Let's Say I Go to Vancouver for a Day. What Do?

Quid

I'm visiting Seattle next month and during my time there I'd like to take a day trip up to Vancouver. I'm leaning heavily on the Amtrack Cascades train for the views unless there's a better suggestion, but after that I'm wandering around a new city on foot.

I'm primarily interested in food, animals, and historical museums/sights but I'm open to quite a bit if it's out of the ordinary since I have all those things in abundance here near DC.

Radiation

Taaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkkeeeeeeeeeeeee me.

Also: https://wikitravel.org/en/Vancouver

bsjezz

It takes a few dedicated hours if you want to do it properly (at least the Stanley Park section), but absolutely walk the seawall. You could then take it easy in the English Bay area, head through the city to Gastown for a drink and good food, or if you're ambitious and have time, head over to Kitsilano / Jericho Park.

Avoid Rogers' arena at all costs.

*cries into canucks jersey*

Gilbert0

Do you like live fish? The aquarium is nice, and is in Stanley Park, which is where you walk the sea wall. Downtown also has the Art Gallery.

What kind of food do you like? There is basically options for everything. If you give an idea of what, I'm sure people can suggest places. For sushi, you could do Tojo's to say you have (he "invented" (allegedly) the California roll) but there is better sushi in Vancouver/Richmond.

Tons of stuff on Granville Island too. Food, Brewery, kicknacks.

Greater Vancouver is sprawling. Like multiple hours with traffic to get from North Vancouver to White Rock (South side). Same from far east to far west. If your sticking to walking, I'd stay in the downtown, Stanley Park, Yaletown, Gastown, maybe a cab to Graville Island but you don't want to go too far from the "core". Just don't go too far east. East Van is one of the worst areas for homelessness/addictions in Canada.

Atheraal

On the other hand, commercial drive is in east van, which has some great stuff along it. But for one day of exploring, I'd agree with hitting the seawall, (rent a bike, or you'll be walking all day) then going to whatever food place you decide on, then checking out a bar of some kind. I'd recommend Toshi's over Tojo's, but you would have to wait in line, so maybe not. Since you're asking about this on a video game webcomic forum, you might be interested in checking out one of the nerdier bars, like the Storm Crow. Cool place, lots of geeky decor and board games.

djmitchella

The Museum of Anthropology is great and has stuff you won't see anywhere else, though if you have one day it's a bit of travel to get there and back.

Quid

I'm leaning pretty heavy towards the seawall with the Museum of Anthropology as a backup if weather is bad.

Gilbert0 wrote: »

What kind of food do you like? There is basically options for everything. If you give an idea of what, I'm sure people can suggest places.

I love most types but probably won't be going with anything East Asian. I bounce back and forth between DC and Hawaii which generally crush most competition. It might sound trite but I want to get some poutine which isn't always easy to find here. A gastro pub might be best bet since I want to stick with mostly Canadian stuff even if it's got a lot of similarities with American food. I've been to a couple dozen other countries but never Canada.

AngelHedgie

Don't underestimate the distance between Seattle and Vancouver. Me and my wife did that trip a few years ago, and it was about a 2-3 hour drive each way. Consider making it an overnight trip.

Also, if it's your first time up north, plan a visit to a Tim Horton's, if only for a quick snack of Timbits.

Corvus

Yeah, It is a longer trip than people realize. A day trip is totally possible, just realize it will be a long day. I would limit your trip to Vancouver proper.

Oh, take a harbour ferry to Granville Island.

Science World is cool

Quid

I do day trips to NYC fairly regularly and that's a four hour bus ride. I know it's a ways but I'm used to it.

Carpy

When I was up there earlier this year I liked the poutine at Steamworks Brewing, just outside Waterfront station. I had a couple locals tell me the poutine at Fritz' on Davie st was some of the best in the city but I never made it down there to try.

Corvus

Oh, if you want to bike around the city, there is a bike share system here now. Mobi bikes.

darkmayo

Tour around Commercial maybe have a pint at the Storm Crow Tavern

Quid

I don’t know what Commercial is but I’d be remiss if I didn’t Drink at Storm Crow Tavern.

bsjezz

Quid wrote: »

I don’t know what Commercial is but I’d be remiss if I didn’t Drink at Storm Crow Tavern.

commercial drive is a bit of a counterculture strip just east of the city. it's quick to get to on the skytrain and has many boutique shops and cafes. it's definitely worth a visit if you have time

firewaterword

Definitely second Granville Island market. Loved that place!

I also had some of the best ramen of my life there, but that was over six years ago and I'll be damned if I can remember where it was... So roll the dice and try a ramen spot I guess is what I'm saying?

Quid

Sorry Canada but the best ramen place is in Hawaii it’s science

Caedwyr

If you want to get Fish and Chips at Granville Island, I'd recommend walking a bit further west to the marina between the Burrard and Granville bridges. There is a small stand there that does very good fish and chips, and generally the quality is higher than the fish and chip places in the market or the storefront restaurant near the road entrance to the island. The other places aren't bad, it's just that the one by the docks is better. Also, the burger stand in Granville Island market, near the craftsman booths has some of the best burgers around based on my somewhat limited sampling. It's cash only though, so plan ahead.

darkmayo

Quid wrote: »

Sorry Canada but the best ramen place is in Hawaii it’s science

Which island and what is it called? I love me some ramen.

Quid

darkmayo wrote: »

Quid wrote: »

Sorry Canada but the best ramen place is in Hawaii it’s science

Which island and what is it called? I love me some ramen.

My personal favorite is the Goma Tei in the Ala Moana mall. It's a local chain and where I always go each visit.

Overall popularity with people I know goes to Wagaya though. It is definitely the more authentic of the two.

All of my experience centers around China Town and Waikiki since that's where I lived near and biked to.

Caedwyr

Ramen isn't one of the things I'd recommend in Vancouver. There's some decent stuff out there, but my Ramen-snob wife will only allow that a couple of the places are edible, and the rest of them are to be referred to as "inedible slop". Apparently growing up in a place that has some of the best Ramen in Japan causes your standards to be a bit higher for that food type.

The Seawall plan is pretty good, but depending on the amount of time you have available and if you are planning on walking or cycling, you might want to target certain portions of the wall. If you are biking and get a decent mountain bike or road bike, then you can totally do the Georgia & Denman to Kits Beach and back route, though plan on spending a good half to more of a day if you are doing the longer route. For reference, This Route has an estimated time of 1.5 hours one-way, but I'd plan on a bit more if you are going to stop at places along the way.

If it is a torrential downpour on the day of your visit, I'd probably plan to do something indoors, and the Museum of Anthropology is a decent choice for a couple of hours if you are interested in Pacific Northwest first nations history and artifacts. There's some good views of Howe Sound and Burrard Inlet from the nearby cliffs out at UBC where the MOA is located.

Another option, if you are the type of person who enjoys local museums is the Museum of Vancouver located in the same building as the H.R. McMillan Space Centre in Vanier park (location marker here. It is relatively inexpensive and does a decent job showing how much the city has changed.

Other fun things to do on a rainy day in my opinion, if you are a foodie or interested in artisan crafts is walk around Granville Island and not just the main marketplace. There are several additional areas where there are combined workshop/storefronts (such as Railspur Avenue) which have all sorts of neat things available. Explore Granville Island would be my message, as there are some good places tucked out of the way there that many people tend to miss.

Gilbert0

Just one warning about getting around too. Uber and ridesharing does not operate in BC. So your on to transit/taxi/walking/biking. You still have options just be aware.

l_g

The one food that is worth having in Vancouver above all others is Chinese food. Yes, there's a lot of good food in Vancouver from all over the world, but Chinese food in Vancouver/Burnaby/Richmond is the best in North America. The slightly dingy food court (a FOOD COURT!) of Crystal Mall in Burnaby (accessible by Skytrain!) has better Chinese food than most of North America can dream of, let alone eat.

Comahawk

Bring some sort of rain gear, or at least a very water resistant jacket. Otherwise, Vancouver is just less interesting Seattle. The Aquarium and Granville are decent, Gastown is amusing for a couple hours.

Quid

Thanks! I'm from Washington so I'm familiar with the weather but I'd totally forgotten about it while looking at what to pack.

Corvus

Gilbert0 wrote: »

Just one warning about getting around too. Uber and ridesharing does not operate in BC. So your on to transit/taxi/walking/biking. You still have options just be aware.

Car2Go's are all over the city as an alternative.