Snow’s a comin’, and that means Vancouver is on the radar for the globally minded outdoorsman.

The essence of Vancouver cannot be grouped by the city’s nightlife, the wild outdoor action or the sheer beauty which lends its backdrop as the Canadian Rockies. Vancouver is whole, natural, wild, yet somehow manages to be extremely modern, quaint and business-minded at the same time. In a word — divine.

Arrivals
Who says Canucks are boringly clean and efficient? These qualities create a welcome experience arriving at YVR – Vancouver International Airport. A taxi to town will hardly cost you a maple leaf, but the bus or train are so efficient, the short distance would hardly be a nuisance. If you are headed just beyond Vancouver to play, getting to Whistler-Blackcomb couldn’t be easier or faster straight from YVR, but you'll need a car or 4x4.

Head for the Hills
Pack ‘rugged chic’ and make your statement in Vancouver’s best sport attraction: Whistler-Blackcomb. The hottest resort north-side of Sun Valley is a short hour and a half drive north of the city. The Fjord-like landscape will take you along the water, through gorges and maybe past a whale or two before you head up the canyon. Winter offers the best of! …skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, spa, dining and for the wild child in all of us, radical inner-tubing. The large and lovely Fairmont is an obvious place to stay at the foot of Whistler mountain, but serious luxury is to be experienced at the Four Seasons Resort. For the perfect hot chocolate, head downstairs to the restaurant Fifty Two 80 Bistro and on your way, discover a secret fireplace spot good for canoodling. British Columbia is sensational in winter, but, summer is also a winner.

Closer to Vancouver, Grouse Mountain and Cypress Mountain are two resorts to check out. The slopes are open late. If you like hiking, pay a visit to “The Grouse Grind” at Grouse Mountain, a demanding hike to the top of the mountain.

Hospitality
In town, try a stay at the Fairmont Waterfront. Close to downtown where city life meets the wild Pacific northwest, it offers stunning views over the water.

For a more intimate experience, the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa is a leading luxurious Vancouver boutique hotel. Located in the gardens and waterfalls of Robson Square in the heart of Vancouver’s downtown core, the Wedgewood has become a landmark. The hotel has received numerous awards over the years, both for its Bacchus Bar & Restaurant.
The Opus Hotel is a boutique hotel for the smart modernist, and features a Great Dane licking you on arrival. It is located in trendy Yaletown and features the popular Opus Bar, and Elixir.

Activities
Stanley Park is an evergreen oasis of 400 hectares close to the downtown core. Its natural west coast atmosphere fosters a back drop of majestic cedar, hemlock and fir trees, transporting visitors to an environment rich in tranquility. In summer go biking, in winter try snowshoeing! The park abounds in wildlife, but leave the guns at home, stopping instead to admire the towering native North American totem poles on offer.

A visit to Vancouver would not be complete without hitting one of many native North American Indian art galleries. An excellent gallery is Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery, which just opened for winter 2008 an exhibition on the Inuit, Maori, and tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Popular art themes are bronze totems and other symbolic art native art forms shown on canvas, in carved wood, bringing together the cultures and customs of these Pacific peoples.
Vancouver’s main tourist attraction is Gastown’s steam clock on the corner of Cambie and Water Streets. Still working and still working on steam, this is an old world charmer. The more adventurous may try the whale watching via zodiac. Journey to Steveston, a charming fishing village located just south of the city at the mouth of the Fraser River. Whale-watching tours travel through the Fraser River Delta, Strait of Georgia and/or Gulf Islands.

Working up an appetite
After all that adventure, let's eat! Two words: Asian and fish.
The Eatery on West Broadway is not a traditional sushi restaurant, as it is known to be the funkiest place for Japanese food. Offering a 16 page menu with over 100 items to choose from, so that there’s something for everyone, no matter how diverse or conservative your taste may be. For sushi from an old Vancouver institution don’t miss Tojos on Main Street, its well know for having the best Japanese around and a large lofty modern setting. Their new organic restaurant Motomachi Shokudo is also worth a visit.

Trafalgar's Bistro is a warm & welcoming French bistro. It’s a perfect place for a romantic evening out, or just to get together with family and friends, with an unpretentious feeling. The menu is considered true bistro fare, but with eclectic international influences. The portion sizes are not disappointing and the prices are reasonable for an upscale/casual-style restaurant.
Vancouver boasts some of the best Asian food outside of Asia itself. For Dim Sum to die for and the best seafood restaurant in Vancouver rock up to Sun Sui Wah on Main Street. For happening sophisticated casual dining with a great atmosphere check out Nu. Sunday Jazz, beautiful flavours in a great setting right on Granville: you can’t really beat that.

Tipple at: Ginger Sixty Two. Its intimate and sexy. This Granville lounge club is for a chic upper-crust Vancouver crowd, offering indulgent 60s decor with plush furnishings. Even sexier is Bacchus Lounge in the Wedgewood Hotel. The lounge of this boutique hotel transports you to a Venetian era with a carved limestone fireplace, and gold silk & burgundy velvet fabrics and sultry Venetian ceiling lighting. The lounge is home to the liveliest cocktail hour in the city. Tea is also served.
Cru, meaning raw in French, is a smallish lounge cum restaurant. So stop in for a drink and pick from their delicious tapas style menu of light dishes from seafood to carpaccio. For beers, its the Cascade Room. This part of Main Street was once Vancouver’s Brewery Creek, their finest of which was the flagship: ‘Cascade’ named “The Beer without Peer’.
With the Olympics right around the corner, now is the time to see Vancouver, before the crowds rush in for winter 2009/2010. Cosy people and an intimate feeling make the city fun, and you can’t beat the ordered cleanliness of the city.

Stan Stalnaker is the founder and creative director of Hub Culture Ltd., a movement with a suite of activities focused on content development, private social networks and global experiences. He can be contacted at stan.stalnaker@hubculture.com.