Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/678192
30 W H E R E T O S I G H T S E E , S O A R , S T R E T C H O R S W E AT ATOP A MOUNTAIN Easy: Take in Vancouver's mix of sea, city and peaks from a seaplane on Harbour Air's Panaroma tour. Or set up a custom chopper tour of the North Shore mountains, Howe Sound and Burrard Inlet with Helijet International. Pre- or post-flight: Watch planes land and take off from the Vancouver Convention Centre while sipping a local 33 Acres of Ocean brew at Tap & Barrel. Spectacular by Nature™ Discover the city's natural beauty from sea to sky and in between V ancouver's setting on the West Coast, surrounded by water and mountains, guarantees dramatic scenery. Here's how to discover the city, from skiing to stand-up paddleboarding— all in the same day. By Barb Sligl TVAN/CANADIAN TOURISM COMMISSION (CTC), SUZANNE RUSHTON, KIM VU/FLICKR, TVAN// GROUSE MOUNTAIN AT SEA LEVEL Easy: The seawall is the city's 22-km walking, jogging, cycling and rollerblading path. Rent a bike at Bayshore Bicycles and Rollerblade Rentals and follow the waterfront route from the Vancouver Convention Centre in Coal Harbour, around Stanley Park, past Science World and Granville Island to Kitsilano Beach. Pitstop: Just west of Granville Island, stop for fish 'n' chips at the Go Fish seafood stand, which serves daily catch from its fishing-boat neighbours at False Creek Fisherman's Wharf. Harder: English Bay is the seaside hub of Vancouver's West End and just one in a string of downtown- area beaches. Take the Sunset SUP (that's stand-up paddleboarding) with Ecomarine Paddlesport Centres for a seal's view as you glide to Second and Third beaches. Nightcap: Watch the last of the light fade from a seaside seat at Sylvia Restaurant & Lounge, Vancouver's first cocktail bar (open in 1954), in the iconic, vine-covered hotel. ANOTHER WAY TO GET HIGH: Get a full-on visceral experience with FlyOver Canada, a simulation ride that takes in spectacular landscape from coast to coast, culminating in Vancouver. Harder: For the best view of Vancouver, do the Grouse Grind. A rigorous rite of passage for fit locals (the record is 23:48), this straight-up 2.9 km hike climbs 853 metres of altitude alongside the Grouse Mountain Super Skyride (the easy route). Refuel: Early start atop Grouse Mountain Resort in summer? Have breakfast with the rescued grizzlies, Grinder and Coola. Tap & Barrel