Vancouver - What to see near the port?

[Red Hat Cruise Cat]

We are getting off one cruise in Vancouver and getting on another the same day and will have a couple of hours to kill.

[captainron]

Hi,

It all depends if you want to rent a car or not...

 

If not, recommend Stanley Park as a must. chinatown is another optio to pass a few hours. If you're in at 0730 and carry your own bags off the ship and you don't check in for your next one til let's say 2pm, you could store your bags in a locker or see if the concierge at the Pan Pacific Hotel (presuming you're departing from Canada Place)will store for you til you get back, take the Seabus over to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver (across the inlet), transfer to a Grouse Mountain bus, and once there take a gondola ride to the top of the mtn for a panoramic view of the city.

 

Now I give you fair warning, the mtn thing is not nice to do if the city is fogged in, in which case you'd have a panoramic view across the sea of fog with a few tall buildings breaking up your panoramic view.

 

If you do decide to rent a vehicle, you could do a tour down to White Rock and have a relaxing walk along the promenade. You could drive out to West Vancouver and have fish & chips at Trolls restaurant and watch the ferries come and go. You could drive over the Ironworkers Bridge and follow the signs to Mt Seymour Park for a different panoramic view of the Metro Vancouver area and surrounds, followed by exploring the small shops at Deep Cove. The botanical gardens at the University of British Columbia are also a worthwhile visit in the spring.

 

Best bet to decide what to do is "Google" Vancouver tourism" or "Vancouver sights to see."

 

NOTE... You won't have enough time to do a day trip to Vancouver island as its a one hour drive to the ferry in Tsawassen, 1hr 35 across and another 35 mins into the CBD of Victoria (subtract 20 mins to Butchart Gardens). Even then you will not have enough time to enjoy the tranquil and beautiful surroundings of the Gardens as the short time you have will mostly be spent in transit.

 

Hope this helps, and...

 

Ciao for now!!!

[scottbee]

We are getting off one cruise in Vancouver and getting on another the same day and will have a couple of hours to kill.

 

Another thing you want to check is that you're getting on an off at the same port. There are two cruse terminals in Vancouver. Carnival/HA/Princess use Canada Place, most (not all) RCCL/=X= ships use Ballantyne pier.

 

You could easily visit Grouse mountain or the Capilano suspension bridge easily by Seabus/Bus, which departs from next to the Canada Place cruise terminal.

[BCHappyGal]

Here is my list of Vancouver attractions:

 

Hope it helps:

 

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

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

[Putterdude]

You have a span of about 4 hrs so I would suggest that you will want to restrict you activities close to the pier as the heading of your post suggests. Things like Stanley Park are doable as is a walk into Gastown or on Robson Street or a trip up the observation tower at Harbour Centre. Beyond that you are starting to push the envelope. However you may care to take one of the 2 HOHO bus excursions but probably not get on or off to often.

http://www.vancouvertrolley.com/

http://www.bigbus.ca/

[yapmom]

BCHappyGal,

Thanks for such a comprehensive list, I wish I had time to see every single thing on it, will try my best to hit most of them. What about anything already in place for the 2010 Olympics? I would love to see any of them also.

Thanks for the help,

[Putterdude]

BCHappyGal,

Thanks for such a comprehensive list, I wish I had time to see every single thing on it, will try my best to hit most of them. What about anything already in place for the 2010 Olympics? I would love to see any of them also.

Thanks for the help,

 

By the summer 2009 almost every venue should be in place (we hope). In close proximity to the Canada Place is BC Place Stadium which is a domed stadium which will host the opening and closing ceremonies, General Motors Place or as we like the call it..."the Garage" which will host a lot of the ice events...dare I say the gold medal game between Canada and who ever will end up with the silver medal.:D There is also the athletes' village in the downtown area as well. There certainly other venues as well such as the Pacific Coliseum in East Vancouver, Thunderbird Arena out at the Univeristy of BC, the speed skating oval in Richmond and the free style events will be held at Cypress Mtn in West Vancouver, but to visit these will be pushing the envelope. Whistler of course is out of the question unless you wish to charter a helicopter.;)

[yapmom]

Thanks Putterdude,

I think I'll forgo the helicopter :) this time and be happy to see BC Place Stadium, General Motors Place, the athlete's village and I would also love to see the countdown clock. Could you tell me if this is close enough to Canada Place for me to see it also.

Thanks again for your help. I am looking so forward to this trip.

[Putterdude]

The countdown clock is located in front of the old courthouse, now Vancouver's Art Gallery, on West Georgia between Hornby and Howe Streets and easy walk, about 6 blocks from Canada Place. The Athletes' Village will still be under consturction while you are here this summer but you will be able to see it.

Have fun in our city, we are looking forward to seeing you.:)

[villauk]

By the summer 2009 almost every venue should be in place (we hope). In close proximity to the Canada Place is BC Place Stadium which is a domed stadium which will host the opening and closing ceremonies, General Motors Place or as we like the call it..."the Garage" which will host a lot of the ice events...dare I say the gold medal game between Canada and who ever will end up with the silver medal.:D There is also the athletes' village in the downtown area as well. There certainly other venues as well such as the Pacific Coliseum in East Vancouver, Thunderbird Arena out at the Univeristy of BC, the speed skating oval in Richmond and the free style events will be held at Cypress Mtn in West Vancouver, but to visit these will be pushing the envelope. Whistler of course is out of the question unless you wish to charter a helicopter.;)

Putterdude - Trying to sort Whistler day trip going one way on Whistler train and returning via coach/bus. Previously you recommended hiring a car but family would really like to do rail trip:), want to know what is the difference between Pacific Coach and Greyhound (apart from price - these 2 options were given by rail staff)? Both companies offer one way travel from Whistler to Vancouver and is it necessary to book beforehand:confused:? Thanks for your help.

[Urban trekker]

Don't forget that the new convention center next door to Canada Place is the International media center for the games and it is all but complete - they are during the final interior work and redoing the plaza on the west side of Canada Place.

 

PD - another great Canucks win - not a bad script having Sundin get the winner in the shoot-out. A friend commented on how many Canucks jerserys were in the Toronto crowd.

 

Off for a drive up the Sea to Sky Highway and perhaps a little exercise at some of the trails along the way - hopefully the heavy rain will hope off until later in the day.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[Putterdude]

Putterdude - Trying to sort Whistler day trip going one way on Whistler train and returning via coach/bus. Previously you recommended hiring a car but family would really like to do rail trip:), want to know what is the difference between Pacific Coach and Greyhound (apart from price - these 2 options were given by rail staff)? Both companies offer one way travel from Whistler to Vancouver and is it necessary to book beforehand:confused:? Thanks for your help.

 

I have never taken either bus line to Whistler. Greyhound is a new addtion to the route as the company who used to do this route went out of business recently. So with that said...Greyhound to me would be just your basic Greyhound transportation whereas Pacific Coach (someday I will get over calling them Pacific Stage Lines) is a little more tourist orientated, has pick ups in Whistler at a number of hotels and drop offs in Vancouver at a large number of hotels. So if PC is a little more (and I haven't checked the rates) you may well save the difference in taxi fares.:)

By the way you will love the train...I wish I was coming with you.

[Putterdude]

Don't forget that the new convention center next door to Canada Place is the International media center for the games and it is all but complete - they are during the final interior work and redoing the plaza on the west side of Canada Place.

 

A very good point....the hole we have been pouring tax money into for how long and how much....gosh we could almost build a fastcat for that.:D

 

PD - another great Canucks win - not a bad script having Sundin get the winner in the shoot-out. A friend commented on how many Canucks jerserys were in the Toronto crowd.

 

Loved sticking it too them, looked good on those Hogtown types....poor Burke and Nonis. I was sitting on the patio in shorts, sucking on vodka and tonics just lapping it up.:rolleyes::D

 

Off for a drive up the Sea to Sky Highway and perhaps a little exercise at some of the trails along the way - hopefully the heavy rain will hope off until later in the day.

 

Sunny here I think I will play golf and get some excise opening those Miller Lights!;)