Vancouver Gardens

[Jasjas]

We are two ladies in our mid-sixties. We will be spending 2 days after our Alaska cruise in Vancouver.

 

We plan to visit Queen Elizabeth Park and would like to know whether it would be worthwhile to also go to Van Dusen Botanical Garden and are there any places to have something light to eat for lunch, except the restaurant in Queen Elizabeth Park.

 

We will stay at Sunset Inn...any convenient bus route from there to the gardens ?

 

The second day we will spend in Gastown, Chinatown and Granville. Then, on the third day, we will have half a day for Stanley Park before we leave for the airport.

 

Any better suggestions for our Vancouver stay that will not leave us more bankrupt than we will already be ...considering our weak currency (South African rand) ?

 

Sincere thanks.

 

Jasjas.

[Earl Rosebery]

I don't think there is any reason to go to both gardens.

 

You mention Granville. There is nothing on Granville street worth doing . The only possible exception nearby is the Vancouver Art Museum. Maybe you meant Granville Island which is kind of fun. You can get there by aquabus across False Creek.

 

Gas town and China town together are worth about 90 minutes.

 

You left out Vancouvers' best. The Anthropology museum at UBC and the north shore. There is a free shuttle to the suspension bridge from Canada Place. I suppose the $35 admission might be a bit steep. The fish hatchery near the suspension bridge is free but harder to get to.

Edited November 24, 2014 by Earl Rosebery

[martincath]

There's a very handy bus route that goes past Granville Island (closest you can get by transit), then continues on up to QE Park - the 50 (which stops and turns into the 15, but you don't need to get off). The quickest way though would be to take the Community Shuttle C23 along Davie to the Yaletown Skytrain, take that to King Edward, then the next bus along Cambie (the 15 or the 33 - the latter drives around a little of the park to drop you at the eastern side). Google Maps have accurate info on the local transit system, but I'd wait until a month before your trip to ensure timetables are up-to-date for you.

 

How much time/$ to spend up at QE Park/Van Dusen is very dependent on your interests - the Bloedel Conservatory inside QE Park is ticketed and not huge, but does have some interesting & quirky parrots as well as the plants. Van Dusen is just a couple of blocks away, so if you are not 'gardened out' already and don't mind spending a few $ it's worth visiting - but I would definitely do QE Park first as you simply can't beat the value for money of Free! I think you can get a joint ticket into the Bloedel and VD for ~$10 instead of ~$14 separately - and if you're both over 65 the Senior rates are about a third lower too.

 

The area is very residential, not much in the way of food except inside the parks unless you walk a couple of blocks further east to Main Street where there are a couple of cafes & a McDonalds nearby. Truffles cafe in VD is cheaper than Seasons in QE Park.

 

As to your second day - if you're big shoppers then you can easily spend a half-day on Granville Island (like E R, I assume this is what you meant). Just walking through Gastown & Chinatown and snapping a few pics I'd concur would not take more than 90mins, but there are lots of opportunities to stop in shops, cafes etc. as well as another very different garden (Sun Yat Sen, pricier at $10-12) and a free-but-less-swanky park next-door in similar style.

 

If Capilano sounds interesting but too pricey, you could always visit Lynn Canyon - it's basically the same idea as Cap (suspension bridge, canyon, walking trails) but free. There's even a small ecology centre and cafe, and transit buses get within a couple of hundred metres. It will take 60-75 minutes each way though.

[BCHappyGal]

IMO - Grouse Mountain & Capilano Suspension Bridge are definite "Must See" attractions in Vancouver - I personally would not waste my time on the Anthropology Museum...

 

Vancouver has excellent FREE guided walking tours daily at 11am that leave from in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery check out http://www.tourguys.ca

Vancouver also has 3 different companies that offer food tasting tours that are a great way to try our wonderful cuisine.

 

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 higher up the mountain to visit the wind turbine that generates approximately 30% of the power required for Grouse Mountain Resort and visit with 2 live Grizzly Bears. Thrill to a 2 hour Zip Line Tour. 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, traverse a Cliff Top walk, 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.

6) Vancouver Aquarium – http://www.vanaqua.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.

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) 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

11) 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

12) 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.

13) 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

14) 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.

15) 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

16) 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

17) 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

18) 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.

19) 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

20) Enjoy a FREE walking tour of Vancouver. The Gastown tour starts in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the statue of Gassy Jack in Gastown. The Downtown tour starts at the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the Olympic Cauldron. The China Town tour starts at the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the Chinese memorial statue. All of these tours start at 11am. The Granville Island Tour starts at 3pm at the bus stop just at the entrance to Granville Island. Check these tours out at http://www.tourguys.ca The Tour Guys have added an afternoon walking tour of Granville Island and 2 evening tours….

21) A new addition I have just found for the FOODIES in the gang! Check out http://www.tastevancouverfoodtours.com this company offers culinary tasting tours of various areas of Vancouver. I did the Railtown Urban Eats tour and it was Fabulous! This tour would blend well with the free walking tour offered by http://www.tourguys.ca … you could easily do the free walking tour and then meet up with this tour company for this tour for your lunch - the food is plentiful & wonderful you will not leave this tour hungry!

 

 

 

 

Vancouver has a bunch of hop-on hop-off buses

 

http://www.vancouverpinkbustours.com/

 

http://www.vancouvertrolley.com/tours/hop-on-hop-off

 

http://bigbus.ca/home/

Edited November 25, 2014 by BCHappyGal

[Floridanamaw]

You need more than a few hours at Stanley Park! We spent hours there walking part of the sea wall. And we didn't even see anywhere near everything there! Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park is a must also! We could have spent another week in Vancouver, easily!!

 

 

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[dhill]

Thanks for all the info it was really helpful.My wife and I will be in Vancouver next May for a couple of days.Reading all this info just made us that more excited.:)

Edited December 13, 2014 by dhill

[xlxo]

We plan to visit Queen Elizabeth Park and would like to know whether it would be worthwhile to also go to Van Dusen Botanical Garden and are there any places to have something light to eat for lunch, except the restaurant in Queen Elizabeth Park.

 

We will stay at Sunset Inn...any convenient bus route from there to the gardens?

 

Here's transit directions to Vandusen from Sunset...

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Sunset+Inn+%26+Suites,+1111+Burnaby+Street,+Vancouver,+British+Columbia+V6E+1P4,+Canada&daddr=VanDusen+Botanical+Garden,+Oak+Street,+Vancouver,+BC,+Canada&hl=en&sll=49.259191,-123.133314&sspn=0.046045,0.100508&geocode=FeHz7wIdqiWp-CmxaPGoLHKGVDEMUnphxNqiYg%3BFdhR7wIdVjSp-CFXEmBYjxWMCCnBbcd4hnOGVDFXEmBYjxWMCA&oq=vandu&dirflg=r&ttype=now&noexp=0&noal=0&sort=def&mra=ltm&t=m&z=13&start=0

 

Personally I prefer Vandusen...

• Vandusen is much bigger than QE. Vandusen has more flowers
  
• QE has the quarry garden that is free, but the tropical conservatory on top does have admission.
  
• I like to arrive later in the afternoon (4:30pm) when the Vanduzen crowds are smaller and I have more of the park to myself
  
• yes you can do both. During the summer, you have sunlight until 9:30pm! I usually hit all the tourist attractions during the day and have a late evening dinner.