Must Do's in Vancouver

[ladams52]

My husband and I will be in Vancouver for 3 nights in mid June (pre Alaska cruise). We feel fortunate to be able to spend 2 full days sightseeing in Vancouver. So, what are the must do's? Must visit restaurants (want to eat local fare, not what we can get in the US necessarily). We will be staying at the Best Western Plus downtown. This is our 30th anniversary trip, so trying to make the most of every moment! Thank you!

[xlxo]

Some thoughts...

• 2 full days??? You might need two full weeks!
  
• Day 1... Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge are my fav's
  
• Day 2... Hop on service is popular to explore Stanley Park and downtown highlights
  
• Other day trip ideas, if you have extra days... Whistler, Victoria, Banff?
  

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Food thoughts.... only in Vancouver? Pity...

• Japadog started in Vancouver. Just expanded to New York.
  
• Do you like chocolates? Ask for Mermaid's Choice! http://www.straight.com/food/723476/mink-chocolates-sells-out-award-winning-mermaid-bars-more-way
  
• do you like ice cream? Do you accept the 218 flavour challenge? http://www.marthastewart.com/909325/visiting-la-casa-gelato-and-tasting-flavors#909325
  
• how about some award winning Gelato??? http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-s-bella-gelateria-advances-in-gelato-world-tour-1.2647344
  
• Sushi! Fresh from the water or the farm. Your choice.
  
• Chinese food!
  
• Alaska might serve you king crab... but is it live or frozen. Vancouver's premium Chinese restaurants serve it Live. Just point your server to your dinner! You can even pose with them for pictures. Hope there's 6 or 8 of you to devour the crab.
  http://www.followmefoodie.com/2014/04/dynasty-seafood-restaurant-alaskan-king-crab-dinner-vancouver/
  

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Edited March 7, 2015 by xlxo

[Alberta Quilter]

Granville Island is a nice place to poke about in, in Vancouver.

 

I can't offer other advice; I'll have that to the locals. But if you want to know about restaurants, Martincath will come along and point you to any type of restaurant you want to go!

[martincath]

The pressure's on after that intro AQ!

 

Food-wise, there really aren't many Vancouver-specific food specialties. Everywhere in the Pacific Northwest shares a lot of commonality of seasons and products - but our locavore cuisine will certainly be a bit different than what you're used to in Virginia.

 

Japadog as xlxo mentioned is one of the few really local things - and affordable on any food budget. Some of our other items get a bit pricier, like local seafood - halibut and five kinds of salmon are the norm out here, whereas I saw many more cod & haddock dishes on the east coast.

 

If you're here early enough for Spot Prawns do try them - the season is short and a bit variable, but mid-June you've got a good chance. Saltspring Island mussels are also well-known and might be different from what you'll know - there are several hybrids of Blue and Mediterranean mussels grown there, which I find gives consistently plumper, meatier mussels over a wider timeframe than the classic Blues found out east; we also have a local farmed scallop hybrid that's very popular, usually known as the Qualicum scallop. Saltspring also has some tremendous cheeses - especially soft goat chevres from the eponymous cheesemakers (though I do prefer Little Qualicum myself).

 

Lots of small in-city farms produce kale, herbs, salad leaves and other veggies; rooftop hives for honey; there's even a planted-but-yet-to-bear-fruit orchard. Many local restos, pretty much anything high end, specifically source their veg from these local plots as much as possible - it's trendy as well as socially conscious (some of the farms are specifically focused on helping our least fortunate residents learn some good skills and make a bit of cash while doing so).

 

Local beers are more plentiful by the month - and there are some wineries very close to Vancouver, although the bulk of BC production is up around Kelowna c.4 hours drive inland.

 

We also have quite a few Poutineries, from very traditional to very modern, if you want some extremely Canadian food (fries smothered in gravy and cheese curds - modern takes add all sorts of stuff and can go very fancy) - and of course if you've never had Timmies before you can do that here too!

 

Food trucks also abound now - we're not up there with Portland yet, but there are a wide range of flavours available and a handy app/website lists where they're at.

 

As to recommending some specific restaurants - give me a budget, and any particular must have or must avoid dishes, and I'll be happy to suggest several places that fit your criteria.

[notentirelynormal]

From another thread by BCHappyGirl. It doesn't get any more comprehensive than this.

 

I take visitors to both however in my opinion Capilano is much more spectacular however if you are afraid of heights and cannot walk the bridge then do not spend the money ....

 

Info on Vancouver from a local!

 

My favorite must do attractions are

 

1) Grouse Mountain – 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 – 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, traverse a Cliff Top walk, 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 – 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 – 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 –www.vanaqua.org – many view points, and several restaurants.

6) Vancouver Aquarium – 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) Fly Over Canada incorporates state of the art technology in an Imax theatre to show you supernatural Canada, Fly from coast to coast taking in breath stealing views of Niagara Falls, Lake Louise, The Rockies & more. Spectacular! www.flyovercanada.com

8) 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.

9) At the start of Gas Town is the Harbor Centre Tower 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.

10) 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 www.vancouverchinesegarden.com and also make sure you visit the world’s thinnest building it is only 6’ wide!

11) Granville Island – 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 – www.theaquabus.com

12) Burnaby Village Museum – 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 – 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. www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com

15) Queen Elizabeth Park 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. 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 www.fvwa.ca

18) 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.

19) UBC Botanical Garden located at the University of British Columbia covers 110 acres and includes an Alpine, Asian, Native, Food, and Japanese Gardens. www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org There is also a treetop walk which is great for “fit” explorers who are not afraid of heights – however I would not recommend it for anyone who has any mobility issues. Also these gardens are not as well maintained as I would expect a botanical garden to be!

20) Enjoy a FREE walking tour of Vancouver. The Gastown tour starts in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the statue of Gassy Jack in Gastown. The Downtown tour starts at the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the Olympic Cauldron. The China Town tour starts at the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the Chinese memorial statue. All of these tours start at 11am. The Granville Island Tour starts at 3pm at the bus stop just at the entrance to Granville Island. Check these tours out at www.tourguys.ca The Tour Guys have added an afternoon walking tour of Granville Island and 2 evening tours….

21) A new addition I have just found for the FOODIES in the gang! Check out 2 companies that offer food tasting tours www.foodietours.ca and www.offtheeatentrack.ca – both offer an excellent tour www.foodietours.ca visit much more high end restaurants in the heart of the west end of Vancouver while www.offtheeatentrack.ca concentrates on more casual eateries in the historic original section of Vancouver! (Gastown)

I just enjoyed Foodietours “Guilty Pleasures Gourmet Tour” and was very impressed with the organization, quality of restaurants & refreshments, guides knowledge of foods and the eateries we were visiting as well as the area we were walking in. Felt it was excellent value for the money provided you did not spend the extra $20. For the alcohol! This company also offers a tasting tour on Granville Island Public Market and of the Vancouver Street Food Carts.

As for Off the Eaten Track - this company offers culinary tasting tours of various areas of Vancouver. This company has now expanded and offers a brunch tour and a dinner tour. I did the Railtown Urban Eats tour and it was Fabulous! This tour would blend well with the free walking tour offered by www.tourguys.ca … you could easily do the free walking tour and then meet up with this tour company for this tour for your lunch - the food is plentiful & wonderful you will not leave this tour hungry!

 

 

 

 

 

Vancouver has a bunch of hop-on hop-off buses

 

http://www.vancouverpinkbustours.com/

 

http://www.vancouvertrolley.com/tours/hop-on-hop-off

 

http://bigbus.ca/home/

[xlxo]

You just reminded me a few things...

• Before Japadogs.... there was Hon's potstickers!
  
• Yes looking forward to spot prawns. However, the huge bargains of May/June are no more. Last year word is out Asian buyers were scooping up the bargains for overseas consumption.
  
• Ever try a Geoduck clam? If you can get past the giant resemblance to a certain body part, they are harvested regionally. Very popular with Asian export too. https://www.google.ca/search?q=geoduck&tbm=isch
  
• depending on where you are from... have you tried an ice wine?
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_wine
  

Here's a vid on more food ideas. I can't understand what she's saying, but the suggestions look so good.

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Perhaps not originating from Vancouver, but available.... have you tried "Bubble Tea"? Ask for the Pearls!

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Edited March 9, 2015 by xlxo