When planning a trip abroad, many young students want to vacation in exciting cultural
places like parts of India, countries in Europe, or major cities in the U.S. For those looking for a refreshing
getaway, Vancouver is a little gem on the west coast of Canada that offers a lot of cultural diversity, beautiful places
to visit and exhilarating outdoor activities. Home to more than 200 ethnic groups, Vancouver’s population
is truly a mosaic of cultures. Approximately half of the city’s residents are “visible minorities,” with the Chinese population
being the largest. Vancouver has many distinct cultural neighborhoods such as Chinatown (the second largest in North
America), Punjabi Market, and Little Italy (AKA Commercial Drive).There are also many events and festivals that people can
participate in. In summer, people who love music and dancing can go salsa dancing at Robson Square. Don’t know how to
dance? No problem! Every week, they have free lessons taught by professional dance instructors. Night markets are also held
where people can find little treasures at hundreds of merchandise booths and indulge in mouth-watering food.
The colorful mix of cultures in the city makes finding affordable ethnic restaurants as easy as walking down any
major street. Commercial Drive is an excellent example. Along Commercial Drive there are many Italian restaurants,
but you can also find Salvadorian, Vietnamese, French, Ethiopian, Chinese, Japanese, and a plethora of other kinds of
restaurants. In addition to a broad range of types of food, the cost of food also varies widely. One can easily enjoy a bowl
of wonton noodles for less than five dollars or a plate of ninety-nine cent sushi. On the other hand, fine dining at any
one of the elegant restaurants on Robson can easily set you back a couple hundred dollars a head.
As anyone who has ever visited Vancouver would agree, it is absolutely a beautiful city. The coastal city boasts the
beauty of bodies of water which lead to the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Coast Mountains to another. There are many
fun activities people can enjoy while taking in the nature this city has to offer. For example, Stanley Park, the biggest park
in the city center, is popular for jogging, cycling, inline skating and walking. Inside the park, there are also a couple of eaches where people can relax by sun-bathing, having barbeques and swimming. If that isn’t enough, people can take pictures
in front of the First Nations totem poles or visit the Vancouver Aquarium to see beluga whales. In and around the
city, there are numerous other exciting activities like hiking at one of the local mountains. Only a ten minute drive from
downtown, Grouse Mountain has one of the most strenuous workout trails in the city. For people who like to sweat and
have a quick step-master workout, the Grouse Grind is a steep 1.8 km hike which ends with a breath-taking view over-looking
Greater Vancouver. Getting around the city can also be a good workout if people are into cycling. Cycling is huge in
Vancouver and it has become a healthy and efficient way to commute anywhere and everywhere. Take a step off the beaten path and try something new in
Vancouver. There aren’t many places where you can find such an incredible mix of diversity, great food and fun things to do.
For people who like immersing themselves in cultural experiences, trying new foods and enjoying the outdoors, Vancouver is the place.
