The romantic series „Off Campus”, filmed from Elle Kennedy's popular novels, portrays the fictional Briar University - but the locations are entirely real, and they all lead to one city: Vancouver, on Canada's west coast. The city between ocean and mountains has once again proved it's one of the most cinematic destinations in North America, and that's exactly why it's worth a trip in its own right, regardless of the series.

The series' campus is actually the University of British Columbia, surrounded by nature. The „Doug Mitchell Thunderbird” sports arena hosts the show's hockey matches, while the apartment of lead character Dean is a luxury five-star hotel downtown, with an industrial aesthetic and loft rooms. The students' favourite bar was filmed in a live-music pub in the Strathcona neighbourhood. In other words, a whole student world is assembled from real pieces of a single city.

But Vancouver offers far more than film sets. Gastown is the historic quarter with Victorian architecture and a famous steam clock. Stanley Park is a vast green expanse with ocean views, trails and one of the continent's largest aquariums nearby. Granville Island, once an industrial zone, is today full of markets, galleries and craft shops. And the panorama from the Vancouver Lookout tower takes in the city, the mountains and the bay in a single glance.

For those seeking adrenaline, the Capilano suspension bridge stretches 137 metres above an ancient forest. The English Bay and Kitsilano beaches offer sunsets with mountains in the background, and the city itself is the gateway to Grouse Mountain and the Whistler ski resort. Vancouver is one of those rare places where in half an hour you cross from city cafés to wild nature - and that very mix is why the cameras keep coming back.