Fun stuff to do in Vancouver?

[misa 2]

I know it's a month away but I need something to occupy my time planning. We'll be there for 4 days/3 nights and hopefully CELEBRATING like crazy after the interview.

Anything we must see or do while we're there? Things within walking distance or a short cab ride from the financial district (we'll be staying about a 10 minute walk from the consulate).

I'm game for restaurant recommendations too (vegan or vegan-friendly please).

Thanks!

[vanee 13]

Everyone who goes to Vancouver goes to Stanley Park. You can walk to the start of Stanley Park in maybe 10-15 minutes from the financial district. Enjoy a walk around Lost Lagoon (ideally not by yourself), along part of the seawall, or into the main part of the park. You could easily spend a few hours at the aquarium in the park.

Canada Place is nearby, but I don't know if there's a lot to see there unless there's an event happening at the time.

Gastown and Chinatown are neighbourhoods within walking distance. Gastown is where Vancouver started, with cobblestone streets and lots of tourist shops. Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in North America.

You can take a bus from the downtown core to Granville Island. It's a pleasant place to walk around and do a bit of shopping. Speaking of shopping, you might want to check out Pacific Centre. It's a large shopping mall downtown.

Also a short bus ride away from downtown are the Planetarium and the Maritime Museum (they're together). Once you're there, you can walk along the beach if you want.

For longer excursions, I suggest taking the SeaBus across to North Vancouver and then taking a bus to Lynn Canyon (free), Capilano Canyon (a more touristy version), and/or Grouse Mountain.

See Vancouver Sightseeing for more information and ideas. For restaurants, see Vegan in Vancouver and vegguide.org.

Not to put a damper on your trip, but be prepared for rain. The rainy season is from January to December. Actually, it rains a lot less from May to sometime in October, but it's a good idea to bring an umbrella and boots.

Have a great trip!

Edited February 18, 2007 by vanee

[misa 2]

Thanks for the recommendations!

At this point, after 2 weeks of -25C windchill weather here, I'll take the rain over the freezing cold!

[Reba 2]

Grouse Mountain and the Capilano suspension bridge are fun, if you rent a car or take the bus. Might be cold up the mountain though of course. Or foggy so you can't see anything. Granville Island is fun. Good food there too! I went with friends a few years ago and we bought a banana cream pie and all shared it there in the food court.

You can walk to Stanley Park, as well as the Aquarium I think (if that is still open, were they going to close it?)

And I can't for the life of me remember, but there's a really fun toy store downtown, but I can't remember which street its on! GAH! Every time I went to Vancouver I had to go to this store because its just so much fun. They had/have dozens upon dozens of mechanical toys running about all over the place, inside and outside on the sidewalk. Its hillarious!

There's tonnes to see and do in Vancouver. Just ask the concierge or front desk clerk at the hotel. And lots and lots of vegetarian restaurants as well.

[misa 2]

The toy store sounds like a lot of fun! I'll have to track that down. And good to know there are a lot of vegetarian restaurants there. The hotel I'm staying at has a full kitchen in the room so we would have stayed in to cook if worse came to worse.

[vanee 13]

You can walk to Stanley Park, as well as the Aquarium I think (if that is still open, were they going to close it?)

The Aquarium is open, and from the size of it and number of fish and other critters it has, it's going to be there for a long time.

Stanley Park was closed for a while after the December windstorms that knocked over a lot of trees in the park. The seawall (which goes all around the park) is still only partly open because of the damage done to it. It's going to cost millions to repair all the damage, and it'll take some time. The park isn't what it used to be, but it's still beautiful, and it'll be better again.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I know of 1 strip club down by where the crusie ships come in and not to far from Canada place,lol The good old Navy days,lol Of course I have never been there, just my shipmates told me about it(or was it cassie??)!! Belive it was called Number 5 Orange. Actually there are a lot of dance clubs, pubs around that area if my memory serves me correct.

Edited February 18, 2007 by flames9

[misa 2]

I know of 1 strip club down by where the crusie ships come in and not to far from Canada place,lol The good old Navy days,lol Of course I have never been there, just my shipmates told me about it(or was it cassie??)!! Belive it was called Number 5 Orange. Actually there are a lot of dance clubs, pubs around that area if my memory serves me correct.

LOL!

[Waiting in Vancouver 6]

I know of 1 strip club down by where the crusie ships come in and not to far from Canada place,lol The good old Navy days,lol Of course I have never been there, just my shipmates told me about it(or was it cassie??)!! Belive it was called Number 5 Orange. Actually there are a lot of dance clubs, pubs around that area if my memory serves me correct.

It is actually spelt "No 5 Orange" ... Not that I know from experience though .... *snickers*

[Reba 2]

I know of 1 strip club down by where the crusie ships come in and not to far from Canada place,lol The good old Navy days,lol Of course I have never been there, just my shipmates told me about it(or was it cassie??)!!

yeah yeah sure sure!

[Flames9_RN 358]

I figured best not to post its website!!

[george1 0]

There's a great Vegan/Veggie restaurant called the Naam. It's on W. 4th in Kitsalano, so it's not close to where you're staying. But it is open 24 hours! There's a good all veggie Chinese place on Main and 14th called Bo Kong and of course all the great Indian food.

For celebrating you should check on the Cambie. It's a fun pub. Also a great pub with a good atmosphere is the Brickyard on Main St. in the Chinatown area.

[misa 2]

Oh, I think Naam will be worth a cab ride for. We'll defniitely check that and Bo Kong out.

[clloyd 0]

Oh, I think Naam will be worth a cab ride for. We'll defniitely check that and Bo Kong out.

Be prepared to wait a long time if you go to the Naam. Apparently the service is faster after they banned the staff on duty from smoking weed though. But it's still a long wait.

[Marilyn. 340]

I have always enjoyed walking through Granville Island...

they have a fresh food market and a bunch of other stores etc....

http://www.granvilleisland.bc.ca/en/node?P...0d86f47361625d2

Edited February 19, 2007 by MarilynP