Any suggestions on what to do for an afternoon in Vancouver in March? I've got an evening flight out but should be wrapped up with meetings early afternoon, so a few hours to burn. I was thinking Vancouver Aquarium, walk around Stanley park if it's not raining. Any other ideas?
I'm staying near Canada Place so need to factor in getting back there, pick up luggage and get out to the airport for a 9pm flight.
Gastown I seem to remember - some nice beer to taste
Aquarium is alright - but you could be in an aquarium anywhere. I'd walk around the city (its the nicest city I've ever been too) and possibly Stanley park as well. You could try and get up Grouse Mountain and hire a bike but doubt you've got time.
If the weather is bad, I'd head over to the Granville island Brewery, get one of the little aquabus' over there for the experience, they are like bathtub taxis but good fun. The beer is great and the guys are pretty cool too. I'm sure you can talk bikes and beer there for a few hours.
Alternatively, if the weather is good, head over to Kitsilano which has some good little cafes and bars and a nice beach cove. Its where the pretty girls sit reading Foucault and other weight tomes 😉
4-5 hours is probably enough to wander round Stanley Park and the west end. From memory the square between Denman, Robson, Davie and Burrad Sts was quite nice.
+1 for just having a wander around and sampling a couple beers. Vancouver is a great city for a wander.
oh, and GO CANUCKS!
Grouse Mountain. Take the cable car to the top.
BristolPablo - Member
oh, and GO CANUCKS!
Um, no. It has to be the Jets or the Habs of the Leafs. Only the Canucks if the above three aren't playing.
Pah, we were in Vancouver in 2009 during the Stanley Cup Play offs and the atmosphere was awesome. We sat and watched a game on the big screen in Canada Place and all the local tramps came to watch too, so you had the underage kids who couldnt get into the bars, the tourists, the tramps and anyone else who was around all watching the game...
I think they were done over by the Black Hawks that year but they should have won, that team was superb..
The North Shore......end of discussion! 😉
I'd check out the city for a couple of hours; eat at Stephos souvlaki. Then a nice walk around Capilano park (easily reached by bus).
Don't think you can hire bikes up Grouse and by the time you got to the North Shore, sorted out a bike and hit the start of the first climb, you'd have to turn around and go home again!
If you're a hiker/runner you could get the shuttle bus from Canada Place to the foot of the Grouse Grind, do the grind (1hr average hike up a steep wooded mountainside on a well maintained signed path, just check its open at the end of March) then take the skyride back down to get a shuttle bus back. If that's your sort of thing then it would be the best 4-5 hours you could spend although not much time for the pub!
A lap of Stanley park is about 15km to/from Canada Place. That should be hikeable in 3 hours give or take, very scenic and would take you through the nicer parts of the centre of town, plus past a few pubs etc. if you were really efficient you could probably hire a bike in the same amount of time (there's loads of touristy bike hire places that would rent you a basic beach cruiser types bike or possibly a racer).
All the bike paths that follow the waterfront have pubs and cafes so you could just pedal along stopping at your leisure.
My beer recommendation would definitely be Fat Tug, fairly common in the bars, about 7% and strong hoppy flavour. Granville Stuff is nice but not as
We had a similar amount of time to burn before a flight last year.
Had a nosey round Stanley Park, some of the west end etc.
We did get a bit lots & end up down some grotty end of town. same in any city though.
I'm still surprised by the numbers of homeless people there are there.
Yeah, Main St/East Hastings can be a bit of an eye opener!
Unless you're determined to see Gastown, just come out of Canada Place and turn right for Stanley Park or straight on for Downtown or Kitsilano!
Although the Chinese Gardens are a good way to pass the time and they're not far from Main St...
Hire a cruiser, and pootle around Stanley park, then grab a coffee and sit on english bay.
Or (when in Rome) do some stand up paddleboarding yoga clad head to toe in lulu lemon.
Most obvious things covered already I think... Sea wall, English Bay, Kitsilano and just wandering around are all good suggestions
If it is clear, can be nice to have a drink in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Sheration Landmark hotel on Robson St.
If the weather is right and the trail is clear, then the Grouse Grind could be good (but pushing it for time).
Gastown is touristy and always feels a bit soulless... Aquarium would be a waste I think.
Cheers all, lots of great suggestions!