Visiting Vancouver
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Visiting Vancouver
February 2008
I'm traveling with my Mom to Vancouver in early April. Any excellent
things we should see or do? Good eats? Thanks!
sister
We went to Vancouver and stayed in a neighborhood on the
opposite side of the bay near Grainville Island. We loved the
market at the island and you can take water taxis to other
parts of the city. In the neighborhood where we were was an
amazing selection of restaurants and shopping (i think the
neighborhood is south grainville). I can't stress enough how
completely delicious, fun, and warm and inviting the restaurant
Vij's was and I strongly recommend you try it:
http://www.vijs.ca/index_in.htm
It was recently featured on the food network (that woman named
Giadda, can't remember the show).
Vij himself was the host and made us feel like we were family.
There was a wait so he recommended we go to the bar. WE decided
to walk the neighborhood and when we came back, Vij said,
''where were you? I missed you'' and led us to the bar and
plied us with tea and appetizers before we had a table. It was
wonderful and possibly the best indian food I've ever eaten.
i love vancouver
Go to Capilano Suspension Bridge! It is in an absolutely
incredible and thoroughly beautiful rainforest - and walking
across the bridge while it sways above the river is pretty
amazing too.
There's shopping, of course, and lots of other stuff to see and
do, but Capilano is #1 on my list.
Kathleen
I did not see the original post, but here are a few quick thoughts. Check
out this website http://www.findfamilyfun.com/bridgeman.htm and lots of
other stuff online. Also check chow.com for food and Fodors talk site for
other ideas.
We stayed in North Van. cuz it was a little cheaper and the place had a
pool, but staying in a walking neighborhood would be just great. In North
Van: Lynn Canyoun Nature Center and (free) suspension bridges (wonderful
little nature center in beautiful high-treed, deep gorge setting, and a
cafe) Lighthouse Park (big trees), take ferry over to Vancouver. South of
town there is the University's amazing museum with a huge totem pole and
mask collection (WOW!). In town, the farmer's markets are great (check
web). Also beaches, stanley park (rent bikes?), huge swimming pools,
aquarium, Granville island art, science museum. Very easy to get around on
buses, taxi boats, monorail. Folks (from all over the world) are lovely.
Anon Who Wishes I Was Going
February 2003
We are going to Vancouver, BC in mid-April and are looking for a great,
inexpensive place to stay (hotels, hostels, B & B),
preferably near the UBC campus or Kitsilano areas. Any recommendations out
there for child-friendly location?
(Not much on the website -- I'll collect and forward anything I get to the
moderator). Thanks much! Claire
We stayed at Sunset Inn and & Suites which are like mini
apartments with a kitchenette. They are in the AAA book -- the
location was great-- we could walk and take public
transportation pretty much everywhere, and it helped with that
sense of travel as imaginging one lives somewhere else. This was
two years ago, and the rate was around $90/night (in American
dollars). They are at 1111 Burnaby Street, Vancouver BC, Canada
V6E 1P4. Phone: 1-800-786-1997. The web link is
www.sunsetinn.com/.
Carol
Feb 2000
Tim
This is a blast from the past, but still valid from what I hear: Bouchart
Gardens (sp?) is a spectacular place to wander and enjoy nature. I still
remember it from a visit 43 years ago when I was all of 5 (Egads!). Lots of
paths for kids to wander with their parents, but a horticultural park, not
wild. I also recommend totem poles. We had a book called "Tales the Totems
Tell" that related the Indian myths behind the totem figures. It was one of
my childhood favorites.
As to weather, it is the Northwest, after all. Have fun!
Barbara
I'm a Canadian who lived for several years in Vancouver and Victoria,
and who visits regularly with a 5 year old son. There's lots to do with
kids in both cities, but it depends on your interests. In Vancouver, my
son enjoys riding Sky Train (like Bart, but above ground) and taking the
Sea Bus from downtown Vancouver across Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver
(it is about a 20 min. ride in a hydrofoil, and is part of the regional
transit system, so a day pass will let you ride Sea Bus, Sky Train and the
buses). My son likes Science World, and Granville Island Public Market. He
also enjoyed visiting the Museum of Anthropology at Univ. British Columbia.
They have lots of hand-on exhibits, and encourange touching, playing the
drums, etc. They also have lots of totem poles. Stanley Park is also nice,
with beaches, totem poles, a par-3 golf course (pitch-n-put), playgrounds,
a train (may not be running in April, though - I usually visit in summer
and can't remember off hand). There is also the aquarium. The planetarium
puts on a good show, but I haven't tried it with my son yet, so it might be
better suited to older kids. In terms of accomodation, it depends on where
you want to be. Obviously, downtown is convenient, but is more expensive.
The Wedgewood Hotel offers suites. It is less-expensive to stay out in the
suburbs. Just stay near the Sky Train route. Also, the Univ. of British
Columbia has rooms and suites. They are reasonably priced, but are more
available after the end of April (when term is finished). Transit is good
out to UBC, and there is a nice park (plus Wreck Beach, the nudist beach,
if you are into that sort of thing!!). This summer, we plan to take the
Royal Hudson (steam train) up to Whistler. My son is a train buff, and will
love it. The tram ride up Grouse Mountain (a ski area) is fun, too. There
won't be snow, but the hiking is good if the weather cooperates.
The ferry ride to Victoria is fun. Dolphins and orcas can often be spotted,
and there is a play area for smaller kids,and a video arcade for bigger kids.
My son enjoys walking around on the deck. In Victoria, there are lots of
tourist things in the Inner Harbour (near the Empress Hotel),including Undersea
World and the Wax Museum. My husband's favourite since childhood is Miniature
World, in the basement of the Empress. It is lots of scaled down dioramas. We
haven't taken my son yet, but he'd enjoy it. There are lots of hotels in that
part of Victoria. Also, the Univ. of Victoria rents rooms. Butchart Gardens is
good if the weather is nice. In April, the weather will be mild, but could be
wet. PS: Canadians think of Vancouver/Victoria as the SOUTHwest, not the
NORTHwest.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip.
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