There is a wealth of touristic attractions to enjoy in Vancouver with something for everyone to enjoy and experience. There is a vibrant downtown atmosphere with numerous places to shop and dine. Vancouver has a blend of historic sectors like Gastown and young regions like Granville street. The recent Olympics have added to the places to visit with the building of the environmentally friendly Vancouver Convention Centre and the iconic Olympic torch. Vancouver's location on the Pacific Ocean has made it an environment rich in wildlife. The ocean itself is a touristic hotspot, with numerous beaches available for relaxing by the ocean and whale watching tours which offer an experience that is truly unique. There are many gardens and parks throughout Vancouver, including Stanley Park and the Queen Elizabeth Gardens. Grouse Mountain just north of Vancouver offers another completely different environment to explore.

In the downtown core itself is Gastown and Chinatown, historic centres of Vancouver are dotted with numerous shops and restaurants. A newer district of Vancouver is Granville St. of which the downtown portion is closed to traffic during the summer, here also many shops can be found and street performers add to a vibrant atmosphere.

Granville Island is located south along Seymour St. across the Granville bridge. A great place to visit, Granville island has many shops and galleries as well as a Public Market. It is possible to arrive or leave Granville Island by taking a sea taxi to Yaletown across the water.

A short ride on the number 19 bus will take tourists to Stanley Park and its famous Seawall which encircles the park. This forested near island park has several beaches, a freshwater pond, totem poles, bike trails in its interior, and the Vancouver Aquarium.

Taking the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay and then the number 236 bus will get you to the foot of Grouse Mountain. The top can be reached by the lift or the grueling Grouse Grind. At the top there is an amazing view, a large windmill for an even higher perch, and shows every few hours

For a lot more information and more places to visit the Tourism Vancouver website has a wealth of tourism and travel information.


Climate Information

Vancouver has a mild coastal climate. During September, rain is a possibility though sun is also frequent, but travelers should be prepared for both showers and sun. The temperature varies between an average low of 10.0 degrees Celsius and an average high of18.3 degrees Celsius. Its important to be prepared for heat during midday and afternoon and for slightly cooler morning and evenings. It may be useful to check the forecast before the conference to determine what kind of weather to pack for.

Depending on the type of attractions that you wish to visit in Vancouver, it may be necessary to bring appropriate attire, see the top of this page for information about things to do in Vancouver.