Vancouver International Airport - Vancouver, Canada

3211 Grant McConachie Way, Richmond, BC V7B 1Y7

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is a dramatic combination of technology and tradition and is worth a look around. It reflects both contemporary Vancouver and the culture and lifestyle of the Musqueam, the aboriginal peoples who have lived at the mouth of the Fraser River near the airport for more than 8,000 years. And with the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel that's attached to it, YVR has one of the world's most technologically advanced hotels and the first in the world that allows airline check-in from your hotel room.

Native art is everywhere. A dramatic cedar spindle whorl in front of the cascading water-wall confronts you at the customs and immigrations area; traditional hand-created weavings hang from the ceilings everywhere; six meter tall (19.6 ft.) red-cedar welcome figures greet you at three arrivals areas; and the massive, $1.3 million Spirit of Haida Gwaii, a jade-green patina bronze casting by the late native artist Bill Reid is the centerpiece of the new International terminal.

The 46 large skylights, generous open spaces, and 27,000 sq. m. (nearly 300,000 sq. ft.) of glass walls offer dramatic views of the surrounding mountains and water. Pillars of local stone and hardwood floors soften the public places and carpet patterns mimic log-booms in the nearby Fraser River. Steel columns resemble trees and support the roof and the floors while branch-like column-struts reduce roof-beam spans, giving the interior an expansive quality.

Underway is construction of the SkyTrain (train transportation) expansion from the airport to downtown expected to be completed at the end of 2007. Meanwhile, cab fare to midtown is $25-$30. Airporter bus is $13 one way to downtown or $20 round trip.

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