Enhance your 33rd IAHR Congress experience in Vancouver by taking advantage of the incredible pre and post opportunities that Vancouver and British Columbia have to offer. Congress Technical Tours will take you to hot spots for hydropower and environmental issues facing the big rivers of the American Northwest.
All Pre and Post tours will be booked through West Coast Sightseeing.
West Coast's year round tours feature exciting sightseeing in Vancouver, Whistler and Victoria, as well as an expanding list of Special Tours. They have recently added "Garden Inspired Tours", Art, and Heritage packages to our Special Tours. The Special Tours are designed for smaller groups and individuals looking for the unusual. These unique tours include colorful Gardens, intriguing Native Culture, superior Galleries, Antiques and fabulous shopping sprees. They offer a wonderful experience. All their charter tours can be customized to suit your needs.
Click here to view the 2009-2010 West Coast Sightseeing Rate Sheet.
When you reserve your spot in a tour on-line at the "Book a Tour" page, the Promotional Code: iahr2009 can be placed in the Comments Section to receive a discounted group rate. Please use this code when accessing the above link to book a tour with West Coast Sightseeing. With groups of 15 or more people, all tours are 10% off. If, however, less than 15 people attend, a 10% discount can be applied if three tours are booked through West Coast Sightseeing. Please contact West Coast Sightseeing for more information at (604) 451-1600.
For additional Pre- & Post Attraction Tours, spend a few extra days in the area and explore the world renowned ski resort of Whistler, only a two hour drive away. The quaint city of Victoria on Vancouver Island is a picturesque two hour ferry journey to the west. Wine tours, exquisite dining and lakeside days await in the Okanagan Valley, BC’s internationally recognized wine region. Or, hop on a cruise ship from Vancouver harbor and sail up the BC coast to Alaska – a once in a lifetime experience that is not to be missed.
From Vancouver, a scenic 90-minute drive north along the Sea to Sky Highway leads to Whistler, North America’s #1 ski resort. Along the way, there are excellent photo and hiking opportunities, including spectacular Shannon Falls and the stunning Squamish Chief rock face. Once in Whistler, stroll cobblestone streets, enjoy a wide selection of restaurants and outdoor cafés, or take in year-round special events and street performers.
Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city, is accessible from Vancouver by passenger/vehicle ferry, floatplane, or helicopter. Spot Orca whales and sea lions en route as the ferry makes its way through the scenic Gulf Islands. In Victoria, experience old English charm with a double-decker bus ride or traditional afternoon tea at The Fairmont
Empress hotel. Other attractions include the Parliament Buildings and Butchart Gardens. Just north of Victoria, there are wineries in Cowichan Valley, native totems in Duncan, and art galleries in Chemainus. Continue to the West Coast of the island to Long Beach and the quaint fishing villages of Tofino and Ucluelet.
Travel east through the rolling farmlands of the Fraser Valley to delightful Harrison Hot Springs Resort. Spend the day relaxing in the natural mineral hot springs, or swimming, windsurfing, canoeing, or water skiing on the freshwater lake. Before returning to Vancouver, visit beautiful Bridal Falls, Minter Gardens, or historic Fort Langley – “The Birthplace of BC.”
Whether you are looking for peace and solitude or outdoor adventure, head to the British Columbia Rockies. Here, the landscape is as diverse as the views are spectacular. You’ll
discover cool glaciers and natural hot springs, dense forests and wide open meadows, with plenty to do, everything from hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding to canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.
From May to October, Vancouver’s harbor serves as the point of embarkation and disembarkation for Vancouver-Alaska North West cruises. This route is the third most popular cruise in the world. Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Crystal Cruises, and Carnival Cruise Lines all operate from Vancouver. Vancouver serves as the home port for the renowned thousand-mile Inside Passage cruise, offering some of the world’s most spectacular scenery. Passengers are enthralled by the wondrous maze of forested islands, the glacier-carved fjords, and Southeast Alaska’s most popular, frontier-friendly ports.
http://www.vancouverchinesegarden.com/
Step into our door and out of your daily life. As your heart and mind relax, energy renews. Journey back in time to 15th Century China and enjoy this "window to another world". Breathtaking, rain or shine...
Like every classical Chinese garden, the design of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden is based on the harmony of four main elements: rock, water, plants, and architecture. Together, these four elements combine to create a breathtaking experience of perfect balance, yin and yang.
Based on the principle of collaborative design, the Garden compliments the adjacent public park; enhancing the view in both places.
For the architect, the botanist, the student of history, the lover of beauty, the Garden provides insights into the subtle wonders to be found within the walls of this living treasure.
http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/
The Gallery stands in the centre of a city recognized as a nurturing ground for artistic talent. Through cutting-edge exhibitions, we feature the work of leaders in the field of contemporary art and Vancouver's internationally renowned artists, including Jeff Wall, Ian Wallace, Stan Douglas, Rodney Graham, Roy Arden and Brian Jungen, serving as a portal for their remarkable achievements while furthering British Columbia's artistic legacy. The Gallery also houses the magnificent works of significant historical artists, including the most extensive collection of the work of Canada's beloved Emily Carr. Our permanent holdings number nearly 10,000 artworks, making the Gallery among the most valuable collections in Canada.
Imagine a wilderness sanctuary where endangered animals can play, protected and secure. You will find all this and more at The Refuge for Endangered Wildlife, a research, education, and conservation centre at the top of Grouse Mountain. Dedicated to becoming a world leader in preserving both wildlife and flora at risk. The Refuge offers leading-edge interpretative programs that make learning about nature fun and fascinating.
The Refuge for Endangered Wildlife is principally comprised of a five-acre mountaintop habitat that is home to two orphaned Grizzly Bears and a Grey Wolf habitat located at the base of the mountain. The Wildlife Refuge is included with your Grouse Mountain Admission, just like our ice skating pond and sleigh rides. Be sure to come up early in the day so you can fit them all in.
You'll find handcrafted shoes, tailor-made eyeglasses, and custom-built kayaks; wooden musical instruments, high-craft blown glass, ceramic and woodwork treasures; gardening gear, dragon things, leather crafts, fishing reels, and one-of-a-kind toys: just a small spattering of what's in store for Island shoppers.
No matter what your craving may be, you won’t have to look very far to satisfy it while visiting Granville Island. Cafes, pubs and restaurants beckon to patrons with outdoor seating extending out onto old wooden piers on the water, providing a meal with an up close view of Vancouver’s scenic waterfront. Granville Island is one of Vancouver's culinary hot spots, with a range of dining options for every palette and pocketbook. From ethnic fast food in the Market and frothy cappuccinos in tucked away cafés, to the freshest seafood and game prepared at innovative restaurants and eateries, the exceptional service, great dining rooms and outstanding views make Granville Island a favorite spot for locals and visitors.
The Vancouver Aquarium is the largest in Canada. As a non-profit organization they continually dedicate their efforts to the conservation of aquatic life through display, interpretation, education, research, and direct action. You can experience all of this and more when you visit the Vancouver Aquarium.
For additional information on Vancouver, please check www.tourismvancouver.com.
