hang out at UBC (University of British Columbia)
10. Richmond Night Market

11. Wander around Lynn Canyon

12. Tour Vancouver’s Olympic venues

13. Play disc golf at Queen Elizabeth Park

14. Take a scenic drive

15. Watch the water at Lonsdale Quay

16. Visit the beach (Wreck Beach)

Pacific Centre Information and Location

701 West Georgia St., Vancouver (on the corner of Georgia and Howe, adjacent to Robson St. and the Vancouver Art Gallery).

I the middle of downtown, Pacific Centre is Vancouver’s top tier fashion shopping destination with stores like Holt Renfrew, Harry Rosen, MaxMara, Hugo Boss, Hollister, Sephora, Apple, Coach, Browns Shoes, Atmosphere/Sport Chek, the Four Seasons Hotel and many more.

For visitors and tourist to Vancouver, the Pacific Centre has a promotion, if you spend $200 or more at Pacific Centre retailers and you will receive a Special Gift while quantities last. Make sure to visit the Guest Services desk first to make sure the promotion is valid during your visit and conclude with your day’s receipts at the Guest Services desk to receive your gift.

Pacific Centre Mall Directory – Over 100 Shops and Services

Name   Phone Number   Category

• A & W (604) 689-1133 Fast Food
• Al Dubrulle International Culi (604) 738-3155 Services
• Aldo & Aldo Accessories (604) 683-5640 Footwear, Fashion Accessories
• American Eagle Outfitters (604) 687-6324 Ladies Apparel, Men’s Apparel, Unisex Apparel
• Ann-Louise Jewellers (604) 669-1433 Jewellery
• Apple (778) 373-1800 Electronics, Computers and Telephones
• 
• Aritzia (604) 681-7363 Ladies Apparel
• Autoplan (604) 684-3298 Services
• Banana Republic (604) 688-1630 Unisex Apparel
• Bath & Body Works (604) 678-8745 Health and Beauty
• BCBG Max Azria (604) 638-0655 Ladies Apparel
• bebe (604) 605-0301 Ladies Apparel
• Bell (604) 408-3433 Electronics, Computers and Telephones
• Bench (778) 783-1135 Unisex Apparel
• Black’s (604) 684-2467 Photography & Photo Equipment
• Blenz Coffee (604) 639-7676 Specialty Food
• Blue Ruby (604) 693-3118 Fashion Accessories, Jewellery
• Body Shop, The (604) 687-2744 Health and Beauty
• Bose (604) 678-8877 Electronics, Computers and Telephones
• Browns (604) 632-0102 Footwear
• C & K World (604) 694-0097 Fashion Accessories
• Canada Post Corporation (604) 685-5276 General, Variety & Lottery
• Charmed Designs (604) 893-8798 Fashion Accessories
• Club Monaco (604) 687-5550 Ladies Apparel
• Coach (604) 681-9943 Leather & Luggage
• Crabtree & Evelyn (604) 678-8810 Health and Beauty
• Dairy Queen / Orange Julius (604) 632-9540 Fast Food
• EB Games (604) 682-7738 Electronics, Computers and Telephones
• Ermenegildo Zegna (604) 683-6861 Men’s Apparel
• Eyes Inspire Eyewear (604) 688-7765 Personal Care & Health Service
• Flaming Wok (604) 688-6533 Fast Food
• Gap, The (604) 682-5503 Unisex Apparel
• Geox (604) 669-6433 Footwear
• Guess?/Guess? Accessories (604) 683-3946 Unisex Apparel
• H & M (604) 692-0308 Unisex Apparel
• Harry Rosen (604) 683-6861 Men’s Apparel
• Hollister (604) 685-6558 Unisex Apparel
• Holt Renfrew (604) 681-3121 Fashion Dept. Store
• Insalata (604) 669-0268 Fast Food
• Jacob Ladies Apparel
• Jolie Madame, La (604) 669-1831 Specialty Apparel
• Joneve Shoes (604) 687-3132 Footwear
• Judith & Charles (604) 696-0402 Ladies Apparel
• Jugo Juice (604) 605-3315 Specialty Food
• Jugo Juice (604) 682-8716 Specialty Food
• Juicy Couture (604) 632-4402 Ladies Apparel
• Kernels (604) 688-8104 Specialty Food
• Koya Japan (604) 684-5692 Fast Food
• La Prep (604) 688-6896 Fast Food
• La Senza (604) 685-2380 Specialty Apparel
• La Swiss (604) 682-3088 Jewellery
• Le Chateau (604) 669-6565 Unisex Apparel
• Locale (604) 684-0031 Footwear
• MaxMara (604) 257-2372 Ladies Apparel
• Mexx (604) 687-6399 Unisex Apparel
• Michael Kors (604) 630-2323 Ladies Apparel
• Miss Sixty/Energie (604) 683-6698 Unisex Apparel
• Moneysworth & Best (604) 408-9188 Services
• New York Fries (604) 681-4930 Fast Food
• Nine West (604) 899-9406 Footwear
• Opa Souvlaki (604) 646-0456 Fast Food
• Pacific Centre Dental Group (604) 669-1016 Services
• Pacific Centre Lottery Centre (604) 689-1422 General, Variety & Lottery
• Pacific Pen Shop (604) 682-3084 Cards, Stationery and Gifts
• Purdy’s Chocolates (604) 683-3467 Specialty Food
• Quizno’s (604) 682-0558 Fast Food
• Rogers Plus (604) 801-5292 Electronics, Computers and Telephones
• RW & Co. (604) 685-5432 Unisex Apparel, Men’s Apparel, Ladies Apparel
• Sears (604) 685-7112 Dept. Stores and Supermarkets
• Sephora (778) 331-3942 Health and Beauty
• SGH Sunglass Hut (604) 683-4064 Fashion Accessories
• Shefield & Sons (604) 682-8715 Books and News
• Shefield & Sons (604) 687-4202 Books and News
• Siba Jewellers (604) 689-9608 Jewellery
• Skechers (604) 646-2777 Footwear
• Snowflakes (604) 685-2230 Ladies Apparel
• Sony (604) 637-0889 Electronics, Computers and Telephones
• SportChek/Atmosphere (604) 687-7668 Sporting Goods & Athleticwear
• Starbucks Specialty Food
• Stitch International (604) 689-2429 Services
• Stuart Weitzman (604) 646-0550 Footwear
• Taco Time (604) 408-1833 Fast Food
• Take Five Café (604) 697-9060 Specialty Food
• TD Canada Trust
• Telus (604) 688-8255 Electronics, Computers and Telephones
• Thai Express (604) 682-8038 Fast Food
• Tim Hortons Donuts Fast Food, Restaurants
• Timeco (604) 689-8463 Jewellery
• Tip Top Tailors Men’s Apparel
• Town Shoes (604) 696-9815 Footwear
• UMI Sushi Express (604) 633-9228 Fast Food
• Vina (604) 682-8016 Fast Food
• Walk With Ronsons (604) 682-0795 Footwear
• WirelessWave (604) 873-9283 Electronics, Computers and Telephones
• Zennkai (778) 371-9229 Services

Pacific Centre Mall Hours
Mon & Tues: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wed to Fri: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sun: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Statutory Holidays: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Address:
701 West Georgia St
Vancouver, BC
V7Y 1G5

Contact:
Guest Services
(604) 688-7235

List of regions / suburbs around Vancouver city:

• West Vancouver
• North Vancouver
• The District of North Vancouver
• Burnaby
• Richmond (where the international airport is located)
• New Westminister
• Surrey
• Delta
• White Rock
• The City of Langley
• Coquitlam
• Port Coquitlam
• Port Moody
• Anmore
• Pitt Meadows
• Mapleridge
• The Univeristy Endowment Lands (UBC / U.E.L)

Note: Delta, Surrey and the Township of Langley share part of their borders with the U.S. State of Washington.

The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is open daily. On Saturday evenings there are viewing of differenct Planetarium production, micro-lecture plus you can always visit to the observatory.

History of the Space Centre

The H.R. MacMillan Planetarium opened for business on October 28, 1968, it was a gift from lumber tycoon H.R. MacMillan to the residents of Vancouver. Space exploration during the 1960s was starting and intrigued H.R. MacMillan who wanted to provide a centre for the people of his day and future generations to learn about space.

At opening the H.R MacMillan centre just had the Planetarium Theatre and they added the exhibit gallery and new theatre in 1997. The Space Centre transformed over the year into the resource for the community as it is known today to provide learning about space for everyone.

The unique look of the H.R MacMillan Space Centre was designed by architect Gerald Hamilton, and it is today one of most original and recognized buildings in Vancouver. The roof of the building may look like a space craft, but is was really made to look at the hats that the native people of that region wore (Haida people). When it opened in 1968, the H.R MacMillan Space Centre has shared the building with the Museum of Vancouver.

Name Changes Over The Years
1968 H.R. MacMillan Planetarium
1997 Pacific Space Centre
2000 H.R. MacMillan Space Centre

Address: 1100 Chestnut Street
Vancouver, BC
V6J 3J9

The Vancouver Aquarium promotes conservation of aquatic life through education, research, display ,interpretation,and direct action. The Aquarium is home to over 70,000 amazing animals.

Each year 80,000 kids from school are educated about aquatic life through the Vancouver Aquarium school programs. Since 1956 there have been more than 35,000,000 people have visited the Aquarium both tourist and locals and the Aquarium’s 20,000 member-households represent a total of 55,000 people who support the Aquarium.

The Vancouver Aquarium is open to visitors from around the world 365 days a year and can be easily found because it is located in Stanley Park, Vancouver’s most popular park.

Admissions, programs, groups, membership, retail operations, and food services is where most of the operating revenue comes from but the Aquarium’s also accepts charitable contributions, donations and restricted grants to fund its operation. The Aquarium formed the Vancouver Aquarium Conservation Foundation in 1997 to manage endowment funds to support the Aquarium’s education, marine science, animal care and conservation programs for years to come.

Make sure to visit Vancouver Aquarium during your stay in Vancouver if you love ocean wildlife and also consider making a donation while you are there.

During the Ming dynasty, scholars and intellectuals of that time, lived and worked in their garden, sharing these inspiring spaces with friends and family of all ages. The scholar’s garden was filled with positive energy, but also offered serene moments for reflection on life.

History

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden Society began in 1981 and is a not-for-profit organization with the aim to be a bridge of understanding and enhance relationship between Chinese and Western cultures as well to promote Chinese culture generally and be a vital part of the local community.

The Garden recieves its funding from all levels of Canadian government, private individuals, corporations and the Chinese government. The Garden was built in 1985-1986 using the time tested fundamental techniques used by the original Ming dynasty garden. Fifty-two master craftsmen from Suzhou China working with Canadian builders, completed this landscaping masterpiece in a year. The detailed hallways and walkways were constructed with precision craftsmanship, joining the components without the use of nails, screws or glue. The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden opened for visitors on April 24, 1986.

The Sun Yat-Sen Garden was built using the principle of collaborative design, in which the Garden goes well and compliments the public park close to it; improving the view in both places. For the architect, the botanist, the student of history, the lover of beauty, the Garden provides insights into the subtle wonders to be found within the walls of this living treasure.

Who was Dr. Sun Yat-Sen

Known as the “Father of Modern China,” Dr. Sun Yat-Sen is recognized for his central role in the history of modern China where he sought to bring democratic rule in the early 20th century. He visited Vancouver three times to fund-raise in support of the revolution.

Born into a peasant family in Guangdong Province in 1866, he was educated in Hawaii exposing him to Western thought at an early age. Later, he left his medical career to devote himself to the cause of democracy. As China’s first professional revolutionary, he traveled the world promoting the pro-democracy movement and raising funds.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen is credited with leading the 1911 revolution that finally overthrew the Qing dynasty. He became the first president of the Republic of China in 1912, but resigned shortly after to devote his efforts to the economic development of China. Since his death in 1925, Dr. Sun Yat -Sen’s persona has evolved into a heroic symbol of modern China. He is known as Guo Fu, the Father of the Country.

As you cross the Capilano suspension bridge you will hear sounds of nature, see beautiful gardens skirt and colourful totem poles. You will also see First Nations legends chiseled into cedar. The Capilano Suspension Bridge will provide you with a sense of peacefulness from the West Coast rainforest surroudings.

The reason why the Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of Vancouver, British Columbia’s most famous tourist attractions is because there are lots of things to see and do onsite. It is not far from downtown Vancouver, Capilano Suspension Bridge and area provides history, adventure and culture making this Vancouver tourist spot a complete British Columbia experience and should make your short list of things to do in Vancouver, BC.

Bilt over a hundred years ago in 1889, the Capilano Suspension Bridge measures 450 feet (137m) across and 230 feet (70m) high above Capilano River. Since 1889 alot of other attractions has added to the 27 acre park. In addition to the bridge there are also gift shops with lots of quality merchandise from all over Canada and great homemade fudge. But wait there are also lots of other activities and attractions, see below.

Other Activities:

Treetops Adventure:
Treetops Adventure is the first venue of its kind in North America, offering a squirrel’s eye view of a thriving coastal forest. Visitors venture from one magnificent Douglas fir tree to another on a series of elevated suspension bridges, some reaching as high as 100 feet (30m) above the forest floor.

Story Centre:
You’re one of the Capilano Tramps, those early adventurers who made the long “tramp” to Capilano Suspension Bridge. Today visitors to Capilano Suspension Bridge can pose with the Tramps before they begin their walk through the Story Centre. Life-size photomurals, artifacts and antiques together with “voices from the past” and informative flipbooks chronicle the early history of the Bridge and the development of Vancouver.

Totem Park:
Part of Capilano’s captivating story involves the tradition of placing totem (story) poles on the grounds at Capilano Suspension Bridge. In the 1930′s Mac MacEachran invited local First Nations to place their story poles in the park, adding a First Nations theme. Those colourful poles are maintained in the exact condition in which they were received and are on display in the Totem Park.

Kia’ Palano:
Get a glimpse into the lives of BC’s First Nations people at Kia’palano, our First Nations’ Cultural Center, as they share stories of their heritage and the historical connection between their culture and the natural world. Traditional weaving and beadwork is also demonstrated through the day.

The Rain Forest:

The delicate Temperate West Coast Rainforest ecosystem is visually presented on large panels interpreting the Forest Floor, the Rainforest Canopy, Geology at the Edge and the Spirit of the Rainforest. Complimentary guided tours are
offered hourly year round and every half hour in the summer months. Visitors are well informed for their stroll through the rainforest, past tranquil trout ponds and majestic evergreens.