Things to do in Vancouver...?

[dxlightning]

So since my spring break coincides with the parents' anniversary, I've been asked to go with them on vacation to a place that's acceptable to all of us. That would be Vancouver.

So I know there are quite a few things to do simply due to the tourist website, but then I remembered some of you live in Vancouver. We're staying in a neighborhood of Vancouver called "the West End".

I was wondering if any of you would have recommendations for what we should do and where we should eat.

Anyone got ideas? Thanks much.

[ga]

you're JUST about to have springbreak?

[rabidgecko]

just because you're staying west end doesn't mean you have to limit yourself to stuff just around there.

stuff near there though are the obvious, go for a long walk/bike/run along the beach
there's also the entire endowment lands (big big forest with lots of trails for jogging/biking) around UBC that you can check out. Plus there is a golf course if you wanna check that out, it's on 10th ave as you go towards UBC.
good places to eat? just go down along broadway or 4th avenue and stop at any place you feel like. some places i like are les margaritas on 4th avenue and accents restaurant on broadway
shopping, you can go to pacific centre or robson street, both of those are downtown.

since you probably don't know any of those places, ask whoever you are staying with to show you where broadway is, 4th avenue is, how to get downtown and back, maybe even how to get to the north shore.

or just explore the city yourself. i dunno i find that usually works pretty good.


and I definitely recommend going to Grouse Mountain during your stay. it will give you the best view of vancouver you can get while not in a plane or helicopter. try to go on a sunny day. on grouse mountain there is a cable car that can take you to the top, or you can hike up the Grouse Grind, basically stairs all the way up to the top where the cable car drops you off. It should only take you about 1 hour to do.


and if you feel like a big whopping taste of asia. go to richmond, which is south of vancouver. it's an island, and it won't take you long to find that you'll be a minority there, worth a look though if you haven't experienced asian culture a lot.

yea thats all that popped into my head right now. there's tons to do though, and lots of things to see, maybe some of the other people from vancouver can tell ya stuff they think is worth checkin out too. ask whot, dirty, rbob, greeny, navy, and i think there's maybe 1 or two more from vancouver but i can't remember

[♦Whot♦]

Like rabid said, Grouse mountain would be a must. If you like skiing, Whistler would be your best choice.

Personally, I think Richmond sucks cause it's too...Asian like. Metrotown (Metropolis), or Lougheed Mall is a good place to go for shopping, but not so great for food. If you take the skytrain, you'll find them. If you like Asian styled foods, I recommend going to Honolulu cafe, I don't know where that is though! (Look it up)

Also, where are you staying? (I know you're in this..."The west end" but I want more details!)

[rabidgecko]

well I personally haven't been to richmond in like 4 months because of the reason whot gave

I just said if you wanted to visit china, richmond would virtually satisfy that

yea those malls whot said are good to. they might take a while to get though depending on whether you'd be driving or taking public transit. I also recommend taking a look at some stuff on the North shore, that includes west van and north van. in west van you might think about taking a ferry from horseshoe bay to Bowen Island for a day trip. Also I recommend checking out Whyteclif park and Lighthouse Park, they are both in west van.

Just as you get off the Lions Gate bridge (the bridge that takes you to the north shore) there is park royal shopping mall (woot for canada's oldest mall) and there is also lonsdale quay further to the east. OH that reminds me, for some reason, a bunch of people who i know who visited vancouver absolutely loved taking the seabus from lonsdale quay to canada place. you might want to check that out too. in north van, either Capilano or Lynn Valley suspension bridges should also be on your to-see list. Capilano is longer and higher up, but Lynn Valley suspension bridge is free. Make sure you take your camera if you go to either of those, or any place, for that matter.


i'll let ya know if I think of anything else that you should do or see.



oh and a trip to vancouver isn't really complete without eating at a sushi place. i don't know about that as much as I should, since sushi isn't my favourite.

[♦Whot♦]

Sushi, ShuiShaYa or whatever is the best place -$10 (or 11, forgot) for two hours of all you can eat sushi, and it's awesome
It's in metropolis or the mall connected to it, look it up on the mall maps.


Rabid, you sure know your way around.

[rabidgecko]

well when i've lived in the city for 17 years, i'd hope i'd know a bit of it

but put me east of boundary road and im screwed

[tranceeagle]

Hey don't forget you can take the ferry to Victoria.

Butch-art Gardens is really nice if you have never seen it(after you've seen it once in each season you never have to go again).

That and um,...... yea, well we got a garden and a ferry terminal.

[dxlightning]

We're staying at the Sand Man Hotel - West End

Thanks a lot guys, all this stuff is sounding great!

[rabidgecko]

you'll be right up beside GM place then eh? if you want to catch some good hockey, the canucks are doing really good now. I dont know when you are coming, so they might be in playoffs by then. tickets cost around $100 for a seat then. not to mention they could be sold out. but that's something you can check into as well if you are interested. hockey in GM place is a great experience


haha techno, you aren't in victoria now are you? yea or you can take the ferry to victoria and go to UVic where RBOB is and see all the rabbits that live on the campus that RBOB takes much time to terrorize.

most british columbian university campuses are quite nice anyways

[♦Whot♦]

Cool rabid you broke 2000 posts!

It'll be fun entering GM place, be prepared for the rush of air if you do go!

[tyrantisius]

If you're lucky there'll be a good concert to go to at GM Place.

PS I'm heading down there myself this weekend. Not doin anything fun, just hanging with my damn rich relatives. There house has a MAGNIFICENT view of downtown Van city.

And since you're down there for your whole spring break, I'm sure there'll be someone good playing, if not GM Place then definitely Pacific Colosseum. I mean, it's Vancouver!

[ga]

^ shoutout to dirty on that one, eh?

[softspoken]

Duuuuude check out Granville Island... go around there, it's rad. Also if you want a peice of China, go to Chinatown which is near tinsletown, which is near the shittier part of town, but don't let looks decieve you there are good finds there.
also MAIN street is a good one, vintage stores, indian cuisine, very multicultural street.
good luck getting tickets for a concert at GM place.
Check out the posters around town on light poles for concerts... go to Richards on Richards (pub on Richards street near Robson)
OH DEFS check out Robson, shopping galore, like 20 blocks of it.
The Art Gallery is having a showing of photography right now which is on Robson and Hornby street so check that out.
Umm another good club.... hummm Commodore Ballroom.
Go to Zulu on fourth, it's a good music shop.

umm i'll think of more later.

ps i live in the west end which is kinda cool
you'll like it there.
I LOVE IT.

[navyceals]

Heh, wow i'm learning about my city (semi-joking). Well although it's probably on every tourist pamphlet and it may have been mentioned here, i'm restressing STANLEY PARK! You have to spend some time there, it's a really nice place, and right close to where you're staying as well. And for sure take the sea-bus to Lonsdale Quay, it's like 3 bucks, a nice little ride and good atmosphere. If you need to get to any malls and such, the skytrain is great, although I'd avoid rush hour times. Granville Island was also a good suggestion, do it or Lonsdale, they're quite similar. And if you're at all interested in skiing, or seeing where the 2010 olympics will be held, make the trip up to Whistler (as has been suggested), but that'll be an all day thing.
Enjoy our paradise for a few days NavY