Vancouver questions

We will have 1 1/2 days in Vancouver prior to our cruise (not including embarkation day which will add another 1/2 day or so). What should my family plan to do/see in Vancouver (two kids 13 and 10yo)? Right now I am planning to get a rental car. Will we need it? Does it depend where we stay (downtown we won't need it vs. airport we will)?

Also, has anyone stayed at the Days Inn Airport location? It gets pretty good reviews but I wanted to see if anyone has stayed there recently.

TIA!

UMTerp

check this out

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=628314

check this out

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=628314

Thanks. I've read that thread but still interested in knowing about what to do in Vancouver and about the Days Inn.

UMTerp

With what I'm suggesting, a rental car would make life much easier. This ideas are geared to your kids' ages. For the full day:

1. Capilano Suspension Bridge

http://www.capbridge.com/

2. Grouse Mountain Skyride

http://www.grousemountain.com/

3. Stanley Park and the Vancouver Aquarium. Make sure you take a walk down to the water and cover as much of the Seawall as you can. Stanley Park is still a bit of a mess from the storm last year, but even the storm damage is quite fascinating.

http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/parks/stanley/

http://www.vanaqua.org/home/

This would be easy driving in a bit of a loop and you could head back to the airport area along English Bay from Stanley Park and then up and over a bridge to get out of downtown. If you llike looking at lovely homes, as you are heading back to Richmond along Granville, take a little detour off to the left or right between 16th and King Edward and see Shaughnessy. This area goes down all the way to 41st, but the oldest and biggest are in the part to the north.

Another pleasant drive back to the airport is through the university and then along Marine Drive. When you get to 4th as you drive south from downtown, turn right (west) and go out to the university and then circle the point. The Museum of Anthropology will be along your way.

On the half day, I would explore downtown - Gastown, Robson Street, etc. Take them to dinner at the Spaghetti Factory.

If you like really really good chocolate, I've discovered a coffee shop/chocolate shop with fantastic hot chocolate and mochas. They also have fabulous waffles for dipping in chocolate. It's near the Canada Place pier -

http://www.minkchocolates.com

Hope this helps!

Viv

Viv - you are the best! Thank you so much!

UMTerp

Great suggestions.... being from North Vancouver, I'd pick those too. Some suggestions to add to that. If you make dinner reservations at Grouse Mountain you can ride the gondola for free (assuming you want to take the time) and have a beautiful view of greater Vancouver. Also, there is a suspension bridge in Lynn Valley that you can cross for free. While, not as spectacular as the Capilano Suspension Bridge, it will save you quite a few dollars. If you do the Suspension Bridge, on your way to Grouse there is a small (and you really have to watch for it) side road on the left that takes you down to the Salmon Pools at the bottom of the Cleveland Dam. Much more interesting than the excursion we took in Alaska and if you pack a snack there are picnic tables and trails where you could spend hours enjoying nature.

There is also the Lonsdale Quay which has some interesting shops. If you stay in downtown Vancouver you can take the sea bus over. Public transportation in Vancouver is excellent and will take you to all of the above places.

Great suggestions.... being from North Vancouver, I'd pick those too. Some suggestions to add to that. If you make dinner reservations at Grouse Mountain you can ride the gondola for free (assuming you want to take the time) and have a beautiful view of greater Vancouver. Also, there is a suspension bridge in Lynn Valley that you can cross for free. While, not as spectacular as the Capilano Suspension Bridge, it will save you quite a few dollars. If you do the Suspension Bridge, on your way to Grouse there is a small (and you really have to watch for it) side road on the left that takes you down to the Salmon Pools at the bottom of the Cleveland Dam. Much more interesting than the excursion we took in Alaska and if you pack a snack there are picnic tables and trails where you could spend hours enjoying nature.

 

There is also the Lonsdale Quay which has some interesting shops. If you stay in downtown Vancouver you can take the sea bus over. Public transportation in Vancouver is excellent and will take you to all of the above places.

I forgot to mention that the main drawback I could see of staying at the Days Inn at the airport is that it makes it tougher to use public transportation. If they stay closer in, they can take advantage of the bus system. OTOH, if they like Chinese food, Richmond is amazing.

I love Lynn Canyon, too. When we were growing up, two sets of aunts and uncles lived on Ralph Road and we used to wander through the canyon by ourselves. Did you know that during the Second World War, kids in North Van booby-trapped various parts of the ravines in case the Japanese landed? I guess it was a good way to work through their fears.

Viv

Viv - you are the best! Thank you so much!

 

UMTerp

Happy to help. I think I'd like to start a tour company one day, and I really like figuring out great tours for specific groups. I have more on TripAdvisor if anyone is interested in going past Vancouver into the Valley.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i14432-Vancouver_Day_Trips_for_Food_Lovers.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i5841-Fraser_Valley_into_the_Canyon.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i1136-B_C_not_just_Vancouver_and_Whistler.html

Viv

Super!

Thanks!

UMTerp

I'd add a trip on the False Creek ferries or Aquabus to Granville Island to the list. There are a number of great artist/artisan shops where you can often see the proprietors working at their craft, a fantastic microbrewery offering tours and tasting, several great restaurants, and my personal favorite, the huge public market with dozens of vendors selling all manor of local foods and crafts. http://www.granvilleisland.com/en/node

If you can get into the downtown area, Vancouver Trolley Company is a great way to get from place to place all day long -- http://www.vancouvertrolley.com/. It makes over 20 stops, all through the core area, and you can jump off at any of them and back onto a later trolley. We have taken it twice and recommend it highly.

We took the Seabus (its terminal is right next to Canada Place) to North Vancouver, and a City bus from there up to Grouse Mountain. We didn't go to the suspension bridge, but it is right on the way to Grouse. The buses run regularly. The Seabus is a kick. And someone recommended the Aquabuses; don't miss them! Take one over to Granville Island and go to the market for lunch. It's fantastic!

You will find the people of Vancouver super helpful! Have fun.

Thanks so much everyone!

UMTerp