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05/31/2010 08:23:38 PM · #1 |
Hello, All!
I'm hoping to travel to Vancouver next Summer for a vacation over the school break, and it's a bit overwhelming in the early stages trying to sort through all the information. So I thought I'd do myself a favor and ask someone who's been before!
So to all your native Canadians and those who have traveled there before, here's a few questions:
What do I HAVE to see?
What should I avoid?
Best affordable place to stay?
Best photo-op (Preferably not super touristy areas)?
Cool places to eat/coffee shops (total foodie here)?
Any other tips?
Any help/stories are appreciated! Thanks!
-Nathanael |
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05/31/2010 08:27:40 PM · #2 |
Where you go (for photography) will depend on what you like to shoot.
Whenever I go to Vancouver I always include the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary (in Ladner) and Granville Island.
Another place is the arboretum in Queen Elizabeth Park.
Message edited by author 2010-05-31 20:28:24. |
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05/31/2010 09:05:35 PM · #3 |
| Rent a car and drive up the coast to Whistler. There is also a train you can take through the mountains to Whistler. |
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05/31/2010 10:30:14 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by Nathanael_G:
Hello, All!
I'm hoping to travel to Vancouver next Summer for a vacation over the school break, and it's a bit overwhelming in the early stages trying to sort through all the information. So I thought I'd do myself a favor and ask someone who's been before!
So to all your native Canadians and those who have traveled there before, here's a few questions:
What do I HAVE to see?
What should I avoid?
Best affordable place to stay?
Best photo-op (Preferably not super touristy areas)?
Cool places to eat/coffee shops (total foodie here)?
Any other tips?
Any help/stories are appreciated! Thanks!
-Nathanael |
I lived in Vancouver for approximately 4 years, and that was between 1993 and 1999. So, with that in mind...best way to get around the city is probably still the Skytrain. Cheap, fairly safe and I believe the routes have expanded quite a bit. Science World is considered a go-see. Aquarium in Stanley Park. English Bay, Stanley Park, most of downtown. Robson Street for shopping, even if only window shopping. Davie Street if you're of alternate sexuality, or just a friend of the family, as it were...and add Wreck Beach if that's your scene. UBC grounds. Gastown for more shopping, though I believe it's quite gentrified now.
Avoid...Main and Hastings area. The poorest neighbourhood in the whole damn country. Full of junkies, hookers, street people, the whole nine yards. Yes potential great photo ops but you would definitely want someone trustworthy watching your back. Kingsway (heavy gang activity). The 'burbs like New Westminster, Burnaby, Maple Ridge. Burbs is burbs, so why waste your time and $$$?
Food...hmmm how much $$ do you want to spend? Tons of sushi shops everywhere. Bishop's, Rain City Grill, Star Anise, The Salmon House (in Stanley Park so major $$$). Wonder if my old friend Angela Murrills is still a food writer for The Georgia Strait, try googling her and asking her, she's very approachable.
Coffee shops...The best coffee I ever drank was on Commercial Drive (take Skytrain to Commercial, cross Broadway and head towards the mountains) at the little mom-and-pop Italian coffee shops. You'll never drink Starbucks again. Also pretty good Spanish/Italian /Portugese eateries in that area, tapas bars and the like.
Affordable place to stay...hmmm...there are, or were, hostels in the Gastown area. Better do some homework on that.
photo ops? oh jeez innumerable. Anywhere! :-0
Further tips: if you see a celebrity on the street, DON'T pester them, and I wouldn't snap them mostly out of respect! Considered pretty gauche by the locals to go all starstruck, esp as lots work in the movie industry. Ok to ask a PA (usually some poor tired-looking 20something directing traffic in a traffic vest) who's appearing in whatever is being filmed in the area. You can also pick up a copy of Variety magazine, that will tell you who is filming where and what.
As for Whistler...major, major $$$$$...up to you my friend! I lived in BC for 6.5 years total and never went to Whistler, never felt I missed out on anything.
Hope this helps, have fun! :-0
Message edited by author 2010-05-31 22:34:22. |
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05/31/2010 10:41:49 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by Nathanael_G:
Cool places to eat/coffee shops (total foodie here)?
-Nathanael |
If you like shawarma, go to Babylon Cafe (takeout only) in downtown Van (716 Robson). Best shawarma in town, and good prices too! There's also tons of pizza by the slice places all over the place, for an inexpensive, quick (and often pretty decent) lunch.
In Gastown, Al Porto is good (Italian). |
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05/31/2010 11:25:31 PM · #6 |
| Many (many) years ago I stayed at the youth hostel ... seems to me it was right near the beach -- should be as inexpensive as it gets. I think it's home to the second-largest Chinatown on the West Coast. There's a pretty impressive suspension bridge (pedestrian only?) north of town, and the ski area above the town (Grouse Mountain). I didn't have a camera at the time, but I remember being impressed that you could see the ski runs from the beach ... |
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05/31/2010 11:26:15 PM · #7 |
I agree that Whistler is mucho $$ but you don't have to go to Whistler to enjoy the drive up that way. The new highway makes it easier and there is some great stuff to shoot around Squamish, lots of rock climbing, waterfalls and the like.
Stanley Park is always a favorite and a great hike or bike ride around the perimeter.
Vancouver is a great city and you will be overwhelmed regardless of where you go. |
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05/31/2010 11:45:44 PM · #8 |
Vancouver's actually a lively, lovely city with terrific restaurants, arts, entertainment … a city that is largely crime and pollution free. It’s home to a vibrant shipping and cruise ship industry. It has been the set for countless movies looking for an interesting backdrop. Among them: Twilight; The Hurt Locker; 2012; Titanic; Juno; Tron; The Butterfly Effect; Night at the Museum; The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008); I Robot; Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants; Andromeda Strain (2008); Jumanji; … literally thousands of TV and Movie locations.
Go to IMDB.com ... find movies that resonate with you, and find their shooting locations.
There are fabulous cityscapes.
Check out the ferry over to Granville Island and replace your electrolytes and have dinner. There's a great view of the city from there.
Check out the views from "North Van" and the neat cloudscapes and fogscapes from there.
Go to Stanley Park ... a target rich environment for a photographer.
Go to the shore for fabulous seascapes and people studies.
Rent a car and drive/ferry north along the Sunshine Coast to Lund. Or drive to Lillooet via Whistler and Pemberton. Beautiful!
Take the Ferry over to Victoria.
Message edited by author 2010-06-01 00:01:15. |
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06/01/2010 09:02:46 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by ursula:
[quote=Nathanael_G]
Cool places to eat/coffee shops (total foodie here)?
-Nathanael |
...There's also tons of pizza by the slice places all over the place, for an inexpensive, quick (and often pretty decent) lunch...
Ooh, I forgot - The Flying Wedge. Local chain. Great pizza by the slice, they have all the old standbys and many new combos. The chain was started up by a group of UBC students. Really yummy and though a little pricier than than th bigger chains, much better quality ingredients. |
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06/01/2010 10:07:30 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by snaffles:
Originally posted by ursula:
[quote=Nathanael_G]
Cool places to eat/coffee shops (total foodie here)?
-Nathanael |
...There's also tons of pizza by the slice places all over the place, for an inexpensive, quick (and often pretty decent) lunch...
Ooh, I forgot - The Flying Wedge. Local chain. Great pizza by the slice, they have all the old standbys and many new combos. The chain was started up by a group of UBC students. Really yummy and though a little pricier than than th bigger chains, much better quality ingredients. |
I'll second the Flying Wedge.
If you're up for something a little more upscale and really good food, check out Cravings (just off of Oak St - south end near the border with Richmond). |
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06/03/2010 11:14:26 AM · #11 |
snaffles, Thanks for the great reply! So grateful for all your recommendations and tips! :D
I'm going to try and not spend a fortune, but it is a vacation so I'm prepared to pay a $$ for a few nicer places, but not every day by any means! I will be looking up Angela Murrills, thanks for the tip! Even if I don't get in contact with her directly, I'm sure I can find some of her work and recommendations. Commercial Drive sounds like a must. Very helpful post, thank you thank you!
Cpanaioti, Flying Wedge sounds great for casual eating, thanks for the recommendation! Cravings also looks like a great place to try one night. Also going to look into the bird sanctuary you mentioned. Thanks for all the leads! As far as what I want to shoot, I guess fogscapes, seascapes, and cityscapes because that's what I don't usually have here in Mississippi. Sometimes fog, maybe once a year.
ursula, Mmmmm, sounds amazing! Definitely going to stop in there for lunch when I go.
GeneralE, Thanks, I'll check out the hostels!
jbsmithana, thanks for the tips!
Dr. Confuser, wow! I didn't realize they filmed so many movies in Vancouver. And thank you, thank you for all the location suggestions! Fogscapes are without a doubt my favorite, so I'll definitely be checking out North Vancouver. So glad you mentioned that.
Thanks too all who have replied so far! Very much appreciated!
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06/03/2010 11:53:54 AM · #12 |
You're more than welcome, and look for The Georgia Strait in newspaper boxes. Free publication, still comes out every Thursday I believe.
Have fun! Take lots of pictures (well, duhhh);-) |
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06/04/2010 04:10:29 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by snaffles:
You're more than welcome, and look for The Georgia Strait in newspaper boxes. Free publication, still comes out every Thursday I believe.
Have fun! Take lots of pictures (well, duhhh);-) |
Will do! Thanks again!
Still open to other suggestions/tips for anyone else. :D
Godspeed,
-Nathanael
Message edited by author 2010-06-04 16:11:16. |
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