Vancouver, Canada

                    With 2.6 million residents in the metro area, Vancouver is the third largest city in Canada.

Set amid a backdrop of snow-flecked mountains, dripping rain forest, and sandy beaches, Vancouver is, as the tourist brochures say, “Spectacular by nature.” Steadily earning accolades as one of the world’s most livable cities, Vancouver has it all: superb restaurants, world-class shopping, recreation to boggle the mind, and remarkable cultural diversity. It’s no wonder that TV and film crews flock to this city of extremes. With the West Coast’s busiest port, the fairest weather in Canada, and an open-door policy to anyone from someplace else, the city is no stranger to growth. As the ships slide in and out of port, so do the visitors, coming to ski and hike, enjoy the arts, eat fresh seafood, and soak up the surrounding beauty. As host to the 2010 Winter Olympics, Vancouver is poised to garner even more international attention.