Jabber:

Here is a Youtube promo of Vancouver.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKSHifUFsZw Alot of the natural scenery and buildings of course are real. We don't live far from what is shown.

I will respond more later after we go cycling this morning for a few hrs. The cherry blossoms are starting to come out all over the city.

Vancouver is approx. 200 miles north of Seattle. Where we live, we are approx. 40 miles north of the Canada-U.S. border.

As you can see, Vancouver is quite different from Toronto.

I've been to Calgary several times but not to the Calgary Stampede. If you are into the rodeo, horse scene... I know the city really goes full out for the Stampede..it's a time for many businesses (if they don't serve tourists), entertain guests, etc. We have hiked, cross-country skied and biked several different trips in the Rocky Mountains, around Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Banff, etc. After all, my partner had to live in Calgary for 2 yrs. when his employer decreed he relocate or lose his job.

Yes, at certain times of the year we saw herds of mountain sheep, elk, bear, etc. There are other gorgeous, jaw-dropping national parks that we've been to near by the Alberta -British Columbia border --Marble Canyon Park, Yoho National Park and many others.

Within the middle of British Columbia is our wine country which is quite different in terrain than Niagara-on-the-Lake region wine country or New York State.