What not to miss with a day between cruises

[Debe7ing]

We will be sailing from LA to VC on a B2B cruise before we do Alaska. This means we have an entire day to see Vancover once we have processed for the Alaska portion of our cruise.

 

Can anyone tell me what they suggest for the day??? Never been, thought about one of the "after your cruise" types of tours...but they take you to the airport or hotel vs back to port...so probably will be doing a "on our own" type for the day. Suggestions anyone???

[Sally Forth]

We will be sailing from LA to VC on a B2B cruise before we do Alaska. This means we have an entire day to see Vancover once we have processed for the Alaska portion of our cruise.

 

Can anyone tell me what they suggest for the day??? Never been, thought about one of the "after your cruise" types of tours...but they take you to the airport or hotel vs back to port...so probably will be doing a "on our own" type for the day. Suggestions anyone???

 

People will have lots of ideas, but this is my favourite if you like to walk. Head down to the Convention Centre, which is just west of Canada Place. Go to the walkway right by the water, and walk all the way to Stanley Park. Take your time and look at the float planes, the yachts, the Olympic Torch, read the inscriptions on all the donated park benches, and then check out the Park itself.

 

Viv

[BCHappyGal]

Probably the best attractions are Stanley Park, Grouse Mtn & Capilano Suspension Bridge

 

All 3 are very easy to do on public transit...start with Capilano Suspension Bridge followed by Grouse Mtn.

 

From your cruise ship exit the terminal and turn left. Get on the left hand sidewalk and walk to the corner turn left again and walk a block to the old Canadian Pacific Railway Station it is now the station for the Seabus & Skytrain. Go in and buy yourself an all day bus pass at the kiosk $9.00 ($7. if you are a senior) then board the seabus (there is only 1) and it will take you to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver (which is a public market) walk thru the market and exit the opposite end at the bus loop and board the Capilano Road Bus. Ask the driver to let you off at the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

 

Enjoy th e Bridge and the Treetop walk and the souvenir shop called the Trading Post then reboard the Capilano Road bus still heading uphill and ride it to the end of its route and you will be at the base station for the cable car up Grouse Mtn. Att he top you get wonderful views of the city, see the 2 resident Grizzly Bears, watch a Loggers Show & a Birds of prey show as well as 2 movies - + a nice restaurant for lunch.

 

When you are finished just reboard the Capilano Road Bus and ride it back to Lonsdale Quay - catch the Seabus back to Vancouver and then catch a bus to Stanley Park.

 

If yu want to do something else - you are at the gateway to Gas Town at the Seabus Station and Gas Town is the original settlement of Vancouver.

 

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 – http://www.lynncanyon.ca - 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. It is also free to visit this suspension bridge!

5) Stanley Park – http://www.vancouver.ca/parks/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) Vancouver Aquarium – http://www.wanaqua.org – is Canada’s largest aquarium and is committed to the conservation of marine life and education. Located in Stanley Park this is a fun place for the family to visit.

7) 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. During the summer months there is a free walking tour of Gas Town for times call 604-683-5650

8) 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.

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

10) The city of Vancouver has laid out self guided walking tours of 4 distinct historical neighborhoods in Vancouver – Gastown; Chinatown; Yaletown; & Shaughnessy – these walking tours along with a historical introduction to each neighbourhood can be found at http://vancouver.ca/commsvcs/planning/heritage/walks/index.htm

11) 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. Many 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

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

13) 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.

14) 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

15) Queen Elizabeth Park http://www.vancouver.ca/parks/parks/queenelizabeth 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.

16) 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.fortlangley.org

17) 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. Two of the wineries have excellent restaurants on the premises. This makes for a very fun and relaxing day. Check out the Fraser Valley Wine Association web site for a map of winery locations and a brief description of each winery http://www.fvwa.ca

18) 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

19) 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.

20) 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

21) 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.mintergardens.com

22) Enjoy a FREE walking tour of Vancouver. This 2 hour tour starts in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the Steam Clock in Gastown. This tour runs Tuesdays & Saturdays at 1pm and reservations are required. Check it out at http://www.tourguys.ca

[Debe7ing]

Thank you SO much!!! We enjoy walking for sure, so that sounds like a PERFECT way to enjoy our day. I a going to print this and take it with us..thanks again!!

[BCHappyGal]

I hope you realized that when I said buy an all day pass that pass is good for our Seabus, Skytrain & city buses so just hop on and off the buses at your will!

 

You could also buy or use one of hte Hop on Hop Off bus services but this is the much cheaper route and rreally easy to do and the buses run much more frequently than do the Hop on Hop off buses....

[scottbee]

I hope you realized that when I said buy an all day pass that pass is good for our Seabus, Skytrain & city buses so just hop on and off the buses at your will!

 

You could also buy or use one of hte Hop on Hop Off bus services but this is the much cheaper route and rreally easy to do and the buses run much more frequently than do the Hop on Hop off buses....

 

Buy the all day transit pass, at $9 it's a steal.

[Boracay444]

Do thay have a COSTCO in town ;-}

[lamchops]

Do thay have a COSTCO in town ;-}

 

A relatively new one built by the Hockey Arena within walking distance of downtown.

[Boracay444]

A relatively new one built by the Hockey Arena within walking distance of downtown.

 

Thanks will bring my COSTCO card with me

[moomax6]

We thought the HOHO Trolley was the best - the drivers are a wealth of knowledge which I don't think you don't get on the buses. You can buy your tickets on-line ahead of time or right outside Canada Place. We enjoyed the Maritime Museum and Granville Island Market. Our favorite was the incredible MOA at UBC but it takes a while to get there on the bus - so worth the effort. Didn't care for Gastown, very touristy! Dr. Sun Yat-Sen garden was lovely. Easy to access all the sights from the Trolley - they have two lines, red & blue - you can switch between them. Vancouver is a fantastic city with so much to see and do - even three days wasn't enough.