VANCOUVER, "HOLLYWOOD NORTH"

BY Clay Larroy

Traveling is the kind of activity, which almost all the people love. For someone it is an opportunity to relax and abstract from everyday busy life. For others it is interesting to observe the way people of other cultures and mentality live. Some people consider it to be the best way to have fun and always try to visit as many clubs, pubs, restaurants and cafes as possible for their wallets and time limits. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Vancouver Island

Dubbed Canada's 'Paradise on the Pacific', Vancouver Island is an exquisite combination of dense rainforest, pristine coastline, rugged mountains, glittering glaciers and crystalline lakes and rivers, all within an easy distance from the mainland of British Columbia.

The island is 285 miles (460km) long and 50 miles (80km) wide, with the Vancouver Island Ranges running down most of the island's length, dividing it into a drier, undulant east coast and a wetter, rockier west coast. The rugged west coast (known as the Pacific Rim) is littered with bays, inlets and fjords and boasts beautiful landscapes and a diversity of wildlife, making it a popular spot for tourists, who come to indulge in hiking, fishing, kayaking with Orcas, whale watching and more. This area does, however, receive some of the heaviest precipitation in the world and visitors should plan activities around the possibility of heavy storms in winter and plenty of rain year-round.

Inland, one finds dozens of lakes (the largest of which is Kennedy Lake), and dominating the central part of the island is the popular Strathcona Provincial Park, home to the island's glaciers, including the largest, the Comox Glacier, as well an abundance of birds and wildlife that includes Roosevelt Elk, bears, cougars and wolves.

There are two ski resorts on Vancouver Island: Mount Washington in the central part of the island, and the smaller Mount Cain to the north. Mount Washington offers a range of downhill, cross-country, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and winter camping opportunities, while Mount Cain is community-owned and offers a less commercial experience away from the crowds.

Victoria, on the southern tip of the island, is the capital of British Columbia, and home to just less than 50 percent of the island's population. The city is a major tourist destination and visitors flock to enjoy its many sights and sounds, including the Legislative Buildings, The Empress Hotel, Craigdarroch Castle, and the famous Butchart Gardens. Vancouver Island is well worth a visit and with so much to see and do, one could never claim to be bored.

Travel to Vancouver Island

Climate for Vancouver Island Vancouver Island has a temperate climate, and is in fact the mildest place in the country, with temperatures modified by the currents and winds of the Pacific Ocean. Summers, between June and August, are warm and sunny, and winters, between December and February, are temperate, though the Pacific Rim (the west coast of the island) receives the most precipitation in North America and can be battered by strong winds. The average temperature on Vancouver Island in summer is about 70°F to 80°F (21°C to 27°C), with temperatures cooling in the evenings, while the average temperature in winter is just below 32°F (0°C). Snowfall occurs in winter, though more so in the higher altitudes and the east coast. November, December and January are the wettest months, which is worth taking into consideration when travelling to Vancouver Island.

Health Notes when travelling to Canada No vaccinations are necessary for travel to Canada. Medical care is excellent, but expensive, so medical insurance is advised.

Safety Notes when travelling to Canada most visits to Canada are trouble-free. The country is politically stable, but does share the common international risk of terrorism. There have been no recent terrorism events. The crime rate is low, but travelers are advised to take sensible precautions to safeguard their belongings, as they would anywhere. Canada is prone to tornadoes between May and September.

Customs in Canada

Smoking bans have been implemented in Canada in enclosed public places such as restaurants, bars and shopping malls.

Duty Free in Canada

Travelers to Canada are allowed to enter the country with the following items without incurring custom duties: gifts to the value of C$60 per recipient (excluding advertising material, tobacco and alcoholic beverages); 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or cigarillos and 200g of tobacco or 200 tobacco sticks; 1.14 litres of liquor or wine or 24 x 355ml bottles or cans of beer or ale. There are strict regulations governing the import of the following: explosives, endangered animal and plant species, items of heritage, fresh foodstuffs and weapons. The plant Qhat (Khat) is illegal in Canada and prison sentences are heavy.

Getting around in Vancouver Island 
Vancouver Island is easy to negotiate and there are several transportation options. Ferry services operate from both Vancouver and neighboring Washington State in the USA, as well as between points on the island and the neighboring Gulf Islands. Scheduled flights by major airlines, as well as helicopter and floatplane services, are also available. There is a rail service between several island communities along the east coast, from Victoria to Courtenay, and the island's highway connects all major points and has loops to scenic marine-side highways.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

I love just how beautiful Vancouver is. I mean, everywhere you look it's just mountains and ocean. 

Emma Bell 

Travel to experience memories that will last a lifetime!