vancouver

[whiteduv65]

We will be picking up our car at 8 am want to see stanley park gas town chinatown and the light house in west vancouver, then catching the shuttle to seattle, they have shuttles at 1:30 and 4:00, im thinking we would need the 4 pm shuttle to be safe is this correct

[Putterdude]

With what you have planned, yes, I would go with the 4 pm shuttle.

[cruiseryyc]

I'd go with the 4:00 shuttle the next day in order to give yourself some time to actually see these sights, not just drive by.

[BCHappyGal]

The first 2 items on your bucket list I would just walk to from the cruise ship terminal. The terminal is right beside Gas Town (assuming you are docking at Canada Place and not Ballentyne) and China Town is only 4 blocks over from Gas Town. A car in both of these places is a hindrance as parking is expensive... and they are areas better walked .... so you can poke in and out of shops as well as take photos of the Steam Clock, Gassy Jack statue, the Narrowest building (only 6' wide), wonder thru the Chinese gardens in China Town etc.

I would then get the car....or take a public bus to Stanley Park

 

What to do with your luggage try going upstaris fromt he cruise ship terminal to the hotel (Pan Pacific) and see if for a tip the door man will hold it or else use the luggage holding facility at Canada Place.

 

Here are some of my favorite things to do in Vancouver

 

Info on Vancouver from a local!

 

My favorite must do attractions are

 

1) Grouse Mountain – http://www.grousemountain.com – this is a wonderful scenic mountain only about 15 mins from downtown Vancouver. Ride the airtram to the top for lots of fun activities that include a loggers show, birds of prey show, 2 movies (1 about the Vancouver area and 1 about the 2 Grizzly Bears who make their home on Grouse Mtn) ride a chair lift higher up the mountain to visit the wind turbine that generates approximately 30% of the power required for Grouse Mountain Resort and visit with 2 live Grizzly Bears. Thrill to a 2 hour Zip Line Tour. Enjoy a meal in any of the restaurants. Caveat only spend the money to go up on a clear day.

2) Capilano Suspension Bridge – http://www.capbridge.com – this is Vancouver’s oldest tourist attraction and I still enjoy visiting it! Located on Capilano Road just before you reach the Grouse Mountain parking lot. Walk across a suspension Bridge over the Capilano Gorge, wonder the trails thru the rain forest, walk thru the treetops on the new Tree Top Adventure, visit the trading post for a huge selection of souvenirs, watch native weavers and/or carvers at work.

3) Capilano Fish Hatchery is also located on Capilano Road and is a great place to view salmon jumping up the fish ladders to get around the Cleveland Dam. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capilano_River_Regional_Park

4) Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge – http://www.lynncanyon.ca - is also located in North Vancouver and is much less touristy than Capilano but it also is not as spectacular. The bridge is slightly higher above the water but much shorter in span. Located in a Provincial Park this bridge comes with some nice hiking trails and you will find an ecology centre in the park as well as picnic tables and a food concession outlet. Should you choose to enjoy the Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge always cross the suspension bridge first and then hike down the trail to the lower (Twin Falls wooden) bridge to cross back over the Lynn Valley River and return to your car – that way you are hiking downhill rather than uphill. It is also free to visit this suspension bridge!

5) Stanley Park – http://www.vancouver.ca/parks/parks/stanley/ - is the crown jewel of Vancouver's parks. As one of North America's largest urban parks, covering over a 1000 acres and offering an abundance of activities. Enjoy the totem pole collection near the Brockton Point Light House, hiking trails, beaches, water parks for the kids (young & old), rose gardens, miniature train, petting zoo, aquarium –http://www.vanaqua.org – many view points, and several restaurants. During the summer months there is a free shuttle bus that you can ride around the park on.

6) Vancouver Aquarium – http://www.vanaqua.org – is Canada’s largest aquarium and is committed to the conservation of marine life and education. Located in Stanley Park this is a fun place for the family to visit.

7) Gas Town – the location where Vancouver originated. The name is derived from a very colorful character named Gassy Jack who was one of the first settlers in the area and a salon keeper – while in Gas Town don’t miss your photo op with the statue of Gassy Jack and by the Steam Clock. During the summer months there is a free walking tour of Gas Town for times call 604-683-5650

8) At the start of Gas Town is the Harbor Centre Tower http://www.vancouverlookout.com a great spot to start your tour of Vancouver with a birds eye view of the city. Either take the elevator up to the lookout level or go to the top and enjoy a meal in the revolving restaurant.

9) China Town is only about 6 blocks over from Gas Town and is the largest China Town north of San Francisco. While in China Town enjoy a visit to the Dr Sun Yat Sen Classical Gardens http://www.vancouverchinesegarden.com and also make sure you visit the world’s thinnest building it is only 6’ wide!

10) The city of Vancouver has laid out self guided walking tours of 4 distinct historical neighborhoods in Vancouver – Gastown; Chinatown; Yaletown; & Shaughnessy – these walking tours along with a historical introduction to each neighbourhood can be found at http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/heritage/walks/index.htm

11) Granville Island – http://www.granvilleisland.com – is a huge public market area which not only sells fruit & veggies but you can also buy frozen fish to be shipped to your home. Many artists make this their home and you can watch them at work in their studios – making this a great place to buy unique souvenirs. The Granville Island Brewery is also located here and you can stop in for a free tour & tastes. There are theatres for live performances and many fine restaurants. A fun way to get to Granville Island is via the Aquabus – http://www.theaquabus.com

12) Burnaby Village Museum – http://www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca – is an open air museum with over 30 restored homes, shops, school, church and a 1912 carousel situated on 10 acres

13) Gulf of Georgia Cannery – http://www.gulfofgeorgiacannery.com – is a restored fishing cannery located in the historic fishing village of Steveston (part of Richmond). Here you see exhibits that showcase the history of the fishing industry in British Columbia. Once finished in the museum it is great fun to walk along the fishing docks and see the fishing boats which are selling their catch. There are also some excellent restaurants located here.

14) The Vancouver Maritime Museum located on the shore of English Bay is fun for the whole family with lots of hands on exhibits for the kid in all of us. Here to you will find the ship St Roch which the RCMP sailed from Vancouver to Halifax via the Northwest Passage and then completed the return journey in 1944. You actually get to tour this ship. http://www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com

15) Queen Elizabeth Park http://www.vancouver.ca/parks/parks/queenelizabeth The 130 acre (52 hectare) park is one of the most beautifully maintained public parks in the world. Second only to Stanley Park in annual visitations, it receives nearly 6 million people a year who marvel at its superior standard of garden plantings.

The park was originally quarried for its rock which served to build Vancouver's first roadways. In 1929 the Board proceeded to acquire the property which had become an abandoned eyesore but still served as the site for two holding reservoirs for the City's drinking water. Dedicated as a park by King George VI and his consort, Queen Elizabeth (the present Queen's mother) on their much lauded visit to Vancouver in 1939.

16) Fort Langley is the restored wooden fort built by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a trading post. It is the origin of British Columbia and was the first capital. This Fort is operated by the Federal Parks Board. http://www.fortlangley.org

17) If you are a wine lover you might want to rent a car and spend a day visiting a few of the many excellent wineries located in the Fraser Valley only about a 1 hour drive from your hotel. Almost all of the wineries offer free tastes & tours. Two of the wineries have excellent restaurants on the premises. This makes for a very fun and relaxing day. Check out the Fraser Valley Wine Association web site for a map of winery locations and a brief description of each winery http://www.fvwa.ca

18) If you are a real animal lover than don’t miss “Mountain View Conservation & Breeding Centre” It is located in Fort Langley about an hour drive from downtown Vancouver. Mountain View Conservation and Breeding Centre is a leading non-profit Canadian facility that breeds endangered species in family groups for re-introduction back into their natural habitat in Canada and around the world. This facility is not a zoo their goal is to breed rare and endangered wildlife and re-introduce these animals back into their natural habitats. Presently Mountainview hosts over 50 species of the world’s most threatened animals and birds. See animals such as the spotted dog from Africa, Giraffes, and much much more. Here you do not wonder around as in a zoo rather you are given a guided tour with commentary on each animal group. Check it out at http://www.mtnviewconservation.org

19) VanDusen Botanical Garden is a scenic 55- acre garden of international renown – a living museum of plants collected from around the world and artistically displayed amidst rolling lawns, woodlands and five tranquil lakes, all in the heart of Vancouver and just 15 minutes from downtown.

Due to Vancouver’s mild climate, plants bloom at the Garden year-round. This same climate creates a unique environment where plants from varying climate regions thrive and grow – at VanDusen you will see plants from the southern hemisphere, tropical areas and the high Arctic tundra along side native species. The Elizabethan Maze (one of only six in North America) provides year-round fun.

20) UBC Botanical Garden located at the University of British Columbia covers 110 acres and includes an Alpine, Asian, Native, Food, and Japanese Gardens. http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org

21) Dazzle your senses when you visit Minter Gardens nestled against 7000 foot Mt. Cheam in beautiful 'Super Natural' British Columbia. One of the most spectacular show gardens in the world! Eleven themed gardens are designed to dazzle the senses with massive displays of artistic floral designs.

Minter Gardens is located 90 minutes east of downtown Vancouver just off the Trans-Canada Hwy. #1 at exit #135. http://www.mintergardens.com

22) Enjoy a FREE walking tour of Vancouver. This 2 hour tour starts in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the Steam Clock in Gastown. This tour runs Tuesdays & Saturdays at 1pm and reservations are required. Check it out at http://www.tourguys.ca

[scottbee]

We will be picking up our car at 8 am want to see stanley park gas town chinatown and the light house in west vancouver, then catching the shuttle to seattle, they have shuttles at 1:30 and 4:00, im thinking we would need the 4 pm shuttle to be safe is this correct

 

Other than the lighthouse, a car is going to be more annoying that helpful; with parking and downtown traffic. As for Lighthouse park, from downtown to Lighthouse Park in W.Van, the #250 bus does it directly from Burrard Station (just a few blocks from Canada Place) for $3.75/ea

[Putterdude]

The bus does not go around Stanley Park, it makes one stop within the park, with the parks 1,000 acres you may find the car handy to see a lot of the park in a short period of time. As for Lighthouse Park, for much of the day transit only operates on a 30 min sked in either direction and there is a several block walk between bus stop and park entrance.

While I do not often recommend a rental car in downtown Vancouver, with what you want to accomplish in about 7 hrs, you need a car.

[whiteduv65]

thanks for the help

[NLH Arizona]

Can anyone suggest a reliable car service in Vancouver? I am looking to book a car from my hotel to the airport. Thank you.

[Putterdude]

Since you have not asked for information re public transit...if there is only up to 4 of you then a taxi will do the trick at cost of about $35. If you want a car service then I would suggest Aerocar which has a flat rate contract with YVR....your cost will be between $43 and $52 plus 12% tax and a tip.

 

http://www.aerocar.ca/rates/flat-rates

[operabob]

with the parks 1,000 acres you may find the car handy to see a lot of the park in a short period of time.

 

If you're in good health rent a bicycle. There should be some outlets near Denman and Georgia. The ride around the park seawall is 8 miles and on a sunny day spectacular. I haven't lived in Vancouver for 20 years but I assume they still allow bikes on the seawall.

 

Since you have not asked for information re public transit...if there is only up to 4 of you then a taxi will do the trick at cost of about $35. If you want a car service then I would suggest Aerocar which has a flat rate contract with YVR....your cost will be between $43 and $52 plus 12% tax and a tip.

 

Or you could take the Skytrain "Canada Line" from YVR and it will drop you off a half block from the Cruise Terminal. Only about a 25 minute ride and far faster and cheaper than a taxi:

 

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

 

Set A: Vancouver Airport, Richmond

 

Set B: Cruise Ship Terminal Vancouver

 

Select the Bus Icon

[Urban trekker]

Yes they certainly allow bikes on the seawall - there is now a separate paved path for the bikes to use but you need to dismount at Lumbermen's Arch, Prospect and Third Beach because of congestion etc.

 

As for bike rentals there is a new place - well actually they are moving from down by the seaplane terminal to the north side of the convention center and should be open in time for the summer season.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[NLH Arizona]

Since you have not asked for information re public transit...if there is only up to 4 of you then a taxi will do the trick at cost of about $35. If you want a car service then I would suggest Aerocar which has a flat rate contract with YVR....your cost will be between $43 and $52 plus 12% tax and a tip.

 

http://www.aerocar.ca/rates/flat-rates

Thank you.

[NLH Arizona]

Since you have not asked for information re public transit...if there is only up to 4 of you then a taxi will do the trick at cost of about $35. If you want a car service then I would suggest Aerocar which has a flat rate contract with YVR....your cost will be between $43 and $52 plus 12% tax and a tip.

 

http://www.aerocar.ca/rates/flat-rates

Thank you for your suggestion, I think I'll use Aerocar. I was wondering, we are supposed to dock at 8:00am, do you think it would be safe for me to order the car to pick me up at 11:00 (they will charge $1 per minute that I am late)? If 11:00 is okay, what time would you suggest I get off the ship to make the 11:00 pick up time. Thank you.

[Putterdude]

Normally, the ships are in before 7 am and pax are disembarking by 8 am, 11 am is plenty safe in fact 10:30 would likely be good. However, I must caution you that the rate quoted is the "walk up to the curb" rate, if you reserve they can charge a completely different rate so you should get a quote first. There are ordinarily limos waiting and they have direct phone in the cruise terminal.

[NLH Arizona]

Normally, the ships are in before 7 am and pax are disembarking by 8 am, 11 am is plenty safe in fact 10:30 would likely be good. However, I must caution you that the rate quoted is the "walk up to the curb" rate, if you reserve they can charge a completely different rate so you should get a quote first. There are ordinarily limos waiting and they have direct phone in the cruise terminal.

I called Aerocar and they quoted me a flat rate to reserve to the airport and then the $1 per minute I'm late. They said I would have to use the phone there and tell dispatch at Canada Place that I have a car waiting for me and he would then come around. I would just hop in a taxi, but have read that the lines can be really, really long.

[Putterdude]

You should be 100% OK with 11 am, everyone is off the boat by about 9:30 and it doesn't take 1.5 hrs to collect luggage and clear customs. Really the only risk you would have is if the ship is late for mechanical reasons and that doesn't happen as a rule.

[NLH Arizona]

You should be 100% OK with 11 am, everyone is off the boat by about 9:30 and it doesn't take 1.5 hrs to collect luggage and clear customs. Really the only risk you would have is if the ship is late for mechanical reasons and that doesn't happen as a rule.

Thanks so much for your help!

[NLH Arizona]

Since you have not asked for information re public transit...if there is only up to 4 of you then a taxi will do the trick at cost of about $35. If you want a car service then I would suggest Aerocar which has a flat rate contract with YVR....your cost will be between $43 and $52 plus 12% tax and a tip.

 

http://www.aerocar.ca/rates/flat-rates

Just wanted to thank you again; I used Aerocar this morning picking me up at the port and everything went very smoothly. Thanks again.