In the middle of next month I’d like to visit Vancouver, BC. It’s a switch from my usual travels: I have no special interest in the city. I’m trying to expand my horizons and what better way than to go somewhere completely off my personal radar.
As I began making plans, I realized I don’t know where the “good stuff” is or even what the “good stuff” is. I trust the Dopers will have opinions on what I should see or experience. Timbits are on the list already.
(Love your user name)
I can’t speak to Vancouver itself much. We tried to visit this artists colony near downtown (under a bridge/overpass ?), but when we got there everything was closed.
BUT I would highly recommend taking the ferry over to Vancouver Island. Not sure what it’s like in the winter (or if it’s even open), but Butchart Gardens is amazing. Downtown Victoria is also pretty cool (the grand hotel being the highlight).
We live 35 miles from Vancouver, BC. We never go to Canada.
I was thinking of seeing if Mrs. L.A. might want to go to Stanley Park when the weather’s better.
I’ve lived in Vancouver for about 4 years. While it’s a great place to live I don’t think it’s much of a tourist destination. And I have to say mid-February is not a great time to visit unless you’re planning to ski or snowboard, in which case you’ll probably just pass through on the way to Whistler.
The main attraction here is really the outdoors, so unless you’re into winter sports there’s not much chance to experience it in February. You can ski or snowboard at the local resorts, but Whistler is a world-class former Olympic venue so if you’re coming all the way here you might as well take the extra hour to get there. There’s also snowshoeing at the local resorts.
While Vancouver and the immediate area doesn’t get too cold and generally there’s no snow at lower altitudes, it does rain a lot. If you get a break in the rain, a hike or bike ride could be an option. Stanley Park is right downtown and good for the later. Kayak and paddleboard rental places will be closed for the season, but you really wouldn’t want to be on the water without a drysuit anyways.
Around town, there’s some museums and good restaurants. There are quirky neighborhoods like Commercial Drive and South Main that are worth checking out. Granville Island is cool though it’s a bit touristy. There are hop on/hop off tourist buses that hit all the major sights but I don’t think they run as often in the winter.
If you like beer there are areas with multiple microbreweries within walking distance, so you can do a bit of a tasting room crawl and try flights of 5 or 6 different beers at each place.
If you’re into geek culture there are geeky/gaming themed bars like Storm Crow and EXP and events like science talks and geek-themed improv shows. If that interests you let me know what dates you’ll be here and I can let you know what events will be on when you’re here.
If you let me know what your main interests are I can get you more info on that area.
Stay in the “West End”. You will be within walking of Stanley Park, Lost Lagoon, Pitch and Putt golf. Then walk down Denman to English Bay where you can catch a water-taxi over to Granville Island.
Victoria is indeed a good place to visit. You should not assume it’s an easy hop from Vancouver, however. Unless you jump on a float plane, it will take you half a day to get there.
I live about 3.5 hours east of Vancouver and have spent a ton of time in and around the city.
How long are you thinking of going there for? That might help.
Highlights:
Stanley Park - Very cool, walk on the Sea Wall check out the various walking paths or visit the Vancouver Aquarium.
Telus Science World - While not necessary unique to Vancouver, it’s always entertaining
Grouse Mountain - Bit of a drive from downtown, but take the lift to the top and have lunch/dinner and enjoy the views
Dinning - Vancouver has ~4,837 sushi restaurants (well not really, but it seems like it!). I’ve eaten at about 20 of them and have never had bad sushi. There are also really good Indian, and Thai restaurants as well
Robson Street - Great for shopping (if you’re into that), if you’re not it’s great for people watching while sipping a coffee at one of the many coffee shops on Robson
Casino Gaming - A world class casino just opened in downtown Vancouver last fall. It’s called “parq”, and has a few hundred slot machines and a couple dozen various table games. It is also sandwiched between 2 brand new Marriott hotels
Granville Island - Lots of little art galleries, indoor market (foods, crafts, etc.) and a couple good restaurants
China Town - Neat to walk through the various stores
That’s about all I have off the top of my head. I have spoken to a lot of people after they visited Vancouver for the first time and they all loved it and can’t wait to come back.
MtM
I think that’s probably about right for someone picking a vacation spot across the world. If I lived in say Europe I might not spend my vacation “opportunity cost” on Vancouver. It’s lovely, but doesn’t stand out in that New York or San Francisco sort of way.
That said, it is actually quite a nice city to visit if you’re a little closer. I live in the Seattle area and have thoroughly enjoyed our trips up there.
Our last trip was a family affair, with my wife, our kids, and my parents. We stayed in a house in North Vancouver very close to the Capilano suspension bridge (although I’d recommend substituting the significantly cheaper and just as awesome Lynn Canyon Park for that). Grouse Mountain was a hit with the kids and Stanley Park and Vancouver proper were easily accessible.
It’s a great place to visit. But I’m not sure how far away he OP is.
Thanks all! Great ideas all around. I’ll be in town for a couple days, probably arriving Friday afternoon and leaving Monday morning. Looking at everyone’s suggestions, I think staying in the West End and have a relaxing weekend exploring the parks and high streets and maybe Granville Island would be a great way to get acquainted with Vancouver. The hop on and hop off buses are a good suggestion to go further than I’d like to walk.
Should further inspiration strike, please don’t be shy.
Years since I visited, but I enjoyed the Vandusen Botanical Gardens and the nearby Queen Elizabeth Park. Both of these are a little to the south of the city centre.
Right in the middle of town there’s the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, which would have been better if it had been a little less busy - so maybe February is a good time to visit it!
Stanley Park and Grouse Mountain are good, and I was very impressed with the Museum of Anthropology at the University. Custom built, with an outside area for totem poles, etc.
Very close to MOA is the Japenese style Nitobe Memorial Garden. There were long steps down to the foreshore near there as well.
I used the local transport and got around very easily.
When I was in Vancouver visiting cousins, we took the bus to Tsawwassen to catch the ferry to the Island and the city of Victoria. Stunningly beautiful views from the ferries. I loved it out there.
When I was in Vancouver I enjoyed the Bloedel Conservatory. It’s an indoor garden with tropical plants and lots of free-flying birds.
The UBC Campus is also a beautiful place to go for a walk.
As I recall, the Bloedel Conservatory is in the Queen Elizabeth Park and, yes, really enjoyable.
Again, thanks to everyone! So many things to do, I’ll have a great time.
The University of BC has a wonderful anthropology museum. And it’s in a spectacular location
What Procrustus and Meurgyls said: if you like art and artifacts the Anthro Museum at UBC is a very nice collection, tops if you’re into NW coast work. If you’ve a car maybe drive up towards Squamish and enjoy the prettiness. The Aquarium’s nice, too, at Stanley Park.
For anyone still following along, I booked my hotel. I’ll be staying near City Hall. Based on what you’ve suggested, it seems like a good location for walking to a few sites and not far from the hop on hop off buses.
Again, thanks everyone for your help.
I was going to post this. Also in nicer weather, the botanical gardens on the campus are well worth touring. From downtown there are trolleybuses that terminate right in the middle of the campus.
I have walked completely around Stanley Park a few times, but again for nicer weather.
My daughter and her husband live in Vancouver. During our trips there, my wife and I have enjoyed a variety of expeditions in the general area.
Point Roberts, WA was a great stop for map geeks like my daughter and myself.
Walking around Stanley Park was lovely.
Eating oysters and other seafood on Granville island was delicious! Tony’s Fish and Oyster cafe particularly.
Staying in Coal Harbor and wandering around the Harbor Green Park was fun.
Taking a zodiac boat tour out of Horseshoe Bay and all around Howe Sound was a great time.
The Sea to Sky gondola outside of Squamish gave us some great scenic vistas and nice places to hike.
A 4 hour 4wd trip to Sloquet Hot Springs was truly amazing. We had the hot springs all to ourselves all day, and it was wonderful. But it’s a long-ass haul there. https://www.sloquethotsprings.ca/
I once saw Andre Braugher sipping a coffee at one of the many coffee shops on Robson.
(As this is one of the very few times I’ve seen a celebrity, I tend to drop it in whenever its relevant)
If you do watch tv, you will recognize places that are used as outdoor shots in filmed-in-Vancouver tv shows.
I haven’t been there for a while - but I used to like wandering around Yaletown.