Looks like it’ll be a 3-day break with the wife in Vancouver, last week of July.
Neither of us have ever been there before.
The Gardens are supposed to be beautiful, and we love nature.
What do you recommend?
High Tea, or at least tea and crumpets, and the Empress Hotel.
And visit the Royal London Wax Museum.
Chappachula - I used to live in Victoria. Can’t remember now why I moved away … it’s a beautiful place. I don’t know Vancouver as well though, but I know there are lots of BC Dopers on here …
I would plan for an entire day in Victoria, with the ferries, etc - unless you’re taking the Helijet over, which will give you a lot more free time, and is a great way to travel!
Butchart Gardens are gorgeous - if you’re spending the night in Victoria, I would suggest finding out if they’ll be doing the fireworks while you’re there - I can’t remember which nights they have them, but for some reason I think it’s only weekends maybe? Then you could see the flowers in the early evening, and the fireworks later on.
Empress Hotel - High Tea - well, only if you’re into that sort of thing. I took my Grandma once as a treat. Expensive, and snooty - but it is a tradition for visitors. Walking around the Inner Harbour is a fun time - great people watching and lots of eye candy!
If you have a vehicle there, a beautiful drive is out to French Beach (past Sooke)- since you say you’re nature lovers - but the drive (maybe an hour each way) and exploration time would pretty much take up an afternoon. But there are a couple of beautiful beaches out that way.
If you’re into cemeteries, the old Ross Bay cemetery is kind of cool. If you’re into more flowers, the Lt Governor’s mansion - Government House - is pretty.
I’m sure I’ll think of a billion more things, but so will other Dopers, so I’ll leave it up to them to fill in the gaps …
S.
Whale watching. There are pods of Orcas a not-too-long boat ride away, and they really are breathtaking to see in their natural habitat.
In Vancouver, Stanley Park is a must-see.
If you aren’t afraid of heights, the Capilano Suspension Bridge on the North Shore is a good place to visit too. It’s about as close to the real old-growth forests as you’ll get without leaving the city.
Van Dusen gardens are nice too, though if you’ve only got three days you’d be better off with Butchardt Gardens when you’re in Victoria.
Those are some of the main tourist attractions in the city, though I’m sure others will come in with even more suggestions. You’re picking a good time of year to come chappachula - the weather’s normally pretty good late July. Just a word of warning though, I’m not sure what the precise dates are this year, but the first weekend of August is a long weekend here so the ferries will be packed starting around the Thursday before the holiday weekend. It may not even be an issue, but if you will be here then you should probably plan your trip to the Island accordingly.
I love both cities, and would live in Victoria in a heartbeat. I agree with Stainz regarding Butchart Gardens, the stuffy tradition of high tea, and the Inner Harbor.
Rather than staying in downtown Victoria, we stayed at the Quality Resort Sea View , which is about 15 minutes north of downtown, less than 4 miles from Butchart, sits right next to a nice park, and has a wonderful view of the San Juan Islands. Even though the hotel is part of the Quality Inn/Comfort Inn chain (a black mark in my book), it was spotless, beautifully maintained, and friendly. And, for the level of property it represents, it was a bargain (especially with the US-Canadian exchange rate what it was a few years ago…).
Good luck where ever you go - if my wife and I were to return for a visit, it would be longer than three days next time.
…and my young daughter really got a kick out of watching young deer traverse the property.
If you’re me, you take the little boat to Granville Island Market and go to La Baguette (just outside the main market at the top of the dock) and stuff yourself goofy on croissants. Then inside for a bag of bagels at Siegels., next to the salmon stand. Ask for directions to the Granville Island brewey. (noticing a theme here? 
) What kind of food do y’all like?
Actually, I’d recommend the full False Creek circuit on the little boat- it lets you off at the Aquatic Centre for the mandatory walk along the Seawall. If you can get out of town a bit go for a kayak paddle
I haven’t been to Victoria several years, but I love it. In Victoria, I always visit the Royal BC Museum (http://rbcm1.rbcm.gov.bc.ca/). It is right next to the Parliment Buildings. If you like antique shops, Fort Street is also known as ‘antique row’. Some of the shops are a bit spendy but I have found some really fun things and there was a wonderful used book store along there, the name of which escapes me.
(Some of this stuff has already been mentioned–I’m just doing a brief brain-dump.)
In Vancouver:
The University of British Columbia has a good museum of native culture. It also has a Japanese garden which I haven’t seen but which is supposed to be good.
Shopping on Granville Island, Granville Street, and Robson Street. Granville Island has lots of neat food and art; Granville Street is hip & trendy; Robson has been described as the Rodeo Drive of Vancouver.
The aquarium in Stanley Park is very good.
The Vancouver Art Gallery is good.
The Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is great.
Walk around Chinatown, but be aware that the neighborhoods around Chinatown aren’t that great.
Go to Tojo’s. The sushi is amazing. Sit at the sushi bar, tell Tojo-san your likes and dislikes, and let him take care of you. It can be expensive, though–I’ve paid three digits USD eating by myself (this includes drinks).
The opera can be good (only been there once–good performance, but slight technical glitches having to do with electronics in the stage design).
The liquor stores have good selections of wine.
A bit south of Vancouver (I’m blanking on the location, but could look it up if necessary) is a very good museum about the fishing and canning industry.
In Chinatown, make sure to go buy funky tropical fruit.
Capilano Suspension Bridge is kinda neat. They’ve also just built a walkway up in the trees on the other side.
The Vancouver Maritime Museum is good.
In Victoria (fewer suggestions here–it’s been a long time since last I went):
The big museum is very good (I forget what it’s called–the Royal British Columbia Museum?)
The wax museum is cool, cheesy, and scary all at once.
Butchart Gardens is nice if you like the “precious” style of gardening, with lots and lots and lots of flowers and loads-o-spectacle.
Craigdarroch Castle is impressive in a scarily Victorian sort of way.
There is a wonderful conservatory across the street from the Empress. Its glass castle that was once a swimming pool. It now has exotic birds, butterflys and flowers. Sorry, the name escapes me.
Wasn’t that the one about the woman who impersonates a female impersonator?
The conservatory is called Crystal Gardens. It is apparently going to close soon, but I’m not sure when. I definitely suggest the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, Granville Island in Vancouver and the little Aquabus around False Creek, Butchart Gardens if you are into showy, manicured gardens, Stanley Park if you want trees in Vancouver, and the Grouse Mountain Skyride if you want amazing views. The Museum of Anthropology at UBC is the one Hunter Hawk mentioned- but there’s lots of great native art at the one in Victoria too…check out the new Modern Nisga’a area (shameless plug: 2 of my best friends created most of the maps and displays for it). The ferry ride from Vancouver to Victoria is nice too- when you pass the first island on your left wave at me, I’m there for the summer! I’m very familiar with both cities, so ask away if there’s something you want to know. Have a great trip!
It’s still much safer than the ‘not so great’ neighbourhoods in any big American city I’ve spent time in. I mean, it’s not West Baltimore or anything!
If you can, get to the Royal BC museum that Aitara mentioned. Beautiful. I was there when I was 11, and 22 years later it still sticks in my mind.
great suggestions all…depending on your sense of adventure, you could hike the trail by UBC down to Wreck Beach .
I was about to same exactly the same thing. Even the dumpiest parts of Vancouver are pretty tame, and i’d be willing to walk alone almost anywhere in the city at any time of day or night. Can’t say that about Baltimore. 
Back when i was a young fella (about 1992) i actually worked in the Bridge House Restaurant, which is (was?) right next door to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. The Bridge is quite neat, but i think i prefer Stanley Park and the seawall.
I’m not really a big fan of Robson Street, i must say. Too many overpriced, flashy stores that you can find in any other city. I quite like Granville St., and Granville Island is definitely worth a look. I really like Main Street and the Chinatown area, and Commercial Drive, in East Vancouver.
Unforunately, the season is over for the Canucks, otherwise i’d suggest you check out a hockey game (damned Flames!).
Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply that they were particularly dangerous, just that there didn’t seem to be much worthwhile if you were a tourist.
Notice two things:
- We both live in Baltimore
- HEY. My damned Flames are usually playing golf at this time. HUSH!
Wow, this thread brings back some memories! I spent 5 weeks in Vancouver in '96 and a week in '98. I’ve been to a number of the places mentioned. Does Robson Street still have the artists and street performers on Friday nights? (I think it was Robson but I could have the wrong street, it might have been Granville.) There’s also Gas Town with its steam powered clock. The observation deck at the top of Harbour Center gives you a bird’s eye view of the city. I envy you. Now I’m thinking of going back for a week!
