The countdown is on! We’re now less than a year away from the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. They signal the start of 17 days of Olympic Games events (Feb. 12-28, 2010) and 10 days of Paralympic Games events (Mar. 12-21, 2010).

Competition venues are spread among four locations on British Columbia’s Lower Mainland: the city of Vancouver, the Vancouver suburb of Richmond, Cypress Mountain in the district of West Vancouver, and the year-round outdoor recreation destination of Whistler. The XXI Winter Games will be taking place in and around one of the world’s most beautiful cities, which is reason enough to make plans to attend. The land is breathtakingly rugged, a fitting stage for an exhibition of winter sports prowess. And Vancouver’s natural setting—water everywhere you look, with a backdrop of mountains and green forests—is one of the reasons postcards were invented.

No, I’m not employed by a Vancouver public relations firm. I did, however, visit the place for 10 days last year and fell in love with it.  Whether you’re definitely planning on attending the games—or maybe thinking about a summer or fall orientation trip to scope things out first—here are some general tips. You’ll fly into Vancouver International Airport. If you’re driving up, Vancouver is approximately 140 miles north of Seattle, a straight shot up I-5 (drive time is roughly 2 hours, 30 minutes). Remember that a valid passport or other accepted secure document is required for air travel between Canada and the United States; beginning June 1, 2009, you’ll also need to show a passport in order to drive across the border. If you don’t have a passport, apply for one well in advance of your anticipated travel time; phone (877) 487-2778 for details. For the latest border crossing information go online to travel.state.gov.

Vancouver is connected to Whistler by Hwy. 99, the Sea-to-Sky Highway. And boy is that name appropriate: From the coastal village of Horseshoe Bay, the road climbs up, up, up into the Coast Mountains. It’s a really beautiful 2-hour trip; you’ll see fiords edged with green masses of trees in the distance as well as jagged granite crags that practically hang over the road. Every time I drive through this type of stunning but formidable wilderness I’m amazed that a road was even hacked through it.  An ongoing project to widen and improve the highway is on target for a fall 2009 completion date, resulting in a straighter roadway, better sightlines, new passing lanes and wider shoulders. Until the project is finished you can expect occasional traffic backups or minor delays. It’s always a good idea to check road conditions before heading to Whistler; phone (877) 472-3399 or visit www.drivebc.com.

What’s new in Whistler? For one thing, it now boasts North America’s first peak-to-peak gondola, which opened at Whistler Blackcomb Resort in December 2008. Skiers are whisked between the summits of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains in 11 minutes, allowing more time to navigate the challenging runs on both mountain faces. The gondola cabins, which hold up to 28 passengers, are suspended a dizzying 1,427 feet above ground at their highest point. A daily lift ticket buys you a ride on this engineering marvel.

Here are some quick planning tips, courtesy of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, or VANOC (www.vancouver2010.com/): • Advance tickets for Olympic Winter Games events are now on sale; tickets for Paralympic Games events go on sale May 6. Canadian residents can purchase tickets through the Vancouver 2010 Web site; U.S. citizens must purchase tickets through Jet Set Sports, the authorized ticket sales agent of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
• VANOC recommends planning to attend a maximum of one event a day and arriving early at the venue to allow plenty of time for the security screening process.
• Use public transportation; since spectator parking isn’t permitted at the venues, it’s the default choice for getting around. The TransLink system’s buses, SeaBus, SkyTrain rapid transit and West Coast Express commuter rail serve the metro Vancouver region. Due to open in November 2009 is SkyTrain’s Canada Line, a 16-station, 19-kilometer (12-mile) route linking downtown Vancouver with Richmond and Vancouver International Airport.
• Spectator gates for city venues will open 2 hours prior to the event start time; spectator gates for Whistler venues and for the Opening and Closing ceremonies will open 3 hours prior to the event. You will be thoroughly screened for restricted or prohibited items before being allowed to enter.

Greg’s advice: Don’t forget that this is a very cool city with a ton of things to see and do—and I have a couple of suggestions to get you started. For something quintessentially touristy, experience the sensory overload of Granville Island’s Public Market; this place is foodie heaven. Enjoy the great outdoors at Stanley Park, a thousand acres of hiking trails, recreational facilities and a 6-mile seawall set spectacularly in a forest of Douglas firs, hemlocks and cedar trees. And when you’re hungry, hit one of the casual little Middle Eastern eateries on nearby Denman Street. I’m partial to the Mediterranean Grill (near the corner of Denman and Davie Street). It’s small and often crowded, but you don’t go there for ambiance; you go there for the food. Specifically: a large order of tzatziki (yogurt dip flavored with cucumber and dill), a chicken shawarma plate with all the fixings, and extra pita. Do you have Vancouver travel planned or an Olympic travel tip? Tell us about it.