I'm going to visit my favorite cousin in Vancouver from 4/22 to 4/29. I have a feeling this is going to be an amazing trip. Spring in BC?? That must be wondrous!
I have done a little bit of reading in preparation - Victoria is going to be a definite for me. Beacon Hill Park looks like nothing I've ever seen! And I've been told to go go go to Salt Spring Island. But of like...6000 islands! how can I narrow it down?
If anyone has any recommendations, or better yet!, photos of the area and locations, please share! My cousin is very excited to go on day trips, so even areas a few hours away are possibilities.
I've bought a big fat memory card just for this trip. :)
Victoria is a great side trip but will make for a pretty full day. It is better done as an overnight trip. Travel time with the ferry eats up much of the day. The inner harbour and surrounding downtown area is great to just wander around.
For pictures in Vancouver itself I like Stanley Park which has wonderful views, trails, gardens, etc. Granville Island is a touristy thing but fun. It is one big produce and food market surrounded by working art studios. You can ride the little pedestrian ferries back and forth to town.
Also the Museum of Anthropology at UBC is worth a half day. One of the best exhibits of First nation peoples I know of.
And finally, get out of town at least some. Try driving north to Whistler area or just go to North Vancouver and do the Cable car to the top of the mountain for pictures back on the city.
Click here then choose New and then Canada for some recent pictures from Victoria. I would definitely recommend a day or two there and make sure you check out Butchart Gardens and the Butterfly Museum while there.
While in Vancouver, consider a seaplane tour. And remember, they shoot a lot of movies in Vancouver. Look at the city and see if you can spot locations from of your favorite movies. There are many very nice neighborhoods with beautiful old mansions. There's Stanley Park.
Check the web. They hold an International Fireworks Competition in Vancouver during the summer. It lasts about 10 days I think. If you get lucky with the dates, it would be neat photography.
In early August, they hold the Abbotsford International Airshow just east of Vancouver. It is among the top 5 airshows in North America. Once I saw a Mig 29 do a tailslide there. And they have some pretty unusual planes. It's in early August if I rember right.
Also, drive up the "Sea to Ski" highway to Whistler. This drive is beautiful and takes you along the water to one of North America's premier ski destinations. In the summer, ride the chair to the top for some fabulous vistas. While your there, there is some great mountain biking if you're into that sort of thing.
Whistler looks wonderful! I'm not much of a sporty girl, but definitely am outdoorsy. I'll be going that route for sure! Especially the Sea to Ski route...wonderful! Thank you!
DigitalQuix - awesome photos! The gardens...the gardens! I am so anxious to get there all ready. Thank you for the tips!
From another Vancouver native, here are my top picks:
Stanley Park. Its 8.3km around the seawall and you pass by beaches, parks, totem poles and breathtaking views of the Vancouver Skyline.
Lynn Canyon Park (if you can't afford the $20+ dollars it takes to go across the Capilano Bridge, there is a free suspension bridge in this Park)
Grouse Mountain is gorgeous. For the hikers, there is the intimidating, but fun Grouse Grind hike.
Baden Powell Trail. Its a HUGE hiking trail more than 40km in length. Some parts easy, other parts completely greuling. You can do just parts of it.
People watching downtown. Especially at the gorgeous Public Library or the Art Gallery
Shannon Falls/Bridal Falls/Whistler. All up the sea-to-sky highway. It takes about 45min to get to Shannon Falls/Bridal Falls and another 45 min (I believe) to get to Whistler. Drive is as breathtaking as the destinations.
If you take the ferry to Victoria (on Vancouver Island) there is a pretty good chance you'll see dolphins and whales on the trip! And there are loads of things to do in Victoria, including taking a scooter ride down Dallas Rd which is the route along the water.
Oh! And if you're thinking Gulf Islands, I do recommend Salt Spring, but time it so that you can go to their public market. There is also lots of great lake swimming and tree-climbing hippies out there.
You might have to PM me with what you're thinking because there are too many things to add in one post!
That's one place I'd definatelly choose to live.
Maybe someday, maybe....
By the way, how hard is it to get a visa in order to be able to live and work at canada? Sorry for hijacking the thread but I just remembered of that. In singapore doesn't work, I might try canada......quite the same isn't it? LoL
Zeus, 3rd beach!! Thanks for sharing these photos, they're kickass! I'm going to have to add some of these places to my growing list :)
Jemison, you have no idea how eager I am :p
3Ds, gulp. I'm all ready a bit scared ahaha.
Frisca! Thank you for all the recommendations! I know it's hard to answer the "where to go" question, but you've given me a great starter. If I have any specifics, I'll definitely PM you. Thanks for the offer :)
Autumn, thank you for sharing! You have some wonderful photos! It's great to see what I can expect. And dammit, I might have to buy yet another memory card ;)
Scuds, no no, ask away! I'm interested to know, too. I have two cousins that've transplanted to Canada, one in Vancouver and one in Toronto. They're both there for college, so I guess that's how they managed. They can't work, but since they're artists it's not really a taxable payroll kinda situation. So they're able to live, and make a bit of money, and go to school. I don't blame you for wanting to live there...I do too! Good luck!
Hello everyone who helped me with this question :)
I returned from Vancouver last week, but since one of my Vancouver photos became my Moods submission, I decided to just hold off on posting the link to all my photos.
I didn't DO as much as I thought I would in Vancouver, but still we were never idle! There's so much I didn't see, so a return trip is a definite :)
I fell in love with Vancouver City, and fell HARD for the spot we picked to camp at. We ended up going to Vancouver Island and heading up to the Juan de Fuca strait marine trail. Our destination was Sombrio Beach, off season and quiet!! Whoop!
I have so many MORE photos, about 1000, but I just wanted to get up what I was most taken by.
I'm so glad you enjoyed yourself! Anywhere on vancouver island is beautiful and peaceful. Next time you're here, visit salt spring island too. The lake swimming is great!
Hi Frisca! I was actually supposed to go to Salt Spring, but once I got to Vancouver we realized just how much we were trying to do in such a short time. So that's another place saved for next time :)
You wouldn't believe how much I've got saved for next time!
Hi Frisca! I was actually supposed to go to Salt Spring, but once I got to Vancouver we realized just how much we were trying to do in such a short time. So that's another place saved for next time :)
You wouldn't believe how much I've got saved for next time!
Thanks for all your help :)
Katy
... and the next time, and the next time, and the next time .....
