How to get there
The lowest round-trip airfare between Boston and Vancouver available at press time was $380 on
A taxi to downtown Vancouver costs about $20. Some of the shops listed below have irregular hours; it's best to call ahead.
Where to shop
Kozai
1515 W. 6th Ave.
604-484-8980
www.kozaidesigns.com
Peking Lounge
35 E. Pender St.
604-844-1559
www.pekinglounge.com
Honeycomb
1111 Homer St., #104
604-648-2844
www.honeycombinteriors.com
Sate
1520 W. 13th Ave.
604-734-7283
www.sateimports.com
Pacific Orient Traders
1070 Homer St.
604-408-7988
www.pacificorienttraders.com
Travel Trunk Imports
1538 W. 2nd Ave.
604-739-0686
www.traveltrunkimports.com
Where to stay
Opus Hotel
322 Davie St.
866-642-6787 or 604-642-6787
www.opushotel.com
Doubles from $189.
This modern boutique hotel wins style points for bright, plush guest rooms with personality (five wide-ranging decor schemes) and a buzzing bar scene. The latest perk is an online ''lifestyle concierge" that creates a customized Vancouver itinerary according to your character choice.
Westin Grand
433 Robson St.
604-602-1999 or 888-630-9393
www.westingrandvancouver.com
Doubles from $135.
This all-suite hotel is well located at the crossroads of downtown and Yaletown, overlooking Library Square. Each room has high-speed Internet access, a kitchen, and the Westin's Heavenly Bath. (Warning: You may never want to leave the shower.)
Where to eat
Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar
1079 Mainland St.
604-602-0835
In the hip Yaletown district, chef Sean Riley serves up exotic bites -- tequila rubbed lamb, ginger chicken, seven-spice crusted tuna -- from an open display kitchen. Watch the action from the satay bar, cozy up in the illuminated lounge area, or take a seat in the white-tablecloth dining room. Dinner: $30-$40 per person.
Wild Rice
117 Pender St.
604-642-2882
On the fringes of Chinatown, this sleek young restaurant presents smart, modern versions of Chinese classics: halibut congee, wonton soup with charred scallions and gingko ginseng chicken broth, dungeness crab hot pot. The martinis are inventive: The Shanghai Alley is a blend of vodka, red passionfruit cognac, and lychee juice. Dinner: $20-$30 per person.
