Vancouver to Victoria

[SandraLee]

How long does it take to drive from Vancouver to Victoria? I'm thinking of staying 2 nights in Vancouver and 1 night in Victoria pre-cruise.

 

Is it worth it to check out of the downtown Vancouver hotel and go to Victoria for only one night?

 

Thanks.

[cruiseryyc]

The drive from downtown Vancouver to the ferry terminal is about 45 minutes; wait time at ferry depends on time of year and if you have a reservation; ferry crossing is 1.5 hours; drive from ferry terminal to downtown Victoria is 20 minutes. I would spend at least two nights in Victoria.

[SandraLee]

I would spend at least two nights in Victoria.

 

Unfortunately, I only have 3 nights total pre-cruise. I'm trying to figure where to spend those the best way.

[eh2zed]

If 3 is all you got 2 in Vancouver and 1 in Victoria is correct IMO. Both great places to visit.

[Rickey 88]

Unfortunately, I only have 3 nights total pre-cruise. I'm trying to figure where to spend those the best way.

 

As a suggestion, do not check out of your Vancouver hotel, but instead plan on a day in Victoria BY AIR. Float planes leave Vancouver harbor on a regular basis and fly to Victoria in a matter of minutes - 35 to be exact.

 

There is much to see in Victoria, but you're going to waste much of your day if you attempt to check out, drive to the ferry, cross to Victoria and then drive into the city.

 

Check out Harbor Air at: http://www.harbour-air.com/home/index.php

[SandraLee]

The float plane looks like tons of fun. I know we would all enjoy that. I'll be traveling with my DS12 and DD9 and DH, so I really need to figure out what we all would prefer to do.

 

Thanks so much for the suggestions.

[BCHappyGal]

Dear Sandralee

 

With only 3 days you might want to leave Victoria for another trip. Does your cruise ship not stop in Victoria?

 

Below are a few of the attractions in Vancouver that we love. Also if you do want to spend a day out of Vancouver you might want to drive to Whistler which will host the 2010 Winter Olympics. The scenery along the way is wonderful and once in Whistler you can ride up the mountians stroll around t he village (pedestrains only) and all along the way there are places to stop to view wonderful waterfalls etc. Whistler is about a 2 hour drive from 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.

4) 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 at Brockton Point, hiking trails, beaches, water parks for the kids (young & old), rose gardens, miniature train, petting zoo, aquarium – http://www.vanaqua.org – hollow tree, many view points, and several restaurants.

5) 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.

6) 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.

7) 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!

8) 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

9) 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

10) 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.

11) 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

12) 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.

13) 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.

14) 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.

15) If you are a real animal lover than here is my latest find “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 India, 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

[BCHappyGal]

Dear Sandralee

 

Maybe I should have clarified - the above activities are how I enjoy summer time with my Grandsons ages 10 & 12 - Most I do with a picnic but almost all have food facilities and Vancouver has an abundance of great restaurants.

 

If you have any more questions about what to do and see while in our city feel free to ask you can e-mail me at realtors at portal dot ca

 

Ann

[SandraLee]

Dear Sandralee

 

With only 3 days you might want to leave Victoria for another trip. Does your cruise ship not stop in Victoria?

 

I think you are right. I'll probably change my reservation to stay in Vancouver for 3 days. It is easier than moving to another hotel for 1 night. It seems there is more than enough to keep my family busy for the short period of time we will be there.

 

No, our cruise ship (Radiance) does not stop in Victoria -- wish it did.

[giblert]

How long does it take to drive from Vancouver to Victoria? I'm thinking of staying 2 nights in Vancouver and 1 night in Victoria pre-cruise.

 

Is it worth it to check out of the downtown Vancouver hotel and go to Victoria for only one night?

 

Thanks.

Downtown Vancouver -> Downtown Victoria, assuming you hit all the lights, have a ferry reservation and arrive exactly at the terminal 1/2hr before departure (rqd for your reservation) just over 4hr. (take my word for it, I commuted it pretty much every weekend for 4 years). A car with 4 people with a reservation in peak season is probably close to $100 ea way.

 

If you really want to visit Victoria, a day trip is doable from Vancouver, but it makes for a very long day. Take the 7:45 bus (Pacific Coach Lines), and you get into Victoria around 11:45. The 6pm bus out of Victoria will get you back into downtown Vancouver around 10pm. Of course you can fly Victoria -> Vancouver (float plane service downtown -> downtown) in about 45 min, but it is $120+ ea way vs $35ish on the bus.

 

If you haven't booked your air into Vancouver yet, see if you can open jaw into Victoria and out of Vancouver. Victoria International is served by Air Canada, Horizon (Alaska) from SEA and SkyWest (Delta) from SLC. Spend a day or two in Victoria, bus to Vancouver (and it's a pleasant trip on the ferry) cruise and fly home from Vancouver.

[SandraLee]

I think as much as I'd like to visit Victoria this trip, it will have to wait until next time. We get into Vancouver on Tuesday at noon and leave on Friday afternoon. We'll stay in the Vancouver area.

 

Thanks so much for the great information.

 

Sandra