Vancouver BC?

Hi all. Okay, who knows Vancouver? I sure don't--but I'm going anyway! I'll be there for four days and this just happens to be one place I know nothing about. I'm going with 2-3 friends who have never been there either, so any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks.

-Jacy...as always...on the fly

Hi there, I can help you but need more info:

When are you going?
Do you like to do outdoorsy things or prefer to be inside?
Is there a reason for going (so that I can recommend what area to stay in)

Thanks

http://www.nonrev.net/correspondents/images/meg.jpg

Hello Meg. All of the accomodations are taken care of...but I don't know where I'm staying. (My friend made the arrangements.) I know it's near the clubs. But we'll have a car, so getting around won't be a problem and we enjoy indoor and outdoor activities.

Thanks!

-Jacy...as always...on the fly

P.S. Leaving this Thursday--a quick response greatly appreciated!

This time of year, the best place to be is outdoors (assuming it is not pouring rain) You may get on and off rain, but don't let that dampen your activities

Places to walk around and browse in stores:
Granville Island Market (close to downtown)
Gastown (downtown) - not a favorite, more of a tourist trap IMO
Lonsdale Quays (not downtown) - fresh seafood

Places to shop in earnest
Robson Street - downtown
Denman Street - downtown
Granville Street - between 4th and 16th

Places to drink coffee, hang out and people watch
Kits Beach
Clark Street
English Bay

Nude beaches:
Wreck beach (near UBC, you will definitely need detailed directions!)

Places to run/walk/rollerblade/mild hike:
Stanley Park
Seymour Demonstration Forest
Pacific Spirit Forest (no rollerblading)
Grouse Mountain (grouse grind hike is only for very fit people)

Stanley Park:
Deserves its own category. 1,000 acres (larger than Central Park) of trails, lagoons, botanical gardens, 7 miles of paved seawall, mini golf, tennis courts, monuments, totem poles, and home of the Vancouver Aquarium. Located right downtown.

A downtown restaurant to note, the Macaroni Grill. Low-mid price range, decent pasta, not fancy. It is an old mansion that has been redone into a restaurant, it's a pretty cool place.

If you are looking for events that are going on when you get there pick up a Georgia Strait. It's a free entertainment newspaper that has most everything you might want to do in there, including restaurant reviews etc.

http://www.nonrev.net/correspondents/images/meg.jpg

Thanks so much for all the info Meg! I can't wait to get there!

-Jacy...as always...on the fly

Hi Meg..My husband wants to bring my son to Canada for a camping / fishing trip sometime this summer. Any ideas on charters or packages that would include both lodging fishing? Thanks, Nancy

I hate to sound like a broken record but...
I need more info, this is a very broad topic.

Salt water or fresh water?
What kind of fish or do you not care?
Inexpensive or all out?
How long do they have to spend? (a weekend or several days?)
Do you want lodging or camping?
Assuming you are looking to do this in BC?

Thanks, this would be very helpful.

http://www.nonrev.net/correspondents/images/meg.jpg

Hello Meg, I been reading your post, am going to Vancouver somewhere between now and October. I am particularily interested in doing a bit of hiking and site seeing. Was thinking about doing the Capilano capbridge, and maybe taking the tram to Gouse mountain. I was looking at the map of Vancouver, and the downtown area looks like everything is within walking distance. Do you recommend I rent a car or just take buses and rapid system? I plan to be there three nights and staying downtown at the Hyatt. Do you have a website or anything on the rapid transit maps, or SKYLINE mapping routes? I may be interested in going to the outskirts. I have a guide from AAA that is pretty informative. How do you recommend getting from the airport to downtown? BUS? CAB? Thank you for your information.

Hi, sorry for the delay in response.

To rent a car or not... If you plan most of your activities in the downtown area, or downtown and touristed areas (such as the Capilano suspension bridge), then you can certainly get away with not renting a car. In that case you can take the green Airporter bus straight from the airport to downtown (about $7). This link <a href="http://www.translink.bc.ca" target="_blank">http://www.translink.bc.ca</A>
is for the greater vancouver transit, you can use a combo of bus, skytrain, seabus, or westcoast express. The bus system in and around Vancouver itself is fairly extensive but I don't have much experience with getting to the outer areas that way. Having said that, if you plan to spend a significant amount of time outside the downtown or main tourist areas, a car would be a good idea. Does this help at all?

http://www.nonrev.net/correspondents/images/meg.jpg

Thank you very much for your response. I appreciate that link for translink. While you are at it, do you know if it would be worth it to visit Vancouver island for a day? I only plan on being in Vancouver for three nights. How is it in October? Thanks again. http://www.stopstart.freeserve.co.uk/smilie/thumbs.gif