Stuck in Vancouver...

[Edman525]

I use the word stuck lightly... I hear Vancouver is a beautiful city. Here is the problem... We return from our 12 day Hawaii cruise to Vancouver on May 5th. Air Canada rescheduled our flight from 11AM to 10:30PM! We will be here all day and most of the night with nothing to do! Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do or see in Vancouver? Keep in mind that we will have 12 days worth of luggage with us as well... Carnival has a shore excursion tour here, but it only lasts a few hours. Any advice would be appreciated!

[ranchette]

I use the word stuck lightly... I hear Vancouver is a beautiful city. Here is the problem... We return from our 12 day Hawaii cruise to Vancouver on May 5th. Air Canada rescheduled our flight from 11AM to 10:30PM! We will be here all day and most of the night with nothing to do! Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do or see in Vancouver? Keep in mind that we will have 12 days worth of luggage with us as well... Carnival has a shore excursion tour here, but it only lasts a few hours. Any advice would be appreciated!

We have the same problem, our flight doesn't leave until 10:30P.M. also, we are on a cruise from Alaska so we are thinking about getting a hotel room. We will sightsee for a few hours and then relax and freshen up in the hotel room. It would probably be almost the same cost of the ships tours.

[RJB34]

Stanley Park, Granville Island, Gastown, Grouse Mountain, Lynn Canyon, so much more. Use public trans. don't rent a car. Stay downtown if you can-pan pacicfic is not but $$$

[Putterdude]

I would take my luggage to one of the close by hotels and have the the bell desk check my luggage for the day...nice tip please. Then take one of the HOHOs...they are a great way to see a lot of the city in a short period of time.

http://www.vancouvertrolley.com/

http://www.bigbus.ca/

[scottbee]

http://www.prioritybaggage.ca/ have a facility at Canada Place where you can leave your luggage, send them an email and double check the rate.

 

Then you'll have lots of time to explore the city, Grouse Mountain, Capilano (or Lynn Canyon) bridge, China Town, Wreck Beach, you name it....

[Putterdude]

I was going to suggest Priority Baggage but I believe they close at Canada Place at about 4 pm and they are more expensive then using luggage lock up at a hotel. However, one of the nice thing about Priority is that for a fee you can have them transfer your luggage to YVR.

[Edman525]

Thanks for all of the suggesstions! I think we have settled on a hotel and a city tour... I'm sure we will enjoy Vancouver!

[BCHappyGal]

Here are my favorite things to do in Vancouver...

 

However for 1 day and your first in Vancovuer at that I would suggest you visit Grouse Mountain (however only if the weather is clear) Capilano Suspension Bridge & Stanley Park.

If you love Public markets spend a little time in Lonsdale Quay (a small public market) or go to Granville Island a huge public market.

 

All of the above are easy to do using our public transit system and an all day pass will only cost you $9. each. If you have Priorty Luggage Storage transfer your luggage from Canada Place (the dock) to YVR (the airport) your all day transit pass will also take you right to the airport.

 

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 near the Brockton Point Light House, hiking trails, beaches, water parks for the kids (young & old), rose gardens, miniature train, petting zoo, aquarium –http://www.vanaqua.org – 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 don’t miss “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 Africa, 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

[Pepperwood]

If you are a fan of craft-brewed beer and are in Gastown, stop in at Steamworks Brew Pub (http://www.steamworks.com) for a pint (or two. :eek:) They always have six "regulars" and a variety of seasonals on tap.

[quinceemom]

Oh my - thank you so much for the detailed info on the sights and information on transportation. We get into Vancouver on the 30th and due to schedule issues at home, have only that day and a little over a half a day on the 1st to see as much as possible. We will most likely rent a car on the 1st and had planned to pick it up early on the 1st - do you think we would need a car for any of this sightseeing or should we just plan to park it at our hotel? We are most likely staying in the downtown area, as I assume that's the best location for sightseeing, etc.

[Edman525]

If you are a fan of craft-brewed beer and are in Gastown, stop in at Steamworks Brew Pub (www.steamworks.com) for a pint (or two. :eek:) They always have six "regulars" and a variety of seasonals on tap.

 

Sounds like my kind of stop!:):)

[scottbee]

If you are a fan of craft-brewed beer and are in Gastown, stop in at Steamworks Brew Pub (www.steamworks.com) for a pint (or two. :eek:) They always have six "regulars" and a variety of seasonals on tap.

 

Hopefully if you're a fan of craft beer, your boat stops in Victoria, which is loaded with brew pubs and local breweries, producing some top quality beer. That being said, Steamworks is Vancouver's best brew-pub.

[BCHappyGal]

Oh my - thank you so much for the detailed info on the sights and information on transportation. We get into Vancouver on the 30th and due to schedule issues at home, have only that day and a little over a half a day on the 1st to see as much as possible. We will most likely rent a car on the 1st and had planned to pick it up early on the 1st - do you think we would need a car for any of this sightseeing or should we just plan to park it at our hotel? We are most likely staying in the downtown area, as I assume that's the best location for sightseeing, etc.

 

Depending what you plan to see the Public transit is a very easy and cheap way of getting around Vancouver. You will find parking for the car to be expensive so you might want to pick it up just before you leave. If you are flying out our Skytrain (Light Rapid Transit System) will now take you right to the airport and all on your $9. per day transit ticket. Of course you would have to handle your own luggage to use this system

 

I would definitely strongly recommend that you stay in a downtown hotel as most of what you want ot see is right downtown.

[Sailingpeace]

Rent a car and drive up to Whisler if the weather in nice ( sunny ). The drive up there is BEAUTIFUL ! Have a light lunch and drive back.

[quinceemom]

Thank you for the suggestions, all. We actually did book a downtown hotel - the Delta Vancouver Suites (got on Priceline for $100 bid, thank you very much). Plan on picking up car on the morning of the 31st. Although I would love to drive up to Whistler, we are leaving Vancouver to drive to Seattle Tacome Airport and I'm too afraid to make a much longer drive time. Once again, thank you for all the suggestions!