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
