Canada’s 3rd largest city and largest coastal city has a lot to offer, so if you’re about to call Vancouver home, you’re about to be part of something big. Vancouver is a culturally diverse city with a lot of the hustle and amenities that you find in Toronto or Montreal, with the added bonus of milder winters, and easy access to both mountains and the ocean. It also has one of the hottest real estate markets in the country, with more than a few companies and individuals moving to Vancouver in search of that famed West Coast lifestyle. So before you put your moving boxes on the truck, there are a few things about Vancouver that will be good to know before you arrive.

Get to know your neighbourhoods

Vancouver’s 39 neighbourhoods all have their own unique flavour, characters and amenities. If you haven’t picked out a place to live yet, you might want to consider the things you are looking for in a neighbourhood, as well as your budget. If parks and affordability are at the top of your list, the West End might be at the top of your list, but if you’re looking for more cultural diversity, you might be more drawn to Riley Park. You can even unpack your moving boxes in the Fairview neighbourhood, better known as the 2010 Olympic Village!

Take public transit

Vancouver might not have Uber, but they do have a wide variety of public transit options. Transit is not only affordable, but efficient enough that you can save on the high cost of parking, and spend that money on more fun things at your destination. The city also has a vibrant cycling culture, even though Vancouver averages 161 rainy days a year.

Get ready to enjoy amazing food and drinks

You’ll have no problem finding a place to enjoy a delicious meal or a great drink after you’ve unpacked your moving boxes. Vancouver is home to more than 30 craft breweries, many of which also offer food to go with your drinks. Sitting right on the Pacific also means that sushi and seafood restaurants are not only wildly available, but they are super high quality. And before you get worried about finding a place to get your morning cup of coffee, coffee shop culture is king in Vancouver, with a plethora of independent shops perfect for meeting a friend or settling in with your laptop for the afternoon.

You’ll never be bored

Vancouver is home to the annual TED Conference, the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival,  and the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. If you’re looking for something that is more food focused, Vancouver also has a Hot Chocolate Festival, the UBC Apple Festival, and the Dine Out Vancouver Festival. Combine all of this with the fact that Vancouver is home to 5 professional sports teams and the Rogers Arena which hosts popular artists in concert, and you may not see much of your new Vancouver home!

You’re in the great outdoors, and people take care of this

If you didn’t catch this from pictures of Vancouver, one of its greatest assets and benefits is the proximity to the outdoors. If you’re at all into spending time in the great outdoors, Vancouver offers hiking, snowboarding, surfing, skiing, beach volleyball… the list could go on all day. Vancouverites take their nature seriously, and that includes protecting it. There are dozens of nearby Provincial Parks that are well maintained and protected, and it’s not uncommon to see people helping to clean up public beaches to keep them beautiful for everyone.

Vancouver is a great city, and we hope that you’re excited to call it home. As you get settled into that West Coast lifestyle, we can help you get off to an environmentally friendly start with our rental moving boxes. We can supply you with as many moving bins as you need, and we’ll drop them off and pick them up for you so you never need to navigate the tricky Vancouver parking. After all, you want to start off your time in Vancouver relaxed and laid back like the locals. Let us know once you’re ready to rent your moving bins by calling 1-888-502-2467 or getting a quote online here.

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