"Must Sees" in Vancouver

[bcwife76]

We saw plenty of hobos (my daughter calls them that I think because of the Kit movie) and drug addicts on Granville Street.

Yeah Granville Street is another not-so-great area. Again, I wouldn't really consider Granville St much of a tourist area either and would never tell people "hey you gotta check this place out" lol

 

[MouseMomx2]

We didn't see any homeless people or obvious drug addicts when we were there in 2011...that I recall. I am sure there were some around, but it was nowhere near the number we encountered in San Francisco.

 

[MUN]

Yeah Granville Street is another not-so-great area. Again, I wouldn't really consider Granville St much of a tourist area either and would never tell people "hey you gotta check this place out" lol

Granville Street reminded me of East Village in NYC, except East Village has a lot less hobos and drug addicts now that the rent has gone up in the last 20 year. In spite of the blemishes, we really like Granville Street. There are a lot of cool restaurants and shops, and the trolly runs right down it.

MUN

 

[bcwife76]

Granville Street reminded me of East Village in NYC, except East Village has a lot less hobos and drug addicts now that the rent has gone up in the last 20 year. In spite of the blemishes, we really like Granville Street. There are a lot of cool restaurants and shops, and the trolly runs right down it.

MUN

They are trying to revitalize Granville St and that area so you never know, it might just turn into the next East Village!

 

[xlxo]

Thanks for the feedback. What time does the Capillano shuttle bus run until?

• It appears the last shuttle is 5pm... http://www.capbridge.com/visit/shuttle-service/
• About $30 from bridge to Pan Pacific for a taxi... http://www.taxifarefinder.com/main.php?city=Vancouver
• The #236 public transit bus runs til midnight. Evening frequency is every 15 minutes to the Seabus terminal onwards to downtown Vancouver... Cost is $4 per adult before 6:30pm. $2.75 after 6:30pm.
  http://infomaps.translink.ca/Public_Timetables/103/tt236.pdf

 

[xlxo]

Hobos? Wow, haven't heard that word in a long time!
To be fair, the most unsavory part of the city is the Downtown Eastside, which is Canada's poorest neighbourhood. In general, most of the city, especially the tourist areas (Stanley Park, Robson Street, etc) are NOT riddled with drug dealers,drug users, prostitutes and the like. There are panhandlers....a LOT of them. But I think that would be true of any large city.

One thing I noticed is panhandlers will target tourist's emotions. In reality, Vancouver and Vancouver taxpayers do offer social programs to those in need.

• Food is offered here... https://www.vch.ca/media/Free-Low-Cost-and-Community-meals-in-Vancouver-final-May-1-2013.xls
• Shelter is offered here... http://vancouver.ca/people-programs/homeless-shelters.aspx

Some advice I will share...

• don't give money. Often the money is spent at the nearby liquor store or used to buy more drugs.
• look at their shoes... if they can afford good athletic shoes, they don't need money. Some young panhandlers hang out downtown when they don't need it.
• many parking meters don't work downtown because the scammers will jam the meters with junk and then tweezers the stuck coins while you get the parking ticket
• there are many social agencies you can donate spare change too.
  • I think there is a box right at the airport post security.
  • Supermarkets have fundraisers by the cashiers
  • Some hotels may have charity boxes. You may be able to donate through the staff. The Pan Pacific has an annual Xmas fundraiser.
    http://www.panpacificvancouver.com/xmas-wish-2014/
  • buy a lottery ticket? Lotteries fund local charities.

 

[xlxo]

They are trying to revitalize Granville St and that area so you never know, it might just turn into the next East Village!

I have to admit, it does look better than 10 years ago.

 

[cleophus12]

I didn't see any reference to the ages of your family members, but my family loved renting bikes and riding through Stanley Park the morning before our departure. It is an easy ride and a very relaxing way to begin the day.