# What to do in Vancouver and Victoria **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [June 30, 2025, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-vancouver-and-victoria/1020315 "2025-06-30T19:26:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2025, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-vancouver-and-victoria/1020315/21 "2025-07-03T20:23:38Z")
We went to Bard on the Beach when we were there and it is a fun experience! Definitely plays to the masses (e.g. Shakespeare with Beatles songs), but sometimes that’s A-OK for an enjoyable night out. Sightlines are good in the tent and performer quality was largely excellent. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-vancouver-and-victoria/1020315/22 "2025-07-04T01:58:35Z")
I’m fond of Granville as well. Nice walks along the water, water taxi across False Creek, artists’ studios as well as shops and food. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-vancouver-and-victoria/1020315/23 "2025-07-04T02:16:53Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Stanley Park (and its zoo) was fun You’ll find the zoo less enjoyable now that it has ceased to exist. There is Vancouver Aquarium, which is great, but not too dissimilar from such places in other cities. We always take visitors on the [Seabus](https://www.translink.ca/schedules-and-maps/seabus): if you’re staying downtown, it’s a short, easy trip across to North Van, where there are shops and restaurants in easy walking distance. It’s sort of an amazing trip: you have never been on a boat which felt so much like a bus, or a bus which felt so much like a boat. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-vancouver-and-victoria/1020315/24 "2025-07-04T02:32:46Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > You’ll find the zoo less enjoyable now that it has ceased to exist. Well, I _did_ say it was a looooooong time since I’d been there! ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-vancouver-and-victoria/1020315/25 "2025-07-07T17:02:01Z")
It’s been 30 years since I’ve been in Vancouver, so I’ve got nothing there. I was in Victoria in 2018 and really enjoyed it. Another recommendation for the Royal BC Museum in Victoria. I also enjoyed [Craigdarroch Castle](https://thecastle.ca/). Fisherman’s Wharf was a nice way to spend a few hours, especially on a nice day. Munro’s Books was great. I rented a car one day, and drove out through Sooke and up the West Shore to Port Renfrew. I remember Botanical Beach as being a nice place for a short hike. Also recommend [Shirley Delicious](https://www.shirleydelicious.ca/) as a great place to stop for lunch. There are some hikes up in that area to go see old growth trees - I didn’t do any of them. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-vancouver-and-victoria/1020315/26 "2025-07-09T22:39:14Z")
If you’re planning the ferry ride as a foot passenger - take note that the terminals are not in Vancouver nor in Victoria. Efficient and frequent transit takes you to/from the endpoints to/from downtown, but allow 30 to 60 minutes at each end, ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-vancouver-and-victoria/1020315/27 "2025-07-09T23:06:38Z")
Thank you, good to know. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2025, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-vancouver-and-victoria/1020315/28 "2025-07-09T23:39:54Z")
I was in Victoria a couple of years ago. We left the car in Port Angeles, Washington, so just walked around the harbour and looked at stuff. I remember it being pleasant, but I had to look at photographs to jog my memory of what we did. Apparently we went to the Royal BC Museum. There was more we could have done, but it was just a 24 hour side trip from Washington for my wife to visit a friend. I don’t regret going, but if I had to do it again I’d bring the car to see more of the island than just the center of the city. We stayed at this place, which hit a good balance between price, quality, and location. We mostly had the low price due to a shared bathroom down the hall. The food was good. I’d stay there again. > **[Marketa's Bed & Breakfast in Victoria BC, British Columbia](https://www.marketas.com/)** > > One of Victoria's Finest, Marketa's B&B is located steps from the Inner Harbour and Downtown Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC - Reservations - call Bed & Breakfast in Victoria BC 250-384-9844 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-do-in-vancouver-and-victoria/1020315.md?page=1)