Experience Vancouver and the Sea to Sky Highway
With a population of two and a quarter million people, Vancouver is the largest city in British Columbia (BC), and the western gateway to the mountain parks of BC and Alberta.
Vancouver is located at the southern end of the Sea of Sky Highway (#99), that heads north along the coast through Squamish and on to Whistler, Pemberton and beyond.
The Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is located about 25 minutes from downtown. It is Canada’s second busiest airport, and was named the “Best Airport in North America”.
In February of 2010, Vancouver and Whistler hosted the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games and they made all Canadians proud. Grouse Mountain was one of the Olympic venues and here you can see two grizzly bears in a wildwife refuge, soar high above the valley floor on a zipline, or enjoy a romantic dinner overlooking the city.
The view from the Capilano Suspension Bridge has thrilled visitors since 1889. Shop at the Trading Post, sample the cuisine, or attend at First Nations cultural experience. The Vancouver Aquarium, in Stanley Park, is home to over 70,000 fascinating creatures from the Arctic to the Amazon. Great family fun!
Squamish is an hour north of Vancouver, and 45 minutes from Whistler, Stawamus Chief Mountain, the granite monolith that towers over the city, is very popular with rock climbers. Squamish is also an ideal place for bird watching, river rafting, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, camping and swimming in one of the parks close by, such as Garibaldi Provincial Park (check out our web site for a map of Garibaldi and a terrific story about Phyllis Munday.)
Whistler is one of Canada’s Premier year-round destination resorts, consistently ranked as the #1 resort in North America by many popular ski magazines. The list of outdoor activities though is virtually endless; a list that includes champion golf courses designed by Palmer, Jones Jr., and Nicklaus.
The village at Whistler blends the charm of an alpine village with the amenities of an urban centre. Located just north of Whistler and a beautiful two and a half hour drive from Vancouver, Pemberton is nestled at the base of majestic Mt. Currie. Surrounded by provincial parks, opportunities for four-season outdoor recreation abound.
Pemberton first appeared on a map in 1859, as one of the supply stops that sprung up to service the tens of thousands of men and women in search of their dreams during the gold rush. Pemberton was then, and remains your gateway to adventure.
