There are very few cities in the world with a downtown core that's as livible as Vancouver's.  Almost entirely surrounded by water and a continuous seawall you're never more than about a 10-15 minute walk from the ocean. And between sunsets and the backdrop of the North Shore mountains, there are simply stunning views in every direction. The city's skyline is dominated by highrise condo towers, and if you're lucky enough to live in one on a high-enough floor to get a view, you are truly sitting on a piece of premium real estate.   Vancouver offers a huge walk-to-work culture, where people generally opt to leave their cars at home (or don't even have them to begin with). With first class restaurants and social lounges, expansive well-maintained parks, sports fields, community centres, beaches and endless shopping, it's not uncommon for people who live downtown to almost never leave.