Going to Vancouver.... what to see/do?

[terminator]

Hey All,

On Friday I'm going to Vancouver for a freinds party, however the wife and I will have Sunday and Monday to be tourists. I've already packed my bullet proof vest and bear mace, so safety is covered.

Its tough to figure out what to do there. I am orignally from there so everything seems ultra-touristy. We will be staying in Vancouver DT and would like to soak in as much as we can, I just can't think of anything besides the suspension bridges, Stanley Park and the Aquarium.

TIA

[troutman]

http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/

http://www.moa.ubc.ca/

http://www.wreckbeach.org/

http://granvilleisland.com/

http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation...ank-beach.aspx

[DoubleF]

Vancouver has changed quite a bit. Even those who left a few years back were commenting about how shocked they were at the amount of change.

+1 for Granville Island. It's a nice little area with farmers markets and drinks and stuff.
I heard aquarium was kind of lame but didn't go in myself. Spent more time in Stanley Park. If you want to ride bikes, you have to rent them in the downtown area and ride to Stanley park.
Canada place was ok. The place where the olympic torch is and an orca statue.
Olympic village was ok. Scenery stuffs.
UBC was interesting, but not for everyone. A few museums and views on campus.
I really enjoyed the beaches. Wrecked beach is a good choice. I spent my time at Kits beach.
Deep sea fishing and boat tours are nice. If you're into that sort of thing.


Vancouver is a good place to enjoy nature and eat food.

- Cheap sushi
- Japadog
- Beard papas

List goes on.

Depends what you want, really.

[Locke]

Dont forget to bring your balaclava, lighter and accelerants and keep a sharp eye out for unattended police cruisers.

[Ben_in_Canada]

Obligatory...


Went up Grouse Mtn in Summer, was different. Not too far from Capilano bridge

[InglewoodFan]

I'm heading out there this weekend myself, and I hit up a friend who was in the restaurant biz out there for years for his recommendations. His reply:

Hawksworth for fine dining
The Pear Tree
The Diamond Bar has the best drinks
Wildebeeste
La Quecia

Those are my go to.
And if its nice out $25 bottles of sparkling wine on the Art Galley patio.
Great people watching!

[Blaster86]

Brewery tours.

Lots and lots of brewery tours.

[Cuz]

Downtown eastside

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Brewery tours.

Lots and lots of brewery tours.

Also this. The Granville Island brewery tour was all kinds of awesome.

[pylon]

I highly recommend The East Hastings Street/Main Street area. Unbelievable old style architecture, and very 'vibrant. locals. Really immerses you in the true Vancouverite culture.

You can thank me later.

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by pylon

I highly recommend The East Hastings Street/Main Street area. Unbelievable old style architecture, and very 'vibrant. locals. Really immerses you in the true Vancouverite culture.

You can thank me later.

That area makes 17 Ave SE look like a cakewalk

[DoubleF]

Grouse Mountain is interesting... but it's like being on a trail with everyone around you trying to book it up the hill for no damn reason. Some individuals will tell you it's like Johnston Canyon. They're liars.

Expect to step over stairs and stones up to 2-3 feet high. Most areas on the path past the 1/4 point maybe about 10 inches elevation difference per step. The area up to the 1/4 mark gives you a false sense of "this ain't so bad".

You will enjoy this hike if you're a UBER ATHLETIC, glutton for punishment or you enjoy seeing the suffering of others around you. The top is pretty cool as it gives a great view of Vancouver (dependent on weather). If you want the view in a photo, take the gondola up. It's worth the cost, trust me. Especially if you are hiking up with a whining individual.

DO NOT do this "hike" without at least 1L+ of water per person and snacks. I finished in about 2:10 dragging and pushing my SO kicking and screaming up the hill in about low 20C weather (you're not allowed to go back down, it's dangerous). Everyone claims it's doable in like 1:30, which is probable if you keep a reasonable non-stop pace, but expect 1:45-2:00 of BS instead. And seriously don't do this if you have heart conditions or other problems. If the temps don't kill you, pushing yourself will.

In reality, you do Grouse only if you have something to prove.

I would say the exertion and soreness equals to about 3-4 hours of hockey play. Except you're doing this to yourself in about half that time.

[troutman]

Wow - still there. My local watering hole in the early 1990s:

http://www.thefringecafe.com/

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by InglewoodFan

I'm heading out there this weekend myself, and I hit up a friend who was in the restaurant biz out there for years for his recommendations. His reply:

Hawksworth for fine dining
The Pear Tree
The Diamond Bar has the best drinks
Wildebeeste
La Quecia

Those are my go to.
And if its nice out $25 bottles of sparkling wine on the Art Galley patio.
Great people watching!

Mind you I don't have decades of fine dining experience, but La Quercia was the greatest dining experience I have ever had. Unbelievable northern Italian food. The Parmesan soufflé is beyond words.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Vancouver's restaurants are world class.

Hawksworth and Wildebeest like Inglewood fan suggested are both fantastic. L'abbotoir, Espana, La Taqueria (for great tacos), Ask for Luigi, Le Feaux Bourgeous, the Fat Badger (awesome british pub food), and Mezcalaria, are all very very good.

If you like beer then there are some cool fairly new micro breweries in Vancouver. 33 acres, Brassneck, and Main Street Brewing are all really close to each other on/off Main Street.

Commercial Drive is a great place to check out as well, tons of restaurants and bars, awesome gelato, a couple excellent pizza places, and good people watching!

[scotty2hotty]

I'm deep frying a turkey.


... but you can't come over.

[nik-]

Sushi Mart on Robson. Tacky name, incredible sushi.

[fatso]

A few tourist friendly ideas...

You could do the walk around Coal Harbour and into Stanley Park. Really beautiful. You could grab a meal at Cardero's too if you're able to make reservations.

You could also walk around the False Creek area (which there has been a lot of development in), then take the water taxi over to Granville Island and walk around the market (or vice versa). Lots of places to eat and drink and spectacular views all around.

A lot of people like the Steveston wharf area, though it's a bit of a trek to get there from downtown.

[bossy22]

+1 for Grouse Grind. it's not that bad. Views are awesome.

[GGG]

Grouse grind is very similar to prairie mountain in the elbow valley. It certainly isn't Johnsston canyon. It's a real hike but worth spending an afternoon on.