Off to Vancouver in 3 weeks

[a311]

Our trip to Canada has quickly rolled up on us. We're going for 3 weeks in total. Fly into Vancouver, spend 5 nights there then head up to Whistler for a week, we were going to get the ski bus but on weighing up the relative costs getting we're probably gona get a car-seemd pointless having a car sitting there in Whislter but we're moving on to Vancouver Island and having our own transport makes getting to the ferry easier.

Spending the rest of the time on Vancouver Island with family. Maybe spend one night in Victoria-the family live pretty central on the east coast of the Island and 20 mins from Mt Washington which is meant to have some decent skiing too.

Anyone got any recommendations for stuff inbetween all that?

[Matt Harper]

Ask your family. They live there FFS.

[a311]

Matt Harper said:

Ask your family. They live there FFS.

Have you ever thought about not contributing to a thread where you have nothing constructive to add?

Family are OAP's in their 70's so probably not into the same kind of things we are. FFS.

[Matt Harper]

a311 said:

Have you ever thought about not contributing to a thread where you have nothing constructive to add?

Family are OAP's in their 70's so probably not into the same kind of things we are. FFS.

By that logic, I suppose we should just use our collective telepathic powers to make suggestions that will be relevant to the 'same kind of things you are into', then?

Ask the old gimmers - they might surprise you.

[a311]

Seriously do you reply to every thread like that or are you just a c@ck?

I think if you were to look through the majority of threads in this sub forum you could agrue that the info is already out there in the ether if you want to look for it. I know this myself as I've commented on other threads but not in the manner you have to mine.

I reiterate my previous comment, if you've nothing useful to say then don't say anything at all......

[Matt Harper]

You're right of course - so sorry.
Please accept this as a token of my remorse.

http://www.tourismvancouver.com

[LeftmostAardvark]

Victoria: whale watching and an evening cruise by sail from the pier in front of the fairmont empress.

Whistler: ski / board etc

Vancouver: Stanley park is nice for a day (with an ok aquarium / zoo), ice hockey is always an experience, there's a quite cool tower that looks over the bay which is worth a trip. Shopping and cultural districts are good too.

Enjoy the ferry, its a weird experience.

[5potTurbo]

Another vote for Stanley Park for me... aquarium's a good 'un, I think.

Scienceworld's good in Vancouver, as is Chinatown for an inexpensive meal after, too.

Have agreat time in Whistler, too. We were there for Christmas & New Year. LOVED.IT!

Please take extra care walking around Vancouver at night. We were quite happily walking along at night when a local advised us NOT to continue in the direction we were along W.Hastings.

The old town, where the Steam Clock is, is nice, too. Some good restaurants to be found, if rather "touristy". Beware the begging homeless. They lurk on the fringes of the tourist traps, especially at night. Not all of them take too kindly to being turned down, but you can't help them all.

[a311]

Thanks for the replies.

LeftmostAardvark said:

Enjoy the ferry, its a weird experience.

Be interested to hear what is weird about it?

5potTurbo said:

Have agreat time in Whistler, too. We were there for Christmas & New Year. LOVED.IT!

Beware the begging homeless.

Normally just apply some common sense when visiting any large city both at home or abroad-sounds a bit like San Francisco with homeless/panhandlers.

Looking forward to the skiing. I’ve never skied Whistler but had forgotten how costly the lift passes are in NA compared to Europe. Guess the strong CAD $ doesn’t help matters.

We’re also about 20 from Mt Washington on Vancouver Island so I hope to get up there too. Tiny in comparison to Whistler but seems to have some interesting terrain.

[LeftmostAardvark]

a311 said:

Be interested to hear what is weird about it?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bizvr2NmMuM

He vid doesn't show it very well, but the ferry basically goes down a couple of narrow channels and pulls a handbrake turn - we weren't expecting it - was basically thinking it would be like the Dover Calais ferry, so when it headed for this narrow gap it was a bit of a surprise.

Also, watch out for sealife while you're on the ferry. We stayed at the fairmont empress which is very nice and were in a v8 mustang convertible. Highly recommended,

[a311]

LeftmostAardvark said:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bizvr2NmMuM

He vid doesn't show it very well, but the ferry basically goes down a couple of narrow channels and pulls a handbrake turn - we weren't expecting it - was basically thinking it would be like the Dover Calais ferry, so when it headed for this narrow gap it was a bit of a surprise.

Also, watch out for sealife while you're on the ferry. We stayed at the fairmont empress which is very nice and were in a v8 mustang convertible. Highly recommended,

Is that the Horseshoe Bay ferry? Sadly going for praticality this time with car hire choice and getting an SUV that we can fit our skis in and other gear. Probably a bit nippy still at that time of year to get the roof down anyhow. Had a V8 Mustang for a loop of California and it was great.

Plan to stock up on supplies before we get to Whistler or on route, some groceries and beers etc.

[Thunderace]

That's Active Pass, between Galiano and Mayne Gulf Islands. Some of the boats from Tsawwassen (the port South of Vancouver) go through it.