Vancouver and Seattle

[lethal]

I'm planning a trip for November to Vancouver and Seattle. What should I plan to do in Vancouver? Where should I stay? Do I need to rent a car to get around? If I rent a car, is parking easy or difficult and is it expensive?

Any other advice would be much appreciated as well.

[J Honcanese]

When in Vancouver, you must eat sushi.

It's fresh, it's cheap and IMO it's the best in the world.


Apart from that it depends what you want to do/see while you're there. If you like markets full of fresh produce and knickknacks, I would recommend going to Granville Island. If you're a first-time visitor, try Stanley Park, the Capilano Suspension Bridge (it's an amazing wire cable bridge over a gorge - not for people afraid of heights) and Grouse Mountain for views of the city. And if you're looking for a place to stroll and shop in the Downtown area then Robson Street would be just the ticket. I would also recommend the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, especially if you're interested in the history of the First Nations.

If you have the time why not visit nearby Victoria, BC's provincial capital? The city is a relatively short ferry ride away and it's got a really quaint, almost British feel to it.

Anyway that's my two cents. I'm not a Vancouverite so I've probably missed out a lot of places you could potentially visit.

[kimpossible]

Will you be in downtown Seattle or the surrounding 'burbs?

[lethal]

Will you be in downtown Seattle or the surrounding 'burbs?

I'll be in downtown Seattle for this event http://napaba.org/napaba/showpage.asp?code=convention

It'll be my first time to either city. I don't want to rent a car, but can if it makes things easier (rather than more of a hassle with parking - I am not afraid of public transportation).

Basically, I'm going to Seattle for that conference for a weekend, so I figured that if I was going all the way cross country, I might as well spend a few days in Vancouver since it is so close and I've never been, but have only heard good things about. The Vancouver part of the trip is wide open, but the Seattle part is mostly planned, but there are still a lot of open times that I can fill in with interesting things too. I doubt I'll have a car in Seattle.

[CBC guy]

Stanley Park, Granville Island, Robson street... the usual tourist suspects...

And I agree about the Sushi, it is excellent.

[kimpossible]

The convention is only a few days. Assuming that's the length of your stay and you're sticking to downtown Seattle, yeah, don't bother with the car. Usually my noggin is primed for what Japanese want to see. Most of our family heads straight for Mariners game, seafood, Mt. Ranier/Snoqualimie Falls and shopping.

Readjusting my tuners for East Coast on the West Coast, I have a short list. Things that take advantage of your location, are unique to the geography and local culture, and won't double up on what you can do in Vancouver, or NYC for that matter.

1. Pike's Place Market (http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/frameset.asp?flash=false) That's quintessential Seattle right there. If you did nothing else, you could say you saw Seattle. You can crawl around upper and lower levels. Food, hippie stuff, see the fish flying around the fish market. They throw it around for tourists to see. The original Starbucks store is there in its original condition.

2. The Space Needle (http://www.spaceneedle.com/) This is also a Seattle hallmark. I've been outside it, never up but that's probably because I lived there. It's a famous landmark.

3. Uwajimaya (http://www.uwajimaya.com/sea/) We don't have much of a Chinatown but the Japanese American community is much larger than what you'd know on the East Coast. Enough that we have have need of Uwajimaya (in a few locations). Seattle is the original and is the biggest. You could get good, reasonably priced food there and in the basement is a Kinokuniya Bookstore. I think it's in the basement. We always went to the one in the outlying areas, but there is one on site.

Keep your eyes open for flyers if you go to Uwajimaya. If any taiko or other Japanese type of thing is going on, there'll be a flyer in Uwajimaya. There always is.

4. Bruce Lee and Brandon Lee (http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php?Number=7936) Where they are buried at least. I'm not big on visiting graves but I know they are popular and there's really no other way to see such well known and influential Asian American movie stars.

5. Pacific Science Center (http://pacificsciencecenter.org/) I think most NYC museums have Seattle beat but the science center is cool. There's also the Seattle Aquarium (http://www.seattleaquarium.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=183&srcid=-2). But those always make me hungry.

I'm not going to go on restaurant recommendations because I know more of the Eastside and the better restaurants could be on the Eastside because all the Microsofties. I'm not nearly up to date. But for affordable meals, I'd try Uwajimaya.

[snow ninja]

it's usually cold and rainy in november. if you like ski, then it is usually a great time.

if you want to witness Richmond, it is mostly Asian. But go to what the other guys said.

Driving in Vancouver area is not as bad as some cities but it is congested. I'd stay away from driving during rush hour.

And vancouver is generally quite expensive compared to other canadian cities but the food quality is usually higher at a reasonable price.

[DragonKnight]

Visit Pike's Place while you're in Seattle. I work right next to it in one of the office buildings nearby. Call me, I'm bored outta my fuckin wits and wouldn't mind a visit from an old face or two. :biggrin:

[ism]

If you stay in downtown Vancouver, buy a daypass for the Skytrain and you can hit up most spots and it's good for the bus, too. So many things to see and do. Well, let me cover food first.

Mink (863 Hastings Street West/Vancouver, BC, Canada/(604) 633-2451) has a drinking chocolate which is absolutely decadent, and lots of chocolate bars which make for good presents. This is by the cruise ship harbor.

Xin Cafe at the Pacific Palisades is a cute space and does a good brunch (salmon hash).

If you like garlic, you MUST check out Wild Garlic. It's a tapas bistro and it's fantastic. There's a location near Stanley Park which is pretty satisfying after biking it. 792 Denman Street, (604) 687-1663 -- odd hours and days so plan ahead.

So many Japanese places to choose from. I liked Kingyo (871 Denman Street/604.608.1677) for tapas with an interesting daily selection.

For breakfast there's always the White Spot, a chain that brews its own beer. It's sort of like a diner/short-order place. The beer isn't special but solid. I forgot what time it's legal to start serving, though... 11 I think... but there are also crepe places. Cafe Crepe makes a nice banana/nutella/Grand Marnier crepe that you can take to go or sit down with.

I can't recommend a sushi place -- none really stuck out in my mind but at least the fish was really fresh! Ask a couple locals (or concierge) for recommendations.

Tapastree (1829 Robson Street/(604) 606-4680) serves Mexican tapas.

Nightlife:
I liked Atlantis... mostly Asian crowd with a young age range... mix of hip-hop and dance... just grab a cab here and back to your hotel.

If you like beer I recommend the Railway Club (579 Dunsmuir Street/(604) 681-1625)... lots of Canadian brews (Lighthouse Keepers Stout, Raven Cream, Tree, Unibroue are some good choices) and a good place to catch local music. Go straight from the Granville station... area seems sketchy and lonesome but it's relatively safe and definitely not as bad as the area between Gastown and Chinatown at night. Don't be caught there at night.

There's also Yaletown Brewing in, well, Yaletown. Good for an afternoon drink and there's some shopping to be done in the area. Grab a cab for expediency.

Granville Island Brewery is on Granville Island but you can get their brews pretty much anywhere in Vancouver. If you've seen one brewery, you've seen 'em all, but the tour is nice. If you like art, there's usually some exhibit at the Emily Carr Institute. The rest of the island... honestly, I feel like Granville Island is a tourist trap and skippable.

If you like art, check out what's on exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Robson square is nearby and a college campus (crap, can't remember which one) has some interesting architecture. Pacific Centre has some shopping nearby. And Robson street... just walk it... lots of stuff to see, including 2 Starbucks on opposite sides of the street.

Stanley Park is nice. You can rent a bike off Denman.

You can hike Grouse Mountain if you feel up to the challenge. You used to be able to ride down for free if you hiked up, but not anymore. Nice view of Vancouver. This is going to be a day trip.

The Museum of Anthropology can be reached by bus from downtown but it'll eat up at least half your day. Lots of cool indigenous stuff. Also, the campus of UBC is beautiful. While you're there, you might as well check out the Nitobe Japanese Garden. Wreck Beach is also there, which is a nude beach.

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden is in Chinatown and worth a visit. On the way you can see the Jack Chow building (thinnest in the world). Unfortunately, the good Chinese food seems to be in Richmond. There are some decent Vietnamese places here, though.

I stayed at the Sutton Place Hotel which is in a really good location. There's a bubble tea shop right outside. If you want a massage, I recommend Vida which is right down the street on Burrard.

The Vancouver Public Library is very pretty. Worth taking a look at if you're in the area.

[snow ninja]

^^nice list. i have not even visited one or two of those restaurants. I heard GUU is a good japanese restaurant as well.

there are definatlely a lot of asian hotties at atlantis. And they have wild booty dance contests too.

http://www.kinlodesigns.com/atl_pics/saturdaymarch29/images/pic%20(27).jpg

lots of japanese pubs (izakaya) and good restaraunts.

in fact some so good you cant get in.

[DragonKnight]

I'm not going to go on restaurant recommendations because I know more of the Eastside and the better restaurants could be on the Eastside because all the Microsofties. I'm not nearly up to date. But for affordable meals, I'd try Uwajimaya.
Hi kimpossible,

Got any restaurant recommendations in the Eastside for a guy who just recently moved to the area? :biggrin:

[kasia]

seattle - tilicum village!

vancouver - aberdeen mall!

[kimpossible]

Hi kimpossible,

Got any restaurant recommendations in the Eastside for a guy who just recently moved to the area? :biggrin:

I haven't been there since Microserfs completely terraformed Redmond but Rikki Rikki is a usual standby with Japanese and its still in Kirkland. I don't think I even know the restaurants in Bellevue anymore. Napolean Chynamite might.

Asian bachelor eats are available at the Bellevue Uwajimaya and there's a place out in Renton (yes, Renton, I know but bear with) called the Great Wall Mall. There's a 99 Ranch, praise Jesus, some dim sum, some smaller eateries and kind of a Chinese deli/cafe. Only place I know to get good preserved scallops. From the Eastside it's mostly highway so it's not that bad for a weekend lunch + shopping trip.

[lethal]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys! Definitely helpful for planning my vacation.

[CBC guy]

Good luck, and have fun on your vacation! (Hoping the weather's nice when you come along)

[lethal]

So for Vancouver, what part of town should I look for a hotel? Downtown, Robson St. or somewhere else? I need somewhere close to things to do and somewhat easy to get around if I am carless.

[J Honcanese]

I'm no expert on finding hotels, but I would be inclined to pick the West End, in the area around Robson St. It's within easy walking distance of the downtown area and it has a wealth of eateries, shops, convenience stores and small supermarkets. Also if you want to get to the airport there's a shuttle bus that takes you straight there from the hotels along Robson St.

I'm not entirely sure about the prices though - every time I've gone to Vancouver I've been fortunate enough to live with relatives and family friends.

[snailpoo]

I'm planning a trip for November to Vancouver and Seattle. What should I plan to do in Vancouver? Where should I stay? Do I need to rent a car to get around? If I rent a car, is parking easy or difficult and is it expensive?

Any other advice would be much appreciated as well.

If you're driving between Seattle and Vancouver, and you have an extra day, stop at the San Juan Islands, or if you don't have the time to take the ferry out (November might be cold too), try to get the view at Anacortes. It's beautiful. Though... I'never been in November.

[ism]

So for Vancouver, what part of town should I look for a hotel? Downtown, Robson St. or somewhere else? I need somewhere close to things to do and somewhat easy to get around if I am carless.Depends on your destinations. If you want to get around, then get relatively near a Skytrain station. There are plenty of hotels near the Burrard and Granville stations that are also near Robson St. -- I stayed at the Sutton Place hotel on Burrard, and the Fairmont is also there, but the Hyatt is even closer. If you stay at the West End around Denman, you'll have to wait for the bus, which is frequent (take a look at the Translink site for schedules), but not as frequent as the Skytrain. I also stayed at the Sandman once, which is relatively close to the Stadium station but a walk from the action. Donno your budget, but the Four Seasons is basically at the Granville Station (they have a fantastic brunch, btw). The bus system is pretty good and they can plot a course for you through their phone number or website if you want to figure out what your travel plans would be like.