vancouver for a day

[tucho]

To lazy to do search.

Post cruise, have late fight out 10;30pm

Found a luggage storage place. What would be the best way to pass the day?

What is to see, do by the pier? Take pubic transportation to tour the city?

Any tips will be grateful! Thanks ahead of time!

Be back soon.

Enjoy life!!

[d9704011]

Me too, I'm too lazy to provide a complete tour itinerary but can recommend the Ho-Ho experience to pass the day.

 

https://www.vancouverplanner.com/hop-on-hop-off-vancouver/

[martincath]

Since you say you're too lazy to run a search here, I'd advise against a DIY tour on transit - which requires further research on timetables, routes, and of course reading guidebooks about the architecture, history etc. of what you would see while touring!!! 😉

 

I concur that the HOHO is still the best bet for a leisurely day of touring for a first-timer, despite their more compact route these days. Their service ends around 5pm, which works pretty well for say a visit to FlyOverCanada afterward, then dinner downtown, retrieving your bags, and heading to YVR for your flight. I cannot in good conscience recommend the particular site it's linked through above though - Vancouver Planner is one of several 'daily hive'-esque local tourism sites that spend more effort on their SEO than accurate content, so it pops up high on Google despite being mediocre at best. For example, it's almost four years out of date on the HOHO routing info, despite claiming to have updated that article last month - the last time there was a separate Park and City loop was Sep 2019... Go straight to the horses mouth, the provider, rather than rewarding such incompetence with a cut of the take!

 

Note that you will not be Precleared on that flight, CBP stop work at 8:30pm, so expect to do the regular immigration/customs on arrival at your first US airport instead. You can therefore risk shaving the margins closer - as long as you get there in time to check your bags (min. 1 hour pre-flight) you should manage to make it through security easily and quickly, most likely before boarding even begins at your gate.

[d9704011]

2 hours ago, martincath said:

I cannot in good conscience recommend the particular site it's linked through above though - Vancouver Planner is one of several 'daily hive'-esque local tourism sites that spend more effort on their SEO than accurate content, so it pops up high on Google despite being mediocre at best. Fo

I didn't have the energy to look any harder....

[martincath]

2 hours ago, d9704011 said:

I didn't have the energy to look any harder....

Don't blame you in the context! Like I said, it's a crappy site BUT they do a good job with SEO to keep them high in the search rankings!!!!

[xlxo]

12 hours ago, tucho said:

What would be the best way to pass the day?

What is to see, do by the pier? Take pubic transportation to tour the city?

Is this your first time in Vancouver?  When are you visiting?  How big is your group?

[tucho]

Martincath, have question, doing a little research. There is a casino (like to play a little) not to far from Canada Place, with some points of interest in between. Gastown, Chinatown looks like an easy walk, how safe is the area?

I know no place is perfect, is it something to worry about?

XIXO, yes first time, just two a young 64.

[d9704011]

1 hour ago, tucho said:

Martincath, have question, doing a little research. There is a casino (like to play a little) not to far from Canada Place, with some points of interest in between. Gastown, Chinatown looks like an easy walk, how safe is the area?

I know no place is perfect, is it something to worry about?

XIXO, yes first time, just two a young 64.

Take the Ho-Ho.  Casino is at stop 11, Parq Vancouver.  Don't try to walk.

https://westcoastsightseeing.com/hop_on/sightseeing_pass/#classic-pass

[martincath]

3 hours ago, tucho said:

Martincath, have question, doing a little research. There is a casino (like to play a little) not to far from Canada Place, with some points of interest in between. Gastown, Chinatown looks like an easy walk, how safe is the area?

I know no place is perfect, is it something to worry about?

Safety isn't an issue - although walking via Chinatown is definitely well off the direct route to Parq, for some reason Google has their high-level neighbourhood flag set a few blocks west of where it should be to accurately reflect the middle of the 'hood. Even just visiting the Gate, skimming the western side, adds half a klick; to get across to Gore and see more of the shops and residences at least an extra klick for two-and-a-bit miles total.

 

You could wander through some of Gastown without adding much in the way of extra steps... but Gastown is both the heart of Ye Olde Vancouver tourism and also the beginning of the DownTown EastSide (DTES), the poorest urban area in the country and chock full of street life... if you're used to downtown Detroit then it'll be a walk in the park, but if you just blow through on the highways to other, nicer Not Detroit spots like Ann Arbor you might see some unsettling sights along with the cobbles, cast iron, and Steam Clock!

 

Since you mentioned having bag storage sorted already, if you literally just wanted to hit the casino all day then it's walkable enough (<1.5miles), and if you avoid Gastown entirely and stick to the incredibly simple directions of 'continue up Howe from the pier, turn left on Smithe, continue until you reach the intersection with Expo then take the steps or ramps on your left to the front door of the hotel/casino complex' you should avoid almost all the fun streetlife except the odd beggar (who target busy commuter intersections, not just tourists).

 

But a cab isn't much less direct than walking; ~$10 depending on route & traffic.

[xlxo]

13 hours ago, tucho said:

XIXO, yes first time, just two a young 64.

For a first time visitor...  I lean towards spending the day Capilano Suspension Bridge after your luggage drop.  Free bus shuttles pickup right outside the cruise terminal. 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWm2vgMomrs

 

After the bridge, bus or taxi 7 minutes North to Grouse Mountain to check out the Gondola and wildlife if you are here between June and August.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx-ClLHK3Yg
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngyK9ct-u5Y
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59rl7FyI4fA

 

When you return on the Grouse Shuttle back to the cruise terminal, look at your time to see whether you need to retrieve your luggage.  If there's time, check out Fly Over Canada and/or explore Gastown.

 

Check websites for latest admission prices to Capilano and Grouse.

 

Edited May 30, 2023 by xlxo

[tucho]

That’s to all for the great options. Have some planning to do.

Be there late June so have plenty of time to plan the day.

Enjoy Life!!