Whale Watching - Vancouver vs. Victoria

[garynfay]

We will be sailing to Vancouver and Victoria in June. I was wondering if anyone could tell me which port has the best whale watching....Vancouver or Victoria during this time of year.

 

Also would like to know about a great seafood restaurant in both ports and other excursions that would should be done.

[scottbee]

We will be sailing to Vancouver and Victoria in June. I was wondering if anyone could tell me which port has the best whale watching....Vancouver or Victoria during this time of year.

 

Also would like to know about a great seafood restaurant in both ports and other excursions that would should be done.

 

Victoria, hands down.

 

In Vancouver for Seafood, try Joe Fortes (easy to get to), or the Cannery (a bit of a pain to get to without a car, but worth the trip). In Victoria, http://www.pescatores.com/ is the place to go, or for more casual, Barb's Fish and Chips at Fisherman's Wharf is hard to beat.

[Putterdude]

We are starting to see a few whale watching excursion companies set up shop in Vancouver but the 3 resident pods of Orccas tend to spend time closer to Victoria then Vancouver. For my money I would choose Victoria.

As for other seafood restaurants in Vancouver, there is Carderos which is an up-scale marine pub down towards the Bayshore Inn, the Boathouse on English Bay, Aqua Riva which is very close to Canada Place and the Fish House in Stanely Park (take a cab each way) and a Kettle of Fish.

http://www.aquariva.com/

http://www.vancouverdine.com/carderos/home.html

http://www.boathouserestaurants.ca/vancouver-restaurant-locations.php

http://www.fishhousestanleypark.com/

http://www.akettleoffish.net/

[LeftcoastBC]

Both Cities/tour operators seek the same pods and as said previously they are generally easier to find from Victoria. From Victoria you may run into a lost grey or two also depending on the time of season.

 

PD's list of restaurants is pretty good :

personally I'd skip Aqua Riva and Cardero;s is quite noisy.

My pecking order would be: FishHouse Stanley Park & then Kettle of Fish.

[HillbillyInBC]

Also Rain City Grill on English Bay, Lift at Coal Harbour marina next door to the Bayshore, and Blue Water Cafe in Yaletown. Toss-up between Joe Fortes and Rain City Grill as to which is my favourite.

[LeftcoastBC]

Ok I change my mind.. Rain City Grill...would be my fav. but I don't think it's known for fish especially. :)