Between the ocean and the mountains, Vancouver is definitely easy on the eyes. Being new to the city, you’ll often find yourself distracted by, and in awe of, the beauty right outside your window. You’ll never take this beauty for granted. Or at least, you never should. Here are 10 things to know before moving to Vancouver.
Outdoor Activities
Kayaking, hiking, mountain biking, trail running, skiing and snowboarding, if you’re a fan of the outdoors, this is absolutely the city for you. If you’re not, we suggest you pick something outdoorsy up because these activities consume many of our weekends.
Food is Great
The food here is excellent. Vancouver has seen a boom of diverse restaurants over the last decade. Each one offers a different type of cuisine that is better than the next. If you like Mexican food, Indian food, and everything in between, you can find it here. There are many tasty dishes to write home about.
Beach
You can do that now. Vancouver is a beautiful place to live, and even though shaking up your entire world with a move can be stressful, and you’ve just left everything you thought you knew in the dust, you’re now in one of the greatest places on earth, and it’s your home.
Rain
The average annual precipitation is 44 inches (less than Miami or New Orleans, by the way), making it a wet but wonderful place to live. Summers offer a welcome, sunny reprieve. But be sure to buy an umbrella and boots to navigate the months between October and April.
Finding a Home
Rental vacancy rates in Vancouver are some of the lowest in Canada, but Vancouver Houses for Sale prices are among the country’s highest. Be prepared to do your due diligence when finding a suitable rental. Scouring Craigslist and walking neighborhoods in search of vacancy signs are good ways to get started.
Biking
It’s a great way to save money and stay fit. Plus, Vancouver’s bicycle infrastructure is probably pretty good compared to whatever small prairie city you came from. You’ll learn a lot more about the city this way, and your body will thank you.
It is Beautiful
Be ready to be wowed. There are few cities in the world with beaches and mountains within 30 minutes of one another and Vancouver is one of those special places. There are so many things that you can do for the day for free or at a low cost.
Lingo
A number of things are mislabelled here. The tube is called the ‘sky train’. Flats are ‘condos’, or ‘apartments’. Bin liners are ‘trash bags’. These subtle nuances make communication stunted and embarrassing for a newcomer. Make life simpler for yourself and learn French instead, as most of the groceries will use this anyway.
Great People
The general atmosphere here is pretty laid-back and friendly, citing the fact that Vancouver is among the most ethnically diverse cities in British Columbia. Canadians are known to imbibe a stress-free life better than their southern neighbors. If you want a change of pace, Vancouver is a fantastic option.
Summer
After experiencing a Canadian winter, you will understand why everyone flocks to patios and strips down to the bare essentials at the first sign of summer. For those who are used to a sub-tropical climate, it may not seem warm enough to warrant shorts and sandals on a May weekend, yet Canadians have earned that right, simply for having survived another winter.