# I'm in Vancouver... What to do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 20, 2007, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684 "2007-03-20T05:26:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/1 "2007-03-20T05:26:28Z")
So, I am in Vancouver on business, and find I might have 1 or 2 days this week, or at least partial days to do something… But what? Given a couple of half days in Vancouver what should I do? What _must_ I do? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/2 "2007-03-20T05:46:23Z")
Go to Stanley Park. Enjoy the Aquarium and the totem poles. That’s what I did on my vacation day in Vancouver. ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/3 "2007-03-20T06:00:29Z")
The Aquarium is fantastic. I also hear it’s great to go to Granville Island. I almost made it last time I was over but ended up going to a couple more lectures than I expected. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/4 "2007-03-20T06:04:01Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] The Aquarium is fantastic. I also hear it’s great to go to Granville Island. I almost made it last time I was over but ended up going to a couple more lectures than I expected. [/QUOTE] Thanks. How does the aquarium fair vis-a-vis Monterrey? (Which I’ve attended and loved!) ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/5 "2007-03-20T06:22:53Z")
[QUOTE=Leaffan] Thanks. How does the aquarium fair vis-a-vis Monterrey? (Which I’ve attended and loved!) [/QUOTE] Dunno. Haven’t seen Monterey but I’m sure someone else may have seen both. But I know there isn’t one in Carp 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/6 "2007-03-20T06:24:40Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] Dunno. Haven’t seen Monterey but I’m sure someone else may have seen both. But I know there isn’t one in Carp 😛 [/QUOTE] Touche! ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/7 "2007-03-20T06:30:21Z")
Oh and if the weather’s ok, try for the Suspension Bridge and the Treetops Adventure - very cool [http://www.capbridge.com/rates\_information/getting\_here.html](http://www.capbridge.com/rates_information/getting_here.html) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/8 "2007-03-20T06:36:25Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] Oh and if the weather’s ok, try for the Suspension Bridge and the Treetops Adventure - very cool [http://www.capbridge.com/rates\_information/getting\_here.html](http://www.capbridge.com/rates_information/getting_here.html) [/QUOTE] Well, that looks promising! Thanks **Quiddity**. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/9 "2007-03-20T14:34:44Z")
The aquarium fares EXPENSIVELY, that’s what! I think it’s comparable to Monterrey. Granville Island’s worth a stroll. I haven’t been to the Capillano bridge, but Lynn Canyon is a nice hike and free. If you have a car and the weather is decent (looks like it might be) you might drive up in the direction of Squamish for the scenery. Maybe rent a bike for Stanley Park and just roll around. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/10 "2007-03-20T14:40:09Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] Oh and if the weather’s ok, try for the Suspension Bridge and the Treetops Adventure - very cool [http://www.capbridge.com/rates\_information/getting\_here.html](http://www.capbridge.com/rates_information/getting_here.html) [/QUOTE] We went to another suspension bridge in North Vancouver that was free. Not as good as the Capillano bridge, I’ve heard (I haven’t been to that one); but there was no charge for it. Anyone know where it is? ---
**Author:** ![lexi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lexi/32/6806_2.png) [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/11 "2007-03-20T15:53:50Z")
I think it is Lynn Canyon Park with the free suspension bridge. It is quite the park, it is a rainforest, and quite amazing of a hike. It is very easy to get to the park even by public transit. [http://www.lynncanyonparkguide.bc.ca](http://www.lynncanyonparkguide.bc.ca) ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/12 "2007-03-20T16:01:33Z")
[QUOTE=capybara] Maybe rent a bike for Stanley Park and just roll around. [/QUOTE] Can you _get_ around Stanley Park these days? How’s it doing after the storm? I’ll second the Granville Island recommendation. You might also want to stroll around Chinatown if that sort of thing would be new to you. The Vancouver Art Gallery often has good exhibits. If you have money to burn, go to Tojo’s Sushi on Broadway and sit at the sushi bar. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/13 "2007-03-20T16:03:09Z")
[QUOTE=lexi] I think it is Lynn Canyon Park [/QUOTE] That’s the place. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/14 "2007-03-20T16:06:39Z")
I’ll second Lynn Canyon; the bridge is shorter than Capilano but higher, and you can walk down to the river and along. Stanley Park is great, especially the seawall walk (seven miles around, IIRC), with views of the mountains and the freighters waiting for dock space. There’s another nice (shorter) walk along the New Westminster Quay on the river. Take Skytrain (which is fun in itself) to the New West station, then a couple of blocks downhill to the Quay, then to the right along the boardwalk until you reach the dead end. There are a few tugboats that moor right by the Quay, and with luck you might see them towing a barge or even a log boom. Have Philippine-style pork adobo for lunch at Sweetie’s, if it’s still there. (She was talking about retirement last time I was there.) Alternatively, go downtown and check out the Marine Building (a great Art Deco building with embedded plaques of various transportation on the outside and the original lobby), the Vancouver Hotel (one of the old railway hotels), and quite a few other old buildings. Enjoy your trip! ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/15 "2007-03-20T16:16:10Z")
My friend and I were there around last year, and went around Stanley Park on bikes. I’d like to take the time to walk it, but it was all we could do in the time we had. We got in to the aquarium there the same day for 1/2 price for the last hour and had fun… we saw almost all of it in that time, but quite a bit of it was closed for renovations. They might still be doing that right now, so you might want to phone ahead. We went to the [Lynn Canyon](http://www.findfamilyfun.com/lynncanyon.htm) suspension bridge, as it was on the way out of town, and free. I’ve never been on the Capillano bridge, (and from the pictures it looks smaller) but it was a nice hike. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/16 "2007-03-20T16:19:00Z")
Granville Island has a nice little microbrewery as well. Good food all over, and more than decent brews. ---
**Author:** ![Gulo\_gulo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bcef8e/32.png) [@Gulo\_gulo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gulo_gulo)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/17 "2007-03-20T18:54:22Z")
[Museum of Anthropology](http://www.moa.ubc.ca/) at UBC is worth the trip. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/18 "2007-03-20T22:50:42Z")
Threads asking for opinions usually do better in IMHO. MOved. **samclem** GQ moderator ---
**Author:** ![Aguecheek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Aguecheek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aguecheek)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/19 "2007-03-20T23:21:14Z")
Granville Island’s really nice, albeit crowded. Sophie’s Diner in Kitsilano has fantastic omelettes (4th and Arbutus? Somewhere around there). There’s the Sun Yat Sen Garden: [http://www.vancouverchinesegarden.com/](http://www.vancouverchinesegarden.com/) Take a stroll down the Drive. Stay away from Robson. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684/20 "2007-03-20T23:40:28Z")
[QUOTE=Gulo gulo] [Museum of Anthropology](http://www.moa.ubc.ca/) at UBC is worth the trip. [/QUOTE] Oh yeah, I’ve been there with my parents a while ago. If you _really_ like museums, I’d go. I like cycling and outdoors stuff more though, so it’s something I’d personally save for a longer trip after seeing everything, or if it’s raining. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-in-vancouver-what-to-do/396684.md?page=2)