Fodor's Vancouver & Victoria: With Whistler, Vancouver Island & the Okanagan Valley

If you're not a native, this book helps greatly. It gave great advice on parks. There were several parks in the area (both hiking & strolling, watch the beautiful sunset kind of parks) we would not have found except for the book. It's advice on restaurants was current & accurate. As time goes by from these reviews, make certain you buy whatever edition is current. One thing the book did not prepare me for (no book probably could have) was the prices of ordinary things. Ie: food at the grocery store, aspirin, etc. Unless you live in New York City, you may get a little sticker shock when you pick up the odds and ends. Also, recommend drawing Canadian $$'s from ATM's once you get there, you'll get a much better exchange rate. Have fun!