There are not many places which I visit for a holiday and want to stay forever. It was always a puzzle to me how travellers could spend a few frivolous days in a new city and decide there and then to make it their new home.

But then I arrived in Vancouver.

Top ten list of must-visit destinations
I must be completely honest, Canada was not even in my top ten list of must-see destinations. I was vaguely aware that it was the land of Maple Syrup floating somewhere near the US. Now, not only has the country stomped on the competition to make into the revered top three of my list but I can understand why heaps of Aussies head Canada-wards for the summer and just carry on staying.

Canada is one of those countries that can justify a couple of weeks leave from work to explore its highlights. I only had seven days so I cherry picked a couple of key spots and left the others for later.

Vancouver, in British Columbia and the host of the Winter Olympic Games 2010, was my first stop. Air Canada flies daily directly from Sydney to Vancouver in a comfortable 14-hour trip. Travellers continuing on to Toronto have another five hours of airtime ahead so I would suggest starting your holiday in Vancouver.

Most liveable city in the world
Driving from the airport into the city (with my affable cabbie chatting away), I realised why Vancouver currently holds pole position for the most liveable city in the world. It's an attractive, well organised town with excellent transport (trams, buses, taxi's and trains), pedestrian walkways, fabulous shopping, customer service that puts Sydney's to shame, scenic parks, beaches and delicious food. Top this off with genuine friendly people, a few dodgy areas to give it a bit of an edge and perfect summery weather (winters are apparently rainy and bit miserable) and you've got a city with a whole lot.

After checking into Sutton Place, our elegant hotel in the centre of everything, we hopped across the road to catch the Trolley Bus Tour. This is a really good way to get a beginner's overview of the city. There are two 80-minute routes which take visitors through the highlights of the city. The tour offers exceptional good value at AU$38 for a two-day pass (you can hop on and off as often as you wish).

Ticking off Vancouver's hot-spots
The excursion begins at Canada Place, which is the home of Vancouver's exhibition centre, IMAX theatre and some awesome views over the waterfront. We drove along Robson street which has all the style of New York's Fifth Avenue without the high price tags. Make sure you stop off at the scrumptious cupcakes shop on Thurlow street. I tried a Diva, which is a chocolate-mud cupcake with fluoro pink icing. If you're craving a coffee, then caffeine corner (junction of Robson and Thurlow streets) is for you. It's the only place where you'll find a Starbucks on opposite ends of the same intersection.

We got off the bus in China Town and wandered through the immaculately groomed, tranquil Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Gardens complete with pagoda's and bonsai trees.

We then walked to Gas Town - an historic area similar to the Rocks in Sydney with its cobblestone paths and old fashioned street lamps. We took a breather by the fascinating steam-powered clock before exercising our credit cards in the charming vintage-styled shops.

A Chinese feast
While we were tempted to have dinner at one of the funky restaurants here, we headed towards Hon's Wun-Tun House, which had been highly recommended by our Trolley Bus driver. It seems we weren't the only ones with the same idea. The warehouse styled eatery was packed. Despite the bustle, we were soon tucking into our humungous portions of "vegetarian" beef and egg noodles. It's probably better to share as we could only manage to eat about a quarter of our delicious meal.

The following day, we took a walk through funky Yaletown and stopped off at the deli paradise of Urban Fare. I was almost tempted to shell out $100 for a loaf of Poilane bread, flown in fresh from France but I just couldn't afford the extravagance. Besides, I had it on good authority that I should keep my appetite for our next stop.

Next Stop...Granville Island
There are a number of ways to get to Granville Island (by foot, bus, taxi or ferry). We opted for the latter option and hopped on the multicoloured 12-seater Aquabus direct to Granville in a few minutes.

Foodie's dream
What was once a sprawling industrial area, has been revitalised into a funky retail district with galleries, restaurants, an hotel and a large market. The undercover Public Market is a collection of warehouses bursting with a variety of stalls. It is gourmet heaven here with patisseries, fresh fruit and veggies, homemade chocolate and international delicacies on offer. I switched my tummy into grazing mode, buying tasty morsels from almost every stall I passed. Besides all the good food, there are also clusters of arts and craft outlets, kid's toys and homeware stores.

Exploring Stanley Park
We needed to walk off our lunch-time feast so we took a cab to Stanley Park, the huge 400-hectare green belt bordering downtown Vancouver. We climbed on board the horse and carriage ride for a pleasant hour-long tour of the park. We passed by Deadman's Island, which used to house small pox sufferers but is now a naval base. We giggled at the floating gas station in the water near Canada Place and admired the statue of the Girl in a Wet Suit, which is actually a high tide marker. We had a look at the oldest tree in the park (1,100 years) which is costing $150,000 to restore and wandered through the fascinating totem pole park before returning back to base.

We then hopped on a Stanley Park shuttle to the Teahouse. We were hoping to enjoy some casual scones and a hot drink but the restaurant turned out to be quite posh. So we settled for sharing an overpriced lemon tart slice before heading back to our hotel.

Time to say good-bye
Our time in Vancouver was over and although it was short, we managed to pack in the highlights. There is still so much to see and I can't wait to come back to visit Victoria, the capital of Vancouver Island and some of the other hot-spots that we couldn't fit in this visit.

When I say goodbye to most holiday cities, it's always with a hint of sadness that I probably won't be coming back. However, there were no tears for Vancouver. There's no doubt that I'll be returning soon.

HOW TO GET THERE

Air Canada
Air Canada flies daily direct from Sydney to Vancouver. It's a 14-hour flight so it may be worthwhile saving up to upgrade to executive first class (Air Canada's version of Business). There are two cabins of executive class - one at the nose of the plane and the other just in front of economy. Depending on your personality, you'll either love or hate the fact that thrifty passengers have to file through the luxury section before getting to their seats. I could see the deep envy in the eyes of the travellers as they watched me stretch out within my private pod.

The seat beds are probably the most comfortable I have slept in on a plane. They recline perfectly flat and are very conducive for snoozing up in the air. The food on board was tasty but not quite hitting restaurant standard that some airlines are striving towards. The wine list was varied with a fine selection of French and Canadian wines on offer. The snack-bar, packed with biscuits, chocolates, nuts and fruit was perfect for midnight craves. The service was very good with attendants available at all times throughout the flight.

Each executive passenger received a useful amenities kit with a great selection of cosmetic necessities. My main gripe was the entertainment system which offered slim pickings of Hollywood favourites in comparison to other airlines. While there is an impressive array of French and global films, I found that after flying three internal and four international Air Canada flights I had just about watched every movie and TV show that appealed to my mainstream tastes. It's just as well that Air Canada's flight magazine is jam-packed full of interesting reading to keep you occupied.
For more info and to book online, visit www.aircanada.com.

WHERE TO STAY

Sutton Place
There are many superb accommodation options in Vancouver. You'll find all the international brands including the first Shangri La hotel in North America. I stayed at Sutton Place hotel in the centre of the city. It was one of those stylish hotels with no hint of pretension. The service was exceptional with the concierge team being the standout.

Our room was elegant with a lovely crushed silk bed cover and a large flat screen TV. We were so excited to find a platter of chocolate cake slices welcoming us to the hotel. Let me tell you, this was one of the most decadently delicious cake I've tasted. It's worthwhile checking in just to sample a piece. We didn't eat in the restaurant but I did walk past the afternoon tea spread and it looked scrumptious. The hotel also has a cosy bar with dark wood and leather booths, perfect for sipping sherry in front of the fireplace. The only downside of this hotel is that wireless internet is charged at the exorbitant rate of $20 (Canadian) a day.
For more information about this luxurious hotel visit www.suttonplace.com.

MORE INFO

For more info about Vancouver and surrounding regions in British Columbia, visit www.hellobc.com.