Travel Adventure Guide to Vancouver, BC

Having the chance to go to another country is always a fascinating experience. That’s the reason I gladly accepted an invitation to see a relative in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where I spent 30 days as an urban explorer absorbing the natural coastal environment, neighborhood Canadian history, culture, and laid back urban lifestyle. The British Columbia state is a gorgeous, breathtaking, and amazing place to experience.

Why Canada?

As a young kid growing up in Detroit, Michigan, I vividly remember taking random Saturday morning excursions with my Grandmother and older brother over the Ambassador Bridge or through the Detroit-Windsor tunnel to Ontario. From what I recall, the excursions were shopping expeditions in the farmer’s markets, and we would spend a few hours over there and then travel back home with products in hand, snacking on various fruits and pastries. While quite memorable good times, that was a long long time ago and the notion of seeing Canada and investigating from an adult perspective was quite intriguing and appealing.

World-Class City

Should you ever want to go to Canada, definitely put Vancouver on your global travel list? It’s quickly becoming a world-class must-see city. In 2010, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) – for the eighth time – picked Vancouver as the world’s”Most Liveable City,” and four decades after, Trip Advisor honored Vancouver as a popular tourist destination with its Travelers’ Choice award, and Travel & Leisure Magazine’s World’s Best Awards named Vancouver as a top-rated Canadian city.

Urban Growth

Regionally, Metro Vancouver has a population of 2.4 million during 24 municipalities and the growth target is expected to welcome 1 million new residents by 2020. Possibly the growth was bolstered by the up-trending economic landscape and booming real estate market in Vancouver, which no doubt, was helped when the city hosted the XXI Olympic Winter Games in 2010. Throughout the Games, the City of Vancouver attracted more than 3 billion attendees and nearly 2 billion viewers through multi-media stations, according to the International Olympic Committee Vancouver’s 2011 Fact and Figures. It was during this time, that Vancouver enlarged its SkyTrain system in preparation for the 2010 Games.

Best Way To Travel in Vancouver

As a visitor, the most convenient way to travel across the City is to the SkyTrain, a light rapid transit system operated by TransLink. I was able to travel everywhere I wanted to go with easy access to the bus system if this was required. Traveling from the SkyTrain is a really common transportation mode for Vancouver residents. During peak hours, the price is $2.75 for a 90-minute time cap traveling one zone with extra cost for additional zones. As an example, if I wished to travel downtown and spend a few hours, which is two zones from Burnaby, BC, where my Aunt resides, it’d cost me roundtrip $8. After 6 pm and on the weekends, the one-time fare is $2.75 with a 90-minute time cap. It can become quite pricey and needs you to plan out your trip. When I bought a pack of 10 tickets, I saved about a $1 per round trip. I know a monthly pass offers unlimited travel and costs about $90 to $170 depending on the number of zones needed to travel. Additionally, there are discounts for seniors and students which makes it affordable to travel across the city.

This is just basic information on my travels to Vancouver but enough to help you start to plan your travels, including why trip and how to get around when you are there. I’ll share in a different article about areas I visited and the way I had fun at a really expensive coastal city on an unemployed woman’s meager budget.

How Planning Overseas Adventure Travel Vacation Ideas

Overseas adventure travel can either be the worst or the best experience in your lifetime. It all comes down to preparation. But planning an overseas trip can be a massive task so understanding what you need is vital. This is the bird’s eye view to planning your adventure trip.

1. A couple of years ahead: Get an idea of your budget.

That sounds like lots of time to spend planning an experience abroad but setting aside enough capital takes time. Unless you’re independently wealthy, you should begin saving for your trip a couple of years in advance. Based on the destination and length of your trip, you are in for a huge expense.

2. One and a half years ahead: Determine your dates and destination.

Here is where it gets fun. You get to plan where you are going and when. ‘Where’ might not be a lot of questions since you might have had a lifelong desire to visit the Himalayas or any other exotic destination. Narrowing the range of your journey is now your job. What do you wish to accomplish? What do you wish to see or do? Most of all, when do you want to go? Grab a sheet of paper, your calendar, and begin planning. During this phase, you will likely want to do a great deal of Internet research on traveling businesses, trip groups, and other adventure travel agencies. These associations will be best suited to help you select and plan for your dream trip.

3. 1 year ahead: Book your trip, secure your passport, and get your shots.

As soon as you’ve made all those decisions about your experience overseas, you will want to nail down everything. In this phase, narrow down your list of favorite agencies, research, and contact them to explore overseas experiences in detail. This is the time to begin getting your hands on what you want such as buying your tickets and reserving the trip. If you don’t have a U.S. passport, don’t delay this important step. Processing times for passports are notoriously lengthy. Additionally, getting your shots shouldn’t be delayed. Because of the nature of the immunization, some have an incubation period. Others, however, may stay valid for six to nine months. Check to see which shots you will need and make your plans accordingly.

4. Ten months ahead: Buy equipment.

Unless you’ll be embarking on a tennis-shoes-and-shorts-only excursion, you will need to get your gear together. Starting now provides you the opportunity to explore outfitters and what’s available online for those things you will want to take. Experienced travelers will most likely let you pack less clothing and more money you think you require. No matter your travel adventure trip, you’ll certainly want comfy walking shoes.

5. Six months to six days beforehand: Review itinerary, study destination, confirm travel plans, and try to be patient.

When your trip is only a month or two or days ahead, you will likely still have a great deal of last-minute detail intending to do. Now you may wish to brush up and refresh your memory about what you have researched about where you are going. Thankfully, the majority of the work is behind you, and the delight of your overseas adventure journey lies ahead.