Grahame Posted August 30, 2009 Report Share Posted August 30, 2009 Joanne wanted to see Vancouver, so that's what we are going do next week. Thanks to the internet (esp. Hotwire.com: Discount airfare, hotel reservations, car rentals, vacation packages and cruises) , we've arranged transport and accommodation downtown at all the above locations 5 nights Vancouver, 2 Nights Victoria, 3 Nights Seattle, in that order (with coach / ferry Vancouver to Victoria, Victoria clipper to Seattle) We plan on mostly walking / using public/mass transit, but we might rent a car for one for one day to visit whistler, depending on the weather while we are there. As ever, Chowhound Boards - Chowhound, have come up with lots of recommendations for decent places to eat, without paying over the odds. The guide books have come up with the usual suspects for playing tourist. I wonder if the local residents, or previous visitors have any recommendations for sights/eats/drinks that we might not otherwise be aware of, or should not be missed. Thanks, Grahame & Joanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp11801 Posted August 30, 2009 Report Share Posted August 30, 2009 From my visit to Vancouver this was the absolute best beer bar and great eats as well The Alibi Room - Reviews - BeerAdvocate more upscale beer selection is 95% Belgian and they make absolutely fantastic steamed mussels in 4 different preparations. Chambar - Reviews - BeerAdvocate I really enjoyed my am walk around Stanley Park it is a bit of a walk but a really nice park. This is fun if you like this sort of thing ( I do ) There are several great sushi places in town and many are outstanding there is one in a eastern food market and it is just a stall but it has great sushi, if you like that sort of thing let me know and I can try to find it. Grouse Mt is pretty cool and if you are up for it the Grouse Grind ( a hike to the top is cool but extremely strenuous) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Woven Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 In Vancouver: 1. The Canada Line is now open. It lets you get from the airport to Down Town in about 30 seconds, give or take. There is also the Skytrain, which is a convenient way to travel around the major stops of Down Town (Such as Granville St, or Burrard, or Yaletown, etc etc). 2. Robson Street is a tourist trap. It's still nice to look, but keep your wallet in your pocket. 3. Stanley Park - Go there. 4. Richmond is boring. Don't go there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chekhonte Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I didn't like victoria much but vancouver is one of the best cities I've ever been to. I'd love to live there if I had a marketable job skill that would let me get a canadian visa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbasement Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 The Naam serves tasty vegetarian food (if you're into that kind of thing) 24 hours a day. The Naam Restaurant - Vegetarian Full-service Restaurant (Vancouver, BC) Or, for an interesting and tasty Cantonese restaurant experience, Hons Wun-Tun House I've only visited a few times, so I'm not an expert by any stretch. Stanley Park is indeed a great place to go in the daytime, and I've had fun in the Commercial Drive area at night. The Art Gallery was also pretty cool, with a big permanent Emily Carr exhibit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahame Posted August 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Thanks for the recommendations guys. Keep 'em coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Woven Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Or, for an interesting and tasty Cantonese restaurant experience, Hons Wun-Tun House Hons is okay; good prices, and the food is pretty good for being a chain. other suggestions - Shanghai River in Richmond, across from Richmond Center. Shanghai. Expensive. - Mui Garden in Richmond, also across from Richmond Center. Kinda Chinese, kinda Malaysian. Not too expensive. - Guu, in Arberdeen center in Richmond. Japanese food that isn't sushi. - Thai House in Downtown somewhere. Thai food. It's about what you would expect for Thai, in terms of price. - Panos Greek Taverna in Vancouver on Marine Drive and Fraser Street. Greek food. It's on the cheap side for greek, and it's quite good. - Pho Lan in Richmond, across from city hall. Horrible service, good food, good prices. and avoid at all costs: Lumiere. overpriced like no other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerius Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Be sure to sample BC's #1 cash crop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voltron Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 Have a great trip, Grahame! You'll have to take afternoon tea while in Victoria, so try The Blethering Place or the Fairmont Empress. Best damn scones and cream I have ever eaten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GPH Posted August 31, 2009 Report Share Posted August 31, 2009 I didn't like victoria much but vancouver is one of the best cities I've ever been to. I'd love to live there if I had a marketable job skill that would let me get a canadian visa. I don't know how it is in Vancouver, but the sex shop business seems to go pretty well in Montreal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twtch Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 Go to Granvile Island. I love Granvile Isalnd- it's awesome. If you like parks, Stanley Park is quite nice, but so is Queen Elizabeth Park- much smaller, but it has an enclosed conservatory, which is also quite nice. For shopping- skip Robson, go to 4th avenue- start at Granville and walk West on 4th. Another option would be to go to Commercial Drive. Take the 99 bus eastbound- you can't miss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamwhisper Posted September 1, 2009 Report Share Posted September 1, 2009 make sure to check out Fan Tan Alley in Victoria, it's in or near the china town there cool artsy shops, friendly and interesting people to talk to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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