Spring break plans in B.C.

[Porsche-poor]

Ok so spring break is coming up and we were thinking of going north as in Canada. Any thoughts? Wife, two kids ages 11 & 8, don't ski. Might take a boat from Seattle and then............

Whats in Vancouver we might do?

[911Rob]

There's lots to do in Vancouver.
Stanley Park for sure; there's a zoo and aquarium well worth seeing, lots of park area, picnic spot, beach and walkways. Great family fun.

They also have these HUGE interior game places where you can video race against 10 at a time, do a virtual fight, fly a virtual hang glider, etc. Lots of fun. I dont know the name though, my cuzzin takes us there all the time. I think its called Playdome?

Great museums and art galleries; Some fancy car shops and China Town is worth spending a day at.... lots of neat stuff to do there for a day.

There's some good theatres too from the huge modern style to the classics. They also have a really good space, science center. Some locals can tell you about some of the hiking in and around? One good family place is "Capilano Suspension Bridge" (Link)

Tourist site has most of the info: LINK HERE or LINK
I'm sure there's lots of other things to do too.

If you cross post to the Canadian Board, we have a number of active locals from Vancouver posting there too.

Enjoy!

[tiwebber]

Originally Posted by Porsche-poor

Ok so spring break is coming up and we were thinking of going north as in Canada. Any thoughts? Wife, two kids ages 11 & 8, don't ski. Might take a boat from Seattle and then............

Whats in Vancouver we might do?

Unless its a cruise ship there's no boat from Seattle to Vancouver. There's one to Victoria (Vancouver Island) from Seattle and then you'd take another one to Vancouver if that is where you want to be. Otherwise its I5.

Victoria is "quaint" with plenty of gimmicky tourist stuff. It has whale watching and fantastic forests and trails up island a wee bit. Its a great place to live and lots of folks come here. If you do, the one tourist place that is worth seeing is the Bug Zoo. You can hold and see some pretty outrageous looking critters. Awesome attraction.

[billybek]

The Victoria Clipper was the ferry I took from Seattle to Victoria. Very cool trip.
As stated before, I don't know of one that goes direct to Vancouver.
If you are into hiking, lots of cool trails in North Van.

[Porsche-poor]

Cool info thanks guys.

[exc911ence]

You can fly Kenmore Air from Seattle to Vancouver (or Victoria for that matter) if floatplanes tickle your fancy.

The COHO Ferry runs from Seattle to Victoria as does the aforementioned Victoria Clipper plus there's the small Anacortes Ferry that runs between Anacortes Island WA and Sidney BC, just north of Victoria on the Saanich Peninsula.

BC Ferries operates between Victoria (Swartz Bay, north end of Saanich Peninsula) and Vancouver (Tsawwassen, south of Vancouver) but there are no options to take a boat from downtown to downtown so you'd need a car (or take the BC Ferries bus).

Harbour Air and Helijet are options if you want to go Victoria to Vancouver too.

Really though, Victoria is Canada's nicest city so I'd just visit there and forget about the logistics of trying to get to the lower mainland.

[tiwebber]

Originally Posted by exc911ence

The COHO Ferry runs from Seattle to Victoria ....

The COHO Ferry runs from Port Angeles to Victoria. Clipper is the Seattle-Victoria route.

[TheMentat]

Bring your umbrella!

edit: I see you're from Tacoma, so you probably know what I'm talking about.

[creaturecat]

Stay downtown.Walk around.
Granville Island,take the mini boats across False creek to get there. Nice place to have lunch, great place for kids. Live theatre here as well.
Dining, fantastic sushi etc, Blue Water in Yaletown.
Museum of Anthropology, UBC, fantastic west coast museum.
Seabus ride to N Vancouver, nice market and park on the other side.
The Skytrain is as well a novel experience, great views of the city.
Skyride to the top of Grouse mountain, exceptionally expensive for a family, perhaps worth it on a clear day.
Stay out of the Downtown Eastside, nasty,nasty,nasty.

[Steve Viegas]

Take up skiing.

[exc911ence]

Originally Posted by tiwebber

The COHO Ferry runs from Port Angeles to Victoria. Clipper is the Seattle-Victoria route.

I stand corrected!

[SLO-BOB]

Incredibly scenic ride from Vancouver up to Whistler. Takes 2-3 hours depending on traffic and construction. Even if you don't ski they have other activities. If they have tubing (I'm not sure but they must), the kids will go insane. It's tons of fun.

Stanley park is nice, but short of a warm day and a long picnic you'll be in and out pretty fast. Do it, but don't expect to spend a day there.

Cross over to Lions Gate and head up the hill to the capilano suspension bridge. It's pretty cool - kids will like it. I was blown away by the size of the trees. They have suspended walkways that go from tree to tree. Reminded me of planet Endor.

If the weather permits, rent bikes (cheap) and ride along the river - great bike trail.

[thedge]

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Stanley Park (rent bikes or roller blades or whatever and go around the Seawall) with the Aqaurium and stuff. Also theres hiking trails in the park.

Gondola ride up Grouse Mountain is a must (great view of all of Vancouver, do this on a sunny clear day if you can)

Shopping on Robson Street and Granville Street

Granville Island for lunch or a nice dinner and some neat shopping

Theres TONS of trails if your family is into hiking. No place in the world can really compare to Vancouver for this.

Its a bit of a drive, but theres Hells Gate Airtram which is pretty fun for kids IMHO

Theres some nice lakes for canoing or hiking around (Buntzen is in the city and quite nice, its a reservoir lake with nice trails around it)

Deep Cove has more hiking, beaches, and lots of canoe and kayak rental places if youve never done that

The drive up to Whistler is very scenic and nice, and theres lots to do there besides snowsports. Mountain biking/trail riding is very nice at Whistler.

Metrotown Shopping Center for the enormous shopping mall experience

A hockey game if youve never been to one

[Oregon Cab]

Take the Coho from Port Angeles to Victoria. Great restaurants, all walking distance from the inner harbour. The CDN is down around $.77 or so ! Wine country, museums, Butchart Gardens, whale watching. .

The MV Coho is an incredible 1959 1000 car-passenger ferry maintained like an Early S. A bit Canadian plain mind you but the best maintained vintage vessel around. Where else can you take an international cruise for $16?

]

Irish Times pub is the best place on earth if like perky gals in kilts and rugby shirts.

[tiwebber]

Originally Posted by Oregon Cab

. A bit Canadian plain mind you but the best maintained vintage vessel around. Where else can you take an international cruise for $16?

...funny. I like the Coho Ferry too. Its actually an American company though. The BC Ferries are luxury cruise ships compared to the Coho but lack the "character". The Irish Times pub is great. The Penny Farthing is the sister pub/restaurante to the Irish times and is fantastic too. Lots of good pubs and beer.

[Porsche-poor]

Looks like Vancouver it is. Now I have places to see, things to do and one area to avoid. Now how about a few places to stay. Does anyone have a few favorites?

Thanks for the help.

[jeffgrant]

Originally Posted by SLO-BOB

Incredibly scenic ride from Vancouver up to Whistler. Takes 2-3 hours depending on traffic and construction. Even if you don't ski they have other activities. If they have tubing (I'm not sure but they must), the kids will go insane. It's tons of fun.

With all of the 2010 Olympic construction going on, that stretch of highway is now the ugliest parking lot around. We (the local PCA) try to stay away as much as possible.

NOT fun at all, anymore.

$0.02

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by Porsche-poor

Looks like Vancouver it is. Now I have places to see, things to do and one area to avoid. Now how about a few places to stay. Does anyone have a few favorites?

Thanks for the help.

English Bay Hotel - On the beach $$
Granville Island Hotel - near the famous market $$
Wedgewood Hotel - boutique downtown $$$