Vancouver
Vancouver is a wonderfully scenic region that has vacation opportunities everywhere you look. The dining is splendid, and the shopping and nightlife are abundant. There are a number of high quality stores, and friendly nightclubs and bars are plentiful. One of the most enjoyable spots in the city is the BC Sports Hall of Fame Museum. Here you can observe the history and highlights of athletics in British Columbia, while testing your own might by actually participating in sporting events. The result is a lively afternoon that is sure to capture your mind and heart. Other fine museums exist in the city as well, such as the Museum of Anthropology and the Vancouver Art Gallery.
When you aren't too busy visiting all of the exquisite galleries and museums, you should take some time to notice the intrinsic beauty of the area. The city has some dazzling spots that are amazing no matter what time of the year you may be visiting. The air is fresh and the view out to the sea is inspiring, making for a lovely experience as you stroll along the port. The skyscrapers and new age buildings provide a certain contrast to the sparkling waters and clear skies. The Vancouver Harbour Center in the downtown portion of the city overlooks the beach and the heart of the city, depending on which way you are facing. This rotating landmark demands comparison to the Space Needle in Seattle, except that it is much smaller. Nonetheless, it still provides an opportunity to observe the goings on of this spectacularly unique city.
Victoria
The landscape of British Columbia is as diverse as it is beautiful, and the west coast, home to glorious Victoria, is no exception. From beaches to mountains, exquisite parks to enchanting architectural sites, Victoria has it all. The museums in the city are marvelous, and the Royal British Columbia Museum, in particular, is outstanding, featuring an IMAX theater and incredible exhibits. The Maritime Museum illustrates the heralded maritime history of Victoria, and the model ship exhibit is fascinating. There are a number of spots in the city where nature has combined with the efforts of local residents to create some of the most amazing sites possible. The Butchart Gardens captivate all who visit, and Beacon Hill Park is a wondrous region that is adored by the entire community.
Victoria is a picturesque seaport that is the capital of the province and the highlight of beautiful Vancouver Island. Positioned ideally, and complemented by the lovely Pacific Ocean, Victoria enjoys a strong English influence, and its Victorian architecture only adds to the feeling. During the 19th century, it was a mighty port city that was a major English outpost. But in the 1880?s, when Vancouver was founded, England basically forgot all about Victoria. However, in the 20th century, and in the new millennium, we certainly cannot forget about this gorgeous city by the sea. With a pleasant climate and plenty of fabulous restaurants to keep you busy for days, Victoria is becoming a more popular vacation spot with each passing year.
Seattle
Seattle has exploded from a small West Coast town known for bad weather into a bustling powerhouse on the Pacific Rim known for espresso. The city of Pearl Jam and Frasier Crane has undergone quite a transformation over the last couple of decades. Starbucks and Microsoft have headquarters in the region, bringing jobs and prosperity with them. With growth comes headaches, of course, and Seattle has had its share. The city's infrastructure was not designed to hold so many people, and the same people who used to snicker at the traffic jams of New York and Los Angeles now find themselves in the same boat.
That's not to say that Seattle doesn't have a lot of other advantages. The city itself is positively beautiful, with lots of greenery. It's a perfect town for a walk, as long as it's not raining. Of course, Seattle also boasts of one of the more recognizable symbols in the world, the Space Needle. The view from the top is simply breathtaking.
Downtown Seattle is where you will probably spend most of your day. The area has undergone a renaissance, with new shops and restaurants opening up around every corner, seemingly every day. A gorgeous art museum and a new ballpark, Safeco Field, have helped to attract this sprawling city back inward. Pioneer Square, which used to be a ghost town, has become the hip place to be after hours.
Seattle has been able to combine a small-town neighborliness with all of the cultural advantages of a big city. This unique dichotomy has attracted more and more tourists, as well as more and more residents.
San Francisco
Whether or not you will leave your heart in this great city is debatable. However, what is not debatable is that you will enjoy countless wonderful experiences while in San Francisco, you will have a fabulous time, and you will be a better and more cultured person for it. The citizens of this incredible city are about as diverse as anywhere in the world. They have brought along with them their cultures, traditions, and cuisine. San Francisco could not be more open to every nation and heritage. This is exactly what makes San Francisco such an extraordinary place to visit. Everyone is welcome, and walking through the city, you will encounter tolerant and fascinating individuals, eager to help you on your travels.
The city has an old and esteemed history, becoming popular and really ballooning in size back in the Gold Rush days in the mid-19th century. Chinese immigrants flocked to this part of California, and Chinatown in San Francisco is one of the city's amazing cultural centers. The dining in Chinatown is authentic and delicious, as it is everywhere else in the city. Probably the best parts of the city are on the coast, as the glorious Pacific and Golden Gate Bridge paint a beautiful backdrop to this bustling center of commerce. Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square are some of the best sites found on the coast. Just off the coast, sitting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on its own rock, lies Alcatraz, a former penitentiary that can be visited by boat. There are a multitude of museums, activities, and sporting events to keep you busy during your stay. So grab a bowl of the best clam chowder around, and see the sights of this one-of-a-kind city.
San Diego
If you want the most fabulous and extensive collection of beaches in the United States, be certain to visit San Diego. Featuring seventy miles of glorious coastline, and pleasant temperatures all year, San Diego is a great place for tourists. Among many other activities, San Diego is a prime spot for swimming, windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking, bicycling, and skating. Balboa Park and three world-famous animal parks round out this magnificent city. The San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, and Sea World are all wildlife extravaganzas.
Over the past two decades, San Diego has exploded into a cultural mecca, filled with activities and tremendous diversity. Prior to that, this region had a reputation for being a quiet little Navy town. A huge naval base can be found in San Diego, and a lot of the military have their permanent homes in the city. But the influence of three major universities in the area has transformed San Diego into a lively town. The shopping, dining, and entertainment options expand exponentially annually, and there is no reason to think that this expansion will cease any time soon. In addition, San Diego is right near the Mexican border, and visitors often take a short side trip and venture south into Tijuana.
San Diego was the first city established in all of California, making it a rich center for state and national heritage. It is a significant region that should be recognized as such, and whenever tourists pass through, they appreciate its beauty and importance. In addition to the great beaches and pleasant dining establishments, a number of state-of-the-art facilities are springing up all over San Diego. Qualcomm Stadium is the home of the San Diego Chargers and the San Diego Padres. If you plan your trip to include a sporting event, you won't be disappointed.
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