Vancouver and Victoria Like a Local

Heading out to Vancouver or Victoria? Here are a few helpful tips for appreciating this unique part of western Canada just like the locals do.

Eat Local

Supporting local producers has always been part of the West Coast lifestyle, so back in 2005 when two Vancouver writers originated the 100-mile diet, they didn't expect it to catch on across North America, let alone the world. Look for neighborhood farmers' markets, some open year-round. The renowned Granville Island Market, for example, sells such products as handcrafted island cheeses, organic meats, freshly caught fish, salmon jerky “candy,” homemade jams and honey, and seasonal fresh produce.

Layer Up

Dressing for success around Vancouver and Victoria means layering to suit the sea breezes and rain. You'll hear stories that real natives don't carry umbrellas, they just wear a lot of Gore-Tex, but the truth is, many locals still do use their umbrellas and we'd guess that most Vancouverites own at least one pair of rain boots.

Love Your Lattes

West Coasters have a love–hate relationship with the ubiquitous S chain, which has an outlet on almost every street corner. Locals, however, prefer the authenticity of Bean Around the World, the coffee shops in Gastown, cafés along Commercial Drive and Main Street, or the award-winning creations of the champion baristas at the Caffè Artigiano outlets. Vancouverites like to linger over their lattes at sidewalk tables at any time of year, rain or shine.

Be Eco-Savvy

Doing your bit for the planet is integral to living like a local in Vancouver and Victoria, so rinse and recycle your cans and bottles, take a reusable bag if you're going shopping, and search out socially responsible products and companies.

Read the Georgia Straight

This Vancouver weekly echoes Vancouver's inner cool. Everything's in here, from opinion pieces to offbeat travel articles, insightful restaurant reviews, theater schedules, and personal ads of all genres. Online, check out Miss 604 (www.miss604.com), Scout Magazine (www.scoutmagazine.ca), and Vancouver Is Awesome (www.vancouverisawesome.com) for more local news and happenings.

Exercise a Passion

Keeping the body healthy is a local preoccupation, as is having the wardrobe to suit the way of life, preferably purchased along Kitsilano's 4th Avenue or on West Broadway—the meccas for sporting goods and clothing. Hike the Grouse Grind, scuba-dive Howe Sound, try out your stand-up paddling skills, sweat in Bikram yoga, or practice Pilates. Visitors can partake in all these passions, too!