Richmond

Home to the Vancouver International airport (YVR), this

Venue City for the recent 2010 olympic Winter Games has

a new skyline following $2.5 billion in recently completed

construction projects. The new Canada Line rapid transit

system, built for the olympics, easily connects visitors

to Richmond from YVR in ten minutes and downtown

Vancouver in less than thirty minutes. Visitors can enjoy

the Richmond olympic oval’s legacy as a sports and

wellness facility. Tour the facility for free, or purchase

a day-pass to experience a fi tness boot camp, yoga, or

Fans of authentic asian dining will fi nd Richmond

a paradise. The population of Richmond is more

than 65 per cent asian-Canadian, and the result is an

extraordinary range of authentic culinary experiences.

Richmond has become famous in recent years for having

the best Chinese food outside of China. Innovative chefs

are leading the way in the artful use of local ingredients

such as geoduck, Dungeness crab, and wild BC spot

prawns. Some of the most interesting restaurants and

shops – including two Hong Kong style malls – can

be found in Richmond’s Golden Village, a bustling

commercial district heralded as a Mecca for all things

Nearby is Richmond’s No. 5 Road, otherwise known as

the “Highway to Heaven,” where most of the world’s

major religions manage to co-exist peaceably side-by-side.

This stretch of road is home to nearly 20 mosques, temples,

churches and religious schools, and was recently named

a fi nalist in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s

search for the Seven Wonders of Canada.

Village of Steveston is fi lled with buildings that tell the

stories of the Chinese, European, First Nations and

Japanese workers whose contributions made Steveston

the busiest fi shing port in the world at the turn of the

twentieth century. Today, it’s a thriving home to the

largest commercial fi shing fl eet in Canada and two

National Historic Sites, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery

and Britannia Shipyards. Stroll Fisherman’s Wharf to

buy fresh fi sh off the boat, take a whale-watching tour,

shop the unique boutiques, or enjoy the views and

local seafood at one of the waterfront patios along the

wooden boardwalk.