Vancouver questions...

[Plant]

We booked the Hampton Inn, downtown on the advice from the Vancoverite's here :). I've been looking at the Trolly schedule and don't see that it goes by the Hampton :( ? Where's the closest place to board the Trolly? We'd probably enjoy just doing a "circle" on the Trolly to see what Vancouver has to offer.

 

We'll be in Vancouver on a Sunday and would like to go to Granville Island, because it appears to offer local arts and crafts. Are they open on Sunday?

 

I know Stanley Park is very popular, but we have parks here and it's just not very interesting to us!

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :) ,

 

Fern

[BCHappyGal]

Dear Fern

 

You will find that almost everything in Vancouver is open on a Sunday....

 

If you have never been to our city before I would suggest that you do the following:

 

Grouse Mountain

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Gas Town

 

However here are my list of attractions with links so you can pick for yourself.

 

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 and visit with 2 live Grizzly Bears. 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 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. http://www.lynncanyonparkguide.bc.ca It is also free to visit this suspension bridge!

5) Stanley Park – http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/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 at Brockton Point, hiking trails, beaches, water parks for the kids (young & old), rose gardens, miniature train, petting zoo, aquarium –http://www.vanaqua.org – hollow tree, 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) 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.

7) 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.

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

9) 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. May 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

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

11) 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.

12) 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

13) Queen Elizabeth Park – http://www.greatervancouverparks.com/QEPark01.htm -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.

14) 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.pc,qc.ca/fortlangley

15) 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.

16) If you are a real animal lover than here is my latest find “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 India, 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

17) 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.

18) 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

19) 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.gardeningbc.com

[Urban trekker]

I just checked the Vancouver trolley company's web site - as someone else posted they now have two routes - a blue and a red loop - on the blue route - Stop #9 at Library Square is about a block from your hotel.

 

Hope this helps

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[Urban trekker]

A second company called Big bus - link here:

 

http://bigbus.ca/home/

 

also operates on a similar basis as the trolley - on there map stops #19, 20 or 21 are all a block from your hotel.

 

Hope this helps some more.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[Putterdude]

I just checked the Vancouver trolley company's web site - as someone else posted they now have two routes - a blue and a red loop - on the blue route - Stop #9 at Library Square is about a block from your hotel.

 

 

I knew they were re-doing there maps but did not know about the two loops but it looks like there are a couple of transfer points including Canada Place. But now the question is going to be "which loop should we take"?

[Plant]

Thanks for the great info! Y'all are always so helpful :). We'll ask at the hotel about the closest Trolly stop. I just wanted to make sure it was in easy walking distance.

 

A friend who's been to Vancouver several times says the best thing about the city is it's people! I believe he's right :D,

 

Fern

[marie9186]

BC Happy Gal - your list of sightseeing attractions in Vancouver is fabulous. If one is arriving at Canada Place terminal in the morning and not departing Vancouver on a flight until 5pm, is it recommended to rent a car to see many of these sights?

[Sally Forth]

We booked the Hampton Inn, downtown on the advice from the Vancoverite's here :). I've been looking at the Trolly schedule and don't see that it goes by the Hampton :( ? Where's the closest place to board the Trolly? We'd probably enjoy just doing a "circle" on the Trolly to see what Vancouver has to offer.

 

We'll be in Vancouver on a Sunday and would like to go to Granville Island, because it appears to offer local arts and crafts. Are they open on Sunday?

 

I know Stanley Park is very popular, but we have parks here and it's just not very interesting to us!

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated :) ,

 

Fern

 

Granville Island is a good place to people watch and to pick up some fresh snack food. Emily Carr Univeristy, a fine arts school, is right there, as are some good artists' studios.

 

Regarding Stanley Park, if it's a nice day, just walk the seawall. The views are fabulous.

 

Viv

[BCHappyGal]

Depending on how many of you there are a rental car could be a great option or if there are only 2 I would look at one of the tour companies offerings that provide a tour then drop you at the airport. Compare prices and see what is the most economical.

[Putterdude]

BC Happy Gal - your list of sightseeing attractions in Vancouver is fabulous. If one is arriving at Canada Place terminal in the morning and not departing Vancouver on a flight until 5pm, is it recommended to rent a car to see many of these sights?

 

While the list is extensive you are going to have to pick and choose. Your ship is likely in at 7 am, it is also likely that the first pax will not be off the ship until 8am and with you not having a flight until 5 pm, you may not be off the ship until 9 or so...if you can handle your own luggage you may be able to self-disembark and save some time. But back to the logistics, by the time you collect your luggage and clear customs you can burn up another hour so you may not be out on the street until 10 am. You must be at the airport a min of 2 hrs before you flight to clear customs and security so you want to be there by about 2:30 and the travel time from downtown to YVR is about 35 mins so you need to be heading for YVR by 2 pm. So the window for touring is about 4 hrs. I hate to recommend a rental car as it will chew away at even more time renting it and returning it but it may be your only alternative. Otherwise perhaps it is a walk into Gastown, a ride to the observation tower at Harbour Centre and a ride back and forth across Vancouver Harbour on SeaBus.