You can certainly get a plethora of printed media from your hotel about the city. But I suggest you…read morepay a visit when you arrive in Vancouver anyway. Because what you don't get is the first hand knowledge, short cuts, tips and local tidbits that the enthusiastic staff here will impart. Kudos to Vancouver for attracting what seems to be volunteer retirees who love their city and want to make sure that you love it too and will get the most out of your visit here too. I spoke to two volunteers here, and another while we took a ferry ride, who went on the False Creek Ferry tour with her husband so she could talk intelligently about it. It appears that the staff on their days off take the time to go to the site and attractions the Centre recommends. They are honest in their opinions about places and are good at reading your needs too. On the day I stopped by and praised the natural beauty of the city, the volunteer recommended Lighthouse Park to me, after I informed her that wanted to explore places outside central Vancouver area. She was a gem, the park was a delight, and her advice about going early to avoid the traffic on Lion's Gate, because of a lane closure, is the kind of tip you can really only get from a local. I loved the fact that when I asked her a question she didn't know, she asked another person who did know. Teamwork and passion and common sense. Wow! The Centre is clean(that word is synonymous with Vancouver I am finding), spacious, and well stocked with all sorts of printed cards and brochures from various places and vendors. Look for the places you want to visit to see if they offer discounts. Get the brochure/map on Stanley Park as it is colorful and well done. It was so pretty I brought it home so I could gaze out it while dreaming about my next trip. The large city map the tourism board prints out is good too, if your hotel already doesn't have that one. Get also the cheat sheet on attractions the Centre prints out. That tells you what bus, train to take, and if it is a two fare zone etc. (My only tip now would be for LIghthouse Park, that they add the actual stop to get off! Also, the only bus that goes to Marine Drive I was told by a local runs only 3x Sundays!). It's a plain Xerox sheet, nothing fancy, chock full of useful information. I was already used to Vancouver's fairly easy mass transit system but if you are not a savvy, that is truly helpful. I thought it was terrific even though I had plotted most of my routes. This is one of the best tourism offices I've visited in terms of friendliness of staff, the quantity and quality of information from the staff. The only strange thing seems to be a lack of public bathroom but I was directed to the food court just next door! Just a note: If anyone from the tourist board reads this, I understand the Giant Os Gemeos might be in trouble. Why not have a satellite stand on Granville Island just asking for $1 from every visitor? Or ask randomly the visitors who come through YVR? Just one dollar? Or have the city host an Os Gemeo BBQ, with tickets going to support their maintenance?

Visited Vancouver, new Westminster, we are disgusted with the lack of washroom facilities. my…read morehusband is 73 years old with stage 4 prostate cancer, we were looking for a washroom at the train station in new west minster station, with no luck, my husband was beside himself trying to hold it in. not one shop or restaurant would allow us to use the washroom, it was humiliating for my husband , we will let our family and friends know, NOT to visit your city. So disgusted with your transit system.

In a cute little light house right next to the freeway ramp. If you're a longtime resident, go here…read moreto see all that you are missing and be a tourist in your own city! Visitors are greeted by friendly volunteers who share their extensive knowledge and love of the area, inside tips and all our beautiful little city has to offer.

From the owner: Hello! We have full-time staff here, and are so happy to help people understand and enjoy the…read morecity. We've also got free maps, guides, things that all visitor centers have, - but the real treasure is the conversation and advice that we can provide, we take pride in giving fantastic ideas, advice, and recommendations! Come talk! You can also call or email, or use the chat function on Bellingham.org.

We were wondering what we can do in Squamish. We came to the Visitor Information to find out more…read more We spoke to the lady working there and she was somewhat clueless. I think she was trying her best but because she lived in the area, many of the things that she can do everyday will not be considered as tourist things/spots. There is a Squamish themed gift shop in the Visitor Information center but the items for sale wasn't that much special or unique other than having the Squamish logo on it. Along the wall outside of the gift shop is a list of things to do brochure. Many of them directed visitors to visit Whistler instead. I believe when thinking of travelling or going somewhere, Whistler comes to mind and not Squamish.

This is a great place to learn about all things Squamish. They rent bikes. Give advice on…read moreactivities in the area. Have a Squamish theme gift shop. Direct you to camping and area hotels. Oh, and there is an awesome coffee shop in here. What did I learn today? Not too far from here is an annual Bald Eagle congregation area where 100s to 1000s come to eat.

The Victoria Visitors Centre is centrally located Downtown, at the shore of the Inner Harbour, and…read morefrom the Fairmont Empress Hotel. It's a cool Art Deco building and was originally an Esso gas station. The tower vaguely looks like the Empire State Building. This is a good place to begin your explorations of Victoria and "Up Island". It's also within easy walking distance from the cruise ships and ferries and close to popular attractions (Royal BC Museum, Parliament Building, Beacon Hill Park, etc.) and shopping. The friendly folks at the Front Desk can give you good advice on places to see, tour packages, and dining options. There's also a large selection of brochures and posted information if you want something more self-directed.

This center is located dockside nearly across the famous Fairmont Empress Hotel. Easy to find…read more Restrooms are located below the Visitors Center by going down the steps towards the boat dock. I didn't see a wheelchair ramp. Talented musicians played their tunes and a budding juggler attempted an act- amusing. A food truck selling Poutin (steak fries, cheese curd, brown gravy) was located at the corner of the boat dock and the government bldg. US dollars are accepted at stores.

If you're driving to Canada from Seattle make sure you stop here! Not because of the duty free…read moreshopping but because you can buy the popular tour tickets here at least $3 cheaper! The ladies that work here is super friendly and sweet. They're not pushy into selling you the tour deals. The worker took one look at us and sold us the tickets at the student price. 5 stars for that!! The ladies are super helpful with giving us tips, and trying to let us know what local places we should check out for dinner. Super sweet! Feels like you're chatting it up with a friend's aunt! Bathroom is clean, tons of brochures. Very helpful workers and they sell tour tickets with a discount! How can you not give them 5 stars!

Lots of brochures and friendly staff. They are offering 2 free Olympic games now that the games…read morehave started... but not when we went up the week before :-(.

This is a visitor center and a the same time it is also a historical site. B and I came here to…read morecheck out inside. There are three floors in side. Not lots to see on each floor but it does contain a write up of what each item represent. Note it is free to go inside. The people at the visitor centers are really friendly.

FANTASTIC Visitor Information Centre... Possible the Best I…read morehave ever been fortunate to find.

From the owner: Squamish Adventure is your local guide to the Squamish community & lifestyle…read more We provide the most up-to-date content and information about Squamish BC Canada. Looking for things to do in Squamish? We've got you covered! Our local guide is designed to help you discover information about: Activities (Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Whitewater Rafting, Hiking and More) Book a Guided Tour Hotels & Accommodation Restaurants & Nightlife Local Jobs Events And more! Our website is your one stop information hub for Squamish andthe Sea to Sky region. Come find us at the Executive Suites Hotel: 40900 Tantalus Road, The Adventure Desk Squamish BC

We finally got to drive the Cascade loop and go to the visitor center of Cascades National Park and…read morewe went in the visitor center so I could get some stickers, a shirt and my stamp. The drive was absolutely beautiful and the staff in the visitor center were nice and there is info to learn about the national park!

The North Cascades National Park Visitor Center is a must stop area within the park. The scenic…read moreview of the snow capped mountain range accessible to wheelchairs is worth the stop.

In the southwest corner of Steveston Community Park, there's a large firehouse-looking garage…read morebuilding, in which you can find a museum containing a restored tram car, from the days when such things operated regularly, ferrying passengers all the way into Vancouver, many kilometers to the north. I'm not sure if admission is free all year round, or if we just happened to be lucky, but we quickly pounced on the opportunity to check it out. For the young ones, repeat visits to this museum can net you junior conductor pins or badges, based on how many times you've been here, which is a cute little perk for them. Our young toddler son loved exploring the car, running up and down, and poking about everywhere he could (including places he probably wasn't supposed to), but the staff were friendly and good-natured about it. There's plenty of historical information about the tram, and its use in the region, on various plaques and displays throughout the building, for those who are interested. If nothing else, the simple fact that they preserved this icon piece of local history, and tend to it with such care and devotion, is charming enough in itself.

A small museum with free entry. I went midday on a Friday and there was only one other group there…read more The staff, Cathy, was there was dressed and was very enthusiastic about the history of the town and the tram system - absolutely loved talking to her! The forms of information (videos, boards, infographics, etc.) are very engaging and true to the period. I was very impressed with how the museum has been maintained. Despite being small, there are many things to do, especially for children. There are conductor costumes for both adults and children for photo ops. The tram and its interior were stunning and it's a replica made specifically for the museum! In all, my visit was about 40 minutes. We spent a lot of time talking to Cathy and I do highly recommend that with whatever staff is there. There's nothing better than to talk to a local about history.