Vancouver is surrounded by water on three sides, is Canada's busiest port, is stunningly beautiful, and is a center of arts and learning. No wonder people love this place. Here we explore one of the world's greatest urban parks, the 1,000-acre Stanley Park; also the Vancouver Aquarium, which introduces visitors to underwater environments ranging from the Arctic to the Amazon. Granville Island, a small peninsula connected to downtown via the Granville Street Bridge, is a multi-use facility including industry, commerce, and entertainment; then to Grouse Mountain, an aerial sky ride that takes visitors on a one-mile journey above the city. Also we remember the Royal Hudson Steam Train, a 1930's restored steam engine that once offered rides from Vancouver to Squamish. Next is the Calgary Stampede; called the "Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth," this annual exhibition celebrates the agricultural and historical legacy of the past. In Banff we visit the Banff Springs Hotel. Built in 1888 it is one of the lavish hotels constructed by the Canadian Pacific Railroad to entice visitors to ride the rails to the Rockies and enjoy the Upper Hot Springs Pool. Lastly, we take a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain, getting a spectacular view of Banff and the entire Bow Valley.