Help with Vancouver, BC

[DVC~OKW~96]

Hello!
My wife and I will be in Vancouver this coming September. We've done some research and have learned about a few places to visit while there.

We think we'd like to see Granville Island, for example. Also, we are planning on trying the wonderful noodles at the Peaceful Restaurant... among other delicious sounding food at other places.

So! My question is, where would you recommend we visit? We've not been to the north west coast of Canada ever, so it's an exciting "first" for us!

Thank you for any and all suggestions!

 

[sechelt]

Stanley Park is a great destination. You can see a group of totem poles, visit the aquarium, walk the sea wall, stop for fish and chips by Lumberman's Arch, visit the beaches near English Bay, stroll around Lost Lagoon, ride on a horse drawn trolley, walk the beautiful rose garden, and more!

At Granville Island, find the boat dock and catch a mini ferry around False Creek. You can take one to the Maritime Museum, Museum of Vancouver and H.R. MacMillan Observatory or take one over to Yaletown.

We also have a transit system that gives a bird's eye view of the city, from the skytrain. A day pass is $9 and valid on all skytrains and buses, as well as the seabus, which takes you to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver. That's another nice little trip.

September should be nice weather but bring something for rain, just in case. We do, technically, live in a rain forest.

 

[Canadiantinkerfairy]

Hi there,
I live in Vancouver. It really is beautiful here.
A couple of places to see:
Science world is cool for kids
Metrotown mall-great for shopping (disney store)
Granville Island
Stanley park
-sea wall
-aquarium
-Horse drawn carriage
Wander around downtown:
-head over to see where the olympic torch is still set-up
-Vancouver art museum
-Eat at some of the world class dining places
-beaches are amazing
A day trip to whistler-amazing
Have a great time!

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Thank you both for your helpful recommendations.

I've looked into the Skytrain. We thought about getting the book of ten tickets. Is it one ticket, one way?

We also like the fact that those transport tickets can be used on other forms of transport.

We've also thought about visiting the Capilano suspension bridge. It has the footbridge suspended over the chasm? It looks very interesting!

We are staying at Le Soleil on Hornby. Have you heard anything about this hotel? It had very good recommendations on Trip Advisor.

 

[MedicGoofy]

My parents and I just returned a month ago from a Vancouver/Alaska trip.

We LOVED Vancouver. So beautiful. So many great places to visit and explore.

We did Capilano Suspension. It was awesome. Not only was the scenery great, but the whole place was just neat.

Did a day trip up to Whistler. It's neat to take the cable car from Mountain to Mountain....and UP. Lots of walking around in the shopping area. But, again, a beautiful place to see.

We were gonna head to Granville, but weather and other stuff got in the way.

Walk around Gastown. Pretty neat through there. Some restaurants and souvenir stores as well.

Such a beautiful city, wish I had had more time there. Enjoy your trip!!!

P.S. Try Cardero's. We went for dinner, sat outside at the harbour. It was amazing. Great food. Great scenery. Overlooking the harbour and Stanley Island. Can watch the float planes come in.

 

[Sue M]

Thank you both for your helpful recommendations.

I've looked into the Skytrain. We thought about getting the book of ten tickets. Is it one ticket, one way?

We also like the fact that those transport tickets can be used on other forms of transport.

We've also thought about visiting the Capilano suspension bridge. It has the footbridge suspended over the chasm? It looks very interesting!

We are staying at Le Soleil on Hornby. Have you heard anything about this hotel? It had very good recommendations on Trip Advisor.

Yes, Capiliano is very nice, they also have the Tree top walk, etc there.

You can rent bikes to go around the Sea Wall in Stanley Park.

Stroll along the shopping district of Robson, downtown. There's also Pacific Centre Mall downtown.

Gas Town area

There's a Red Bus tour, it's a hop on hop off bus. I would recommend doing the entire loop first, then hop on/off the places that interested you.

Take the Tram up Grouse Mtn.

See the Olympic Torch by the Vancouver Convention centre. There's a tourism office near by too, where you can buy attraction tickets at a small discount. That's where we got our Capilano tickets when I had visitors out.

 

[sechelt]

Sorry. I'm no help on Le Soleil other than I've heard of it. When are you travelling? Perhaps I could go check it out for you??

The transit tickets come in 1, 2, or 3 zone choices. If you'll be exploring on the weekends only then the single zone tickets will each give you 90 minutes of hop on, hop off anywhere that transit takes you. Once the 90 minutes is up, you'll need another ticket. I don't know how strict they are if the timing is close.

If you're wanting to ride mid-week before 6:30 p.m., you'll need to use the tickets according to how many zones you'll travel in. If you want to explore North Van, Burnaby, Coquitlam, the Airport, Steveston (fishing village), or anywhere outside Metro Vancouver, you'd need to use one ticket for each zone. However, I've heard you can use the 'add fare' choice onto your one zone tickets. I don't know much about it but apparently it saves $. If you decide to use the tickets, be sure to have them validated when you first board a bus or at the skytrain station. Only validate the ones you're using right then.

I've attached the zone map for you to peek at. Hopefully the link works.

http://www.translink.ca/en/Fares-and-Passes/Fare-Zone-Map.aspx

 

[mom_rules]

Our daughter lives there-love Vancouver -we get to go often.
First-unless you plan to go outside of the city do not rent a car. You can buy a translink day pass for around $9 per adult and it's good for all zones, skytrain, seabus, bus, all day. You can buy then right at the 7/11 in the airport or at convenience stores and London Drug stores downtown. Granville Island to downtown is about 25-30 minute walk and it's over the bridges-excellent place to take pictures from.
Bus trip to Whistler is excellent. Capilano Suspension bridge although a bit expensive is fabulous. I agree Stanley Park, walk, bike or take the horse drawn wagon around the sea wall. A cheaper alternative to Capilano is the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge. Tram up to Grouse I think was just under $40 per person last time we were there (not worth it in my mind). You can get a great view from the Vancouver lookout or Take the bus up to Queen Elizabeth Park and the Bloedel Conservatory-great views of the city from up there. There is a little teahouse up there for a little break. If you do rent a car-drive on over to Steveston. The fishermen back their boat up to the dock with today's catch and you can get the freshest fish and chips I've ever eaten there. The Museum of Anthropology at UBC is excellent.

 

[lisalonglash]

Hello!
My wife and I will be in Vancouver this coming September. We've done some research and have learned about a few places to visit while there.

We think we'd like to see Granville Island, for example. Also, we are planning on trying the wonderful noodles at the Peaceful Restaurant... among other delicious sounding food at other places.

So! My question is, where would you recommend we visit? We've not been to the north west coast of Canada ever, so it's an exciting "first" for us!

Thank you for any and all suggestions!

We live in South Surrey (near the WA State border crossings) and have lived in the Greater Vancouver area for most of our lives. The Capilano Suspension Bridge (North Vancouver) is a great place to spend some time, as is Stanley Park (downtown Vancouver), Granville Island (take the little ferry from the downtown beaches to Granville Island), the Planetarium and the Kitsilano beach/pool (on the same side of the river as Granville Island), etc. There are a lot of things to do, so maybe make a long list first, then narrow it down to a number of attractions you can reasonably do during the time you're here

Thank you both for your helpful recommendations.

I've looked into the Skytrain. We thought about getting the book of ten tickets. Is it one ticket, one way?

We also like the fact that those transport tickets can be used on other forms of transport.

We've also thought about visiting the Capilano suspension bridge. It has the footbridge suspended over the chasm? It looks very interesting!

We are staying at Le Soleil on Hornby. Have you heard anything about this hotel? It had very good recommendations on Trip Advisor.

Yes, Skytrain tickets are one-way. My mom always stays at Le Soleil when she visits (my husband and I spent one of our anniversary weekends at Le Soleil too). It's a lovely hotel, feels very intimate and cozy, the staff are very good. The location of the hotel is fantastic, close to shopping malls, Robson Street, the Vancouver Art Gallery, etc.

Have a wonderful time!

PS: Just noticed someone posted a recommendation for Steveston (in Richmond, where the airport is) for fish & chips. Absolutely agree - go to Pajo's in Steveston, it's a seasonal little place on a floating pier at the riverfront in Steveston. BEST fish & chips!

 

[mom_rules]

PS: Just noticed someone posted a recommendation for Steveston (in Richmond, where the airport is) for fish & chips. Absolutely agree - go to Pajo's in Steveston, it's a seasonal little place on a floating pier at the riverfront in Steveston. BEST fish & chips!

That's the place! http://www.pajos.com/locations/steveston-on-the-wharf/

 

[Carina]

We've also thought about visiting the Capilano suspension bridge. It has the footbridge suspended over the chasm? It looks very interesting!

Check out Lynn Canyon in North Vancouver (other side of the Lions Gate Bridge)

You can get there by car or take the seabus then there is a city bus that takes you right there. It too has a really cool suspension bridge but it's less crowded and FREE, there is also a really neat nature house there, that teaches you about local flora and fauna (also free)

It's like a Vancouvers best kept secret kinda thing. We took The Girl Guides a few years ago and everyone LOVED it. We couldn't belive how comparable it was without costing a thing ( it isn't as high or as long, but it was plenty high and plenty long for me!...lol)

http://lynncanyon.ca/

http://lynncanyon.ca/directions.html

 

[Aladora]

What about popping over to Vancouver Island and spend some time here in Victoria?

Lots of fun things to do here, Butchart Gardens, Butterfly Gardens, Whale Watching tours, tea at The Empress Hotel, Wine Tours just to name a few!

 

[mom_rules]

What about popping over to Vancouver Island and spend some time here in Victoria?

Lots of fun things to do here, Butchart Gardens, Butterfly Gardens, Whale Watching tours, tea at The Empress Hotel, Wine Tours just to name a few!

Wine tours? Tell us more please!