We’re now one month away from the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games (Feb. 12, to be exact). Vancouver and Whistler will be in the world spotlight, and winter sports fans are getting ready for plenty of electrifying action. For everyone out there who will be making the trek to British Columbia’s Lower Mainland in February and/or March, here are some last-minute tips.

Whether you live in the Vancouver or Whistler areas or are just visiting, you’ll be affected by major traffic congestion, detours and road and bridge closures, and driving is likely to turn into an endurance test. Take advantage of Translink, greater Vancouver’s public transportation system, which opened a new rail line in August 2009 that takes passengers directly from Vancouver International Airport to downtown. For answers to Whistler transportation questions, visit www.whistler2010.com. The British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA) also has a Winter Olympics resource site with helpful advice for locals. 

If you’re attending the games and don’t already have accommodations lined up, you may be out of luck. Hotels in downtown Vancouver, in nearby suburban Richmond near the Olympic Oval (where speed skating events will take place) and in Whistler (site of many skiing events) are all booked solid. Smaller Vancouver hotels still have vacancies, even for the opening weekend of the games, but rates are high and require minimum stays. Room availability will shrink as the opening date draws closer. Search for lodging possibilities by date, location and Diamond Rating at AAA.com/travel.

The website of the Vancouver Organizing Committee, or VANOC, has a wealth of general Winter Olympics information. And if you bought a ticket or tickets in advance only to find that you won’t be able to make a particular event, a “fan-to-fan marketplace” has been set up for ticket holders who want to resell their tickets. The program allows resellers to put any price they want on their tickets; since the lowest-priced tickets usually sell quickly, it is recommended that prospective buyers check back often. Tickets must be bought through the VANOC Web site, and Visa is the only form of payment accepted.

Of course the Winter Olympics aren’t the only game in town, and visitors will have time to kill in between events. But not to worry—Vancouver is chock-full of outstanding attractions, including glorious Stanley Park, the park’s Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Center, the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre and Science World at Telus World of Science.

Take the False Creek Ferry to Granville Island and wander around the Granville Island Public Market. It’s the wrong time of year for straight-from-the-farm products like fresh Fraser Valley peaches and blueberries, but the market’s 50 or so different businesses sell a head-spinning array of fruits, veggies, meats, baked goods and every sort of specialty food that could be considered edible—a reflection of the city’s globe-spanning ethnic mix. And don’t leave without sampling the market’s many takeaway stands, which offer everything from fish and chips to Indian and Singaporean street snacks.

Olympics competition is always exhilarating, and the 2010 Winter Games will be no exception. The following events are sure to be highlights:

• The Opening Ceremonies. Is there a more stirring sight in all of sports? Whether you’re watching on TV or are lucky enough to have a seat at BC Place in downtown Vancouver, this is sure to be an extravaganza. Beijing put on a spectacular show at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, so expect nothing less this time around.
• Speed skating. Shani Davis is the current 1,000-meter and 1,500-meter world record holder; Apolo Ohno, who won the gold medal in the 500 meters at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, is competing in his third Olympics. These two are best friends but will be fierce competitors on the ice. Speed skating also has received lots of exposure thanks to political humorist Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central’s satirical news show “The Colbert Report,” who has become one of the sport’s chief sponsors due to his fundraising efforts and support from the show’s fans.
• Women’s hockey. Both the U.S. and Canadian teams are frontrunners for gold.
• Women’s figure skating. The one to beat is South Korea’s Kim Yu-Na, the 2009 world champion, who combines grace and amazing athletic skill.
• Downhill skiing. Two-time overall World Cup champion Bode Miller rejoined the U.S. Ski Team last September after a two-year absence. Miller and the other men’s downhill competitors are sure to offer plenty of daredevil thrills.  And finally, don’t forget the following:

• Bring your passport. All U.S. citizens traveling between the United States and Canada are required to show a valid passport.
• Bring an umbrella. Whether it’s rain in Vancouver or snow in Whistler, it’s a sure bet that something will be falling out of the sky at some point.
• Leave your car behind. With the massive influx of visitors, public transportation is the only way to go.