YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES
Views of Tom Reynen and Steve Gryzan's condo building in Vancouver from George Wainborn Park.
Tom Reynen and Steve Gryzan's home in Shoreview sits on a heavily wooded lot with 200 feet of lakeshore. When the couple considered a second home, a cabin up north seemed like a duplication, so their getaway is on the 19th floor of a sleek condo building in Vancouver, British Columbia. They discovered their fondness for the city during a stop on an Alaskan cruise. With Vancouver being a compact city, they rarely rent a car.
The building borders a park and a seawall that winds along the city's waterfront, English Bay, Stanley Park and downtown. The condo has one bedroom plus a den, about 750 square feet.
Value: In Vancouver, property values haven't dipped. The couple paid $330,000 Canadian four years ago (about $260,000 U.S.). The condo is now worth about $550,000 Canadian. The city is in a building boom in anticipation of hosting the 2010 winter Olympics.
Distance: A three-hour nonstop flight.
Unique feature: It's a foodie's paradise, said Reynen. The city is full of wonderful restaurants along with great seafood and produce.
Summer fun: Shakespeare festival called Bard on the Beach and the Celebration of Light, an international fireworks festival, both the last week of July.
Area must-see: Vancouver is a good starting point to visit other parts of the Pacific Northwest, including Victoria and Whistler, British Columbia, and the wine country in Okanagan Valley.
JOHN EWOLDT
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