Me & Mrs Alf spending 3 nights in Vancouver starting 31st, en route to Auckland.
Any "must- do" tips for two nearly 70 yr olds?

Stanley Park totems

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Day on Vancouver Island (Victoria) or whale spotting.

Gastown

Downhill mountain biking at whistler

jdrobbo wrote: ↑

Sun Oct 22, 2023 7:32 pm

Stanley Park totems

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Day on Vancouver Island (Victoria) or whale spotting.

Gastown

Never been ... but my Sister and Brother in Law go nearly every year for 3 weeks to cat sit for his sister, whilst she goes on holiday for a week or two ...

jdrobbo has just pointed out the things they have done

Whale watching would be my top recommendation. Most operators stop at the end of October but there's at least one still doing tours into the first week of November. Check Viator for details.

We managed to follow this mother and calf for around an hour

Also one of the Gastown tours would be highly recommended. We did this one with live actors and it was excellent
https://www.viator.com/tours/Vancouver/ ... 16-12146P2

Yes whale watching from Victoria on Vancouver Island was brilliant, would also recommend Granville Island when in Vancouver itself, Gastown well worth a look round.

I love Vancouver. 3 nights is not much !

If you can, take a sea plane trip to Victoria (Vancouver Island) for the day. You can get whale seeing trips from the same harbour that the plane lands. You can also take a trip to see the whales from Vancouver itself. Best trip of my life that was, with Orcas literally jumping out of the sea feet away from the boat. The fast zodiac boats are good because you'll have more time with the whales.

https://harbourair.com

https://princeofwhales.com


This restaurant is great, and if its warm enough you can sit outside on the deck - book in advance https://www.vancouverdine.com/carderos/

I also like this bar for drinks and food https://steamworks.com/brew-pub/

There are more good restaurants in Yaletown - just google them.

Granville Island for a couple of hours one day https://granvilleisland.com

Vancouver Canucks ice hockey team are at home on the 31st https://ticket.canucks.com/singlegame

My sister lives in Vancouver and I’ve asked her if she could add anything on top of advice already given. So far I’ve got:
Capillano suspension bridge is where the tourists go and pay. There is a similar free version Lynnvalley Suspension bridge.

Cable car up to Grouse Mountain

Granville Island Market or Lonsdale Quay if staying on the Northshore.

Fright nights at the PNE fairground. The mention of PNE sounds scary enough for me.

And a link to Halloween festivities.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=hallowee ... vrt=events

Love it up there....only spent time on Vancouver island though.

Eat fish!....it doesn't get any better.

Thanks for all the replies (apart from the juvenile on half-term.)
Much appreciated.
Yes, three nights/ two & a half days before a 14 hr overnighter to NZ is not enough to fully appreciate Vancouver but just thought I'd check out the wise heads on UTC !
Just want to make the most of our short time there and see some sights and have good food. We're Airbnb ing in Strathcona so reasonably near to much of what's been advised.
Thank you once again.

Too late to edit : I apologise if rude to one reply but seriously, downhill mountain biking for 2 nearly 70 yr olds 100 miles out of Vancouver ? Come on.

My son lives and works in Whistler. Bike season just finished so you are safe! Snow season opens 23 November.

Gastown, as said.

Wondering Stanley Park (Lord Stanley of Preston - of the NHL cup fame, no less!)

Get you some poutine!

I don't know these days, avoiding druggies and other lowlifes I guess. If its anything like San Francisco - if someone walks down the road screaming, just accept it as one of "those thing"

When you visit Gastown be careful, if you stray a couple of blocks over you'll be in the seedy part of the city where all the drugs are.
Take the seabus over to the North shore it is a couple of minutes away from Gastown and goes over to Lonsdale Quay it runs every 15 minutes.
If you are into art there is the art gallery on Georgia street it is surrounded by all kinds of food trucks if you want a quick outdoor lunch. The library is kind of cool as well close to the art gallery. Robson street is the place to shop. There are hundreds of things to do and see but 3 days is not enough.

Someone mentioned Granville island already. If you want a stroll do the sea wall along Coal harbour there's a nice restaurant called Carderos.

Visited Vancouver this time of year in 2019. If time is limited, definitely a visit to Stanley Park to see the Totem Poles and Lumbermen's Arch. Latter was overgrown compared to the photo my Mum took in 1953, but still recognisable and we were able to work out where she stood. There are one day coach trips to Vancouver Island, the ferry through the Strait of Georgia passing the numerous small islands is worth the trip. Our day trip included a visit to Butchart Gardens. Long day, but worth it. Finally, I would recommend reading "Klee Wyck" by Emily Carr. A Canadian artist she wrote of her experiences with the First Nations Communities in the early twentieth century. Still relevant today.

All of the above but also if you have an extra hour it's worth going down to the cruise quay adjacent to the Pan Pacific hotel ( a walk from downtown/Stanley park). There is a virtual reality fly through Vancouver that is a good start before you start your wanderings. There you'll see a proliferation of Bald Eagles. Vancouver has a real problem with Fentanyl/crack addiction but we found it to be limited to one of the main streets. There's always something going on downtown ( live bands/buskers/circus acts etc). My daughter lived at Kitsilano beach before she moved to Toronto with her job. Nice area also. Serious ban on smoking outdoors ( on the spot 1000$ fine threatened) but you can legally blow your head off with pot anywhere. Go figure.

Totally agree with the originallongsider , the best trip of my life . Took the sea plane to Victoria and then on a fast rib looking for orcas . We found a pod after about 30 mins and they literally came within touching distance . It really is breathtaking .

Post by alf_resco » Sun Oct 22, 2023 10:41 pm
"Too late to edit : I apologise if rude to one reply but seriously, downhill mountain biking for 2 nearly 70 yr olds 100 miles out of Vancouver ? Come on."

Yep, more than a little daunting for the faint hearted of the younger generations,never mind a couple of nearly 70 year olds!
Interesting and beautiful area though. Piccies show my grandson who like ebby's son lives and works there. and one of the local inhabitants often encountered in Whistler at certain times of the year..

Grouse Mountain - we bookes the Observatory for a fancy meal with brilliant views as the sunset. Very reasonably priced high end food, the cable car is included in the booking. 100% recommend www.observatoryrestaurant.ca/

Seaplane - even the short 20/30min flight was worth it to see the city, bit of mountains and sea. Would have liked to go further but time/cash.

We hired bikes for Stanley Park but not sure on you fitness levels. It is massive on foot.

Granville island was OK for a few hours, also the whale watching boats go from here.

We did all the suggestions above and I would do them all again, one of the best places I've been fortunate enough to visit.

There drug users are everywhere, bent over like zombies but we never found them threatening at all. They didn't beg or bother you, we were out at all hours, in lots of places around the city - nothing like the addicts here in England/Europe in my opinion.

Thanks again one and and all.
Will obv be doing some of these - can't do all in two & a half days !
Thank you, Alf.