Vancouver Welcomes Olympic-Bound RVers

Vancouver is busy preparing to host the 2010 Winter Olympics from February 10 through March 2, but the Canadian city has already rolled out the welcome mat for RV campers. In addition to the many RV campsites surrounding the Vancouver area, the city’s park board is opening Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks to overnight RV parking during the games at a cost of $95 per night.

While there are numerous RV campgrounds on the outskirts of Vancouver and in nearby communities, only one commercial RV park is located near the downtown area and it already has a waiting list of 100. The park board’s commendable decision to open beach parking lots puts 365 more RV camping spots downtown close to Olympic venues.

If you travel to the Olympics make sure to take the Aquabus ferry across the bay to Granville Island for lunch at the indoor Public Market. Savory scented stalls sell and cook everything from fresh fish to exotic produce. It’s a good place to stock your larder. You’ll find lots of excitement and live music downtown, but if you want to experience the true flavor of Vancouver, locals say you’ll have to venture out to the city’s collar neighborhoods. That’s where you’ll find Vancouver’s funky boutiques stocked with Canadian designer fashions, Lebanese delis, Italian coffee shops and other avant-garde delights.

Enjoy the games if you RV to Vancouver, but spend some time exploring the city, too. It’s a place worth savoring.