Must do's in Vancouver, 2013?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Thanks for all your help in narrowing down lodging/location for me. Next - what to do there? Favorites, please!
Interested in art, architecture, entertainment and food. Maybe some nature, too, but we have four full days in Vancouver before heading to the San Juan Islands where I expect nature will abound.
No kid stuff
TIA

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Adding another question - is there a guidebook you'd recommend? I like the old school real paper kind best... and at this rate I'm going to have read it on the plane...

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

Stanley Park, you can do bikes or ride a tour bus around the entire park. It has a great aquarium too. Also, they often have plays in the evening in a beautiful setting.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Any recommendations on a place to stay one night close to the park?

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

I haven't eaten here, but this place is very popular with the student crowd at UBC. My dd raves about it.

http://thenaam.com/

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

My dd gave me more recommendations.

Restaurant:
Trattoria, in the Kitsilano neighborhood of Vancouver. Address is 1850 W. 4th

She wanted to know if you are "coffee people", if so she can provide some of the better places to get coffee.

Things to do:
- Stanley Park definitely
- Walk around the UBC campus, visit the Anthropology Museum on campus (still kicking myself that I didn't see this when I was up there getting her settled on campus)
- Granville Island (some people think this is touristy, but we thought it was fun. Great produce, and other foods, market there. Fun to take the water taxi, especially if you get a "driver" who thinks he's a tour guide.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

My dd gave me more recommendations.

Restaurant:
Trattoria, in the Kitsilano neighborhood of Vancouver. Address is 1850 W. 4th

She wanted to know if you are "coffee people", if so she can provide some of the better places to get coffee.

Things to do:
- Stanley Park definitely
- Walk around the UBC campus, visit the Anthropology Museum on campus (still kicking myself that I didn't see this when I was up there getting her settled on campus)
- Granville Island (some people think this is touristy, but we thought it was fun. Great produce, and other foods, market there. Fun to take the water taxi, especially if you get a "driver" who thinks he's a tour guide.

Will check these out, in addition to NAAM, which looks good, too. I am sure we are not "coffee people" the way your DD means it, though we do enjoy a good cup of coffee (or three) to start the day...

I am becoming curious about Stanley Park -- what's the draw? It's not like Central Park, is it? Not that I don't love Central Park, but it's not where I'd chose to spend much time in my city if I were a tourist...

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

I think the thing about Stanley Park is that number one, it's a beautiful spot, and number two there are other things there. I know there is an aquarium (I remember because we went there years ago with our dds), hiking, biking. Check out their website to see if it's someplace you want to spend time. But Stanley Park always seems to be mentioned when people ask what there is to do in Vancouver.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

Will check these out, in addition to NAAM, which looks good, too. I am sure we are not "coffee people" the way your DD means it, though we do enjoy a good cup of coffee (or three) to start the day...

I am becoming curious about Stanley Park -- what's the draw? It's not like Central Park, is it? Not that I don't love Central Park, but it's not where I'd chose to spend much time in my city if I were a tourist...

Personally I far prefer Central Park to Stanley Park.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Personally I far prefer Central Park to Stanley Park.

Maybe if you have easy access to Central Park, Stanley Park might not be such a draw. But for many people it is something they want to see and experience. I still suggest checking out the website and then making up your mind. Or keep an open mind once you get there and see if the spirit moves you.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

When you fly out of Vancouver to the US do you go thru US Custom there or where you land in the USA?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Maybe if you have easy access to Central Park, Stanley Park might not be such a draw. But for many people it is something they want to see and experience. I still suggest checking out the website and then making up your mind. Or keep an open mind once you get there and see if the spirit moves you.

Ok will do, thanks - I did just look it up and it does look pretty cool, sea wall and all....

[happymum Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close happymum]

When you fly out of Vancouver to the US do you go thru US Custom there or where you land in the USA?

You go through US Customs at the airport in Vancouver.

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

Thanks

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

You go through US Customs at the airport in Vancouver.

The whole process is usually pretty quick. Unless, for some reason, you get pulled out for additional screening. That happened to me. A word of warning, those guys have NO sense of humor.