Vancouver, B.C. About This Page:

[HollyH]

Well, DSis and I have booked airfare to Vancouver for ourfamilies' DCL Alaskan Cruise. We'll board the Wonder on a Tuesday and we've decided to fly in on the Sat. before our cruise and enjoy Vancouver for a few days. Any tips on Vancouver sights? We know that we want to see Stanley Park and go on a Whale Watch. Also, looking for a good, moderately priced hotel in the city. In the running are Coast Coal Harbor Hotel and the Hampton Inn. Any feedback appreciated and all suggestions welcome. TIA.

[Dave Marx]

While I didn't stay at the Coast Coal Harbor, I did research it for my trip and nearly stayed there (I decided to book something on the bargain end instead). I'd say that, at the moment, it's a better value than the Hampton Inn. The Coast's rates seem to be running lower than they ought to, considering the facility. I think this is due to the fact that it's new and unfamiliar. The location is good - about six blocks from the cruise terminal, and a block from the waterfront. I'm not sure you can get great views from the hotel (there's another high rise across the street), but the views from the waterfront are breathtaking. There's a Vancouver Tourism office across the street from Canada Place (cruise terminal, convention center, etc.) that is well worth the visit. Check into your hotel, and head right over. In addition to brochures and personalized advice, inside you'll find a half-price ticket office for theater, concerts, and comedy shows.

Also, if you're staying anywhere near Canada Place, you may want to stroll around and check out the other cruise ships docked there, and even watch them depart. Unlike most ports, you can walk right out on the pier, which also houses part of the convention center, hotel, and an IMAX theater. (The pedestrian levels are above and isolated from the cruise terminal and boarding zones, so security is still excellent.)

I'll toss you a few quick recommendations:

Granville Island (great, unusual shopping, galleries, and dining). The food markets there are phenomenal - seafood, meats, produce, gourmet items - while there's plenty you can buy for a picnic, snacking, etc., it's a real shame you can't buy for your refrigerator back home, like the locals can.

Lynn Canyon Park in North Vancouver - this has a long pedestrian suspension bridge, like much better-known Capilano Suspension Bridge, but it's a large, public park rather than a small (15-acre), privately-run tourist attraction. You get to wander a beautiful temperate rain forest, enjoy great views, and you don't have to pay admission (this is where the locals go). There's also a very nice cafe there. You can take a public bus from the North Vancouver ferry terminal.

For a more touristy experience in North Vancouver you can take the Grouse Mountain Tram. You do have to pay a high price for admission, but they deliver pretty good value, with a variety of events and attractions including wildlife and lumberjack shows, exhibits, hiking trails, and on good days, phenomenal views (if you do this, you can skip the lumberjack show in Ketchikan). This can also be reached by bus from the North Vancouver ferry terminal. For a much cheaper Grouse Mountain experience (if you're up to it), hike the "Grouse Grind," a trail up the mountain. If you hike up, you only have to pay $5 to take the tram back down the mountain. Call it heavy sweat equity!

Public transit in Vancouver is fabulous - about the best I've encountered. Everything was either new or renovated for the Winter Olympics. The buses are better than anything Disney has to offer - they're all new, and there's even an automated system calling out each upcoming bus stop. The Sea Bus ferry between the Vancouver waterfront and North Vancouver is very cheap, comfy and convenient, and the Sky Train system (both elevated and subway) is state of the art. Transit passes are good for bus, ferry, and train, and are a very good deal.

I'm going to have a bunch more Vancouver recommendations in the 2011 DCL guide, if you can wait.

[HollyH]

Some awesome advice, Dave. Thank you! You confirmed what I was thinking about the Coast Coal Harbor....that the rate I was seeing was very good considering the property. Thanks for the touring tips, and transportation info as well . I will be patiently waiting for the new PP for DCL (okay, maybe not so patiently ......I bought the 2010 just so I could read up on all the ship stuff, even though the Alaska info isn't there yet.)

[Starbright]

I agree with Dave. The Capalano Bridge is pretty good. You get to tour the tree tops too on bridges. My kids liked it.
I didn't like the aquarium, and I would avoid it. Nothing like Sea World etc.
Granville Island is pretty neat. Parking is terrible in the area though so be prepared for that if you are renting.
Stanley Park is nice but I wasn't "wow" by it, and I don't know why.

Victoria is very very nice and I have spent alot more time on the Island than I have in Vancouver.

If you like wine, try to have some of BC wines. You can't find them everywhere and they are well worth it.

Remember that Vancouver is a big city and take the normal precautions that you would in any big city. We have GST too so don't be surprised when extra taxes are added onto your bill.

Have fun!!!!

[chezp]

Thanks for the advice Dave - I'm off to check out rates for the Coast Coal Harbor for our dates!

[GoofyMom]

DD lives in Vancouver and seconds the Lynn Canyon Park Suspension Bridge. And Granville Island. And China Town. It's one of the biggest ones (outside of China, haha). She's done the Grind all the way to the top... once. She said never again If you are a tip top hiker though she said it would be awesome!

Sue M lives in Vancouver - maybe she'll come along with some more advice/tips.

[duck addict]

I found that most of the Alaska cruise travel books also gave excellent coverage of Victoria, Vancouver, and Seattle since they are the non-Alaska embarkation/debarkation ports.

[elbodans]

oh what a great trip! you are basically doing the same trip my husband and i did for our honeymoon, and we were SO glad we decided to check out vancouver first. it is my favorite city in the world. things we loved:
1. taking the ferry over to north vancouver. we stopped at lonsdale quay market (right there when you get off the ferry) and shopped for a bit and picked up food for lunch. we then took the the bus (also RIGHT there) up to the capilano suspension bridge and the park-like area that surrounds it--that's possibly the best place i've ever been (seriously).
2. china town. it is awesome, and the day we went there was a random street carnival (we had no idea) and we had lunch at a very non-english speaking dim sum restaurant, which would be awesome for kids.
3. within china town, another one of the most incredible places i've ever seen is dr sun yat sen's garden. google it. it is an entire traditional chinese garden transplanted on the other side of the pacific. AWESOME and educational. have a GREAT trip--though i don't even need to say that, you will have one. great choice!!!

i'll try to include a pictures to help with the visualization. ok, i think i got it to work. if you can see the pics, the one in the garden shows how insane it is that they just plopped this whole place down right in the middle of a major city. so amazing.

[Disneybine]

Great advice! Vancouver is on my bucket list so I hope we'll make it over there sometime soon