Travel: 48 Hours in Vancouver

8pm Sample sushi at the Oysi Oysi Japanese restaurant on Alberni Street, (604 682 0011).

Saturday, 9am Tour Olympic venues, taking in Canada Hockey Place (ice hockey), the Vancouver Olympic Centre (curling) and the figure skating centre at Pacific Coliseum (www.vancouver2010.com).

1pm Seafood lunch at the Water Street Caf in Gastown (604 689 2832) overlooking the famous Gastown Steam Clock.

2pm Walk to Waterfront Station and take the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. From there, take the bus to Grouse Mountain (www.translink.com).

3:30pm Try out the new Mountain Ziplines and hurtle from Grouse to neighbouring Dam Mountain at speeds of up to 80km/hr (www.grousemountain.com).

6pm Eat dinner at the award-winning Observatory restaurant, and enjoy stunning evening views of Vancouver.

9pm Go night skiing! Grouse isn't an official 2010 venue, but it's celebrating the arrival of the Winter Olympics by staying open 24/7 for the duration of the games.

Sunday, 10am Visit Granville Island Market (www.granvilleisland.com).

1pm Lunch by the water at Bridges Restaurant on Granville Island (www.bridgesrestaurant.com).

2pm Check out the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion, showcasing the diversity of aboriginal art, music and culture throughout Canada (www.fourhostfirstnations.com).

3:30pm Head to LiveCity Downtown, an outdoor arena on the corner of Georgia Street and Beatty Street, to catch some live music (www.livecityvancouver.ca).

7pm On your way to the airport, stop off at the Richmond Olympic Oval (speed skating) to admire the ambitious architecture (www.richmondoval.ca). Visit www.British Columbia.travel for more information.

This article first appeared in the Scotsman on Saturday 2 January, 2010