Buzzing with culture, bubbling with counterculture, and brimming with an endless array of sporting opportunities, Vancouver is a playground for the brain as much as the body. And that's not even mentioning the nightlife which would entice even the most committed of hermits out for a swift half.

But then Vancouver is no ordinary city. Its mirror-fronted downtown skyline is dwarfed by the snow capped mountains whilst its extensive sandy beaches allow its 1.9 million inhabitants to make the most of its spectacular ocean-side location.

With a natural wonderland right on its doorstep, Vancouver offers a fantastic range of sports which can prove as relaxing or as nerve-wracking as you want. Those in search of a quiet life can take to water for a spot of fishing or swimming whilst those who prefer to feel raw adrenaline coursing through their veins can easily find a plane to throw themselves out of.

But the city espouses sophistication as much as it does hedonism - choose from a classical evening at the opera, a concert form its world-class symphony orchestra or a spot of cutting edge theatre. Most of the top class museums are gathered in Vanier Park where your take your pick from the history of the city in the Vancouver Museum, all things fishy in the Maritime Museum, a spot of planet-spotting in the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre or a culture trip through the Museum of Anthropology.

During the summertime, Vancouver reverberates to the sounds of the many festivals which have sprung up on its streets, not to mention the rock nights and burgeoning jazz scene which will help to keep sleep away till dawn.

Vancouver boasts a multitude of cultures from its mix of Chinese, Italian, Greek, Indian and Japanese immigrants. For a taste of gritty reality, head to the shops and restaurants of Chinatown where the locals go about their lives more as if in Hong Kong than in Canada.

Those with a strong stomach can feast on live eels or flattened ducks at the market - or head to the night market at Keefer Street to gorge on steaming cakes.

Vancouver's downtown area is a mecca for playing spot the beautiful person in any one of its upmarket bars, cafes or restaurants in between indulging your credit card in some retail therapy.

But to get a real feel for the city, take a wander along the waterfront to Canada Place, the pavilion which housed the 1986 World Exposition. The stunning views over the port, mountains and sea make it a prima place to get snap-happy with your camera.

The city is also home to a thriving alternative population of young artists and activists immersed in their own counterculture complete with bookshops, clothes and galleries. But whilst the area can prove entertaining, the dingy streets between Chinatown and Gastown come across more seedy than inspiring.

And no itinerary would be complete without a trip to the polished streets of Gastown. Join the throngs of tourists around the world's first steam-powered clock, which reaches boiling point every hour or head to the Inuit Gallery if you're curious about what Eskimos do in their spare time.

Granville Island claims to be the heart of Vancouver with many a shop, gallery and park to wile away the hours. Restaurants, bars and the Arts Club Theatre keep the area buzzing until the early hours.

Vancouver is a vibrant and exciting place to nose around for a few days with the entertainment, culture and recreation on offer all demanding your attention at the same time. It's very much like visiting Pleasure Island but at least you're safe in the knowledge that no matter how much you indulge your whims, you're not going to end up being turned into a donkey.