Spring is one of the best times of year to enjoy a city break in Vancouver; the days are warmer, the nights are longer and the city comes alive with colour at the peak of cherry blossom season. Each year, more than 40,000 cherry trees spring to life, decorating Vancouver's streets and parks with a canopy of white and pink blossoms. The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (April 3 to 28) celebrates the sakura (cherry blossoms in Japanese) with traditional Japanese food, live music, events and workshops including Haiku readings and origami making.

Top five things to do at the festival:

1. Picnic, walk or bike the cherry-pink way: use the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival bloom map to find the different blossom varieties and the whereabouts of city streets lined with blooming cherry tree. Visitors can also join a walking group or grab a bike and pedal along at Bike the Blossoms - a free blossom bike ride that takes place on April 26.

2. Indulge in traditional Japanese cuisine: kick off the festival on March 30 at Tojo's Restaurant's Sakura
Night, a pink-tie opening gala showcasing the best of Vancouver's Japanese cuisine. Attendees can sample delectable eats from Tojo's Restaurant, Zen Japanese Restaurant, Fairmont Pacific Rim's Raw Bar, Miku Restaurant, Seventeen89 and Zakkushi.

3. Take in live music under the blossoms: soak up live music, dance performances, Haiku readings and more at the Cherry Jam Downtown Concert. Taking place on April 3 (12pm - 1:30pm) under the cherry blossom canopies of downtown Vancouver's Burrard Station.

 
4. Discover the beauty of cherry blossoms at night: the Sakura Illumination Tour invites locals and visitors to experience the beauty of cherry blossom after dark. Taking place on April 4 at Granville Island's Sutcliffe Park (7:30pm - 9:00pm), the event encourages attendees to revel in the beauty of an illuminated canopy of cherry blossoms brought to life by LED and patterned video lights. 

5. Experience traditional Japanese culture: at this year's Sakura Days Japan Fair at VanDusen Botanical Garden, April 5 - 6. Taste Japanese food, sip traditional tea and sake and take a class or two (try calligraphy or origami) as well as enjoying ikebana lessons, guided walks through the blossoms, taiko drumming and martial arts performances.

Seven nights in Vancouver costs from £949 per person

Seven nights at the Holiday Inn Downtown costs from £949 per person, based on two people sharing on a room only basis. Including return flights with Air Canada from Heathrow to Vancouver direct departing on April 21 and returning on April 28. For further information or to book visit www.1stclassholidays.com/canada or call 08456443939.

For information about British Columbia visit Destination British
Columbia's website at www.BritishColumbia.travel

 
For additional story ideas visit Destination British Columbia's media
site at www.travelmedia.helloBC.com

-Ends-

For further information please contact:

Antonia Robinson

Tel: 020 7367 6745

Email: antonia@goshpr.co.uk