Canada Place

Vancouver’s version of the Sydney Opera House – at least judging by the number of postcards it appears on – this iconic landmark is shaped like a series of sails jutting into the sky over the harbor. Now a cruise-ship terminal and convention center (the large, grass-roofed convention center expansion opened next door in 2010), it’s also a pier where you can stroll out from the waterfront for some camera-triggering views of the North Shore mountains and the busy floatplanes splashing into the water. If it’s raining and you have kids in tow, duck inside to the Port Authority Interpretation Centre ([tel] 604-665-9179; www.portvancouver.com; admission free; [hrs] 8am-5pm Mon-Fri), a hands-on showcase illuminating the city’s maritime trade. Hit the convention center extension next door: its plaza houses dramatic public artworks, more great views and the tripod-like Olympic Cauldron, a permanent reminder of the 2010 Games.