What is the #1 do not miss?

[barbevrn]

If you were going to be in Vancouver one day and one day only, what would be the one DO NOT MISS?

 

I realize that everyone likes different things and different activity. But, what is the one thing that epitomizes Vancouver?

[Acey]

For me it would be Stanley Park ( a walk along the sea wall ) and Grouse Mountain.

[BCHappyGal]

I would suggest you visit Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain these 3 can be done in a day. Leaving the park to the nd and having dinner in one of the restaurants there or leaving the mountian to the end and having dinner at the top with the lights of Vancouver sprread out below you.

 

Here is my list of things we like to do in 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 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 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. 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 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

[barbevrn]

http://www.vancouvertours.com/

 

Ok, If our plane lands at 10:30 in the morning, it looks like we could do tour #2.

 

Then, we could do tour #1 the next morning before we board our ship.

 

It looks like those include a little bit of everything that has been suggested. The only downside is that it would not be at our own pace and might be a little rushed. What do you'll think? Good value........not so good value? Keep in mind that I do think you should spend at least a little money in the ports you visit. I totally disagree on going somewhere and trying not to spend anything. A lot of these places depend on tourist income. (disclaimer: I also don't believe in breaking the bank or spending money you don't have......or spending more than a product is worth.)

[Putterdude]

Well it is a good tour and and as you say it does include your admissions. I calculate that you are paying about $45/$50 premium for the bus and the driver over and above the admissions, you could do it cheaper on transit but it is about what I would expect to pay for a half day excursion in most port cities. They are are good operators with a good reputation.

[Putterdude]

Sorry about this but the above post relates to the #2 tour. Now with regard to the #1 tour, it is specifically designed for cruise ship pax and of course the real beauty is that it allows you to bring along your luggage and drops you and it off at your cruise terminal. It covers a lot of ground in 3.5 hours and really gives a taste of Vancouver. The only thing that comes close would be the Vancouver Trolley, but its shortfall is that it is a HOHO tour so does not accommodate luggage, it is not quite as extensive as Vancouver Tours and of course you run the risk of having to wait for a bus or two to come along if you get off and they they are busy. However it is deifinitely less expensive.

http://www.vancouvertrolley.com/

[Cruise_More_Often]

barbevern, it sounds like you are spending the night, so you will be able to take the Vancouver Trolley. We have done it twice, on two 2-night stays in Vancouver, and I can highly recommend it as a way to see most of the sights you'll want to see. You can choose to stay on the trolley and just ride it around its stops, or jump off a place or two and back on when you're finished with your sightseeing.

 

We also LOVED Grouse Mountain, but it does take a while to do. We caught the Seabus (the terminal is right next to Five Sails) over to North Vancouver and met a bus right inside the terminal that took us up to Grouse Mountain.

 

We found that the transit people in Vancouver are extremely helpful. Enjoy!