VANCOUVER

It's not hard to see why Vancouver is so attractive. This vibrant metropolis appeals to all age groups and interests; it's especially friendly to pedestrians and bikers, and even the most challenged visitors can easily find their way around. The area was occupied by the Coast Salish people, claimed by the Spanish, and was visited for exactly one day by British Captain George Vancouver. In 1827, the Hudson's Bay Company built a trading emporium on the Fraser River, and the company is still around today, although it is now a department store.

 After that came fur traders, gold miners and lumber workers, and finally the railroad. Before Vancouver was Vancouver, it was known as Gastown, built out of the need for a bar to serve thirsty lumber workers. In 1867, an enterprising man named Gassy Jack stocked a barrel with liquor and poured drinks for the men who built it a saloon in one day. A community built around the bar and, a few years later, incorporated as the town of Granville. By 1886, the town had a population of 1,000 and was renamed Vancouver, only to be destroyed by fire. The legacy of the post-fire reconstruction is the lovely old brick buildings of the original Gastown neighborhood. Today, Vancouver is an ethnic melting pot, with 35% of the metro's 2.3 million residents residing in foreign countries. It has consistently been rated as one of the world's most livable cities by the Economist Intelligence Unit, with a large population inhabiting high-rise buildings in the downtown area. The 2010 Winter Olympics gave the city a chance to shine in the world's spotlight; the Olympic cauldron still sits near the harbor in Coal Harbour.

Arriving in Vancouver by air or sea gives visitors a taste of what to expect from this Canadian seaport. Ships barely seem to lighten the bottom of the Lions Gate Bridge as they pass through the large green space of Stanley Park on their way to Vancouver Harbor (and indeed, the height of the bridge restricts larger cruise ships from entering). The park dominates the west side of the downtown area, and visitors and residents can be found walking or biking the perimeter of the seawall or paddling a kayak in the surrounding waters. Just 12 blocks east of the park, the Canada Place cruise ship terminal has its own distinct character. It was built to resemble a ship with its motif of five large sails atop the pier. It's easy to explore Vancouver from Canada Place because the city's most popular attractions are located within a two-square-mile area referred to as the downtown peninsula. A unique selection of harbor ferries, hop-on-hop-off buses, and light rail transportation (SkyTrain) makes it easy to get around. Attractions further afield also offer free shuttles parked along the plaza.

On the north side of the peninsula, Gastown is just a 10-minute walk east of the terminal building, encouraging historically minded travelers to discover Vancouver's roots. Another few blocks east will take you to Chinatown, the second-largest in North America after San Francisco. The southwestern part of the peninsula borders False Creek, where trendy locals can check out Yaletown's ultra-trendy ambiance. And across the creek, everyone from foodies to art aficionados to boating enthusiasts can visit Granville Island's public market, artisan studios, and nautical stores. From Granville Island, you can take a ferry west to Vanier Park, located in Kitsilano, or to the east end of False Creek, where Science World is located. Wherever you go, there are interesting restaurants - from fresh seafood or dim sum to trendy eateries. With the coastal mountains as a backdrop, just 24 miles north of the Washington state line, Vancouver serves as the gateway to Alaska, a reputation that has endured for 30 years. Cruise passengers enjoy a city with world-class accommodations, international restaurants, diverse attractions, easy accessibility, and the famously friendly and infectious Canadian attitude.