Going to Vancouver - What to do/see?

[MonsieurFish]

Thanks for the ideas so far guys... research into all these suggestions will be occuring momentarily.

Keep em comin!

[Jedi Ninja]

Only a handful of serious replies so far, and they seem to be telling you to leave the city. With only 4 days, I personally would just stick local.

The Tripadvisor list isn't bad, excluding the spammed-in Spa entries:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio..._Columbia.html

[Winsor_Pilates]

What's your group like? age/interests etc?

-If the weather is good, spend a day at one the beaches. Good people watching, relaxing time.
-Vancouver Whitecaps host David Beckham and the LA Gallaxy on Saturday if you like soccer.

[SeeBass]

if you are comfortable with gay humour try The Elbow Room

abuse and a great breakfast

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

What's your group like? age/interests etc?

-If the weather is good, spend a day at one the beaches. Good people watching, relaxing time.
-Vancouver Whitecaps host David Beckham and the LA Gallaxy on Saturday if you like soccer.

Beckham is not coming. He recenty went over the season yellow card limit and will be serving a one game suspension. Shame really. Everything that could go wrong in terms of getting people to the stadium for the whitecaps, has.

[Winsor_Pilates]

That is a shame.
Both Henry and Beckham not playing on their teams visits this year.
On the bright side, I'll be out of town and had to give my tickets away anyway.

[MonsieurFish]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

What's your group like? age/interests etc?

-If the weather is good, spend a day at one the beaches. Good people watching, relaxing time.
-Vancouver Whitecaps host David Beckham and the LA Gallaxy on Saturday if you like soccer.

Age: ~21
Interests: Beer
Music
Beer
Beer
Beaches?
Delicious Food
Beer
General Popular Tourist Attractions

That soccer game actually does sound rather enticing, although a bit less so if Beckham really isn't gonna be there. Could be cool though...

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by MonsieurFish

Age: ~21
Interests: Beer
Music
Beer
Beer
Beaches?
Delicious Food
Beer
General Popular Tourist Attractions

That soccer game actually does sound rather enticing, although a bit less so if Beckham really isn't gonna be there. Could be cool though...

Yeah, if it's a nice night out, going to Empire is a great idea. That place, albeit a temporary stadium, is pretty sweet and if you can get a seat on te east side or south side, you'll have a great view of the mountains while you watch the game. On a warm night, that's pretty sweet.

[puckluck]

I third the Stanley Park suggestion. That is a beautiful park. I'm pretty jealous of Vancouver, it's such a beautiful city.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Good patios and beer should serve you well.
Local by Kits beach is a great patio for enjoying the sun and looking at nice women.
You will have to put up with some levels of d-bags around, but it's still fun.

Too bad I didn't see this thread yesterday. I gave away my Whitecaps tickets, and would have gladly passed them along for you to check out the game.

Going up the the top of Grouse Mountain and having some beers up there is great too. Unbelievable views of the city from on a mountain, and a great place to have some drinks.

[MonsieurFish]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Good patios and beer should serve you well.
Local by Kits beach is a great patio for enjoying the sun and looking at nice women.
You will have to put up with some levels of d-bags around, but it's still fun.

Too bad I didn't see this thread yesterday. I gave away my Whitecaps tickets, and would have gladly passed them along for you to check out the game.

Going up the the top of Grouse Mountain and having some beers up there is great too. Unbelievable views of the city from on a mountain, and a great place to have some drinks.

I didn't actually end up making this thread until tonight, so it's me who is to blame for being too late. Thanks though! We'll probably just end up buying some from ticketmaster if we do decide to go. Any recommendations on the seating? Is cheaping out on tickets a bad idea or are the 40$ seats similarly to the 60$ seats in terms of quality?

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I would hit up craigslist for the tix. There's plenty of fOlks trying to unload them because they were expecting beckham and you might get below face value tix. Or try scalper at the door. There will be plenty around.

In terms of seating, empire has a pretty intimate atmosphere as it's relatively small so there aren't too many bad seats. If you wanna be in the sun, choose the the east side.

[flylock shox]

If you want to check out Victoria, consider taking a float plane directly from Coal Harbour in Vancouver that takes you straight to Victoria harbour. Only if it's a nice day though - it's an amazing trip and worth the limited expense.

If you're really into beer, and want to check out the downtown eastside (which is actually a cool experience if you're new to Van - though it may shock you) head to Alibi Room on Alexander Street, about 3 blocks North of Main and Hastings.

At your age, on a hot day, Kits beach is a must. Pack your most opaque sunglasses so people can't tell where you're looking.

As for nightclubs, only the Roxy and Blarneystone are really fun (from my now dated experience). The others are basically packed with posers.

If you do go clubbing, make sure you head to Tsui Hang's at the corner of Davie and Granville for late night Chinese food. In addition to beer in a teapot, the place provides some crazy drunken human scenery - and the cops usually come in and arrest at least one table full of gangsters each night. Great Mongolian beef and Spicy Won Tons.

Other than that, consider renting bikes and just going wherever the hell you'd like. Great way to get around the city on a nice day. You could circumnavigate all of Vancouver and UBC on a bike in about 5 hours of riding if you wanted to.

Also, parties on Wreck beach (at night) and Jericho beach (during the day) are great.

Otherwise, VFF pretty much covered the basics.

Hope you have a great time.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Agree with Vanflamesfan on Whitecaps seats.
There will be lots of below face value seats available. All seats there are pretty good IMO, I would go for cheap seats.
If you want to be in the rowdier section, try to get seats on the South end. That's where the majority of the noise/soccer chants come from.

[604flames]

Whitecaps would be fun.. hoping to make the Chicago match my first (and last) visit to Empire.

If the Canadians are playing a nooner, there are few better places in Western Canada to take in some suds than Nat Bailey.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

If you're in a hiking mood and wanna get out of the city for a day, drive to Squamish and hike The Chief. Amazing views from either peak. A day trip to Victoria is not a bad idea as well but money gets up there when you tack on feery charges.

Sqauamish is awesome! I spent 10 days there last week, I was just bouldering there, but I'm going back next year to hopefully knock off a route or two at the Chief. If you end up hiking Squamish, make sure you go to Cacademia boulder and look for the line "Dreamcatcher" ... its amazing.



If you are into outdoors stuff... mountain biking, kite boarding, etc...

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

If you're in a hiking mood and wanna get out of the city for a day, drive to Squamish and hike The Chief. Amazing views from either peak.

Yes this is a great idea! Do all three peaks! It's worth it.

Gastown (MUCH cooler than Granville St where the average age of bar patrons is 19) has a lot of awesome restaurants and lounges. I recommend Cobre, latin american food, tapas (I hate using that word but that's what it is) style, awesome cocktails, nice room, and very reasonably priced. Diamond offers very nice cocktails, and another cool room. For a very nice dinner go to L'abotoir.

Rent a bike and bike around Stanley Park. If you're up for it Stanley Park also has a really nice pitch and putt course.

Renting kayaks and kayaking around the harbour is fun too.

If you want the "see and be seen" night life then Yaletown is where you want to be.

The aquarium is impressive and can be a part of your visit to Stanley Park.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a waste of time IMO, don't bother.

Nat Bailey is a really cool old school baseball stadium where the Vancouver Canadians play, it's A ball but its a good atmosphere.

And if you're up for watching leather skinned naked hippies throw a frisbee around while naked guys wearing nothing but white socks, sneakers, and a fanny pack try to sell you one of drugs/beer/pina coladas/food then check out wreck beach.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by MonsieurFish

Age: ~21
Interests: Beer
Music
Beer
Beer
Beaches?
Delicious Food
Beer
General Popular Tourist Attractions

That soccer game actually does sound rather enticing, although a bit less so if Beckham really isn't gonna be there. Could be cool though...

You will love the Local. Also if you like beer then this place called the Alibi room offers some of the best microbrew selection in the city.

[Jake]

Local has such good burgers.

[troutman]

Get wrecked at Wreck Beach. Clothing optional.