Flights to Vancouver

With an enviable waterfront setting, ski resorts in the nearby mountains and gorgeous urban parklands, Vancouver is one of Canada's prettiest cities. It enjoys a far milder climate than others in the country – snowfalls here are rare – and Vancouver consistently ranks highly in global quality of life polls. It's a popular outdoor recreation city and sports fans are well-catered for too, with home teams in ice hockey, football, baseball, basketball and lacrosse. With fine food and cultural amenities too, Vancouver is a cosmopolitan treat.

The list of things to do in Vancouver is a long one but as a start, orient yourself amid the city skyline from the observation deck of Vancouver Lookout at Harbour Centre. If the kids are in tow, they will be fascinated by more than 70,000 creatures at the Vancouver Aquarium. Science World and Vancouver Art Gallery are highly engaging too.

Taking a harbour cruise gives you a different perspective on the city but one of the top attractions is not in the city itself; it's a 15-minute drive from downtown to Grouse Mountain. More than 1 million people visit Grouse Mountain annually to ride the gondola to the summit, ski, hike, whiz along the ziplines and see the wildlife refuge.