Visiting Vancouver....Need Help

[GoofItUp]

I posted this on the Community Board, but thought I'd try it over here as well. TIA for any help you can give!

We leave next week for our Alaska vacation. We're spending a few days in Vancouver before we cruise, and I wanted some advice on my proposed schedule.

Day 1: Arrive Vancouver Intl around 1:00 p.m. Meet up with MIL and FIL (they are on a separate flight) and transfer to our hotel - Pacific Palisades. After checking in, I'm planning to go to Stanley Park and take the horse-drawn carriage tour around Stanley Park. If we have time, we'll do the aquarium this day, also.

Day 2: Go to Capilano Suspension Bridge in the morning and Grouse Mountain in the afternoon.

Day 3: Buy tickets on the trolley that goes all around Vancouver. Ride around and see the sights. Go to the aquarium this day if we don't make it on Day 1.

Day 4: Check out of hotel and head to Canada Place. I'm hoping we can drop our luggage at the cruise ship and look around Canada Place before boarding the ship around noon or 1:00.

I have no dining plans, but thought we would just seek places out when we get hungry with recommendations from the locals. I'm hoping to try some international foods - but no steaks (we have the best in Texas, anyway! ) and no seafood.

Is this too little planned? My MIL is late 50's and FIL is early 60's, so I don't want to run them to death, but I don't want to make the most of our time there, also. If there are other things we should try and work in, please let me know. I'll take all critiques and advice!

 

[Sandy Feet]

Just my opinion, but we were disappointed with the aquarium on our trip. It was small, crowded, not that interesting, and the counter service available for lunch was just ok. I wish we'd spend more time in Stanley Park, it looked very pretty.
Having said that I don't know what to suggest as an alternative, because we were just there 1 night in transit.
Have you looked at www.hellobc.com? You might find some more info over at www.fodors.com in their forums.
Good luck (And sorry if I sound really negative. We were travelling with kids so I don't have any adult touring suggestions!)

 

[GoofItUp]

Thanks, Sandy Feet! I have looked at so many websites that I don't recall if I visited the hellobc.com, but I'll certainly give it a look as well as fodors!

 

[eritouma]

Greetings.... we live in Vnacouver and your planned schedule looks great. First off the aquarium, may be small as I have not seen many others, but they have recentlys donw a fair amount of additions so I still think it might be worth it.

All of your days look good, and the only thing I might add is that on Day 4 around Canada place is that there is not too much real close, but within a mile or so you can get to a fairly popular areas known as Gastown. Here there a lots of little shops and sites spread out along both sides of the street.

As for food, no streak or seafood..... okay what kind is most appealing to you outside streak? There are plenty of fine Japanese and Chinese restaurants in Vancouver as well as some excellent Italian spots.

If you give me a little more info on you dinning desires I think I can help as your hotel is only 2 blocks from me and only 1 block fromteh major shopping street in Vancouver.

Todd...

 

[GoofItUp]

Thanks for the response, Todd!

As far as eating places.....we do like to try ethnic foods. I would really love to try a Greek place, Japanese would be good, and I would certainly take a Chinese recommendation! Any others you have -- French, Italian, I even read there's Irish restaurants around -- would be most welcome. We don't want to go to really fancy, expensive places, but would prefer a moderately priced place with a local flair.

One other question for you if you don't mind. Would you go to Victoria for one of the days? Maybe instead of the Day 3 Skytrain tour? My MIL has heard wonderful things about Victoria and I think she really wants to go there. This may even be a day we split up and go our own ways.

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[eritouma]

Dear GoofIt Up....

I will try my best at reccomendations and here they go...

Chinese Food: Hon's, on Robson, about 1/2 block from your hotel. Very popular, good priced chinese food, overall great value.

Japanese Food: This is a little more difficult, as there are many I would recommend, but one of the better and definately more interesting is Tsunami Sushi. They are also on Robson, about 3 blocks from your Hotel in the opposite direction of Hon's. They not only seel sushi, but cooked chicken, beef, seafood, rice etc. The most interesting point of this is the floating, sushi bar that has sushi plates on little boats that float around in an oval and you grab your plate off of this.

Greek food: I have not eaten a lot of Greek food myself, but there is one place that I have heard lots about and I must admit that it always has a long line and is busy, thus I am assuming it is good. I think the name is Stephanos. It is on Davie Street, about 5-6 blocks from your hotel and is across for the drugstore, Shopppers Drug Mart. Davie street is parallel to Robson and is quite an interesting street. It is home to Vancouver's Gay and Lesbian crowd.

As for Victoria, it is a wonderful old city with lots of sites that are all generally close to each other. The harbour area is great to look around in, and the Wax museum is not too far away, as well the empress hotel with it's classic charm is right there. The ferry trip takes about 2 hours I think and it is another 30-45 minutes down to the ferry terminal. If you have the time, it is a really nice city.

I also just rememeber another restaurant. CinCin's in Robson, about 1-2 blocks from your hotel is also very good. This is an Italian restaurant, but it is more on the fancy, expensive side. Very good food and good for "Movie Star Watching". There are not a lot of great Italian places in the downtown area, but if I remember, I will post.

As for the Irish restaurants, those I am not familiar with... sorry

I think you schedule sounds good and you should have a good time. If there are any other questions please feel free to post and I am on the boards throughout the day...

Todd...

 

[GoofItUp]

Todd, THANK-YOU!!!!

I'm printing your recommendations and taking them with me. This will be so nice to have when we're ready to dash out to dinner. I won't be fumbling around looking for a place!

 

[eritouma]

Dear GoofItUp...


I quick change, as I errored earlier on... the Greek place is not Stephanos... it is Stephos... sorry about that. I walked by it last night and looked much closer at the sign.

Have a great trip as the weather seems to be changing for the better here. The forecast for the next 5 days is sunny and hot... well at least for us... for you Texans it might be cool...

Todd