Rockies Grandeur and Alaska Inside Passage Cruise

Victoria, the capital of a province whose license plates brazenly label it “The Best Place on Earth,” is a walkable, livable seaside city of fragrant gardens, waterfront paths, engaging museums, and beautifully restored 19th-century architecture. In summer, the Inner Harbour—Victoria’s social and cultural center—buzzes with visiting yachts, horse-and-carriage rides, street entertainers, and excursion boats heading out to visit pods of friendly local whales. Yes, it might be a bit touristy, but Victoria’s good looks, gracious pace, and manageable size are instantly beguiling, especially if you stand back to admire the mountains and ocean beyond. At the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria dips slightly below the 49th parallel. That puts it farther south than most of Canada, giving it the mildest climate in the country, with virtually no snow and less than half the rain of Vancouver. The city’s geography, or at least its place names, can cause confusion. Just to clarify: the city of Victoria is on Vancouver Island (not Victoria Island). The city of Vancouver is on the British Columbia mainland, not on Vancouver Island. At any rate, that upstart city of Vancouver didn’t even exist in 1843 when Victoria, then called Fort Victoria, was founded as the westernmost trading post of the British-owned Hudson’s Bay Company. Victoria was the first European settlement on Vancouver Island, and in 1868 it became the capital of British Columbia. The British weren’t here alone, of course. The local First Nations people—the Songhees, the Saanich, and the Sooke—had already lived in the areas for thousands of years before anyone else arrived. Their art and culture are visible throughout southern Vancouver Island. You can see this in private and public galleries, in the totems at Thunderbird Park, in the striking collections at the Royal British Columbia Museum, and at the Quw’utsun’Cultural and Conference Centre in nearby Duncan. Spanish explorers were the first foreigners to explore the area, although they left little more than place names (Galiano Island and Cordova Bay, for example). The thousands of Chinese immigrants drawn by the gold rushes of the late 19th century had a much greater impact, founding Canada’s oldest Chinatown and adding an Asian influence that’s still quite pronounced in Victoria’s multicultural mix. Despite its role as the provincial capital, Victoria was largely eclipsed, economically, by Vancouver throughout the 20th century. This, as it turns out, was all to the good, helping to preserve Victoria’s historic downtown and keeping the city largely free of skyscrapers and highways. For much of the 20th century, Victoria was marketed to tourists as “The Most British City in Canada,” and it still has more than its share of Anglo-themed pubs, tea shops, and double-decker buses. These days, however, Victorians prefer to celebrate their combined indigenous, Asian, and European heritage, and the city’s stunning wilderness backdrop. Locals do often venture out for afternoon tea, but they’re just as likely to nosh on dim sum or tapas. Decades-old shops sell imported linens and tweeds, but newer upstarts offer local designs in hemp and organic cotton. And let’s not forget that fabric prevalent among locals: Gore-Tex. The outdoors is ever present here. You can hike, bike, kayak, sail, or whale-watch straight from the city center, and forests, beaches, offshore islands, and wilderness parklands lie just minutes away. A little farther afield, there’s surfing near Sooke, wine touring in the Cowichan Valley, and kayaking among the Gulf Islands.

Victoria, the capital of a province whose license plates brazenly label it “The Best Place on Earth,” is a walkable, livable seaside city of fragrant gardens, waterfront paths, engaging museums, and beautifully restored 19th-century architecture. In summer, the Inner Harbour—Victoria’s social and cultural center—buzzes with visiting yachts, horse-and-carriage rides, street entertainers, and excursion boats heading out to visit pods of friendly local whales. Yes, it might be a bit touristy, but Victoria’s good looks, gracious pace, and manageable size are instantly beguiling, especially if you stand back to admire the mountains and ocean beyond. At the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria dips slightly below the 49th parallel. That puts it farther south than most of Canada, giving it the mildest climate in the country, with virtually no snow and less than half the rain of Vancouver. The city’s geography, or at least its place names, can cause confusion. Just to clarify: the city of Victoria is on Vancouver Island (not Victoria Island). The city of Vancouver is on the British Columbia mainland, not on Vancouver Island. At any rate, that upstart city of Vancouver didn’t even exist in 1843 when Victoria, then called Fort Victoria, was founded as the westernmost trading post of the British-owned Hudson’s Bay Company. Victoria was the first European settlement on Vancouver Island, and in 1868 it became the capital of British Columbia. The British weren’t here alone, of course. The local First Nations people—the Songhees, the Saanich, and the Sooke—had already lived in the areas for thousands of years before anyone else arrived. Their art and culture are visible throughout southern Vancouver Island. You can see this in private and public galleries, in the totems at Thunderbird Park, in the striking collections at the Royal British Columbia Museum, and at the Quw’utsun’Cultural and Conference Centre in nearby Duncan. Spanish explorers were the first foreigners to explore the area, although they left little more than place names (Galiano Island and Cordova Bay, for example). The thousands of Chinese immigrants drawn by the gold rushes of the late 19th century had a much greater impact, founding Canada’s oldest Chinatown and adding an Asian influence that’s still quite pronounced in Victoria’s multicultural mix. Despite its role as the provincial capital, Victoria was largely eclipsed, economically, by Vancouver throughout the 20th century. This, as it turns out, was all to the good, helping to preserve Victoria’s historic downtown and keeping the city largely free of skyscrapers and highways. For much of the 20th century, Victoria was marketed to tourists as “The Most British City in Canada,” and it still has more than its share of Anglo-themed pubs, tea shops, and double-decker buses. These days, however, Victorians prefer to celebrate their combined indigenous, Asian, and European heritage, and the city’s stunning wilderness backdrop. Locals do often venture out for afternoon tea, but they’re just as likely to nosh on dim sum or tapas. Decades-old shops sell imported linens and tweeds, but newer upstarts offer local designs in hemp and organic cotton. And let’s not forget that fabric prevalent among locals: Gore-Tex. The outdoors is ever present here. You can hike, bike, kayak, sail, or whale-watch straight from the city center, and forests, beaches, offshore islands, and wilderness parklands lie just minutes away. A little farther afield, there’s surfing near Sooke, wine touring in the Cowichan Valley, and kayaking among the Gulf Islands.

Victoria, the capital of a province whose license plates brazenly label it “The Best Place on Earth,” is a walkable, livable seaside city of fragrant gardens, waterfront paths, engaging museums, and beautifully restored 19th-century architecture. In summer, the Inner Harbour—Victoria’s social and cultural center—buzzes with visiting yachts, horse-and-carriage rides, street entertainers, and excursion boats heading out to visit pods of friendly local whales. Yes, it might be a bit touristy, but Victoria’s good looks, gracious pace, and manageable size are instantly beguiling, especially if you stand back to admire the mountains and ocean beyond. At the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria dips slightly below the 49th parallel. That puts it farther south than most of Canada, giving it the mildest climate in the country, with virtually no snow and less than half the rain of Vancouver. The city’s geography, or at least its place names, can cause confusion. Just to clarify: the city of Victoria is on Vancouver Island (not Victoria Island). The city of Vancouver is on the British Columbia mainland, not on Vancouver Island. At any rate, that upstart city of Vancouver didn’t even exist in 1843 when Victoria, then called Fort Victoria, was founded as the westernmost trading post of the British-owned Hudson’s Bay Company. Victoria was the first European settlement on Vancouver Island, and in 1868 it became the capital of British Columbia. The British weren’t here alone, of course. The local First Nations people—the Songhees, the Saanich, and the Sooke—had already lived in the areas for thousands of years before anyone else arrived. Their art and culture are visible throughout southern Vancouver Island. You can see this in private and public galleries, in the totems at Thunderbird Park, in the striking collections at the Royal British Columbia Museum, and at the Quw’utsun’Cultural and Conference Centre in nearby Duncan. Spanish explorers were the first foreigners to explore the area, although they left little more than place names (Galiano Island and Cordova Bay, for example). The thousands of Chinese immigrants drawn by the gold rushes of the late 19th century had a much greater impact, founding Canada’s oldest Chinatown and adding an Asian influence that’s still quite pronounced in Victoria’s multicultural mix. Despite its role as the provincial capital, Victoria was largely eclipsed, economically, by Vancouver throughout the 20th century. This, as it turns out, was all to the good, helping to preserve Victoria’s historic downtown and keeping the city largely free of skyscrapers and highways. For much of the 20th century, Victoria was marketed to tourists as “The Most British City in Canada,” and it still has more than its share of Anglo-themed pubs, tea shops, and double-decker buses. These days, however, Victorians prefer to celebrate their combined indigenous, Asian, and European heritage, and the city’s stunning wilderness backdrop. Locals do often venture out for afternoon tea, but they’re just as likely to nosh on dim sum or tapas. Decades-old shops sell imported linens and tweeds, but newer upstarts offer local designs in hemp and organic cotton. And let’s not forget that fabric prevalent among locals: Gore-Tex. The outdoors is ever present here. You can hike, bike, kayak, sail, or whale-watch straight from the city center, and forests, beaches, offshore islands, and wilderness parklands lie just minutes away. A little farther afield, there’s surfing near Sooke, wine touring in the Cowichan Valley, and kayaking among the Gulf Islands.

After breakfast, drive north along Vancouver Island to Nanaimo. Board the BC Ferry and travel through the Georgia Strait to Horseshoe Bay. The views of the Coast Mountains rising above the water make for a striking crossing and a fitting introduction to the landscapes ahead. Journey inland along the Sea to Sky Highway as the road follows the rugged coastline with views of Horseshoe Bay on your left and forested parks and mountains on your right. Continue to Whistler Village, a lively alpine resort at the base of two world-class ski mountains.

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Peak 2 Peak Gondola (extra expense, pre-booking recommended)
The Peak 2 Peak Gondola connects Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, opening up an entire alpine world in a single day. Explore both summits, linked by a gondola crossing that spans over three kilometres of open sky. Few commutes anywhere in the world come close to matching it. On the other end, some of the finest high alpine terrain in North America is waiting.

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Whistler Tasting Tour (extra expense, pre-booking recommended)
Your guide leads you through Whistler Village on a leisurely evening stroll, stopping at four restaurants that locals actually rate. Four courses, plenty of local stories, blind wine tastings, and a poker twist that ties the whole night together in a way that feels far more like a great night out than an organised tour.

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Zip Lining Over Whistler Valley (extra expense, pre-booking recommended)
Soar above the valley between Whistler and Blackcomb on four thrilling ziplines, flying high over ancient forests and glacial creeks that stretch out far below. Lines range from gentle glides to full-speed flights, connected by suspension bridges, elevated boardwalks, and forest trails that are worth the visit on their own.

Overnight Stay: Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa or similar

Travel along the scenic Duffy Lake Road, where thick forest, turquoise lakes and winding mountain curves create one of British Columbia’s most memorable drives. Passing through the town of Lillooet, the landscape gradually shifts from coastal mountain terrain to the drier, more open scenery of the interior, offering a quietly dramatic contrast along the way. Continue into the picturesque Thompson Valley, where the North and South Thompson rivers meet, for your overnight stay. With its peaceful riverside setting and warm character, this region offers a relaxed pause during your journey.
Overnight Stay: South Thompson Inn or similar

Travel along the scenic Duffy Lake Road, where thick forest, turquoise lakes and winding mountain curves create one of British Columbia’s most memorable drives. Passing through the town of Lillooet, the landscape gradually shifts from coastal mountain terrain to the drier, more open scenery of the interior, offering a quietly dramatic contrast along the way. Continue into the picturesque Thompson Valley, where the North and South Thompson rivers meet, for your overnight stay. With its peaceful riverside setting and warm character, this region offers a relaxed pause during your journey.
Overnight Stay: South Thompson Inn or similar

Continue along the Trans-Canada Highway past Castle Mountain and Mount Temple to Lake Louise, the “Diamond in the Wilderness”, long celebrated for its striking alpine setting and historic place in Canada’s mountain story. Here you will have free time to stroll the lakeshore and take in the shifting shades of turquoise and jade. Continue to Emerald Lake for your overnight stay, named for the vivid colour of its glacier-fed waters, where the surrounding peaks and peaceful setting make it one of the most rewarding stops on your journey.
Two Night Stay: Emerald Lake Lodge or similar

Continue along the Trans-Canada Highway past Castle Mountain and Mount Temple to Lake Louise, the “Diamond in the Wilderness”, long celebrated for its striking alpine setting and historic place in Canada’s mountain story. Here you will have free time to stroll the lakeshore and take in the shifting shades of turquoise and jade. Continue to Emerald Lake for your overnight stay, named for the vivid colour of its glacier-fed waters, where the surrounding peaks and peaceful setting make it one of the most rewarding stops on your journey.
Two Night Stay: Emerald Lake Lodge or similar

Continue along the Trans-Canada Highway past Castle Mountain and Mount Temple to Lake Louise, the “Diamond in the Wilderness”, long celebrated for its striking alpine setting and historic place in Canada’s mountain story. Here you will have free time to stroll the lakeshore and take in the shifting shades of turquoise and jade. Continue to Emerald Lake for your overnight stay, named for the vivid colour of its glacier-fed waters, where the surrounding peaks and peaceful setting make it one of the most rewarding stops on your journey.
Two Night Stay: Emerald Lake Lodge or similar

This morning, we travel north along the Icefields Parkway. Stretching 230 kilometres between Banff and Jasper, it’s widely regarded as one of the great drives of the world. Enjoy dramatic mountain scenery as you pass rugged peaks and glaciers fringed by thick forest and shimmering lakes. Keep your eyes on the verges, elk, bighorn sheep, and the occasional bear are frequently spotted along this stretch of road. After this experience, you will return to Emerald Lake.

Included Excursion
Columbia Icefield & Ice Explorer
At the Columbia Icefield, board the Ice Explorer, a purpose-built glacier vehicle designed to travel safely onto the surface of the 300-metre-thick Athabasca Glacier. Standing on this ancient ice with the mountains rising around you is a remarkable way to appreciate the sheer scale and raw beauty of the Canadian Rockies.

As you leave Emerald Lake this morning, take a moment to admire the stunning glacial hues of Moraine Lake, nestled in the Valley of the Ten Peaks (accessible seasonally). Continue to Banff, where a sightseeing tour introduces the Bow River and Bow Falls. Framed by mountain scenery and located within Banff National Park, Banff is a charming town of boutique shops, galleries and café-lined streets.

Included Excursion
Upon your arrival in Banff, enjoy a sightseeing tour taking in Bow River and Bow Falls, two natural landmarks that capture the character of this mountain town. Fed by glacier melt high in the Rockies, the Bow River winds through Banff National Park and has long shaped both the landscape and the town itself, while Bow Falls is known for its broad, powerful rush of water and dramatic mountain setting.

Two Night Stay: Mount Royal Hotel or similar

As you leave Emerald Lake this morning, take a moment to admire the stunning glacial hues of Moraine Lake, nestled in the Valley of the Ten Peaks (accessible seasonally). Continue to Banff, where a sightseeing tour introduces the Bow River and Bow Falls. Framed by mountain scenery and located within Banff National Park, Banff is a charming town of boutique shops, galleries and café-lined streets.

Included Excursion
Upon your arrival in Banff, enjoy a sightseeing tour taking in Bow River and Bow Falls, two natural landmarks that capture the character of this mountain town. Fed by glacier melt high in the Rockies, the Bow River winds through Banff National Park and has long shaped both the landscape and the town itself, while Bow Falls is known for its broad, powerful rush of water and dramatic mountain setting.

Two Night Stay: Mount Royal Hotel or similar

Surrounded by soaring peaks and pine forests, the charming town of Banff invites you to slow down and take it all in, with a relaxed pace and striking scenery in every direction. Today, you can choose how you’d like to explore with a selection of four DiscoverMORE experiences, before coming together this evening for a memorable EmeraldPLUS experience.

EmeraldPLUS
This evening, ascend the Banff Gondola to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, where far-reaching views across Banff, the Bow Valley and the surrounding Rocky Mountains unfold around you. Then enjoy dinner at Sky Bistro, a striking mountaintop setting where locally inspired dishes are served alongside one of the most impressive outlooks in the region.

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Heli Flightseeing Banff (extra expense, pre-booking recommended)
Lift off and venture by helicopter into one of earth’s most dramatic mountain landscapes. Weave between the iconic Three Sisters Peaks as sheer rock faces rise around you, and the scale of the Canadian Rockies truly sinks in. Rugged peaks, glittering lakes, and untouched wilderness surround you on every side. Your return follows the winding Bow River, a breathtaking finale to an experience that cannot be replicated from the ground.

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Bow River Float Trip (extra expense, pre-booking recommended)
The Bow River runs straight through the heart of the Canadian Rockies, and there is no better way to take it all in than from the water. Just minutes from downtown Banff, climb onto your raft, and let the current carry you past towering peaks, wildflower banks, and gliding water birds. No experience needed, just a willingness to slow down and take it all in. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, but they have a habit of showing up.

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Discover Banff & Its Wildlife (extra expense, pre-booking recommended)
Banff is extraordinary from any angle, but the stories behind the scenery are what make it truly unforgettable. Wind through iconic heritage landmarks and sweeping mountain vistas by coach, uncovering the layered history of this World Heritage Site along the way. Keep your eyes on the treeline, wildlife has a way of appearing without warning, and it never gets old. End with a pause at a breathtaking viewpoint, hot chocolate and maple cookie in hand, as the scale of the Canadian Rockies properly sinks in.

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E-Bike & Hike Johnston Canyon (extra expense, pre-booking recommended)
Get out of town and into the Rockies on a guided e-bike tour. Ride past shimmering lakeshores and through mountain forest before trading the saddle for the trail at Banff’s most beloved canyon. Walk deeper into towering rock walls as the sound builds until the spectacular Lower Falls finally thunders into view, rounding out one of the most satisfying days the Rockies have to offer.

Set off on a two-day rail experience on the Rocky Mountaineer. Settle back in your SilverLeaf carriage (or choose to upgrade to GoldLeaf at additional expense) where oversized panoramic windows and attentive hosts ensure you don’t miss a moment of the unfolding scenery. As you travel west through the Canadian Rockies, take in ever-changing landscapes of dense forest, sweeping river bends and dramatic mountain ranges, including views of Mount Robson, Canada’s highest peak at 3,954 metres, whose imposing wall of rock and ice dominates the horizon on clear days.

From breakfast to lunch, enjoy freshly prepared, regionally inspired cuisine served at your seat, paired with a selection of premium beverages. All drinks are included, from wines, beers and spirits to soft drinks, coffee, tea and juices, allowing you to fully relax and savour the experience as the landscape transforms outside your window before arriving at your half-way point of Kamloops in the evening.
Overnight Stay: Hotel in Kamloops (assigned by Rocky Mountaineer)

Set off on a two-day rail experience on the Rocky Mountaineer. Settle back in your SilverLeaf carriage (or choose to upgrade to GoldLeaf at additional expense) where oversized panoramic windows and attentive hosts ensure you don’t miss a moment of the unfolding scenery. As you travel west through the Canadian Rockies, take in ever-changing landscapes of dense forest, sweeping river bends and dramatic mountain ranges, including views of Mount Robson, Canada’s highest peak at 3,954 metres, whose imposing wall of rock and ice dominates the horizon on clear days.

From breakfast to lunch, enjoy freshly prepared, regionally inspired cuisine served at your seat, paired with a selection of premium beverages. All drinks are included, from wines, beers and spirits to soft drinks, coffee, tea and juices, allowing you to fully relax and savour the experience as the landscape transforms outside your window before arriving at your half-way point of Kamloops in the evening.
Overnight Stay: Hotel in Kamloops (assigned by Rocky Mountaineer)

Juneau, Alaska’s capital and third-largest city, is on the North American mainland but can’t be reached by road. Bounded by steep mountains and water, the city’s geographic isolation and compact size make it much more akin to an island community such as Sitka than to other Alaskan urban centers, such as Fairbanks or Anchorage. Juneau is full of contrasts. Its dramatic hillside location and historic downtown buildings provide a frontier feeling, but the city’s cosmopolitan nature comes through in fine museums, noteworthy restaurants, and a literate and outdoorsy populace. The finest of the museums, the Alaska State Museum, is scheduled to reopen in May 2016 on its old site as the expanded Alaska State Library, Archives, and Museum (SLAM) following several years of planning and exhibit research. Another new facility, the Walter Soboleff Center, offers visitors a chance to learn about the indigenous cultures of Southeast Alaska–-Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. Other highlights include the Mt. Roberts Tramway, plenty of densely forested wilderness areas, quiet bays for sea kayaking, and even a famous drive-up glacier, Mendenhall Glacier. For goings-on, pick up the Juneau Empire (www.juneauempire.com), which keeps tabs on state politics, business, sports, and local news.

Located at the northern terminus of the Inside Passage, Skagway is a one-hour ferry ride from Haines. By road, however, the distance is 359 miles, as you have to take the Haines Highway up to Haines Junction, Yukon, then take the Alaska Highway 100 miles south to Whitehorse, and then drive a final 100 miles south on the Klondike Highway to Skagway. North-country folk call this sightseeing route the Golden Horseshoe or Golden Circle tour, because it passes a lot of gold-rush country in addition to spectacular lake, forest, and mountain scenery.The town is an amazingly preserved artifact from North America’s biggest, most-storied gold rush. Most of the downtown district forms part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, a unit of the National Park System dedicated to commemorating and interpreting the frenzied stampede of 1897 that extended to Dawson City in Canada’s Yukon.Nearly all the historic sights are within a few blocks of the cruise-ship and ferry dock, allowing visitors to meander through the town’s attractions at whatever pace they choose. Whether you’re disembarking from a cruise ship, a ferry, or a dusty automobile fresh from the Golden Circle, you’ll quickly discover that tourism is the lifeblood of this town. Unless you’re visiting in winter or hiking into the backcountry on the Chilkoot Trail, you aren’t likely to find a quiet Alaska experience around Skagway.

Located in Southeast Alaska, west of the capital city of Juneau, Glacier Bay is a beautiful National Park full of snow capped mountains, tidewater glaciers and wildlife. Experience wildlife in all its beauty from boat trips for whale watching and hiking through the trails of the Park. It is a protected area full of wonder to be explored.

Ketchikan is famous for its colorful totem poles, rainy skies, steep–as–San Francisco streets, and lush island setting. Some 13,500 people call the town home, and, in the summer, cruise ships crowd the shoreline, floatplanes depart noisily for Misty Fiords National Monument, and salmon-laden commercial fishing boats motor through Tongass Narrows. In the last decade Ketchikan’s rowdy, blue-collar heritage of logging and fishing has been softened by the loss of many timber-industry jobs and the dramatic rise of cruise-ship tourism. With some effort, though, visitors can still glimpse the rugged frontier spirit that once permeated this hardscrabble cannery town. Art lovers should make a beeline for Ketchikan: the arts community here is very active. Travelers in search of the perfect piece of Alaska art will find an incredible range of pieces to choose from.The town is at the foot of 3,000-foot Deer Mountain, near the southeastern corner of Revillagigedo (locals shorten it to Revilla) Island. Prior to the arrival of white miners and fishermen in 1885, the Tlingit used the site at the mouth of Ketchikan Creek as a summer fish camp. Gold discoveries just before the turn of the 20th century brought more immigrants, and valuable timber and commercial fishing resources spurred new industries. By the 1930s the town bragged that it was the “salmon-canning capital of the world.” You will still find some of Southeast’s best salmon fishing around here. Ketchikan is the first bite of Alaska that many travelers taste. Despite its imposing backdrop, hillside homes, and many staircases, the town is relatively easy to walk through. Favorite downtown stops include the Spruce Mill Development shops and Creek Street. A bit farther away you’ll find the Totem Heritage Center. Out of town (but included on most bus tours) are two longtime favorites: Totem Bight State Historical Park to the north and Saxman Totem Park to the south.

Vancouver is a delicious juxtaposition of urban sophistication and on-your-doorstep wilderness adventure. The mountains and seascape make the city an outdoor playground for hiking, skiing, kayaking, cycling, and sailing—and so much more—while the cuisine and arts scenes are equally diverse, reflecting the makeup of Vancouver’s ethnic (predominantly Asian) mosaic. Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most livable cities, and it’s easy for visitors to see why. It’s beautiful, it’s outdoorsy, and there’s a laidback West Coast vibe. On the one hand, there’s easy access to a variety of outdoor activities, a fabulous variety of beaches, and amazing parks. At the same time, the city has a multicultural vitality and cosmopolitan flair. The attraction is as much in the range of food choices—the fresh seafood and local produce are some of North America’s best—as it is in the museums, shopping, and nightlife.Vancouver’s landscaping also adds to the city’s walking appeal. In spring, flowerbeds spill over with tulips and daffodils while sea breezes scatter scented cherry blossoms throughout Downtown; in summer office workers take to the beaches, parks, and urban courtyards for picnic lunches and laptop meetings. More than 8 million visitors each year come to Vancouver, Canada’s third-largest metropolitan area. Because of its peninsula location, traffic flow is a contentious issue. Thankfully, Vancouver is wonderfully walkable, especially in the downtown core. The North Shore is a scoot across the harbor, and the rapid-transit system to Richmond and the airport means that staying in the more affordable ’burbs doesn’t have to be synonymous with sacrificing convenience. The mild climate, exquisite natural scenery, and relaxed outdoor lifestyle keep attracting residents, and the number of visitors is increasing for the same reasons. People often get their first glimpse of Vancouver when catching an Alaskan cruise, and many return at some point to spend more time here.