Travel: My Vancouver
For sports enthusiasts, wine lovers and locavores alike, this buzzing Canadian city has it all, says resident Kurtis Kolt
Kurtis Kolt picks out the hotspots
PERChED oN ThE west coast of Canada and a mere 30-minute drive north of the US border, Vancouver is the city I call home.It’s an easy city to be attracted to: cradled by mountains, lots of beaches and green spaces, and a moderate climate, which sees our winters rainy, rather than freezing and snowy like most other parts of the country.
Snow indeed falls on our local North Shore mountains ( www.vancouversnorthshore.com), where snowboarding and other winter sports can be enjoyed a scenic half-hour drive from downtown. Much has been said about the ease of skiing in the morning, being back in the city to sail or kayak in the afternoon, with enough time to do a quick change and hit the town for dinner and drinks by early evening.
The latter is more my style – though I am one of many residents who may be seen toting a yoga mat around town, or spotted zipping around the city’s bike lanes.
Fortunately, for those like me who are less inclined to paddle and more inclined to tipple, Vancouver offers a wealth of drinking and dining adventures. As expected in any coastal city, fresh fish and seafood dominate menus. Salmon, halibut, oysters and prawns are staples, and inexpensive sushi is an easily accessible delight. ‘Local, seasonal, organic’ is a mantra with steady refrain; British Columbia produce commands lots of focus in eateries, including an increasing number catering to the many vegetarian locals and visitors.
The sun shines bright through most of our spring, summer and autumn seasons. That, coupled with a lack of motorways crossing through town (a North American rarity for a city our size) has made Vancouver very walkable. Most enjoyable is strolling the seawall that surrounds downtown (including Stanley Park), and runs along the edge of numerous neighbourhoods and beaches. While it may sound touristy, it’s a well-worn path by locals for both leisurely wanderings and daily commutes.
of course, for many visitors, it’s all about the wine. While Vancouver’s retail shops and restaurants offer a wide array from regions spanning the globe, it’s wine produced right here in British Columbia that dominates many lists and store shelves.
Though there are vines growing and wines produced on various islands off the coast and on the outskirts of Vancouver, a four-hour drive east will bring visitors to the okanagan Valley, where almost 90% of BC vineyards are planted. Running north to south with okanagan Lake in its centre, the mineral-rich soils and diurnal temperature shifts allow for wines of complexity and natural acidity.
In the north, where Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are acclaimed, average temperatures are similar to Marlborough in New Zealand, whereas in the desert-like south – with more sunshine than California’s Napa Valley – we have Syrah, Viognier and Cabernet Franc garnering trophies worldwide. Visit www.winebc.com to plan your visit.