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Sinbad the sailor
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Vancouver - first impressions
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Vancouver is a city I like very much – it has a combination of amazing landscapes and city life. Plus women dress nicely and charming!
In a first visit what may mark you more are the carved wood totem poles from the First Indian Nations – this at Stanley Park. Thunderbirds sort of nest there!!
Walking to Stanley Park from central downtown may take you about 1 hour, if you start say near Canada Place – where a beautiful architecture concept shows in the form of sails of ships.
I saw people rowing and sailing all over the waterline – a fantastic city for water sports.
For background Vancouver has also a nice set of mountains to enjoy.
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ConnieMotz
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Vancouver overview
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
With a population of 2.1 million in Greater Vancouver, this vibrant city can offer its visitors skiing in the morning and golfing in the afternoon.
Vancouver is truly a beautiful city surrounded by ocean and located at the base of the Coast Mountain Range. The Port of Vancouver is the largest export city in the world with 57 berths – second only to New York City.
Vancouver has the second largest park in Canada – Stanley Park, beaches galore, and wonderful attractions like Gastown, Chinatown, Yaletown, the Vancouver Aquarium, Science World, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Granville Island, and endless array of fine dining, numerous shopping venues including the Metropolis at Metrotown and famous Robson Street with plenty of ways for visitors to get to their destinations.
And better yet, Vancouver has the Canucks (even though they didn’t make the playoffs this year, sad), Nickelback and Michael Buble. Just my personal opinion of course, just kidding! YVR rocks!!
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4isabella
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Ski hire and cheap tickets
For our trip, we hired a ski package from Sports Junkies in Broadway, Vancouver. A great deal at only $90 for a week and good gear, much cheaper and easier than hiring on the mountain. We bought our ski tickets for Big White, Apex, and Sun Peaks skifields in advance from Costco, the cash and carry throughout BC. You may need to pay a small membership fee if you don’t have Canadian contacts to buy them for you, but it’s a good saving (around $20 off per ticket), they are valid for the whole season but there’s a limit on the number you can buy. Sports Junkies had so much cheap winter clothing too, last seasons but really good prices, we were tempted to stuff our suitcases to resell back home.
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4isabella
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A day trip out of Vancouver
To get out of the city, we took the bus from the centre of Vancouver out to Horseshoe Bay and the ferry for 30 minutes out to Langdale. From there it’s a short drive (or a longer walk) to Gibsons Landing. At Lower Gibsons, visit Molly’s Reach, the café used in the long running Canadian TV series, The Beachcombers. We didn’t know about this so it didn’t mean much to us, but the food was good, especially the wild salmon wraps, and soup for a winter lunch. We sat and watched for seals and sealions and apparently the occasional Orca, and chose which boat we’d like from the marina below. Ferries go often (about every 2 hours in daytime), are quick and efficient and the views of the mountains, Vancouver Island and the sea are spectacular.
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tviolini
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Worth the wait
It took me years to actually go into The Frog and Firkin; I have no reasonable excuse either… Once I got there though it was a lot better than I though. Part of this could have been the company, a lot of it was definitely the service and I’m sure a little but the ambiance.
The Frog and Firkin is one of those places that really seems like you will either like it or not; and for years, by the tacky outside, I thought I would not. That said it really is one of those places that grew on me. It’s classic pub style ambiance is a good match for Vancouver’s wetter months with the large booths and a bunch of friends making you feel warm.
The food is pretty average, quality and price too. The drinks are cheap enough to get you to have one or two more than you might normally. Over all it’s a pretty good place but nothing that is a must see.
The location I went to the most is on West Broadway in Vancouver just west of Burrard Street.
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tviolini
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Good place for watching a game, good place for dancing
The Shark Club in downtown Vancouver is a very popular spot and not a bad spot to go if you’re looking for a good night on the town.
Typically when I end up there is if some friends want to go down for some dinner and watch the game before a night out on the town. Often on days like this it turned out to be pretty easy to stay. This was largely due to the DJ they would bring in. After the game was over the TV’s would be turned off and they would let the craziness begin.
The food is pretty good and reasonably priced for Vancouver and the same holds true for the drinks. Between usually four of us we will spend around thirty a piece for a full and long night out – which you really can’t argue in Vancouver.
The Shark Club is located at180 West Georgia Street in the downtown core.
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tviolini
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Nice patio, good beer and great wings
The Caprice Lounge and Grill is a place I used to love to go, until my favorite bartender left. Part of the fun was that she hated my friend who I would drag there with me all the time; fun dynamics for enjoying a few beers is all.
It still is a good place with a really great patio right on what is now sometimes being called the Granville Mall; which is a fancy way of saying Granville Street. The inside is quite nice and very comfortable too; they have a fire place with couches for the colder rainy days that Vancouver is know for.
Also The Caprice sports a pretty comprehensive menu, I personally favor the hot wings but the other things I’ve tried while there are pretty good too.
I find I usually spend a little over twenty dollars each time I go; but most of that is on beer.
The Caprice Lounge is located on Granville Street between Smithe and Nelson.
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tviolini
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Seems to be a good place to meet other travelers
The Bourbon is just on the cusp of being in Vancouver’s Gas Town. It is a place that I always bug my friends about wanting to go because it is so close to a really dodgy area of Vancouver.
The truth is that I almost always have a great night when I go there, and part of this is because it’s relaxed enough that it’s a cool place to meet people. Last time I was there I met a couple of people from Switzerland who where having a great time.
The Bourbon is located at 50 west Cordova Street. The easiest way to get to it is by walking from downtown along Cordova. It may seem like a bit of a walk, and you will pass a few other places on the way; but in general for a fun night out in an adventurous area of town this is not too bad of a place.
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tviolini
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A night club that's stood the test of time, so far
The Roxy night club downtown Vancouver has been there as long as I can remember, and has seen many places come and go in the neighborhood in the years that I was calling Vancouver home. In the time that I remember it has been a place for young people to go out for a night of fun.
They are a great venue to see live music in and cater more to a Rock and Roll crowd. A lot of new and up coming bands find there way on to the stage at The Roxy. I have one friend is into new music and always finds a way to get me to go.
Over the years it’s reputation has gone up and down; right now it seems to be on a up swing, of course depending on what you’re looking for when you go out to a club.
The Roxy is located on Granville Street about a block and a half south of Robson – leading away from downtown. It is also on the east side of the street. Be sure to get there early if you want to go. The place gets a line up quickly and it seems to move slow.
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tviolini
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A bigger place and part of Vancouver’s history
The only reason I mention The Orpheum Theater is that they get some really good shows there, and they are also home to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Vancouver gets some really big names come through for concerts many of which play here; almost always they release tickets right before the show starts. This is a great venue and of course has more than rock concerts. The building itself will transport you back in time and is a great place just to admire from the inside.
If you’re looking to add a little culture to your vacation this is the perfect place to see what’s on the bill.
The Orpheum Theater in Vancouver is located on Granville Street a couple blocks passed Robson Street on the east side of the street.
Ticket prices and range vary greatly depending on the show.
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tviolini
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This is on my must see/must go list when in Vancouver
The Commodore Ballroom is one of the best night spots and venues for live music in Vancouver and maybe the world…there I said it. It has been host to some really amazing band – far too many to list; and has a legendary dance floor that has a huge bounce to is when you get a bunch of people dancing on it. If you like live music at all and find yourself in Vancouver this place is a must go to place.
Of course the issue comes up of who is in fact playing there. They have the concert listings in a free paper called The Georgia Straight. I have scene some really good shows there just on chance. If you don’t know but it seems interesting it could be worth the price of a ticket.
They have a several bars throughout the place and table service including food, most of which is pretty good.
The Commodore Ballroom is located on Granville Street just south of Robson Street.
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tviolini
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Great beach front patio
Malone’s is a little restaurant and pub with a great view of Kits beach. It is a fabulous place to spend summer days or even summer evenings, if you can get a seat. Tables on the deck can be harder to get then parking in the area. If you do manage to get a table it’s a great place to spend several hours with friends drinking beer, eating food and watching people. Malone’s has two locations and this one is my favorite of the two. The other location is in the downtown core.
Malone’s in Kitsilano is located on Cornwall at Yew Street. If you’re coming downtown the best way to get there is by going over the Burrard Street Bridge and you’re see it on your left a few blocks down
I usually spend less than twenty dollars each time I go there. Although on a hot summer’s day with a good seat on the patio it can get expensive.
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tviolini
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Great food and not too hard to find
The Lazy Gourmet is a place I used to go to quite a bit a few years ago. The food is always stellar and the wine complements nicely. The only thing that kept me from going back more was some exceptionally bad service and there is no shortage of great places to eat in Vancouver with really good service. That said I think that I would be ready to try eat there again; the food market in Vancouver is much too tight to have bad servers for very long.
One of my personal favorite dishes is a baked brie with roasted pear served on flat bread. Oddly good and a combination I would never thought of.
The Lazy Gourmet is located near Granville Island and is an easy walk from there. If you’re driving they are located on Fir Street at 4th Avenue.
I used to spend around twenty dollars for a great meal, when I ate there. I’m sure prices and servers have changed a little in the last two years.
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tviolini
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More than just a pool hall
The West Side Pool Hall was close to a grubby old pool hall when I first moved to Vancouver. Now it is so much more than that. They offer pretty good food, really good fries, and very reasonably priced beer by Vancouver standards. They are a great place to play pool or watch a game, their dining area is quite relaxing and well separated from the pool tables so you don’t have to worry about getting hit with rouge billiards ball.
The West Side Pool Hall is located on West Broadway just passed the Hollywood Theater.
I usually spend around twenty dollars while there, between beer, some food and a few games of pool. It’s money well spent for a good time with some friends
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tviolini
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Some locations great some not so much
Death by Chocolate is a place for a rich chocolate dessert in Vancouver. If you are a chocolate lover this is the place for you. That said the only location I have had consistently good service at is the location in the West End. I'm know why, but consistently the locations that are outside of the downtown core seem to really lack in the area of service, and sometimes quality. If you go, which I would recommend if you love dessert go to the downtown location in the West End.
The best part about Death by Chocolate is their menu is a book with pictures of all the different desserts they serve and more often then not they look pretty much like they are in the book! I highly recommend sharing something if you go, unless of course you’re hardcore then by all means go it alone.
The location I prefer is on the west side of Denman Street a couple blocks south of Davie.
I usually spend around ten dollars when I’m there.
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tviolini
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A great place to warm up after a walk on the beach
Delaney’s Coffee House is a great coffee house in the West End of Vancouver, which makes it the perfect place to go for a hot chocolate or coffee after going for a walk on the Beach at English Bay especially on the winters day. In the summer of course their cold drink are pretty good too. That said I don’t often go to the area in the summer as it is so much more busy. It is a friendly place that always seems to have above average service.
Delaney’s is located on Denman Street near just a little north of Davie Street. It is located on the West side on the street.
The cost is typical of a Vancouver coffee house; I find I usually spend slightly less than five dollars whenever I go.
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tviolini
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This place makes my personal top ten for places to eat while in Vancouver.
The Templeton is a place that I feel conflicted telling people about. It’s such a great place that is in such a tiny space, it’s sometimes hard enough to get seating without having more people know about it. It really is one of Vancouver’s best kept secrets. The food has always been fantastic and the ambiance rich. The place is designed like an old time greasy spoon but the food is not typical of one, it’s much better.
The Templeton is on Granville Street near Davie Street on the west side of the street. It is a tiny place and easy to miss so you have to keep your eyes open.
The price is reasonable, I usually spend around ten dollars maybe a little more each time I’m there.
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tviolini
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Best veggie burgers in Vancouver
Milestones is a chain restaurant that manages to cater to a wide crowd from families to young people meeting each other for drinks and food. When I lived near one it was a main stay of my bachelor diet. Their veggie burger is easily the best one that I’ve had in Vancouver, although I do admit I often – but not always - get bacon on it… Most Milestones are great environments and easy places to feel at home and relaxed. The one that I prefer the most is the one on West 4th Avenue just past MacDonald; it’s on the south side of the street.
It may seem a little more of a dressy place when you get to the door, and I understand if you’re backpacking you may be hesitant to go in – not to mention spending Vancouver restaurant type money for a meal – but they are friendly and I personally have never had a bad meal there.
I usually spend around fifteen to twenty dollars whenever I eat there.
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tviolini
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This one is on my ‘must eat at list’
Sciue Italian Bakery and Caffe was a very welcome addition to the dining choices when I was working in the downtown of Vancouver. The food was nothing short of delicious yet you don’t have to be a foodie to appreciate it. It is self professed Roman street food, although I didn’t find anything quite like it while in Rome and be maybe as good - I guess that's what websites like this are for though... It doesn’t change the fact that this place was fast becoming one of my favorite places to eat before leaving Vancouver. If you’re looking for lunch and a drink or coffee and a treat you can’t go wrong eating here. The service and staff is top notch and the environment is wonderful. Personally I can not say enough good things about this place. Sadly there are a lot of people who feel the same way so it does get quite busy, but the wait is worth it!
Sciue is located on the corner of Pender and Hornby in the downtown core.
I usually spend just over five for a coffee and a treat, and a little over ten for lunch and worth every penny!!
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tviolini
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Great pubs and pretty good food
The Cheshire Cheese in Vancouver is a long standing neighborhood pub in Vancouver. Their food is good pub food, and their beer is defiantly drinkable. The two locations they have are fairly similar and much of what you would expect from a pub environment. The servers have always gone above and beyond and make your stay pleasant; and is a relaxed place to go for a quick good meal with a friend.
They are great places to eat or go for a few drinks if you’re in the area. One location is on Dunbar Street just a couple doors down from the Dunbar Theater; and the other is on West Boulevard near 41st Avenue.
I find I usually spend between fifteen and twenty dollars whenever I’m there.
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