Visiting Vancouver BC

[PlutoPony]

Wow - great info! Thank you all!
Now we need to decide how much time to spend in BC vs Seattle....

Let me add a slight wrinkle - I may not be able to walk for long distances at that time. So husband and son may do some things without me which is fine. IF I decided to take a wheelchair along to use for some city adventures, how friendly is the city to the use of one - are buildings typically easily accessible, etc. ? Or on the flip side, are there benches here and there along city streets or in tourist type areas where I could sit and rest if needed?

 

[PlutoPony]

Check this site in a few months when they release architecture tour schedule...
http://www.aibc.ca/celebrating-architecture/architectural-walking-tours/

Thank you so much for this - it sounds perfect. Probably would not have found this on my own, I appreciate it! Will keep an eye out for the 2016 schedule. And they specify the tours are wheelchair accessible so I can participate if I'm at a point of needing a wheelchair then.

 

[xlxo]

Let me add a slight wrinkle - I may not be able to walk for long distances at that time. So husband and son may do some things without me which is fine. IF I decided to take a wheelchair along to use for some city adventures, how friendly is the city to the use of one - are buildings typically easily accessible, etc. ? Or on the flip side, are there benches here and there along city streets or in tourist type areas where I could sit and rest if needed?

Thoughts...

• If you can't decide.... consider a "transport wheelchair". I got the lighter aluminum model for mom and it makes it so much easier for travel. You also get expedited service on planes and cruise boarding.
• Vancouver is very wheelchair friendly.... not so Alaska. Vancouver has sidewalk ramps everywhere. Vancouver does not have hills like San Francisco (or Seattle).
• Benches are hit and miss. Some removed to prevent street sleepers. As the population is getting older..... I have found at times there wasn't enough. I sometimes bring a folding stool.... but a transport chair was better for mom as I could help her getting from point to point easier.

 

[cijay]

Steveston is also where they film the exteriors for Once Upon a Time, if you're a fan of the show. The next time I go up there I want to visit the rainforests.

I don't watch but didn't know there was a rain forest in Steveston - figured that was filmed in Tofino area. I was at the bog forest in Richmond though, is that where it's filmed?

 

[xlxo]

I don't watch but didn't know there was a rain forest in Steveston - figured that was filmed in Tofino area. I was at the bog forest in Richmond though, is that where it's filmed?

It's also been discussed parts of it are filmed in Burnaby. I think it would be Deer Lake.
https://moviemaps.org/movies/h7

 

[cijay]

It's also been discussed parts of it are filmed in Burnaby. I think it would be Deer Lake.
https://moviemaps.org/movies/h7

I didn't know there are rainforests anywhere on the lower mainland. That's my new thing I learned today.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I'm sorry....

There are rainforests near Vancouver --- maybe you have to drive a ways to get to them, but coming from Southern California that is a lot closer...

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...ge_Park-North_Vancouver_British_Columbia.html
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/vancouver-rainforest
http://rainforestnaturehikes.com/

Steveston is a little town off the water where they film the exterior shots of Once Upon a Time, and is the town of Storybrooke.
http://www.tourismrichmond.com/things-to-do/once/

 

[ford family]

We enjoyed the Soarin' type ride, https://www.flyovercanada.com/ at the cruise terminal. Short but spectacular.

ford family

 

[Flight]

Another fun activity when staying in Vancouver is to rent bikes and ride the sea wall around the harbor and through Stanley Park. Great exercise and fantastic views!

 

[xlxo]

I didn't know there are rainforests anywhere on the lower mainland. That's my new thing I learned today.

Once you leave the concrete jungle... there is a coastline rainforest that stretches from Alaska, all the way to Oregon. Good prime timber for those in forestry.

 

[xlxo]

Thank you so much for this - it sounds perfect. Probably would not have found this on my own, I appreciate it! Will keep an eye out for the 2016 schedule.

If you look at the 2015 brochure.... there are 6 tours where two are done each day and the cycle repeats. You may need addition pre/post-cruise days to explore them all.
http://www.aibc.ca/membersite/wp-co...ural-Walking-Tour-Brochure-2015-Vancouver.pdf

Not quite architecture.... but I also enjoy John Atkin's walks.
http://www.johnatkin.com/

Buildings/Structures not to be missed....

• Marine building. Need to check out the elevators!
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Building
• Hotel Vancouver.... it's build like a Kings throne.
• Robson Square..... it's a 40 story building laid on it's side
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robson_Square
• Qube... a building held by elastic supports ready for the next big quake
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Qube_(Vancouver)
• Vancouver Public Library... built as a roman coliseum. Featured in Arnold's Sixth Day.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_Public_Library
• the Lookout..... one of the signature skyline building that includes an observation deck.
  http://www.vancouverlookout.com/
• Eye of the Wind.... a giant windmill that serves as the city's highest observation point
• Eugenia Place..... a tall rooftop tree represents the height of the forest in the yesteryear.
  http://www.condopedia.com/wiki/Eugenia_Place
• Lions Gate bridge.... a 1/2 clone of San Francisco's golden gate bridge.
• BC Place stadium.... originally built with an air supported dome.
• the cruise terminal.... also known as Canada Place, the Pan Pacific, and/or the convention centre. Modeled after a ship.... modern cruise ships appear bigger than it.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Place
• convention centre West... green roof and green building.
• HSBC building.... a giant pendulum greets you at the entrance. It needs to be turned off in Winter... the building shrinks and the pendulum does not have enough clearance to swing!
• While the Capilano Suspension Bridge is worthy of a visit.... you might want to check out the Skypilot suspension bridge just North of Vancouver. It's 10 times taller.... taller than the NYC freedom tower!
• Whistler offers some incredible architecture achievements in building the Peak 2 Peak gondola. It may be worth a visit. If you want a more intimate experience.... demand the Sasquatch where you are ziplined across two major mountains!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvsqXE-B7Gg

 

[bcla]

@bcla I have to laugh at the part where you find BC drivers ridiculously polite. I'm sorry but you must've found the only 6 drivers in this province who ARE! Seriously, traffic and drivers are getting worse and worse here. Ugh. Polite is NOT a word I would ever use to describe drivers here

Not necessarily great drivers. However, when I made a mistake it wasn't like back home where a driver would get gestured or even worse. Here's a comment on it:

http://www.slatervecchio.com/blog/b-c-tops-list-of-canadas-worst-drivers/

Alberta takes first place for multi-tasking, running red lights, and littering. On a positive note, B.C. drivers are more polite to bad drivers when compared to Alberta. B.C. drivers honk less, curse less, and make less obscene gestures at offending drivers.​

 

[bcwife76]

Ok, well compared to Alberta drivers then yes, I could see BC drivers being a bit better I was cut off by an Albertan driver just a few hours ago as a matter of fact.....apparently all those HUGE signs saying which way was the freeway and which way was in to town were too difficult for said driver and he cut me off (no signal of course) at the last moment when he decided 'nah, I don't want to go on the highway so I'll just cross this double solid line into the other lane.' And I didn't gesture or honk....hrm.....I'm not usually that nice

 

[xlxo]

Vancouver is a compact city, so you don't have far to drive. Choose the wrong route and you hit summer construction which adds to the frustration. New drivers, senior drivers, immigrant drivers, impaired drivers, and the growing distracted drivers..... I've become a huge fan of dashcams. Video footage has already helped show I was not a fault for two accidents, despite very convincing evidence from the other party. Modern cars with airbags have made it very expensive to repair vehicles.... a lot do not want to pay for damages.

Parking lot rage can be a factor at popular tourist attraction lots on a busy afternoon. Only time a car rental is needed is a road trip out of town. Shuttles, taxis and public transit is a good option to get around.

 

[cedricandsophie]

I love the city of Vancouver but I would highly recommend getting a car for at least a day and driving up to whistler, one of the finest ski resorts in the world . The summer scenery is spectacular especially on the drive up. Also the ferry ride thru the San Juan islands is wonderful. You can take a ferry to Friday harbor and spend days hiking and traveling between islands. We saw 20 plus Eagles there once diving for food. The most amazing site ever. And Vancouver island is also well worth the visit. Victoria is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. And beuchart gardens will blow your mind.

 

[bcla]

I love the city of Vancouver but I would highly recommend getting a car for at least a day and driving up to whistler, one of the finest ski resorts in the world . The summer scenery is spectacular especially on the drive up. Also the ferry ride thru the San Juan islands is wonderful. You can take a ferry to Friday harbor and spend days hiking and traveling between islands. We saw 20 plus Eagles there once diving for food. The most amazing site ever. And Vancouver island is also well worth the visit. Victoria is truly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. And beuchart gardens will blow your mind.

Of course that ferry ride is between Anacortes, WA and Sidney, BC. If they're not going to Vancouver Island, then it probably won't be practical.

I found the ferry between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay (Victoria) to be pretty spectacular too.

 

[Aladora]

Of course that ferry ride is between Anacortes, WA and Sidney, BC. If they're not going to Vancouver Island, then it probably won't be practical.

I found the ferry between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay (Victoria) to be pretty spectacular too.

There is also a passenger only ferry between Seattle and downtown Victoria as well as a car ferry between Port Angeles and downtown Victoria. My favourite has to be the Clipper which is the Seattle-Victoria passenger ferry but it is the most expensive.

 

[xlxo]

With the Prince of Whales.... one can Orca whale watch their way to Victoria (with luggage).... check out Butchart, then continue their journey to Seattle via the Clipper.

http://princeofwhales.com/vancouver/#one-way-to-victoria

 

[bcla]

I forgot something. Maybe Point Roberts? Kind of an oddity, but it could be cool to say you've been there.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0408/feature7/