Things To Do In Vancouver When It Rains.

The number one suggestion would be to open your umbrella as rain falls on average for 165 days of the year. And supposedly, for 260 days, the sun makes an appearance. But the sun can also hibernate for months on end, which might well explain why Vancouver is lush with vegetation. What remains consistent throughout however is that Vancouver is a favorite destination and the 10.3 million tourists who visit each year second that opinion.

Vancouver, in British Columbia's lower mainland, is an ethnically and linguistically diverse metropolitan city. Various stat counters consistently vote it into the Top 5 for the best places to live, and it is a driving factor for the high population density. Everyone wants to live in this vibrant city that has it all: mountains, ocean, vegetation and it’s accessible to enjoy.

Christened Vancouver in 1886 for Royal Navy Captain George Vancouver, the city shares its name with Vancouver, Washington, in honor of the same person. Though confusion still exists, Vancouver is on the mainland and not on Vancouver Island (Victoria). Aboriginals can trace their roots back to this delta for 8-10 thousand years; its seemingly perfect location still draws a crowd today.

As a natural seaport on the Pacific, Vancouver is a favorite stop for cruise ships heading to Alaska. In 1969, Greenpeace established its foothold in the city now known for its environmentally green voice--a reputation that Vancouver cherishes and strives to protect. The city recently hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics with much success. They welcomed the 1954 Commonwealth Games and the 1986 Expo, events that also shaped this city's reputation for excellence.

It is ranked as one of Canada's most expensive places to live, tangoing with Toronto for that distinction. Depending on whichever statistics and guidelines are measured to calculate these findings, Vancouver wins the heart of many based on its superb location, fantastic scenery, and enviable climate. Beauty, after all, is in the eye of the beholder. In 2019, Vancouver earned third place for a city ripe with the elements to qualify for the status of the highest quality of living. Forbes rated the city as 4th most expensive real estate with average home prices at 1.3 million dollars. (Comp: Calgary is CAD 443,000, Toronto CAD 1 million, and Montreal at CAD 470,000)

Home to world-famous Stanley Park, of Hockey's Stanley Cup fame, Vancouverites can enjoy this unique outdoor venue year-round. The city is classified as one of Canada's warmest cities after Victoria, Nanaimo, and Duncan (on Vancouver Island) due to its oceanic climate. It is also one of the wettest cities and enjoys cooler average summer temperatures.

Notable places to visit in Vancouver are Stanley Park, the Lagoon within the park, and the 700-800-year-old hollow Western Red Cedar. Historic Gastown is right next door to Vancouver's downtown core and is easily accessible via Skytrain and bus services and is a mecca for foodies.
The Steam Clock, built in antique style, is located at 305 Water Street and draws a crowd eager to hear its whistle blow. Hotel Europe (1908-1909) is a six-story flatiron style heritage building that may be familiar as it starred in The Legends of The Fall. (Filmed in Alberta and BC.)

Of course, there is a mall; Metropolis at Metrotown in Burnaby is a four-story, 400 store mall complex. Granville Island/peninsula is a haven for artists, breweries, and a public market that sells everything from fresh produce to handicrafts and art.

The aquarium in Stanley Park dedicates itself to aquatic life conservation, and visitors can enjoy a hands-on experience with marine life. And the giant silver disco ball anchored on the shore of False Creek is nonother but Science World, a geodesic dome filled with interactive components for the entire family to enjoy and comes complete with a 3-D cinema. The Museum of Anthropology at Point Grey is home to a vast collection of First Nation art and experiences. While Queen Elizabeth Park is not as famous as its rival, Stanley Park, it offers spectacular scenery and vistas of the cityscape and mountains that the city prides itself on. And on those rainy days, QE Park is home to an indoor tropical garden.

But at its core, what sells Vancouver is that it has this old soul feeling yet it is vibrant and adaptable, multicultural, and artsy. What is undeniable is that an electric current runs through the veins of the city and snaps with an energetic vibe that is hard to duplicate.

Interesting stat comparison from www.numbeo.com (try it out on your city for fun).


Consumer Prices in Vancouver are 0.24% lower than in Toronto
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Vancouver are 1.10% lower than in Toronto
Rent Prices in Vancouver are 2.44% lower than in Toronto
Restaurant Prices in Vancouver are 12.41% lower than in Toronto
Groceries Prices in Vancouver are 15.88% higher than in Toronto
Local Purchasing Power in Vancouver is 11.06% higher than in Toronto