Any Vancouver BC Hotel, sights suggestions?

MRM · 07-09-2008, 09:37 AM

Our family is going to be in Vancouver from August 1-3, on our way to taking an Alaskan cruise. I have been there twice, both short trips on business, but I consider it one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen. I've been raving about it for years, and we were finally able to combine a cruise and city layover.

Can anyone give me hotel recommendations and suggestions on places to see? I haven't been there since the Dollar was about 65 cents to the Loony, and the hotels near Robson are insanely expensive. I suspect I don't want to stay anywhere that's more than walking distance from Robson. What are the weekend can't-miss sights we should take in before we sail out on Sunday?

creaturecat · 09:52 AM

Bayshore. Vancouver hotel. Opus hotel. All within walking distance of Robson St.
Go to Granville Island, shopping, take a small seabus over there. Take the large seabus to North Vancouver. Tourists like the Capilano suspension bridge, Grouse mountain sky ride(you can hike the "Grouse grind" to the top as well).
Nice beaches on the west side, nice pool for swimming - Kits Pool on the west side.
Nice restaurants - BlueWater, in Yaletown. Sushi everywhere, Tojos is world famous. Best fusion Indian food on the planet - Vij"s off Granville.
Bars - The Yale - for blues and an interesting mix of people.
BTW - I believe it is a long weekend in Canada, a lot of residents leave town, making it relatively peaceful.
Stay out of the Downtown Eastside.

TheMentat · TheMentat's Garage

I can't really tell you much about hotels, as I don't often stay in them. Hopefully somebody else can chime in.

As for some of the sights:

Stanley Park (a nice walk along the sea-wall takes a few hours)

Grouse Mountain (On the north shore... perhaps take a bus over there. Take the tram to the top of the mountain for some of the most spectacular views of the city)

Granville Island (A Market with alot of artist boutiques. Head to a restaurant on the water - like the Bridges patio - for lunch or dinner)

I'm sure there are alot of other ideas I'm missing... Feel free to PM me if I can be of any help.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I'm going there in mid-August and we are looking for killer Chinese food.

cairns · 07-09-2008, 10:04 AM

If you're into gardens take the ferry over to Victoria and see the Bouchart gardens. They are some of the best in the world.

Try Granville Island for eclectic shopping, seaplane harbour tours for scenery (also the lift up to Grouse Mountain and the Capilano Bridge, Stanley Park (with the totem poles). Tons of excellent restaurants, a fair aquarium etc.

I spent a day driving up 99 to Whistler- beautiful scenery and a nice lunch but a long day there and back.

RANDY P · RANDY P's Garage

Whistler rocks. I love going to BC. just get ready foe draconian PST (taxes)- basically 20% sales tax in VAncouver, no more tax refunds, and a crappy exchange rate.

rjp

creaturecat · 07-09-2008, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I'm going there in mid-August and we are looking for killer Chinese food.

here ya go:

http://www.bcpassport.com/vancouver-restaurants/chinese-restaurant.aspx

Some of these places are in colorful neighborhoods.
Richmond, an area across the Fraser river, has everything and anything Chinese.
Chinatown, in downtown Vancouver is quite vibrant as well.

MRM · 07-09-2008, 07:21 PM

Thanks, guys. We'll be sure to check out the Chinese food. Do you think I should rent a car for the weekend?

Dottore · 07-09-2008, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRM

Our family is going to be in Vancouver from August 1-3, on our way to taking an Alaskan cruise. I have been there twice, both short trips on business, but I consider it one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen. I've been raving about it for years, and we were finally able to combine a cruise and city layover.

I recommend the Granville Island Hotel. We often put visitors up there. Big comfortable rooms, not too expensive, great restaurant downstairs...and visitors seem to like going off-island by boat. Also, there's lots to do on the island itself - and it's a great place to be based.

Also, for a budget hotel - The Sylvia, right on English Bay, is very hard to beat.

Beaches are great this time of year.

DARISC · 07-09-2008, 07:59 PM

I like the Wedgewood Hotel, 845 Hornby St. Small boutique hotel, great location downtown.

Dottore · 07-09-2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DARISC

I like the Wedgewood Hotel, 845 Hornby St. Small boutique hotel, great location downtown.

Yup. Great hotel. Also has one of my favourite bars.

Won · 07-09-2008, 08:59 PM

August 2nd is the finale for Celebration of Lights fireworks show/competition. A LOT of people come down to the English Bay, perhaps the single largest crowd in town. Not that fireworks are something particularly special but your timing is perfect and it's a "Vancouver" thing, sorta.

http://www.celebration-of-light.com/

MRM · 07-10-2008, 04:39 AM

Gotta check that out. My boys are 11 and 13, so they love fireworks. I'm looking forward to it. This is going to be a great vacation.

The Gaijin · 09:18 AM

Hy's had a good steak. A nice town, great for walking. Enjoy:

http://www.hyssteakhouse.com/

Dottore · 07-10-2008, 05:23 AM

One other thing you might enjoy is visiting the Intermeccania shop - which is close to downtown.

The Reisner family built Intermeccanicas, first in Italy and then in California before settling in Vancouver. Today they build beautiful Porsche Speedster replicas and VW Kuebelwagen replicas - principally for the Japanese market.

Check them out at:

http://www.intermeccanica.com/

It's a cool place to spend an hour or so talking cars, and watching these things being built.

jeffgrant · 07-10-2008, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRM

Gotta check that out. My boys are 11 and 13, so they love fireworks. I'm looking forward to it. This is going to be a great vacation.

Don't plan on driving ANYWHERE near downtown on the night of the fireworks... it's bumper to bumper on the roads and in the alleys, and a lot of the core roads are closed to cars.

The massive throng of people is INSANE.

I'm also a big fan of the aquarium, and they just had a baby Beluga whale born, which is a huge draw.

If you like sailing and the beach, you can head over to Jerhico Sailing Club (http://www.jsca.bc.ca/) and have a nice outdoor lunch on the patio of the Galley (http://www.thegalley.ca/) which has an awesome view of English Bay and Vancouver. It's fun watching the boats launch from the beach and the traffic in the bay... especially on a weekend. (That's where I keep my 20' Hobie) There's also a lot of beaches right there if you want to veg in the sun and sand for a bit.

jeffgrant · 08:36 AM

Oh, for that matter, unless you REALLY REALLY want to go see Whistler, I'd recommend against it. The road "improvements" they are putting in for the Olympics have made that stretch of highway a parking lot, and it can take up to 2 hours just to GET to Whistler on a busy/bad day.

It's to the point that our PCA's monthly drive, that's done part of that stretch for 10+ years, is no longer including it due to the "ugliness".

Mind you, Dottore would be able to speak better to that than I can, as he's more familiar with it.

Dottore · 07-10-2008, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffgrant

Mind you, Dottore would be able to speak better to that than I can, as he's more familiar with it.

You're right Jeff. The road to Whistler will be a nightmare for the next year and a half - until all the construction is finished. We usually just travel on Sunday's now - when there are no work crews out.

But I didn't realize you hang out at the Jericho Sailing Club. I live not far from there. Let me know when you are there next, and come over for a beer.

creaturecat · 07-10-2008, 09:18 AM

Forget about Whistler. Maybe in the Winter.
The Wedgewood is great, steps to Robson St.
The Westin Bayshore (http://www.westinbayshore.com/) appears to have a special summer rate. The Bayshore is next to the seawall that circumnavigates Stanley Park, home of the Aquarium, as well as many trails to bicycle/walk. The Bayshore is a 5 min walk from Robson ST. Rooms with nice water views, next to a large marina.
The Capilano suspension bridge is quite expensive for a family, The suspension bridge in Lynn Canyon is free, almost as exciting.

jeffgrant · 07-10-2008, 09:25 AM

+1 for the Westin. My parents are flying out from Ontario in a week, and they're staying there for part of their stay. Did the same last year, and quite enjoyed it.

If you want to watch the fireworks from your room (it's a bit of a distance, but you won't get wrapped up in the crowds), ask for a room that faces English Bay. Otherwise, it's only about a 12 block walk to get to the beaches.

Mind you, I've always enjoyed the harbour views to the North, where you can watch the float planes taking off and landing, as well as the various boats coming and going.