**** Vancouver FAQ Thread **** A few updates in main post!

[Shanny145]

Does anyone have any info on the grouse mountain zip lines? We have an 8 and 10 year old that are just under 70 lbs which of course is their min weight to zip. One is 64 lbs and the other 67 lbs.......do they check your weight.....has anyone else brought kids to do this?

 

[hawaiian mickey]

A General Admission ticket includes round-trip Skyride, the Lumberjack Show, Ranger Talks at the Grizzly Bear Habitat, movies in our Theatre in the Sky, Bird show, amazing view and access to all our summer activities and more.
Adults are $39.94
Youth are 23.95
Child are 13.95

Extra cost are paragliding and zipline. However, I think the cost includes your admission.

I have been told it is 30 minutes from downtown. You can take public transportation, or there a free shuttle that goes there direct, or a taxi cost $30

aloha,
We did Grouse Mtn the day before our cruise. What we did was made dinner reservation at the Restaurant Observatory. An as along as each of us order one entree at dinner our admission was free. They do take a credit card # at the time of reservation. Entrees start at $30.
It was a great deal and had a beautiful view.

aloha,
hawaiian mickey

 

[HiMagicFan]

aloha,
We did Grouse Mtn the day before our cruise. What we did was made dinner reservation at the Restaurant Observatory. An as along as each of us order one entree at dinner our admission was free. They do take a credit card # at the time of reservation. Entrees start at $30.
It was a great deal and had a beautiful view.

aloha,
hawaiian mickey
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So, if we make dinner ressies we can get in free? We can get in, say in the am and stay all day, have dinner and then split?

Did you use the free transportation? I am wondering why pay for a taxi if they offer free transportation? I gotta do some better research but mahalo from one kanaka to another.

 

[hawaiian mickey]

So, if we make dinner ressies we can get in free? We can get in, say in the am and stay all day, have dinner and then split?

Did you use the free transportation? I am wondering why pay for a taxi if they offer free transportation? I gotta do some better research but mahalo from one kanaka to another.

aloha,
We made this reservation through open table. The only caveat is that they will give your admission tickets 3 hrs prior to your reservation.
Our reservation was at 6:00pm. The 3 hrs we had was more than enough time to do all the free events (birds of prey,lumberjack show,ski lift ride and short movie).
We had a rental van an drove to Grouse Mtn. There is a free shuttle in downtown. Check their website.
It was a great place to go.The view was really spectacular. It is really worth the price.

aloha,
hawaiian mickey

 

[Rat-a-too-ee]

I didn't realize that the term "Skid Row" comes from Hastings Street in Vancouver.

For those familiar with the area, please let me know if it is safe to walk the following path on Monday morning:

Walk from Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (578 Carrall Street),

to Vancouver Lookout (555 West Hastings Street), and then to Canada Place.

Or, should play it safe and go with a cab?

Thanks in advance.

I must admit that DW & I felt a bit "uncomfortable" around this area particularly with 2 children. We decided not to walk too far from the garden and headed back to to the bus stop just outside as we had 24hr tickets for the open top bus "The Big Bus". We merely jumped back on this and headed towards Canada Place. I am pretty sure the bus stops around the Vancouver Lookout as well.

This is the only area of Vancouver we felt unsafe in - this is truly a wonderful city and our stay (3 nights each both pre & post cruise) were fantastic

Thanks so much! Wasn't sure if we should attempt to walk it. It's the only area we need to find transporation in... our hotel shuttle will drop us off at the Gardens and then we are getting a rental car at Canada Place for 24 hours so we can see the rest of the town and drop ourselves off at Canada Place the next day for the cruise.

 

[staffieri]

So, if we make dinner ressies we can get in free? We can get in, say in the am and stay all day, have dinner and then split?

Did you use the free transportation? I am wondering why pay for a taxi if they offer free transportation? I gotta do some better research but mahalo from one kanaka to another.

We have to use a taxi, which cost $25 -30 because I need to be there at 9am.the free shuttle starts at 9:30am getting people there between 10 an 10:10.

We going the day of the cruise, so have to make things as easy as possible. but was told the shuttle was great and made three stops to pick people up. two are at hotels and one somewhere downtown.

 

[Rat-a-too-ee]

Aaloha,
We did Grouse Mtn the day before our cruise. What we did was made dinner reservation at the Restaurant Observatory. An as along as each of us order one entree at dinner our admission was free. They do take a credit card # at the time of reservation. Entrees start at $30.
It was a great deal and had a beautiful view.

aloha,
hawaiian mickey

Thanks for the tip! I just made a reservation for dinner. Entrees went up to $39 each, but still a good value.

The only thing that worries me is this:
"Please respect the smart casual dress code and note we do not allow hiking apparel or hats in the restaurant."

We will be out ALL day, with an aggressive plan to see the Chinese Gardens, the Lookout, Gastown, the Capilano Bridge, and then Grouse Mountain. I'll be wearing a t-shirt and jeans and will look like hell warmed over by the time we get there at 7pm. Hope they let me in!

 

[GrtWtNorth]

If I bought a the booklet of 10 for a single zone, could I use two tickets to travel to airport from Canada Place?
Thanks

Use a one-zone ticket, then pay to upgrade to a 2-zone fare. You can do this at any skytrain station or on any bus. You will need both your validated one-zone ticket and the upgrade ticket as proof of payment.

 

[PBader]

We have to use a taxi, which cost $25 -30 because I need to be there at 9am.the free shuttle starts at 9:30am getting people there between 10 an 10:10.

We going the day of the cruise, so have to make things as easy as possible. but was told the shuttle was great and made three stops to pick people up. two are at hotels and one somewhere downtown.

Kimberly you are going to have a busy, but fun cruise day

 

[GrtWtNorth]

I didn't realize that the term "Skid Row" comes from Hastings Street in Vancouver.

For those familiar with the area, please let me know if it is safe to walk the following path on Monday morning:

Walk from Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (578 Carrall Street),

to Vancouver Lookout (555 West Hastings Street), and then to Canada Place.

Or, should play it safe and go with a cab?

Thanks in advance.

Chinatown is vibrant and fun. It's just a shame that between Chinatown and the Vancouver Lookout is the sketchiest three blocks in all of Canada. It's rough. It's like a mini Tijuana. You would be walking through a throng of drunks, druggies, mentally ill, homeless as well as countless volunteer and professional services providers. Many rough-looking characters will ask for change, and a few will be verbally abusive. Victory Park is where they sleep off their fix. Crackheads are common on Hastings and Vancouver Police are never more than a block or two away. As a healthy adult, I would walk there, but only in daylight. I wouldn't take my toddler there (too many discarded needles), but I might take my 13-year-old nephew -- it would be an educational "this is why you don't do drugs" experience. My parents are very adventurous tourists, who enjoyed meeting impoverished locals in Honduras and Cuba, but that Vancouver neighbourhood makes them very, very uncomfortable.

If your group is all adults, and you want a bit of culture shock, go ahead and walk that route. If your ideal vacation is a little more sheltered or if there are young kids involved, take a cab.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

I'll be wearing a t-shirt and jeans and will look like hell warmed over by the time we get there at 7pm. Hope they let me in!

You should probably call ahead to verify the dress code (which may change slightly week to week). Clean jeans may be OK, but you should probably have a collared shirt instead of a T-shirt. The Observatory on Grouse Mountain is comparable to WDW Signature Dining restaurants like Jinko, Citricos, or Artist Point.

 

[kandt]

It's just a shame that between Chinatown and the Vancouver Lookout is the sketchiest three blocks in all of Canada. QUOTE]

We were hoping to drop off our luggage at Canada Place and then walk over to the Vancouver Lookout with our 2 young daughters. Is the area between Canada Place and the Lookout safe? Thanks for your help!

 

[cwdefouw]

It's just a shame that between Chinatown and the Vancouver Lookout is the sketchiest three blocks in all of Canada. QUOTE]

We were hoping to drop off our luggage at Canada Place and then walk over to the Vancouver Lookout with our 2 young daughters. Is the area between Canada Place and the Lookout safe? Thanks for your help!

Going to the Vancouver Lookout from Canada Place, I don't believe you will get into this area. A local can confirm, but we originally looked at staying at the Delta Suites across the street from the Lookout and I think this area is west of the problem areas.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

We were hoping to drop off our luggage at Canada Place and then walk over to the Vancouver Lookout with our 2 young daughters. Is the area between Canada Place and the Lookout safe? Thanks for your help!

Yes, you and your family will be fine.

If you take a look at the map on the first page of this thread, you can see the Delta Vancouver dot at Hastings and Seymore. The Vancouver Lookout is in the Harbour Centre, just across Hastings from the Delta.

The western edge of skid row is at Homer and Hastings. The sketchy area extends east along Hastings as far as Main Street. It is a relatively confined area, easy enough to avoid with a bit of planning.

 

[vacationsitis]

Use a one-zone ticket, then pay to upgrade to a 2-zone fare. You can do this at any skytrain station or on any bus. You will need both your validated one-zone ticket and the upgrade ticket as proof of payment.

Thank you. That is good to know.

Regards,
Sumita

 

[vacationsitis]

Technically no, because that crosses a zone line, so you are supposed to carry a two zone ticket (not two one-zone's.) One thing you could do is to get out at the Marine Drive station of the Canada Line (which is the first station in Zone 1, Vancouver) and validate your second one-zone ticket and get back on. But that could be a bit of a hassle.

Thanks for the information.

 

[Inkmahm]

We are staying at the Pan Pacific the night before our DCL Alaska cruise. For those of you who know the area, where is the closest place I can get a case of purified water? Nestle, Aquafina, etc. - any of them would be fine. I want to take a case with me on the ship but I don't want to have to carry it for blocks to get it back to the hotel.

 

[PBader]

In the 1st post, Liz listed a lot of places.

I would imagine you could get it here,

WHERE CAN I BUY ALCOHOL BEFORE THE CRUISE???
Thanks BlackFrank for posting this info...
There's a government liquor store in the lower level of Harbour Center mall (555 West Hastings Street), which is about 2 blocks from the Pan Pacific. The Harbour Center building is fairly unmistakable, as it has a revolving restaurant on top. It's essentially across the street from the Seabus terminal (the old, brick railway station). You essentially walk out of the Pan Pacific, hang and immediate left, take the first turn (on Howe street), take the next turn (on W Cordova Street), walk 2 1/2 blocks, and there you are.

(Do a search on google maps from Pan Pacific Hotel to Harbour Center).
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...9&ie=UTF8&z=17

 

[Rat-a-too-ee]

GrtWtNorth - thanks for your help with my questions/concerns about walking between Chinatown and the Vancouver Lookout and the dress code at Grouse Mtn.

We are just (2) adults, but have a feeling we should just pay a few bucks for a cab through that part just in case. I feel more confident walking from the Lookout to Canada Place.

Also, I will probably take an extra shirt for my DH and I just in case at the restaurant at Grouse Mountain.

 

[smeecanada]

In the 1st post, Liz listed a lot of places.

I would imagine you could get it here,

No, not going to get it at a Government Liquor store. They are strictly liquor/wine/beer. Might be able to buy a single bottle of water, but definitely not a case.