My husband and I are considering a short trip to the PNW.
We’re thinking of staying with family for a couple of days outside Seattle, then a short stay in Seattle followed by a couple of days in Vancouver.
What do you like best in Vancouver? I have not yet begun my research on the city, so I thought I’d start here.
We would like to stay in a neighborhood that has good restaurants, interesting things to see and do during the day and evening.
We like to try new foods, eat sushi, go to museums, walking and light hiking, interesting architecture, read books. We’re not much into shopping, though we will wander into interesting local shops.
We can get a car if Vancouver has Zipcars (see how little research I’ve done! :))
Don’t worry too much about price when you are recommending things to do or neighborhoods to stay in. We’re not planning to be extravagant, but we’re also not fixated on saving money while we’re on vacation. Some splurges are definitely worth it.
Is Vancouver known for any particular ethnic foods? I see it has a Chinatown.
For a short visit you would probably be best served by the West End, especially around Denman @ Davie. This puts you close to nice architecture, Stanley Park (which should not be missed,) plenty of interesting shops and restaurants, etc. It’s also close to downtown proper, which has some attractions as well. If you want a very good dinng experience, I recommend the Raincity Grill. (Warning: IE only site, midi on front page, actual restaurant much better than their webpage.)
If you’re staying a while, you should also check out Commercial Drive, a funky, slightly more down-market “alternative” neighbourhood - but very colourful.
I second the West End. My 2 trips to The 'Couv have both been based there (check out my comfy double-secret residential hotel…I booked for 10 days and cooked in a lot and it was quite the deal).
BTW Motogirl, you’ll fit in just fine as Not Fancy People. As a Midwest USAian, I found Vancouverites laid back and dignified, and there is certainly no dearth of good beer.
I lived in Vancouver for 8 years. I love Vancouver, but Seattle is pretty nice too. I’m sure you guys will have a good time!
The West End is nice. There are some pretty good hotels around Denman Street/Davie Street although I don’t know much about specific ones or prices. Davie Street between Burrard and Denman is home to the Davie Village, Vancouvers gay village, and it is a great place to walk around - there are lots of good shops and resaurants there. At the end of Davie Street you can cross Denman to walk on English Bay beach - if it’s the right time of year and you’re feeling brave you can swim.
There are tons of restaurants around there - there are a lot on Robson Street too, but many of those are chain affairs. For sushi try Tampopo on Denman (I can’t find the address, but it’s near Davie and above a Cupcake shop) - they have all-you-can-eat sushi for lunch and dinner so you can stuff yourself then take a long walk on the beach. Another good place is Tsunami on Robson, between Burrard and Thurlow, upstairs above the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. They have sushi dishes that go around a canal in little boats and you just pick up what you want. If you like Greek food, Stephos Taverna in the village is great and very reasonably priced, but often there are line ups at peak times.
Other than food, there are lots of things to do. I really like Capilano Suspension Bridge & Park - http://www.capbridge.com/ - it’s cool, kind of scary, and a great way to see the area, IMHO. It’s a bit pricey at $27 a person, but you can spend quite a few hours there. If you have a car you can drive there through Stanley Park and over the Lions Gate, which is a nice drive too.
The Pacific Space Center in Vanier Park is fun, depending on the exhibit they have at the time. Also in Vanier Park is Bard on the Beach (http://www.bardonthebeach.org/), if you like Shakespeare and are there at the right time. People seem to like the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, although I find it boring personally, but the UBC campus might be worth a visit anyways.
Scattered thoughts: The UBC Anthro museum is great, but I’m a nerd. The beer at Yaletown Brewing is pretty decent and their food’s good (if you’re a true beer snob, Stella’s on Commercial has a serviceable selection of Belgian. Otherwise the situation is a bit sad, considering: the semi-local breweries whose beer you can easily find and that I’d call good are Phillips, Howe Sound and Bowen Island (none of these are in Vancouver, though)). If you want to splurge and like Japanese/sushi try Tojo’s. Do not attempt to eat any Mexican food unless it’s way out on Victoria and 60th or something. Granville Island is a hoot. You will see many recommendations for breakfast at Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe: skip that, and go to Slickety Jim’s at about Broadway and Main. If you like scotch there’s a sort of annex to the Irish Heather in Gaoler’s Mews (you’ll likely end up in Gastown at some point)-- forget what it’s called but there are signs to it inside the pub. The Salt Tasting Room in Blood Alley (not joking) is interesting, if you can find it.
I just want to throw out a recommendation from my visit last year to Seattle. Make sure you take the underground tour. It gives and interesting history of Seattle and is quite entertaining by far the best thing I did there.
Maybe this place to stay in the West End? It being near to my fave Japanese place, Gyoza King. Heck, you could never leave Denman Street and eat great for a week. Banana Leaf is damn yummy.And there are Zip cars.
Instead of the ‘holy shit, how much??’ Capilano Suspension Bridge, maybe check out the Lynn Canyon bridge. Raging fear of precipices keeps me away, but hey, free. And the North Shore area will meet your lite hiking needs.
The Lynn Canyon is nice, but having done both I gotta say Capilano has it beat by a mile. Especially with their new Treetop Walk. I do agree that it is expensive though, and if you go bring your own snacks & drinks because they charge a fortune for them. If you’re afraid of heights they’re both probably bad ideas, but Capilano is much higher.
I spent a few days in Vancouver last July/August, and stayed in the West End at the Coast Plaza Hotel. The hotel was nice enough, not too fancy and convenient to Stanley Park and English Bay Beach. Enjoyed a couple of lovely sunsets from the beach. I recommend the Aquarium in Stanley Park, and a walk/bike along the seawall (lots of places to rent bikes in the area).
I also enjoyed Grouse Mountain. Beautiful scenery, and the Lumberjack show and bird-of-prey demonstrations were entertaining. The Vancouver Art Gallery had some good exhibits when I was there, but I think they change all the time. They have a nice cafe, as well.
Even if you don’t get a zip car, I found that the public transportation system got me everywhere I wanted to go that wasn’t within walking distance.
Granville Island is really cool: Public market with amazing food stalls, plus artists’ colony with lots of little galleries. There’s a good brewpub there.
I used to live around the corner from Stephos, and there was always a lineup outside. So I never went in except to pick up food and take it home.
As greek food goes, it was okay. I think the rest of Vancouver’s food scene is far better.
I have to say I looked it up, and sure enough Vancouver has Zipcar. Which I find bizarre, because I was a member of CANcar (Community Auto Network) whenever I needed to grab a 4-wheeler, and that’s still around too.
When it comes to driving in Vancouver, just remember that they are some of the worst drivers on the planet, and expect truly random stuff to become routine.
I’m really embarrassed I didn’t get back to this thread before now.
Thanks to all for the recommendations. This will really help us during our short stay in Vancouver.
I think I’ll be sending my husband to Capilano Suspension Bridge by himself. I can’t handle heights at all but he loves them.
Seeing so many of you recommend the West End, I’m looking at the West End for hotels. I’m having a hard time telling the difference between “downtown” and West End. I think the Empire Landmark at 1400 Robson Street is the West End - at least their web site makes that claim, but they’re pretty far away from Denman & Davie. (If anyone knows yea or nay on this really being the West End, let me know). So if it’s the right neighborhood it will be the Landmark or something close to there.
Another hotel that looks good is Sylvia Hotel on Gilford St. (Beware of Doug - no vacancies at Rosellen during the time period we’re looking at )
I am considering Annie’s suggestion of West End Guest House, but we’ve never really done B&Bs before so I’m not sure. It’s stupid, but we don’t know how one is supposed to behave at B&Bs, in terms of interacting with the proprietor, coming home late, etc, so we shy away. Dumb, I know.
Larry Mudd - I looked at the menu online and Raincity Grill looks really good.
Thanks everyone for the food suggestions. Looks like there is a great variety in Vancouver and we look forward to many many good meals. How many can we fit into 2 days? Let’s see… normally 6, but I think we can fit in some snacks too.
Just noticed this recommendation. I am adding this hotel to our list. It got some decent reviews on Tripadvisor and the location has a lot to recommend it.
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