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Hey guys, going to Vancouver (Downtown) in October. I will be there for a conference, so I cannot really call that 'vacation'. Nonetheless, I will have about a week of free time and I want to spend it wisely. I hope you can give me some recommendations on where to go or what to do.
Here is what I am asking for specifically: - Basic sightseeing - Great places for food - Outdoor activities - Nightlife
Here is the deal with nightlife: I will be all alone and I am more on the introvert side. So I don't want to go to a place where I awkwardly sit around and have nothing to do. Maybe there are places where it is easy to get in touch with locals or at least have some kind of occupation while getting drunk.
Another note that might me important: I have a driver's license so I could rent a car.
I am happy to hear from you, anything is appreciated! Thanks in advance!
PS: I am aware of three older threads dealing with Vancouver. The youngest one is from 2010, though, so I dared opening a new one.
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Just introduce you as MapleLeafSirup an I am sure tha you will find many friends that way
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If you spend the night before getting wasted and/or you just want some great breakfast, there is a place called Bons at Broadway and Commercial, I think it's like $3.50 for a massive plate of bacon eggs hash browns pancakes etc. - very good bang for your buck. For dinner, you MUST check out EXP+ Resturaunt, located at 309 West Pender, the Triforce burger is amazing. Check the menu: http://www.expbar.ca/menu#target_1
Outdoor activities should include a visit to Stanley Park.
Stay away from the downtown east side, it's a wasteland of junkies and you'll start to notice them getting pretty thick starting on Hastings and Cambie.
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28057 Posts
On September 23 2014 23:46 HackBenjamin wrote:If you spend the night before getting wasted and/or you just want some great breakfast, there is a place called Bons at Broadway and Commercial, I think it's like $3.50 for a massive plate of bacon eggs hash browns pancakes etc. - very good bang for your buck. For dinner, you MUST check out EXP+ Resturaunt, located at 309 West Pender, the Triforce burger is amazing. Check the menu: http://www.expbar.ca/menu#target_1Outdoor activities should include a visit to Stanley Park. Stay away from the downtown east side, it's a wasteland of junkies and you'll start to notice them getting pretty thick starting on Hastings and Cambie. Yes, definitely do not go on Hastings unless it's just driving through. That place is scary as shit
I will give you some recommendations when I'm out of class. Stay tuned.
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Do you know where you will be staying downtown? I guess it doesn't matter since downtown isn't too big. Hopefully you are near Robson/Burrard where all the action happens. If you're into shopping and cool stores (and checking out tons of hot asian girls), I would recommend to stroll done these streets and the surrounding streets a few times. Usually lots of people, food, music, etc.
Definitely check out Stanley Park. It's a little island that you can get to from downtown by taking the Lions Gate bridge. The park is really beautiful and they have some massive old trees (red cedars I think?). You can walk or bike the perimeter of the park, and there are even paths inside it as well. The Vancouver Aquarium is also in Stanley Park, and it's been pretty cool each time I've went. I'm sure there are other things to do there too.
You could head up to North Vancouver as well on the same day you go to Stanley Park, since it's on the way anyway. North Van is like the Beverly Hills of Vancouver I guess. Tons of massive houses to see if you go up the mountain, so if you're into that check it out. You can also go up Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver, which is their ski-hill in the winter, and in the summer you can still take the gondola up and you can view the entire city. Capilano Suspension bridge is also near Grouse Mountain iirc.
CFL (Football) and NHL (Hockey). Not much to say about this. Pro sports can be fun to watch. Find out of any of these things are happening when you are there and see if you can catch something (if you're into sports).
You can take downtown harbour boats for fun as well. Also just go to walk around the harbour. It's nice. You can go to Granville Island (market/fish/etc) for lunch if you take a harbour boat as well. It's right by downtown, so don't worry it's no more than 5-10 minutes on a boat.
Check out Canada place downtown. You can walk around it and it's peaceful.
If you are up to driving an hour or more you could go to white rock. It's a cool little area in general, but the pier area is fun to check out.
Sorry, these thoughts are really muddled since I'm writing this quickly before my next class. Hopefully this just gives you some ideas. Will be adding a few more things if I think of them.
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you could take the ferry to victoria. it's the capital city and has a lot of nice sight seeing stuff, good places to eat, museums, etc. its a good way to kill a day as you'd need to get up by like 8am to get the first few ferrys to the island, as it's a 1-1.5 hour trip one way, and then take it back before they stop running
definitely go to stanley park!
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+1 for Stanley Park, expbar, Canada place, Grouse mountain.
Stanley Park attractions are: the walk around the mini-island that is the park, Vancouver Aquarium, and various beaches. Other park-like places are Van Dusen garden and Queen Elizabeth park that are not so downtown. Canada place has a new-ish fly-over-Canada attraction much like the fly over California one at Disneyland. Suspension bridge is exactly what it is. I remember entry price being a bit high for what's there, but if that's not an issue then it's not bad. Granville Island is a busy marketplace. You can take a small boat around the river there as a tour.(oh Emulator already mentioned this) The ball-shaped thing you see is Science World. More for kids, but it has seasonal exhibitions that are interesting. It's a science museum. Shopping: Metropolis at Metrotown is top 3 largest mall in Canada, also has an arcade in it. Easily skytrain down from downtown
Guu or Hapa Isakaya are nice Japanese fusion restaurants if you like Asian food. You have to try Guu.
Ferry to Victoria is 1.5 hours one way, plus taking 30min-ish transit to downtown Victoria. One memorable thing to see there is the Water taxi ballet? That's in the morning though.
Random fact: Fringe(the TV series) headquarter is the Vancouver public library downtown. And they opened the portal to the other dimension in the Vogue theatre, which is also downtown.
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Oh that reminds me, that same library was in Battlestar Galactica when they were going for the Arrow of Athena :DD
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Hey guys, thanks for your answers so far! My list is growing
I googled Hastings and decided that you may be right about dodging this area.
My hotel is located on W Georgia St/Cambie St, so Robson/Burrard is definitely within my reach. I also just realized that the stadium is right around my corner.
If there is anything more that comes up your mind, go ahead. Oh btw, does anyone of you actually live in Vancouver?
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28057 Posts
Yeah, you're hotel is in a decent spot. Those streets have cool places too if I remember correctly. Also, unfortunately I don't live in Vancouver. I lived there for 1-2 years when I was really young though, which I don't really remember. Although I've made a lot of trips (like A LOT) back their with my parents over the years, so I know it quite well. I was in Van/Whistler this summer actually.
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I used to live in the Vancouver area when I was younger (like 4~5), but don't remember too much now. I've been down to visit 4-5 times since then, but I still really haven't seen much of Vancouver actually. Speaking from experience, Metropolis at Metrotown is worth checking out, as well as the Vancouver aquarium is very large and contains a lot of cool things (though a big pricey). Robson/Burrard shopping area is of course worth it as well in addition to Stanley park. I haven't seen much of Vancouver other than that though. Depending on my work situation, I might be planning on visiting Vancouver sometime next month as well. I probably wouldn't have an exact date until near the end of this month though. What time are you going to be there next month?
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28057 Posts
Yes, forgot about Metrotown. Easily the best mall in Vancouver.
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I live close to Vancouver and have worked there for 10+ years. Actually used to work at Cambie and W Georgia. You aren't staying at The Sandman hotel are you? Used to work next door
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Exactly, it is The Sandman hotel
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Maybe another recommendation for nightlife maybe? I read a lot about The Lamplighter, seems to be nice pub.
Other than that, my list has grown to a comfortable size
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