Can anyone tell me about Vancouver?

**Dutchie** · 01-15-2008, 01:59 AM

There is a good chance that I can go with my DH on a business trip in Sept. to Vancouver. (LOOOONG flight for us - 11 hours.) Can anyone help me regarding things to do/see while there? Of course I can look things up on the internet but if there are folks out there who know from personal experience about stuff I think that that would be better. Also I have seen on the map that Vancouver lies just above the US border but I also know that distances in North American can be deceiving. Is Vancouver really so close to the US?
Any help would be very appreciated.

**wulong32** · 01-15-2008, 08:44 PM

I love Vancouver! Yes, it is very close to the border, maybe about an hour. Its about two hours from Seattle.

**Royal** · 01-16-2008, 04:19 AM

Hi Dutchie! What I recommend that you have to see/do is to go to Vancouver Island. Although it has been a long time since I've been there I remember that it was very nice. When relatives came over from Holland we always took them to Vancouver Island.

**Libby** · 01-17-2008, 10:32 PM

Id second that visit to Vancouver Island. I went to the city of Victoria and it was BEAUTIFUL!

Here's a link to another attraction in Vancouver that scared the living daylights out of me, made me freeze in my tracks and cry like a baby. Boy does my family still torment me about this

http://www.capbridge.com/

This was another fun stop - the aquarium. http://www.vanaqua.org/home/

Stanley Park: http://www.seestanleypark.com/
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/Parks/parks/stanley/

And one last site which has readers reccomend attractions:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio..._Columbia.html

**wulong32** · 01-18-2008, 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by shorty

Id second that visit to Vancouver Island. I went to the city of Victoria and it was BEAUTIFUL!

Here's a link to another attraction in Vancouver that scared the living daylights out of me, made me freeze in my tracks and cry like a baby. Boy does my family still torment me about this

http://www.capbridge.com/

This was another fun stop - the aquarium. http://www.vanaqua.org/home/

Stanley Park: http://www.seestanleypark.com/
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/Parks/parks/stanley/

And one last site which has readers reccomend attractions:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio..._Columbia.html

I had meant to mention that bridge. The whole area was beautiful!

**Dutchie** · 01-18-2008, 02:57 AM

Originally Posted by shorty

Id second that visit to Vancouver Island. I went to the city of Victoria and it was BEAUTIFUL!

Here's a link to another attraction in Vancouver that scared the living daylights out of me, made me freeze in my tracks and cry like a baby. Boy does my family still torment me about this

http://www.capbridge.com/

This was another fun stop - the aquarium. http://www.vanaqua.org/home/

Stanley Park: http://www.seestanleypark.com/
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/Parks/parks/stanley/

And one last site which has readers reccomend attractions:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio..._Columbia.html

Thank you so much for the links.

I don't think that I will be going to the bridge since I am petrified of heights and it looks SOOOO scary.
I will be having a good look and taking notes about some nice places to go.
Thank you again for taking the trouble.

**frugal.lass** · 01-25-2008, 05:34 PM

My suggestions would be to visit Stanley Park (I *believe* it's the second or third largest urban park in North America)...Van, or Van City (depending on the locals you talk to) had a horrible storm not so long ago and some of the huge trees that were in the park ended up being ripped down by the storm but the park is still incredibly beautiful.

Whale watching season is technically on until about October so you can look into joining a whale watch tour (the prices can vary quite a bit so shop around!!).

There is also "Gastown", one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Van (if not the oldest, I can't remember all my historic details right now!! lol). There is a steam clock in Gastown that most people use for a photo op (by most people I *might* just mean all the people I know who go to Van...)

Victoria is also beautiful if you can manage to fit the trip in over to Vancouver Island.

I can't remember the link policy but this is part of Vancouver's tourism site that has low-cost/free activity ideas:
http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visi...or_almost_free

You can also get a free city guide from the above website (I think off the homepage). Enjoy your trip, Vancouver is a wonderful city!!

**iml8ru2** · 02-05-2008, 08:26 PM

Hi. I live in Vancouver so if you have specific questions I'll try to help.

Gastown is a great area, as is Yaletown (best for window shopping and pubs). I'd forget Capilano Suspension Bridge - it's expensive and going to Lynn Canyon is FREE and better.

Science World is a need attraction. Canada Place has an OmniMax theatre that's really cool.

Stanley Park is a must. The seawall is famous.

Granville Island is also a popular place - has great markets, museums, theatres and restaurants.

Ambleside Beach is worth seeing on a nice day.

If you have a few days here try and get up to Whistler. It's about 2 1/2 hours from Vancouver and worth the drive. It's a famous ski resort but also has lots of Spring & Summer activities. You can check out the Brittania Mine at Brittania Beach on the way.

We are only about 1 hour from the border (depending where you are). You cross the border from Washington State either into Abbotsford, Langley or Surrey. They are part of Metro Vancouver and you are about 30 to 60 mins from downtown Vancouver.

Hope that helps!

**Dutchie** · 02-06-2008, 02:33 AM

Originally Posted by iml8ru2

Hi. I live in Vancouver so if you have specific questions I'll try to help.

Gastown is a great area, as is Yaletown (best for window shopping and pubs). I'd forget Capilano Suspension Bridge - it's expensive and going to Lynn Canyon is FREE and better.

Science World is a need attraction. Canada Place has an OmniMax theatre that's really cool.

Stanley Park is a must. The seawall is famous.

Granville Island is also a popular place - has great markets, museums, theatres and restaurants.

Ambleside Beach is worth seeing on a nice day.

If you have a few days here try and get up to Whistler. It's about 2 1/2 hours from Vancouver and worth the drive. It's a famous ski resort but also has lots of Spring & Summer activities. You can check out the Brittania Mine at Brittania Beach on the way.

We are only about 1 hour from the border (depending where you are). You cross the border from Washington State either into Abbotsford, Langley or Surrey. They are part of Metro Vancouver and you are about 30 to 60 mins from downtown Vancouver.

Hope that helps!

Thank you so much for posting.
I will be looking everything up and writing everything down that everyone has mentioned and seeing when and if I can plan it. I may be alone for a small part of the trip and together with my DH for the another part (DH has a conference there for a few days). Because it so far away for us I see it as more or less the chance of a lifetime so I want to see and do as much as I can.
Thank you once again.