Things I shouldn't miss in Vancouver?

[jeepjeep]

Hi all,

I am coming to visit for a week next month. What things in and around Vancouver should I not miss (besides the wonderful ladies)? I have to go to a conference most mornings, but after lunch I am pretty wide open.

Any advice would be appreciated. I had been thinking of going fishing, but going fishing by myself just is not as fun as having a fishing buddy.

Any great clubs/bars I should check out?

Jeep

PS. I don't plan on missing out on the beautiful women you have frequenting this board.

 

[oldnwrinkled1]

Spend some time on Granville Island....especially on the weekend.

 

[klamkracker]

Go fishing for woman at White Pine beach in Coquitlam!

 

[spicdick]

grab your sweetie and goes watch the submarine races at Ambleside beach.

 

[Purrr VertIcal]

Wreck Beach on a hot day. (Nude beach) Hike down the steep stairs from UBC.

Take the gondola up Grouse Mountain, watch the sunset over the city with the spectacular bird's eye view, have dinner and take in the view.

Live Blues or the band playing at The Yale ('pub').

 

[jeepjeep]

Thanks for all the ideas.

 

[exuberanttoki]

Roller-blading around the Sea Wall.

 

[Oldfart]

Dim Sum

Head to Chinatown, stuff yourself on dim sum for lunch, and then chill out at Sun Yat Sen Garden. Then take a picture of the world's thinnest building.

 

[hawkervac]

damn holly that pic is sexy as hell

 

[jeepjeep]

I am staying at the Fairmont Waterfront, is that close to the sea wall area mentioned? I had been considering not renting a car and just taking taxis and walking around mostly. I like to walk and explore. On that note, are their areas of downtown I should not walk around in?

Again thanks for all the replies. I am psyched about visiting. Your city is absolutely gorgeous from the pictures I have seen. I might not want to ever go home, hehe.

 

[jeepjeep]

What is the deal with Wreck Beach? Just a nude beach? Not sure anyone would want to see me nude on the beach, hehe. Pale white boy with a few extra pounds.

 

[zed444]

I am staying at the Fairmont Waterfront, is that close to the sea wall area mentioned? I had been considering not renting a car and just taking taxis and walking around mostly. I like to walk and explore. On that note, are their areas of downtown I should not walk around in?

Again thanks for all the replies. I am psyched about visiting. Your city is absolutely gorgeous from the pictures I have seen. I might not want to ever go home, hehe.

The Fairmont Waterfront is at Canada Place...the seawall is close depending on which end of it you're looking for. It starts not too far from there (about 10-15 minutes walk west, or maybe 2-3 minutes by car) in Stanley Park, and it run all the way around to English Bay (the area I believe Holly was talking about). You could probably walk to the English Bay side by going straight down Burrard in say...20 minutes walking, and say another 10ish to get to the end of Denman to the west where the real beauty of the seawall really starts.

Also, using Canada Place as a jumping off point, you are right at the Skytrain terminus, and the seabus. You could hop on the seabus and hit up the north shore pretty easily, starting with lunch at the quay (there's a couple good pubs/restaurants on the 2nd floor of the quay itself). From there's it's a 10-15 minute taxi ride to either Lynn Canyon (great trails for hiking), or the Capilaino Suspension Bridge (another great spot). If you opt for the Cap Suspension Bridge side, that also puts you roughly 5 minutes drive to the base of Grouse Mountain and a gondola ride up top for a spectacular view of the whole city (photo op!).

As for areas to avoid...I would say anything in the gas town area, starting around say...Carrall street headed east, and south of say Georgia (unless you don't mind the underprivileged side of society, then by all means give it a go...I personally roll my windows up and lock my doors when driving through that part of town). Then again, the Chinese Gardens is at Carrall and Pender, but I always come into there from the Yaletown side when I visit it, so as to avoid the seedier side of downtown.

 

[TheSilkenBadger]

Who cares? The point is you go there to HAVE FUN. The atmosphere is 1960's 'kinda-hippie' and people there are super friendly and fun. If you're even just slightly outgoing you will find the people around you are usually in party mode, having a beer and maybe smoking a joint. A LOT of the girls there are totally hot and of course some people are just not there to show off a good body but there to say 'fuck it, I'm having fun anyway'..

You don't have to take all your clothes off if you're shy.

You DO have to enjoy yourself. Its the law.

xoxo
Nina

Okay in this order:
1) Stanley park. Sea wall, Aquariom etc beautiful place to be. You can walk there from the Fairmont.

2) Gastown ( stop for a beer at the "heather" it was the old vancouver jail if you believe in ghosts great little place to have a beer and relax.

3) Granville Island. The shops the sites.

4) Spanish banks, Jericho then UBC. That whole area. Go shopping on West 4th etc. beautiful area. Museums galore in that area.

5) Dr Sun yet Sen gardens, Or the gardens on Oak street and about 40th.

6) Little mountain " take in a nooner at the Net " small baseball park in Vancouver Canadians play out of there.

7) Go shopping on Robson street, stop at death by chocolate on Denman...far end of Robson...

8) Go to the various areas around the lowermainland. North van Grouse grind Cap suspension bridge. take a train to Whister. or take sky train out to various other places. Metrotown burnaby, Surrey, New West, Coquitlam / SFU.

9) take a day trip over to vancouver island.. BC ferries tons to do in Victoria and namimo too. ( gray lines operates tours from the major hotels for the day.. great fun.

10) Go to the players Chop house... right near BC place stadium.. excellent food.

Eat drink have fun and don't forget to tip your waitress and your service providers out here if your looking for that action too.

 

[4%matters]

my faves

Joe Fortes seafood, great selection, top knotch service/atmosphere

Tojo for sushi

Over the Moon chocolate

Art Gallery, can be hit & miss....

Museum of Anthropolgy, you will never want to see another 1st nations artifact again! lol

 

[Fillup]

My advice is to skip Joe Fortes and the Player's Chop House. Both suck real bad. For restaurants these are nearish and great.

Altro Buca. Although the overall theme is Italian, local ingredients are always featured and Chef Durbach knows how to prepare simple great tasting food with the best ingredients.

Brasserie on Davie. Fantastic French/German food, great funky place and reasonable prices. Go early or sit at the bar. Definetly the hotest new place in town.

Kintaro. Great Ramen. Best in town. Long lineups and great scenery if you dig hot young Japanese ESL students.

Gyoza King. Best of the Vancouver Izakaya joints.

Le Gavroche. Decent French food, great new chef, best wine list in town. Nicest owner/host Manny Ferrera.

Glowbal. Really professioanlly run Yaletown restaurant that is always busy and has great lunch/brunch dishes. Wanted to hate the place but can't.

Cibo. Great italian place with chef from the River Cafe in London. The pasta is very, very good always. Very hip.

No offence to the posters who recomended the other places but these places are the real deal. Player's is a glorified sports bar with Ok food and cold beer. The steaks would be an emberasment in any other city in the world. Joe Fortes is good if you like long waits, cold mediocre food and dirty cutlery. It's also very expensive considering what you get.

From the Waterfront Hotel walk west along the sea wall for a pretty good look at the best of Vancouver. If you have a car go to Jericho beach. The area called Kitsilano also has a lot of interesting stuff. Skip the mediocre vancouver Art gallery and instead go to the Museum of Anthropology at UBC.

Oh yeah Tojo's is great but plan on spending at least $200 per person if you want Omakase.

 

[Fillup]

Ingrid. I'm sure you meet interesting people everywhere you go.

Guys like us, not so much.

 

[jeepjeep]

Hehe, you guys and gals are great. I am so excited.

I love sushi so I will check that out for sure. I don't eat very much though as I am post gastric bypass last Sept. So places that have a big spread and portions are kind of a waste for me. I only eat about 6 oz at a time. Tough life for a guy who used to live to eat, but I am down to almost a normal weight (down 125+ lbs). Funny thing too is it has made me a lightweight when I drink and a cheap date. hehe.

I get there on a Sat morning and leave the next Sat. Any great clubs/bars for Sat night and Friday night the next weekend?

 

[Fillup]

George is a pretty cool bar in Yaletown. Don't be tempted to go next door to Cioppino. Beautiful rich people only.

 

[Oldfart]

Museum of Anthropolgy, you will never want to see another 1st nations artifact again! lol

Don't go all the way out to UBC to the MOA until you check its status first. I went recently, and it's under construction. Most of the exhibits are not accessible.

 

[jeepjeep]

T-minus 4 days. Any last minute recommendations?

I don't have plans for Sat night, anything going on I should see or do? I thought about heading to Roxy's or somewhere like that, but it might be strange for me being by myself and sort of on the shy side.

I am looking forward to the sushi. If anyone is bored and wants to have sushi with me, I will buy! Send me a PM. hehe.