48 hours in Vancouver – Weekend Edition
Vancouver In less than 48 words
With one of the most impressive harbor views in the world, Vancouver consistently ranks in “Best Cities to Live In” surveys. It is the largest city in British Columbia, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains. It is the venue of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
First 24 hours
International passengers land at the Vancouver International Airport, located in the south of the city. The easiest to reach downtown is via the SkyTrain which takes about 25 minutes. Taxi and limousine services are available for a more private transport to hotels and accommodations.
Travelers are spoilt for choice when it comes to lodgings as Vancouver is Canada’s most notable destinations. Five-star accommodations are plenty: Loden Vancouver (1177 Melville Street) and Shangri-La Hotel (1128 West Georgia Street) are the most famous. A less expensive option is St. Regis Hotel (602 Dunsmuir Street).
For a quicker access to attractions, purchase a SmartVisit card (from $119 to $219). This card enables you to visit as many as 30 tourist attractions in Vancouver, Victoria and the surrounding area. Prepare your itinerary around these attractions to save on tickets and fees. A two-day itinerary, for example, can include the Vancouver Aquarium, Vancouver City Highlights Tour, Capilano Suspension Bridge and Sewell’s Marina Eco Tours—all for $119.
STANLEY PARK: Vancouver is for walking
Vancouver is one of the most walkable cities because most of the attractions cluster in a particular area. A hardy pair of walking shoes is all you need to string together particular sites. You can start with Canada Place that reveals the exclamation point of the city: the breathtaking view of a busy harbor and North Vancouver. Skirting around the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre, you can proceed to Canada’s largest city Park Stanley Park. Here, you can picnic, relax under a tree or rent a bike so you can go to the nearby English Bay and False Creek. For a discovery of marine life, the Vancouver Aquarium, right beside Stanley Park, provides the experience.
Stanley Park (Photo by CanadaGood)
From Stanley Park, you can proceed to Gastown, the town site of original Vancouver which still retains its flavor with its cobbled streets and brick shops. It looks like a hippie enclave of ethnic knick-knacks and laid-back coffee shops. Tourists usually conclude their trip in the area with a photo by the world’s first steam clock.
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT: Some downtown action
Downtown is where the Central Business District is located, featuring Vancouver’s modern face. Despite this, it has a collection of landmarks and historical buildings, making it as a suitable introduction to the young city (less than 100 years old since its founding). For a more modern look at Vancouver, drop by the Central Business District where you can see the Canada Sail, the Vancouver Convention Center, and the Marine Building in one fell swoop.
VANCOUVER LOOKOUT!: Why not see the city from above?
Cloud 9 (Photo by Rick)
Make your lunch or dinner memorable at Cloud 9 located at the topmost floor of the Empire Landmark Building (1400 Robson Street; http://www.cloud9restaurant.ca/). The revolving restaurant offers a 360-degree view of the city and a spectacular view of the harbor. As a five-star restaurant, Cloud 9 offers set meals. For $160, you can dine on BC Smoked Wild Sockeye Salmon, Empire Seafood Chowder and Angus Striploin and Tiger Prawns.
A popular observation deck is the Vancouver Lookout! at Harbour Centre (West Hastings Street). The deck is open to the public from 8.30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and open to a view as far as Olympic Peninsula, west of Seattle.
GRANVILLE: Where’s the party
One good thing about Vancouver is that most of the nightlife is concentrated at the Central Business District, particularly at Granville Street strip (south of Robson). Travelers rave about the bar The Lennox Pub (800 Granville St), the dancing place The Roxy (932 Granville Street) and the blues bar The Yale (1300 Granville St). The crowd that visits Granville is quite young; 25,000 pack its many bars on an average weekend. Price of beer and cocktails are reasonable: a pitcher of beer costs $10 and a glass of martini $6.
Those who don’t want the chaos can go to Main Street that has pub-like establishments that see action at around 1 a.m. Three destinations are notable: The Main (4210 Main Street), Pennylane Neighborhood Pub (5688 Main St.) and The Brickhouse Bistro (730 Main St.).
Next 24 Hours
Second day can be devoted in taking in the culture of Vancouver. The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia displays artifacts (totem poles, canoes, ceramics) from the First Nations while the Vancouver Museum (1100 Chestnut St.) details the history of the city—from the old Chinatown to the Japanese internment to hippie movements. Temporary exhibits on particular themes are regularly organized.
WHISTLER: Let’s hike
Those who would rather hike can visit Whistler, a resort town that offers dining and shopping experiences. As a year-round destination, Whistler invites tourists for skiing in winter and hiking and golfing in the summer. Accommodations are also available in the area. The price can be expensive but the Whistler is sure to surpass expectations.
Whistler Creekside (Photo by Susan Gittins)
For a serious hike to uncover mountain top views, lakes, rain forests, waterfalls, one can arrange this activity with Vancouver Trails (http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/) that arranges a visit to trails that range from easy to difficult, from half day to full day hikes.
CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE: The most famous bridge in Vancouver
Though the bridge itself is simple enough (a suspension bridge laid across the Capilano River), the facility features rain forest eco-tours, nature trails, North America’s collection of First Nations totem poles, among others. Entrance to the private reserve is as follows: Adult $26.95, Youth $15.75, and Child $8.30.
Capilano Suspension Bridge (Photo by jpwchi)
GRANVILLE: Shop till you drop
Vancouver is known for retail therapy on Robson, Burrard, Dunsmuir, Georgia and Howe. For boutiques, try Kitsilano and Yaletown. For arts and crafts aficionados, Granville Island (1661 Durnaleau Street) is popular with its laidback and hippie atmosphere. Here, you can find galleries, curio shops, and a flea market. Most popular are L’Atelier de Poterie for their stoneware dishes and jugs, Maiwa Handprints for its ethnic-inspired clothing and Wickaninnish Gallery for the native art in the region.
Tourists usually grab a handful of salmon candy (Salmon Village; www.salmonvillage.com), Canadian blend ground coffee from (Murchie’s) a First Nations bentwood box (Coastal Peoples Fine Art Gallery; www.coastalpeoples.com) and a blown glass bauble from an artisan on Granville Island (www.granvilleisland.com).
SEAFOOD: Dinner is served
As a coastal city, Vancouver is known for its seafood fare. Two of the best restaurant are the Cannery (2205 Commissioner Street seafood) and Fish house in Stanley Park (8901 Stanley Park Dr). Tourists highly recommend the Indian restaurant Vij’s Restaurant (1480 W 11th Avenue). The venue can be packed at nights but owner Vikram makes sure that clients feel at own by offering a ready glass of wine.
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