It is Canada's third largest city, surrounded by the waters of the Strait of Georgia and flanked by the dramatic Coast Mountains. Blessed with a mild climate, Vancouver is a city of beaches, great views, outdoor restaurants, a vigorous artistic scene, and a lifestyle which often makes permanent residents out of visitors. Just over 100 years old, Vancouver was the home of several Native settlements before Spanish explorer Jose Narvaez anchored off Point Grey in July 1791. Captain George Vancouver charted Burrard Inlet and then made rendezvous with Spanish captains Galiano and Valdes on June 21, 1792. Vancouver is now a young, modern city, based on its large port facility, and its role as the financial center for Western Canada.
Tourism is a very large industry in Vancouver.
The central visitor infocentre is at the corner of Burrard and Hastings Streets, in downtown Vancouver, close to the waterfront and several major hotels, and to the main shopping district which is a few blocks north. Other smaller infocentres are located on the major highways leading into Vancouver. One of the best ways to get to know Vancouver is by taking a guided bus tour to get your bearings. This long- established tour operator has basic daily tours that last 2 hours, with longer tours available. Getting Around Vancouver Vancouver is surrounded by water and bridges are a basic fact of life in the area, although traffic jams are rare, outside of rush hours.