Snohomish County, Washington! Your road to the winter Olympic games in Vancouver, BC.
Below, we have listed some of the many attractions that Snohomish County and it's cities and towns have to offer.
Also for your convenience, you will find Resources, Links and Information for the Winter Games.
As you journey to or from the winter games, Snohomish County, Washington welcomes you!We hope you enjoy your stay in the beautifulPacific NW, and we invite you to stop and enjoy our unique attractions, now or on a return visit!
Amtrak Cascades: Train stops in Edmons, Everett and Stanwood
Bus Service to/from Vancouver BC
Quick Shuttle: Service from SeaTac Airport; Downtown Seattle; Tulalip; Bellingham Airport. (Pick-up at Tulip is next to Adidas Sotre at Seattle Premium Outlet- 24hr. advance reservations is mandatory.) 800-665-2122.
Be sure to be prepared with proper identification for entering Canada and returning to the United States. U.S. citizens are now required to present a passport or enhanced Washington State enhanced drivers license. Information for U.S. citizens: http://www.travel.state.gov/
If you are not from the U.S., check the specific passport/visa requirements for your country.
Olympic Victory Ceremonies will be held every night from Feb.14-26 at BC Place*, and from Feb. 14-27 at the Whistler Medals Plaza.
Both venues will feature large video screens in order to link the nightly Olympic Victory Ceremony presentations in Whistler and Vancouver. Medals won in Whistler will be presented at the Whistler Medals Plaza before a live audience of 8,000.Medals won in Vancouver will bepresented in BC Place before a live audience of 35,000.
Each night the Victory Ceremonies will be followed by a live concert in each of these venues. *Please note: there will be no Victory Ceremonies held at BC Place on February 13, 22, or 27th.
Paralympic Victory Ceremonies: Paralympic Victory Ceremonies will be presented in Whistler between March 13 and 20, 2010. Nightly medal presentations will celebrate the winners of the Alpine and Nordic events, and will be followed by an evening concert.
Opening and Closing Ceremonies
The Opening Ceremony will take place in Vancouver’s 60,000-seat BC Place on Feb. 12 and Closing Ceremony on Feb. 28 at BC Place.
The Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony will be held on March 12 in BC Place. The Paralympic Closing Ceremony will be held on March 21 in Whistler, BC.
General Information
Signage: When you arrive at aVancouver 2010 venue, you will see signs at the Olympic or Paralympic shuttle load and unload areas, which will lead you to seating areas, concessions, washrooms and more. Smaller signs will provide additional directions around the venue.
Means of Payment: The 2010 Winter Games proudly acceptsonly Visa cards, along with cash and cheques, at all official venues.
Venue Gates Open Time: Spectator gates for the city venues will open two hours prior to the competition/event start time. Spectator gates for the Whistler venues will open three hours prior to the competition start time. Spectator gates for Opening and Closing Ceremonies will open three hours prior to the start of the ceremony. Please remember that storage is not available at any venue and that this list is subject to change.
Time Zone/Daylight Saving Time: BC is located in the Pacific Time zone, eight hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. Daylight saving time is observed from April to October.
Weather/Climate: Winters on the BC coast are temperate; if snow falls it doesn't settle for long. The BC interior and the rest of Canada experience freezing temperatures and lasting snow from Nov. to March. The key to remaining comfortable is to wear layers.
Currency exchanges: Located at the Vancouver International Airport, banks and hotels. Bank hours are normally 9:30-4:30 Mon-Friday with some exceptions.
Sales Tax:Most goods and services in Canada and BC are subject to 5% federal tax and 7% provincial tax.
Electricity: Outlets and voltage (110 volts) are the same as in the United States. The frequency of the electrical current is 60 Hz.
Emergencies: For emergencies in both Whistler and Vancouver, dial 911.
