Vancouver is definitely an outdoors-oriented city and just about every imaginable sport has an outlet within the city limits. Downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sea kayaking, fly-fishing, hiking, paragliding, and mountainbiking are just a few of the options. Activities in the vicinity include rock climbing, river rafting, and heli-skiing.

An excellent resource for outdoor enthusiasts is Mountain Equipment Co-op, 130 W. Broadway (tel. 604/872-7858). The MEC's retail store has a knowledgeable staff, the co-op publishes an annual mail-order catalog, and you can find useful outdoor activities information on the website.