5 things we bet you didn’t know about Vancouver

Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Known for its quality of life and active citizens who somehow manage to ski and swim on the same day, Vancouver really has the perfect combination of  urban cool and natural beauty. We found five facts you might not know about this gem of a city – guaranteed to inspire you to book a trip right away, or at the very least, impress and delight your dinner date tonight!

1. Japanese hotdogs – no chopsticks required

What happens if you add all the Japanese condiments your little heart desires to a bun and a wiener? A Japadog – a Japanese style hotdog. Five locations in Vancouver serve a deliciously fresh interpretation of the world-famous snack. Move over ketchup and mustard – seaweed, miso sauce, and bonito flakes are the new stars in town!

2. A (very big) pool with a view

In case you feel like burning some calories after your one-of-a-kind Japadog – there’s a pool for that. Not just any pool, though. Why not take a dip in Canada’s longest pool? Kitsilano Pool is 137.5 m (451 feet) long – that’s equivalent to three Olympic size pools. While you’re swimming in the heated saltwater, you can see the ocean, the mountains, and the skyline. It’s basically pool heaven.

3. Up and at ‘em

While splishing and splashing in Canada’s largest pool, you might be able to see the “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster”. 2830 stairs and 853m of elevation make hiking up the 2.9 km long Grouse Grind quite a challenging trip – but it’s worth it because the view from Grouse Mountain is breathtaking. If you feel extra competitive, try beating the current record time by climbing up the trail in less than 23:48 minutes.

4. Saving the World Vancouver-style

No matter how you get up Grouse Mountain, take in as much of the scenery as possible – and thank a group of Vancouverites for some of its beauty: In 1971, a handful of activists decided to keep the world a peaceful and green place for future generations – it was the beginning of Greenpeace, the largest and most famous environmental organization in the world. The rest is history.

5. Bella, Rambo and Catwoman walk into a bar…

Ready to discover your inner paparazzi? Vancouver is the place where The Titanic sank, Bella had to choose between Team Edward and Team Jacob, and the X-Men fought for the survival of their species. Catwoman, Godzilla, Superman and Rambo all spent some time in the Pacific Northwest. Even though we automatically think of LA or NYC when we think of shooting movies, Vancouver is called Hollywood North for a reason: It’s the third-largest film production center in North America. So watch out, there’s usually always a film crew in town.

Image by Magnus Larsson, Flickr / Creative Commons