Weekend in Vancouver, advice needed.
 

Since I know there is someone here who will know all about Vancouver I'm putting this out there for advice.

I'm in the planning stages of a weekend away for our 12th anniversary. I'm thinking we'll take the train up from Seattle and stay some place close enough to the train station in Vancouver to walk or Uber. It'll just be a one nighter at this point. Noon Saturday to 5:00pm Sunday.

Any suggestions on a hotel? I assume everything is going to be expensive, but lets hear it.

Parks, museums, etc that I should look at as a way to spend a Saturday afternoon?

Restaurants, shows, night clubs for Saturday evening?

Maybe some shopping on Sunday?

Is there anything specific that Vancouver offers that Seattle doesn't?

Thanks in advance.

I’d probably drive. The train felt like a greyhound on rails last time I took it to Van.

I would check something like vrbo. With the zillions of highrise condos you can get a pretty sweet place for a decent deal.

Interesting perspective on the train. Can't you see the shore most of the way? It looks that way on the map...

Decades ago, on a whim, I did the ferry thing to Vancouver. Had my own car, and a fun ride over water.

Thats true, it was kind of neat to see some of the sites from a different perspective. Especially passing through where I live. If I recalll it takes about 4hrs, if you are only there for a day 8hrs on the train might be a bit much.

If you drive you can stop in fun places like Bellingham/Fairhaven etc...

Wife and I did a cruise for honeymoon that started/stopped in Vancouver. We stayed a few extra days and got to Stanley Park, the Aquarium, etc.

Stanley park is worth a visit, so is lighthouse park across the water, and English bay is lovely to walk around on a nice day. The aquarium is a very good visit as well.
Do you like BBQ? Memphis blues on Broadway is a great spot to eat. Bannana leaf on broadway in Kitsilano is a fantastic little Malaysian place, delicious food. The museum of anthropology in the UBC endowment lands has some unbelievable native art, some fantastic totems in a gorgeous setting, very nice for a walk around.

Don’t forget Granville Island downtown.
Or if you like watching seaplanes come and go the “flying Beaver” by the international airport is fun. Drink eat and gaze.
You can also see them come and go up by Stanley Park.

Denman St is good for food although pretty gay area. (Can I say that?)

Capilano suspension bridge is worth the time. The beauty of the NW is breathtaking.

West 9th street or also called broadway has a lot of local treats.

Of course Gastown is popular with tourists. I never went there in the 5 years I lived in Vancouver.

Any ferry ride is worth it. As long as the visibility is good.
Maybe a sight seeing ride in a beaver?

And lastly if you want exercise. You can always hike Grouse mountain. Or take the trolly.

The Anthropology museum at the University is super and the motorcycle collection in town were my two favorites

The train station is located in a seedy part of the city. You really don't want to be staying anywhere within walking distance of that train station. Another thing about Vancouver, we don't have Uber here yet...we're the last major North American city without ride sharing.

I'm a local. Feel free to PM.

If you drive, take gasoline with you. Government decided $2/L gas is good for consumers.

And California is *****ing at $US 5/gallon (US)

I say we'll leave from 'Seattle' for the non-locals. In reality it'd be Stanwood.

Great, thank you. Stanley Park, the Aquarium are noted.

Somehow I don't equate Vancouver with good BBQ. I'll keep that in mind.

Great info, thank you!

Thanks, adding the Anthropology museum as something to look in to.

Great info on the location of the train station and the lack of Uber.

If we drive, it's less than a tank of fuel so no need to fill while there.

Butchart Gardens. Amazing....

We are so over the barrel from taxi companies, we don't have UBER or any other ride hailing....

-Gastown
-Granville Island
-Stanley Park
-Grouse Mountain SKy Ride
-Capilano Suspension Bridge
-drive to Squamish and take the sea to sky gondola (less than an hours drive north on a beautiful highway along the shore)
-Plenty of hotels to choose from. Lots of big name luxury and smaller boutique.
-Lots of good dining, check with your concierge for advice.

Cheers

Butchart Gardens I agree are amazing but are on Vancouver Island near Victoria so it is a ferry ride away.