Pacific Gold Coast

The humble beginnings of the City of Vancouver, in the settlement of Gastown on Burrard Inlet, rose out of the old growth forests and the sawdust of the old Hastings Mill. Its location between the Pacific Ocean and the snow-capped coastal mountains creates one of the most idyllic settings of any city in the world. As a world-class city it has the best of both worlds, intermingling urban sophistication with a sense of wilderness and outdoor adventure. Whether you are exploring Vancouver’s diverse downtown core, strolling through the giant trees of Stanley Park or taking in the 20 miles (30 km) of uninterrupted waterfront trails along the seawall, you are bound to fall in love with Canada’s third largest metropolitan center, which is consistently ranked as one of most livable cities on earth.

In 1886, the Canadian Pacific Railway reached Vancouver, completing Canada’s ‘National Dream’ of a connection between east and west, and opening up new trade routes between Asia and Europe. The city was named for British captain and explorer George Vancouver.

Victoria, capital of British Columbia, sits on the craggy southern end of Vancouver Island. With abundant parkland, it’s known for outdoor activities. The city’s British colonial past shows in its Victorian architecture, including stately Craigdarroch Castle mansion. Butchart Gardens, with 55 acres of vivid floral displays, plus statuary, water features and a carousel, is one of many formal gardens in the city.

Seattle, a city on Puget Sound in the Pacific Northwest, is surrounded by water, mountains and evergreen forests, and contains thousands of acres of parkland. Washington State’s largest city, it’s home to a large tech industry, with Microsoft and Amazon headquartered in its metropolitan area. The futuristic Space Needle, a 1962 World’s Fair legacy, is its most iconic landmark

A cruise call at San Francisco begins and ends with a transit under the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the world’s most photographed structures. The city itself is a compact metropolis, easily navigated by visitors. The waterfront Embarcadero stretches from Fisherman’s Wharf along the Bay side with finger piers varying from closed to popular public attractions such as Pier 39’s restaurants, shops and galleries. The Ferry Building’s visible tower marks the center, and holds a permanent Farmer’s Market with fresh produce, seafood, cheeses as well as restaurants. The traditional Italian North Beach section is an easy walk away, as is the large and bustling Chinatown. The decommissioned military installation of the Presidio is now a breezy national park, with tremendous views if the bridge, the Bay, Alcatraz island and charming Sausalito on the far shore. Day trips are easily arranged for wine tasting in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys north of the Bay, or to walk among the redwood groves at Muir Woods in Marin County. The city’s Golden Gate Park is a destination in itself, holding a sprawling DeYoung Art Museum, a classic Victorian-era Conservatory of Flowers, and the California Academy of Sciences housing a large aquarium, a planetarium and a natural history museum.

A cruise call at San Francisco begins and ends with a transit under the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the world’s most photographed structures. The city itself is a compact metropolis, easily navigated by visitors. The waterfront Embarcadero stretches from Fisherman’s Wharf along the Bay side with finger piers varying from closed to popular public attractions such as Pier 39’s restaurants, shops and galleries. The Ferry Building’s visible tower marks the center, and holds a permanent Farmer’s Market with fresh produce, seafood, cheeses as well as restaurants. The traditional Italian North Beach section is an easy walk away, as is the large and bustling Chinatown. The decommissioned military installation of the Presidio is now a breezy national park, with tremendous views if the bridge, the Bay, Alcatraz island and charming Sausalito on the far shore. Day trips are easily arranged for wine tasting in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys north of the Bay, or to walk among the redwood groves at Muir Woods in Marin County. The city’s Golden Gate Park is a destination in itself, holding a sprawling DeYoung Art Museum, a classic Victorian-era Conservatory of Flowers, and the California Academy of Sciences housing a large aquarium, a planetarium and a natural history museum.