Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Richmond Brighouse

squeeky336
 Share

Recommended Posts

squeeky336

squeeky336

Posted
Posted (edited)

I am coming in to Vancouver airport 2 days before and staying at Travel lodge near the airport. I was delighted to learn my favorite TV show is filmed there, near a place called Richmond. I also heard that there is a lot of things to do there.. Has anyone been there? I hear it is easy to get to.. can anyone confirm this? I was hoping it might be an alternative to a city tour of Vancouver.. I heard it has a waterfront and an Asian community.. I think if Vancouver as a another big city.. I am terrible at directions as well

 

Also is is a good idea to take the sky train to the Port? I will have luggage.. :o

Edited by squeeky336
Link to comment
Share on other sites
xlxo

xlxo

Posted
Posted

Some thoughts...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
squeeky336

squeeky336

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

thank you for all the good info

 

the map was real helpful.. I am "ONCER" and I really want to see Storybrooke.. I checked the hotel link but they want twice the price i am pre paying at Travel Lodge, but thank you all the same.. I was wondering if you know if the Asian neighborhood is close to the waterfront? we are there 2 days before the cruise so I might check out Vancouver the second day if the train is not too costly and time allows.. Since according to the map it is a 55 minutute ride to Stehpensen, I am not sure if there will be.. 55 minutes seems long from Brighouse to Shephensen Village all in one town??

 

Yes i will take a cab to the cruise port most likely.. But with no luggage after checking into the hotel i try and use public transport as much as possible.. It saves a lot of money to walk a few extra blocks.

 

SO what is there in Vancouver to see? It seems like a big city to me? we are thinking of meeting up with a fellow cruisers for dinner the night before the Cruise. They are staying in St Regis Hotel in Vancouver..

 

Our flight leaves Tampa FLorida at 6 am EST and gets Vancouver around noon.. But we might be so tired we will want to just crash for a nap in the hotel as soon as they give us a room.. I am thinking we might save Storybrooke for the next day when we are fresh. It looks like with the waterfront and the Asian attractions it might be worth making a day of it.

 

any suggestions or input is greatly appreciated.

Edited by squeeky336
Link to comment
Share on other sites
xlxo

xlxo

Posted
Posted (edited)

I am a budget traveller and will seek out cheaper hotels to extend my days to vacation. Good for you! Just remember to budget extra time (15 min?) for the bus and wait to get to the travelodge compared to other hotels. Some transit tips...

Storybrooke/Steveston used to be a former Japanese fishing village prior to the war. Today you will see some evidence of the Japanese origin there, but the main and better Asian eateries will be around Golden Village or No 3 road (Aberdeen train station).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steveston,_British_Columbia

 

Tourist opportunities in Richmond are limited. The main feature of steveston for me would be Orca whale watching excursions. I would spend half day in Richmond (Storybrooke) and the other half in Vancouver.

http://www.tourismrichmond.com/

 

Lots to see and do in Vancouver with a bus/train ride away.

txO8VK4LaLQ vIvtsz1b60Q EvH_ROLyUZQ [YOUTUBE]pJdkKFNLYOE[/YOUTUBE]

 

For best asian experience..... look for Dim Sum opportunities for breakfast/lunch. It's a form of high tea, but asian style.

 

ky8bouLbbB8

 

 

Focus on Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension bridge if you only have one day in Vancouver

 

Cab to airport is around $35 with your luggage carload.

Edited by xlxo
Link to comment
Share on other sites
squeeky336

squeeky336

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
I am a budget traveller and will seek out cheaper hotels to extend my days to vacation. Good for you! Just remember to budget extra time (15 min?) for the bus and wait to get to the travelodge compared to other hotels. Some transit tips...

Storybrooke/Steveston used to be a former Japanese fishing village prior to the war. Today you will see some evidence of the Japanese origin there, but the main and better Asian eateries will be around Golden Village or No 3 road (Aberdeen train station).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steveston,_British_Columbia

 

Tourist opportunities in Richmond are limited. The main feature of steveston for me would be Orca whale watching excursions. I would spend half day in Richmond (Storybrooke) and the other half in Vancouver.

http://www.tourismrichmond.com/

 

Lots to see and do in Vancouver with a bus/train ride away.

txO8VK4LaLQ vIvtsz1b60Q EvH_ROLyUZQ pJdkKFNLYOE

 

For best asian experience..... look for Dim Sum opportunities for breakfast/lunch. It's a form of high tea, but asian style.

 

ky8bouLbbB8

 

 

Focus on Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension bridge if you only have one day in Vancouver

 

Cab to airport is around $35 with your luggage carload.

 

wow what a lot of good information.. thank you so much.. yes i would like to see the suspension bridge.

I was told that there is a shuttle from the airport to the airport hotels, and that the Travel Lodge is one of them on the shuttle route.. That is why I booked it. Do you know anything about this?

Will the airport hotels have all this info about the bus and sky trains? i dont know how I will fit all of it in one day but I sure want to.. Yes I will probably take a cab to the cruise dock one time. any info you have is appreciated.. So many nice ppl on this site;)

Edited by squeeky336
spell
Link to comment
Share on other sites
xlxo

xlxo

Posted
Posted
I was told that there is a shuttle from the airport to the airport hotels, and that the Travel Lodge is one of them on the shuttle route.. That is why I booked it. Do you know anything about this?

 

Will the airport hotels have all this info about the bus and sky trains? i dont know how I will fit all of it in one day but I sure want to.. Yes I will probably take a cab to the cruise dock one time. any info you have is appreciated.. So many nice ppl on this site;)

Nearly all the airport hotels have shuttles. Premium hotels will have more than one shuttle and they run on a schedule. Budget hotels may have only one shuttle... if that shuttle just departed the airport.... you may need to wait a long time for it to return and pick you up. Backup plan is a taxi near the shuttle pickup.

 

Different hotel staff will have various levels of transit knowledge. I rely on Google Maps for routing information. But also the next bus link I indicated above for live transit information on expected arrival times.

 

How much you want to fit in your day depends on...

  • what time are you arriving at the airport.... you might be able to squeeze in a few attractions before it gets dark.
  • how early do you depart your hotel room? Sleep in on the cruise.... get up at hit the attractions when they first open at 9 or 10am!
  • Be aware of sunset times. In the summer, daylight can be around til 9:30pm. Take advantage of the extra daylight to see and do more.
  • Plan ahead for dinner... sometimes I will have an earlier 5pm dinner and then hit the attractions afterwards when the crowds are smaller and I can move around more quickly.

 

Why wait until Alaska to see wildlife? Why not get up early and have breakfast with the bears?

https://www.grousemountain.com/products/breakfast-with-the-bears

Link to comment
Share on other sites
scottbee

scottbee

Posted
Posted

If you're going to be doing a lot of transit, buy a book of 10 tickets, called a Faresaver book. If you're here over a weekend, you only need one zone (or within Richmond/Airport area), if you want to travel to/from downtown from Richmond/Airport you need two zone (but can buy an 'add fare').

 

Also, the Skytrain is pretty darn easy from Richmond/YVR to the cruise terminal, it's a very short 3 block walk to Canada Place, slightly downhill from the Granville St exit of Waterfront Skytrain station. And no need to drag your suitcases, they'll roll nicely on the paved sidewalks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
squeeky336

squeeky336

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Nearly all the airport hotels have shuttles. Premium hotels will have more than one shuttle and they run on a schedule. Budget hotels may have only one shuttle... if that shuttle just departed the airport.... you may need to wait a long time for it to return and pick you up. Backup plan is a taxi near the shuttle pickup.

 

Different hotel staff will have various levels of transit knowledge. I rely on Google Maps for routing information. But also the next bus link I indicated above for live transit information on expected arrival times.

 

How much you want to fit in your day depends on...

  • what time are you arriving at the airport.... you might be able to squeeze in a few attractions before it gets dark.
  • how early do you depart your hotel room? Sleep in on the cruise.... get up at hit the attractions when they first open at 9 or 10am!
  • Be aware of sunset times. In the summer, daylight can be around til 9:30pm. Take advantage of the extra daylight to see and do more.
  • Plan ahead for dinner... sometimes I will have an earlier 5pm dinner and then hit the attractions afterwards when the crowds are smaller and I can move around more quickly.

 

Why wait until Alaska to see wildlife? Why not get up early and have breakfast with the bears?

https://www.grousemountain.com/products/breakfast-with-the-bears

Terrific website.. i hope i can get transportation to your mountain to.. geez i thought i would be bored the day before the cruise..you sure fixed that.. thank you so much

Link to comment
Share on other sites
squeeky336

squeeky336

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
Nearly all the airport hotels have shuttles. Premium hotels will have more than one shuttle and they run on a schedule. Budget hotels may have only one shuttle... if that shuttle just departed the airport.... you may need to wait a long time for it to return and pick you up. Backup plan is a taxi near the shuttle pickup.

 

Different hotel staff will have various levels of transit knowledge. I rely on Google Maps for routing information. But also the next bus link I indicated above for live transit information on expected arrival times.

 

How much you want to fit in your day depends on...

  • what time are you arriving at the airport.... you might be able to squeeze in a few attractions before it gets dark.
  • how early do you depart your hotel room? Sleep in on the cruise.... get up at hit the attractions when they first open at 9 or 10am!
  • Be aware of sunset times. In the summer, daylight can be around til 9:30pm. Take advantage of the extra daylight to see and do more.
  • Plan ahead for dinner... sometimes I will have an earlier 5pm dinner and then hit the attractions afterwards when the crowds are smaller and I can move around more quickly.

 

Why wait until Alaska to see wildlife? Why not get up early and have breakfast with the bears?

https://www.grousemountain.com/products/breakfast-with-the-bears

Do you live in Vancouver? you seem to know so much.. I wish you were on the same cruise as I am

 

Michelle ;)

Edited by squeeky336
Link to comment
Share on other sites
xlxo

xlxo

Posted
Posted (edited)
Terrific website.. i hope i can get transportation to your mountain to.. geez i thought i would be bored the day before the cruise..you sure fixed that.. thank you so much
I think you need to add on some extra days with the money you are saving at the Travelodge.... possibly itinery for multi day stays.

  • Day 1: Storybrooke and Richmond if you arrive on an early flight
  • Day 2: Grouse and Capilano
  • Day 3: Stanley Park, Granville Island, downtown
  • Day 4: Whistler?
  • Day 5: Victoria?

 

If you are planning Breakfast with the bears... you need to consider a combination of taxi with the buses.... some of the buses/shuttles don't operate early enough for the breakfast with the bears program on the weekend.

Edited by xlxo
Link to comment
Share on other sites
squeeky336

squeeky336

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I think you need to add on some extra days with the money you are saving at the Travelodge.... possibly itinery for multi day stays.

  • Day 1: Storybrooke and Richmond if you arrive on an early flight
  • Day 2: Grouse and Capilano
  • Day 3: Stanley Park, Granville Island, downtown
  • Day 4: Whistler?
  • Day 5: Victoria?

 

If you are planning Breakfast with the bears... you need to consider a combination of taxi with the buses.... some of the buses/shuttles don't operate early enough for the breakfast with the bears program on the weekend.

 

I can't add any days on.. My airfare is non refundable and I already have the cruise booked. I thought Grouse and CApilano was in Stanly Park? I will have one day when I get back from the cruise however. I just hope the hotel can help me get to all these places.. I do not have a smart phone.. (another way I save money) ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
scottbee

scottbee

Posted
Posted
I can't add any days on.. My airfare is non refundable and I already have the cruise booked. I thought Grouse and CApilano was in Stanly Park? I will have one day when I get back from the cruise however. I just hope the hotel can help me get to all these places.. I do not have a smart phone.. (another way I save money) ;)

 

Stanley Park is an urban park adjacent to downtown Vancouver; much like Central Park is in New York. Grouse Mountain, Capilano Suspension Bridge and Lynn Canyon are all on the north shore the other side of Burrard Inlet.

 

Map:

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Grouse+Mountain,+Nancy+Greene+Way,+North+Vancouver,+BC/Canada+Pl,+Vancouver,+BC/@49.3280662,-123.1492713,13z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x54866f8566eb3e37:0x4d63448ce84b46f6!2m2!1d-123.099487!2d49.372289!1m5!1m1!1s0x548671831c0cf969:0xc5fbd49c04ee23c0!2m2!1d-123.1137103!2d49.2876497!5i1?hl=en

 

There's a free shuttle from Canada Place to Grouse Mountain, or it's pretty easy to do yourself via transit (bus and seabus) as shown above.

 

Where you're planning on staying is about the same distance south of downtown (and cruise terminal) that Grouse is north of town. Look for the intersection of Hwy 99 and Bridgeport road, just east of the airport on the map,

Link to comment
Share on other sites
squeeky336

squeeky336

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
Stanley Park is an urban park adjacent to downtown Vancouver; much like Central Park is in New York. Grouse Mountain, Capilano Suspension Bridge and Lynn Canyon are all on the north shore the other side of Burrard Inlet.

 

Map:

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Grouse+Mountain,+Nancy+Greene+Way,+North+Vancouver,+BC/Canada+Pl,+Vancouver,+BC/@49.3280662,-123.1492713,13z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x54866f8566eb3e37:0x4d63448ce84b46f6!2m2!1d-123.099487!2d49.372289!1m5!1m1!1s0x548671831c0cf969:0xc5fbd49c04ee23c0!2m2!1d-123.1137103!2d49.2876497!5i1?hl=en

 

There's a free shuttle from Canada Place to Grouse Mountain, or it's pretty easy to do yourself via transit (bus and seabus) as shown above.

 

Where you're planning on staying is about the same distance south of downtown (and cruise terminal) that Grouse is north of town. Look for the intersection of Hwy 99 and Bridgeport road, just east of the airport on the map,

 

 

It looks like it wold be best to do Grouse Mountain on day 2.. But I would be coming from the hotel I am staying at near the airport.. It is Travel Lodge Vancouver Airport. I would not be coming from Canada Place. SInce Stanly park is so close to the cruise ship i would think it best to go there when i return.. I like the mountain and bridge attractions better.. Do you know how would I get there from my hotel? you seem to know a lot.. are you in Vancouver?

 

BTW.. my name is Michelle what is yours?

Edited by squeeky336
Link to comment
Share on other sites
xlxo

xlxo

Posted
Posted
I can't add any days on.. My airfare is non refundable and I already have the cruise booked. I thought Grouse and CApilano was in Stanly Park? I will have one day when I get back from the cruise however. I just hope the hotel can help me get to all these places.. I do not have a smart phone.. (another way I save money) ;)
What time is your flight arriving at YVR on Saturday? We can provide a better Storybrooke itinery for you.

 

For Sunday.... I recommend leaving your hotel early at 9am to catch the 480 to the subway (Canada Line). This will get you to the Pan Pacific hotel for the morning shuttles to Grouse, which will take you another 30 minutes to get there. Another option is to continue your journey with the Seabus ferry to North Vancouver and get the Grouse bus there.

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Travelodge+Hotel+Vancouver+Airport,+Richmond,+BC/Pan+Pacific+Vancouver,+Vancouver,+BC/@49.2397082,-123.1568178,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m17!4m16!1m5!1m1!1s0x5486751c4db4b1a7:0x8267058ea7805453!2m2!1d-123.112537!2d49.191327!1m5!1m1!1s0x54867182daa3cfd7:0x511bd0c9c1bbc59e!2m2!1d-123.1129!2d49.287989!2m2!7e2!8j1431248400!3e3

 

You want to spend a few hours on top of Grouse. Once off the gondola, look for the shuttle back to Vancouver. HOWEVER ask if the driver is willing to drop you off at the Capilano Bridge as it's along the way. In general the answer should be yes, but if not.... take public transit for 5 minutes to get to bridge to save time not having to go downtown again.

 

[YOUTUBE]pJdkKFNLYOE[/YOUTUBE]

 

 

After the bridge.... take the free Capilano shuttle back downtown. HOWEVER, request to be dropped off at the Stanley Park entrance. From there you can walk into the park. Ideally you want to get to the Aquarium before 2pm to enjoy the shows. Check out the little mini train before they close I think around 5pm!

You can take the #19 bus from the park back into downtown to explore the scenery there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
squeeky336

squeeky336

Posted
  • Author
Posted
What time is your flight arriving at YVR on Saturday? We can provide a better Storybrooke itinery for you.

 

For Sunday.... I recommend leaving your hotel early at 9am to catch the 480 to the subway (Canada Line). This will get you to the Pan Pacific hotel for the morning shuttles to Grouse, which will take you another 30 minutes to get there. Another option is to continue your journey with the Seabus ferry to North Vancouver and get the Grouse bus there.

https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/Travelodge+Hotel+Vancouver+Airport,+Richmond,+BC/Pan+Pacific+Vancouver,+Vancouver,+BC/@49.2397082,-123.1568178,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m17!4m16!1m5!1m1!1s0x5486751c4db4b1a7:0x8267058ea7805453!2m2!1d-123.112537!2d49.191327!1m5!1m1!1s0x54867182daa3cfd7:0x511bd0c9c1bbc59e!2m2!1d-123.1129!2d49.287989!2m2!7e2!8j1431248400!3e3

 

You want to spend a few hours on top of Grouse. Once off the gondola, look for the shuttle back to Vancouver. HOWEVER ask if the driver is willing to drop you off at the Capilano Bridge as it's along the way. In general the answer should be yes, but if not.... take public transit for 5 minutes to get to bridge to save time not having to go downtown again.

 

pJdkKFNLYOE

 

 

After the bridge.... take the free Capilano shuttle back downtown. HOWEVER, request to be dropped off at the Stanley Park entrance. From there you can walk into the park. Ideally you want to get to the Aquarium before 2pm to enjoy the shows. Check out the little mini train before they close I think around 5pm!

You can take the #19 bus from the park back into downtown to explore the scenery there.

 

Our plane gets into Vancouver at 12 noon, on Wed June 3.. But we will have been on the plane since 6 am Florida time.. We have to get to the airport by 4 am.. So we might be really tired.. We will try and sleep on the plane some.

 

My cruise ship leaves out of Port of Canada at 4 pm on Fri June 5. ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
xlxo

xlxo

Posted
Posted (edited)
Our plane gets into Vancouver at 12 noon, on Wed June 3.. But we will have been on the plane since 6 am Florida time.. We have to get to the airport by 4 am.. So we might be really tired.. We will try and sleep on the plane some.

 

My cruise ship leaves out of Port of Canada at 4 pm on Fri June 5. ;)

Some thoughts....

 

Your boat may be leaving at 4pm... but you want to get on the boat as early as possible to enjoy the welcoming lunch trough before it closes at 2pm (you paid for it). You also need to be there for the evac procedures around 3pm.

 

You might try for a Storybrooke side trip 9am to 10:30am before getting the taxi into the cruise terminal.

Edited by xlxo
Link to comment
Share on other sites
squeeky336

squeeky336

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Some thoughts....

 

Your boat may be leaving at 4pm... but you want to get on the boat as early as possible to enjoy the welcoming lunch trough before it closes at 2pm (you paid for it). You also need to be there for the evac procedures around 3pm.

 

You might try for a Storybrooke side trip 9am to 10:30am before getting the taxi into the cruise terminal.

 

 

You have been so kind to me.. And I don't even know if you are a lady or a gentleman. I wish i could find a way to repay your kindness.. Please...;) won't you at least tell me your first name and what area of the country you are in..

 

I am near to Disney World and if you ever need help there I will be glad to return all your kindness.

 

One other question.. Will all these wonderful places you have told me about accept United States Currency or do I need to get Canada money? Will they take United States credit cards ? We are not on the PIN chip system yet.

 

Again my name is Michelle I am a 58 year old woman from Florida and I am traveling with my b/f John who is 54. and I am so happy you have helped me so much.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
xlxo

xlxo

Posted
Posted (edited)
I wish i could find a way to repay your kindness.

 

One other question.. Will all these wonderful places you have told me about accept United States Currency or do I need to get Canada money? Will they take United States credit cards ? We are not on the PIN chip system yet.

Best thing to do is spend more time in the city on a future trip and embrace what it has to offer. On this trip... spend as little time as possible in your hotel room. While the Travelodge is affordable... the area adjacent to the hotel has very limited to offer for a tourist without a rental car.

 

You should be fine with US credit cards. If you run into problems.... having some Canadian currency is a good idea as backup. You could always use a bank machine to withdraw more. Canadian currency is important for public transit and tipping.

Edited by xlxo
Link to comment
Share on other sites
BCHappyGal

BCHappyGal

Posted
Posted

You can also buy an all day transit pass which allows you unlimited riding on our buses, Skytrain (subway) and Seabus cost for 3 zones is $9.75 CAN - and the machines take credit cards....

 

Richmond is a suburb to Vancouver and where the airport is located...

Steveston was the original fishing port in Richmond

 

You will find it very easy to commute to Vancouver for all the major attractions using the Skytrain.

 

Info on Vancouver from a local!

 

My favorite must do attractions are

 

1) Grouse Mountain – http://www.grousemountain.com – this is a wonderful scenic mountain only about 15 mins from downtown Vancouver. Ride the airtram to the top for lots of fun activities that include a loggers show, birds of prey show, 2 movies (1 about the Vancouver area and 1 about the 2 Grizzly Bears who make their home on Grouse Mtn) ride a chair lift higher up the mountain to visit the wind turbine that generates approximately 30% of the power required for Grouse Mountain Resort and visit with 2 live Grizzly Bears. Thrill to a 2 hour Zip Line Tour. Enjoy a meal in any of the restaurants. Caveat only spend the money to go up on a clear day.

2) Capilano Suspension Bridge – http://www.capbridge.com – this is Vancouver’s oldest tourist attraction and I still enjoy visiting it! Located on Capilano Road just before you reach the Grouse Mountain parking lot. Walk across a suspension Bridge over the Capilano Gorge, wonder the trails thru the rain forest, walk thru the treetops on the new Tree Top Adventure, traverse a Cliff Top walk, visit the trading post for a huge selection of souvenirs, watch native weavers and/or carvers at work.

3) Capilano Fish Hatchery is also located on Capilano Road and is a great place to view salmon jumping up the fish ladders to get around the Cleveland Dam. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capilano_River_Regional_Park

4) Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge – http://www.lynncanyon.ca - is also located in North Vancouver and is much less touristy than Capilano but it also is not as spectacular. The bridge is slightly higher above the water but much shorter in span. Located in a Provincial Park this bridge comes with some nice hiking trails and you will find an ecology centre in the park as well as picnic tables and a food concession outlet. Should you choose to enjoy the Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge always cross the suspension bridge first and then hike down the trail to the lower (Twin Falls wooden) bridge to cross back over the Lynn Valley River and return to your car – that way you are hiking downhill rather than uphill. It is also free to visit this suspension bridge!

5) Stanley Park – http://www.vancouver.ca/parks/parks/stanley/ - is the crown jewel of Vancouver's parks. As one of North America's largest urban parks, covering over a 1000 acres and offering an abundance of activities. Enjoy the totem pole collection near the Brockton Point Light House, hiking trails, beaches, water parks for the kids (young & old), rose gardens, miniature train, petting zoo, aquarium –http://www.vanaqua.org – many view points, and several restaurants.

6) Vancouver Aquarium – http://www.vanaqua.org – is Canada’s largest aquarium and is committed to the conservation of marine life and education. Located in Stanley Park this is a fun place for the family to visit.

7) Fly Over Canada incorporates state of the art technology in an Imax theatre to show you supernatural Canada, Fly from coast to coast taking in breath stealing views of Niagara Falls, Lake Louise, The Rockies & more. Spectacular! http://www.flyovercanada.com

8) Gas Town – the location where Vancouver originated. The name is derived from a very colorful character named Gassy Jack who was one of the first settlers in the area and a salon keeper – while in Gas Town don’t miss your photo op with the statue of Gassy Jack and by the Steam Clock.

9) At the start of Gas Town is the Harbor Centre Tower http://www.vancouverlookout.com a great spot to start your tour of Vancouver with a birds eye view of the city. Either take the elevator up to the lookout level or go to the top and enjoy a meal in the revolving restaurant.

10) China Town is only about 6 blocks over from Gas Town and is the largest China Town north of San Francisco. While in China Town enjoy a visit to the Dr Sun Yat Sen Classical Gardens http://www.vancouverchinesegarden.com and also make sure you visit the world’s thinnest building it is only 6’ wide!

11) Granville Island – http://www.granvilleisland.com – is a huge public market area which not only sells fruit & veggies but you can also buy frozen fish to be shipped to your home. Many artists make this their home and you can watch them at work in their studios – making this a great place to buy unique souvenirs. The Granville Island Brewery is also located here and you can stop in for a free tour & tastes. There are theatres for live performances and many fine restaurants. A fun way to get to Granville Island is via the Aquabus – http://www.theaquabus.com

12) Burnaby Village Museum – http://www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca – is an open air museum with over 30 restored homes, shops, school, church and a 1912 carousel situated on 10 acres

13) Gulf of Georgia Cannery – http://www.gulfofgeorgiacannery.com – is a restored fishing cannery located in the historic fishing village of Steveston (part of Richmond). Here you see exhibits that showcase the history of the fishing industry in British Columbia. Once finished in the museum it is great fun to walk along the fishing docks and see the fishing boats which are selling their catch. There are also some excellent restaurants located here.

14) The Vancouver Maritime Museum located on the shore of English Bay is fun for the whole family with lots of hands on exhibits for the kid in all of us. Here to you will find the ship St Roch which the RCMP sailed from Vancouver to Halifax via the Northwest Passage and then completed the return journey in 1944. You actually get to tour this ship. http://www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com

15) Queen Elizabeth Park http://www.vancouver.ca/parks/parks/queenelizabeth The 130 acre (52 hectare) park is one of the most beautifully maintained public parks in the world. Second only to Stanley Park in annual visitations, it receives nearly 6 million people a year who marvel at its superior standard of garden plantings.

The park was originally quarried for its rock which served to build Vancouver's first roadways. In 1929 the Board proceeded to acquire the property which had become an abandoned eyesore but still served as the site for two holding reservoirs for the City's drinking water. Dedicated as a park by King George VI and his consort, Queen Elizabeth (the present Queen's mother) on their much lauded visit to Vancouver in 1939.

16) Fort Langley is the restored wooden fort built by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a trading post. It is the origin of British Columbia and was the first capital. This Fort is operated by the Federal Parks Board. http://www.fortlangley.org

17) If you are a wine lover you might want to rent a car and spend a day visiting a few of the many excellent wineries located in the Fraser Valley only about a 1 hour drive from your hotel. Almost all of the wineries offer free tastes & tours. Two of the wineries have excellent restaurants on the premises. This makes for a very fun and relaxing day. Check out the Fraser Valley Wine Association web site for a map of winery locations and a brief description of each winery http://www.fvwa.ca

18) VanDusen Botanical Garden is a scenic 55- acre garden of international renown – a living museum of plants collected from around the world and artistically displayed amidst rolling lawns, woodlands and five tranquil lakes, all in the heart of Vancouver and just 15 minutes from downtown.

Due to Vancouver’s mild climate, plants bloom at the Garden year-round. This same climate creates a unique environment where plants from varying climate regions thrive and grow – at VanDusen you will see plants from the southern hemisphere, tropical areas and the high Arctic tundra along side native species. The Elizabethan Maze (one of only six in North America) provides year-round fun.

19) UBC Botanical Garden located at the University of British Columbia covers 110 acres and includes an Alpine, Asian, Native, Food, and Japanese Gardens. http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org There is also a treetop walk which is great for “fit” explorers who are not afraid of heights – however I would not recommend it for anyone who has any mobility issues. Also these gardens are not as well maintained as I would expect a botanical garden to be!

20) Enjoy a FREE walking tour of Vancouver. The Gastown tour starts in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the statue of Gassy Jack in Gastown. The Downtown tour starts at the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the Olympic Cauldron. The China Town tour starts at the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the Chinese memorial statue. All of these tours start at 11am. The Granville Island Tour starts at 3pm at the bus stop just at the entrance to Granville Island. Check these tours out at http://www.tourguys.ca The Tour Guys have added an afternoon walking tour of Granville Island and 2 evening tours….

21) A new addition I have just found for the FOODIES in the gang! Check out 2 companies that offer food tasting tours http://www.foodietours.ca and http://www.offtheeatentrack.ca – both offer an excellent tour http://www.foodietours.ca visit much more high end restaurants in the heart of the west end of Vancouver while http://www.offtheeatentrack.ca concentrates on more casual eateries in the historic original section of Vancouver! (Gastown)

I just enjoyed Foodietours “Guilty Pleasures Gourmet Tour” and was very impressed with the organization, quality of restaurants & refreshments, guides knowledge of foods and the eateries we were visiting as well as the area we were walking in. Felt it was excellent value for the money provided you did not spend the extra $20. For the alcohol! This company also offers a tasting tour on Granville Island Public Market and of the Vancouver Street Food Carts.

As for Off the Eaten Track - this company offers culinary tasting tours of various areas of Vancouver. This company has now expanded and offers a brunch tour and a dinner tour. I did the Railtown Urban Eats tour and it was Fabulous! This tour would blend well with the free walking tour offered by http://www.tourguys.ca … you could easily do the free walking tour and then meet up with this tour company for this tour for your lunch - the food is plentiful & wonderful you will not leave this tour hungry!

 

 

 

 

 

Vancouver has a bunch of hop-on hop-off buses

 

http://www.vancouverpinkbustours.com/

 

http://www.vancouvertrolley.com/tours/hop-on-hop-off

 

http://bigbus.ca/home/

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
skateycat

skateycat

Posted
Posted

we did a cruise out of vancouver last year. we loved the city. we used only public transportation. we stayed at the fairmount airport hotel. easy on and off for the train. we got a day pass right at the station, they have kiosks to purchase the ticket. the kiosks take credit cards. oddly, no one checks your ticket when you get on any of the transports. (you can use the pass for train, bus and boat transport.) however, if they do a spot check and you do not have a ticket there is a fine. anyway.....we hopped on the train from the airport mid morning on a sunday. arrived downtown and figured out how to get to the boat to cross the bay so that we could take a bus to capilano and grouse. it was easy peasy, safe and very very economical. i would highly recommend it. we did feel as if we were in china for sure...lol. we are also in the tampa area and flew out of tpa, so i know where you are coming from. trust me...it is safe, easy and economical to get around on public transport. we also did the same on the way back from the cruise. we actually took our luggage back out to the fairmount after debarking...using the skytrain. then we got back on and headed back to the city and over to granville. the hotel concierge was very knowledgeable about using public transport and there are people you can ask. vancourverians (or whatever they are called) are very friendly and helpful. have fun!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
squeeky336

squeeky336

Posted
  • Author
Posted
we did a cruise out of vancouver last year. we loved the city. we used only public transportation. we stayed at the fairmount airport hotel. easy on and off for the train. we got a day pass right at the station, they have kiosks to purchase the ticket. the kiosks take credit cards. oddly, no one checks your ticket when you get on any of the transports. (you can use the pass for train, bus and boat transport.) however, if they do a spot check and you do not have a ticket there is a fine. anyway.....we hopped on the train from the airport mid morning on a sunday. arrived downtown and figured out how to get to the boat to cross the bay so that we could take a bus to capilano and grouse. it was easy peasy, safe and very very economical. i would highly recommend it. we did feel as if we were in china for sure...lol. we are also in the tampa area and flew out of tpa, so i know where you are coming from. trust me...it is safe, easy and economical to get around on public transport. we also did the same on the way back from the cruise. we actually took our luggage back out to the fairmount after debarking...using the skytrain. then we got back on and headed back to the city and over to granville. the hotel concierge was very knowledgeable about using public transport and there are people you can ask. vancourverians (or whatever they are called) are very friendly and helpful. have fun!

 

 

Thank you for all the great info.. SO you did not even need a cab from the airport to hotel with luggage? I was told something about a shuttle from the airport to the airport hotels.. ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
scottbee

scottbee

Posted
Posted
Thank you for all the great info.. SO you did not even need a cab from the airport to hotel with luggage? I was told something about a shuttle from the airport to the airport hotels.. ;)

 

Nope, the trains are roll on roll off with all stations having elevators.

 

The hotel their talking about is at the airport (connected to the terminal), so you don't even leave the building. Skytrain Canada Line to downtown is basically across the street from the terminal building and runs from the airport to 3 blocks from Canada Place.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
xlxo

xlxo

Posted
Posted
Thank you for all the great info.. SO you did not even need a cab from the airport to hotel with luggage? I was told something about a shuttle from the airport to the airport hotels.. ;)
Yes, the Fairmont Airport is part of US departures. However there are several nearby hotels which call themselves "airport". These will require a shuttle ride of 5 to 10 minutes. While there is a shuttle, the hotels has a much affordable rate. In many cases, cheaper than downtown Vancouver.

 

Love the Raddison Airport... the subway station is across the street.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...