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Things to do in BC/Vancouver

687 Views 9 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Commodus
I want to take my wife to Vancouver. We want to see the sights. What should we do? I definitely want to rent a bike at Whistler, but what else?
Thanks,
Joe
p.s. we are from Asheville NC if that matters.
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Definetly hit Vancouver Island for some sight seeing around Victoria. Traveling the incredible Road To Tolfino a little further north on the island was pretty spectacular by car or motor cycle. Ton of cool parks along the pacific to check out. Have fun!
What is the best time of year to go?
We went right after school started here in the states in Sept.. Tourist season was over but the weather was still awesome. Be prepared, you may not want to come back.
you're joking right?

what to do? That's as bad as me asking what to do in NC. Hit the casino, right? Who would want to ride the Norshore when you can gamble? You know the 2010 Olympics are nearly here, so that may interfere with your plans. I stress may.

You'll need a few years and several hundreds of thousands of dollars to do it all. Or more. Seriously. And BC is big, you cant' see all of it in a week or 2. B.C.'s total land and freshwater area is 95 million hectares, larger than France and Germany combined. Only 30 countries are larger.

Your wife might like a leisurely ride around the Stanley park seawall, watch out for tourists though, it's a bit crowded on nice days. then take her up the Grouse Mtn tramway.

bike, ski, hike, kayak, hunt, fish, bungee, horseback ride, glider trips, zoos, aquariums,sea diving, the list is endless...

and yes you can ski in the a.m. and bike or golf all p.m.

https://www.hellobc.com/en-CA/SightsActivitiesEvents/BritishColumbia.htm

Architectural & Structural Explorations
Airtrams & Gondolas, Bridges, Buildings & Structures, Buildings & Structures of Note, Castles, Churches, Dams, Ghost Towns, Historic & Heritage Sites, Interpretive Centres, Lighthouses, Mining, Suspension Bridges
Arts, Cultural & Historical Experiences
Aboriginal & Cultural, Artists & Art Galleries, Castles, Churches, Cinemas, Ghost Towns, Gold Panning, Historic & Heritage Sites, Lighthouses, Museums, Theatre & Performing Arts, Wineries & Vineyards
Attractions
Aboriginal & Cultural, Activity Zones, Airtrams & Gondolas, Amusement Parks, Aquariums, Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries, Bridges, Buildings & Structures, Castles, Churches, Cinemas, Dams, Gardens & City Parks, Ghost Towns, Historic & Heritage Sites, Hot Springs, Interpretive Centres, Lighthouses, Markets, Mining, Museums, Farms & Orchards, Planetariums, Professional & Spectator Sports, Science & Nature, Sightseeing Tours, Suspension Bridges, View Points, Water Parks & Slides, Wineries & Vineyards, Zoos
Entertainment
Activity Zones, Amusement Parks, Casinos, Cinemas, Dining, Markets, Professional & Spectator Sports, Shopping, Theatre & Performing Arts
Festivals & Events
Festivals & Events
Food & Wine
Afternoon Tea, Agricultural Tours, Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries, Culinary Schools, Dining, Dinner Cruises, Markets, Farms & Orchards, Specialty Food Producers, Wineries & Vineyards, Wine Tours
Land Activities
Activity Zones, Airtrams & Gondolas, ATV & 4 Wheel Drive, Bird Watching, Bungee Jumping, Camping, Caving, Cycling, Flightseeing, Gem & Rock Hunting, Gold Panning, Golf, Guest & Dude Ranches, Guide Outfitting, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing & Mountaineering, Walking, Zip Lining
Natural Sights, Parks & Wildlife
Bear Watching, Bird Watching, Camping, Caving, Fishing, Gardens & City Parks, Gem & Rock Hunting, Hot Springs, Mining, Farms & Orchards, Parks, Science & Nature, Suspension Bridges, View Points, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing - Marine & Land, Zoos
Rest & Relaxation
Afternoon Tea, Beaches & Swimming, Cruising, Dinner Cruises, Gardens & City Parks, Guest & Dude Ranches, Harbour Cruises, Hiking, Hot Springs, Sailing, Shopping, Spas And Wellness, Walking
Tours (Guided, Group & Driving)
Adventure Tours, Agricultural Tours, Backcountry Touring, Bear Watching, Bird Watching, Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries, Driving Routes, Cruising, Dams, Dinner Cruises, Flightseeing, Guide Outfitting, Harbour Cruises, Horseback Riding, Kayaking (Ocean), Kayaking (Lake), Kayaking (White water), Military, Mining, River Rafting, Sightseeing Tours, Trains, View Points, Walking Tours, Whale Watching, Wineries & Vineyards, Wine Tours
Transportation
Air, Bus / Motor Coach, Car / Truck rentals, Ferries, Motor Cycles / Scooter rentals, Other, RV rentals, Shuttles, Taxi / Limo
Water Activities
Beaches & Swimming, Canoeing, Cruising, Dinner Cruises, Diving, Fishing, Harbour Cruises, Hot Springs, House Boating, Jet Boating, Kayaking (Ocean), Kayaking (Lake), Kayaking (White water), Marinas/Moorage, Power-Boating, River Rafting, Sailing, Surfing, Swimming Pools, Water Parks & Slides, Water Skiing, Whale Watching
Winter Activities
Backcountry Skiing, Cat-Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Dogsledding, Skiing (Downhill), Heli-Skiing, Skating Rink, Snowboarding, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing, Tubing / Tobogganing
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meet wife

I met my wife in Vancouver in 1980, Can't believe we have lived in SW Ohio for the last 25 years.

I imagine us retiring in BC, but it's too cold for her to swim and paint.

So much to see and do. Music festivals and art fairs, sports, sightseeing, even a bit of indigenous culture.

Bring a bucket of cash if you want to make the most of it. Driving or flying?
JimC. said:
what to do? That's as bad as me asking what to do in NC. Hit the casino, right? Who would want to ride the Norshore when you can gamble? You know the 2010 Olympics are nearly here, so that may interfere with your plans. I stress may.

You'll need a few years and several hundreds of thousands of dollars to do it all. Or more. Seriously. And BC is big, you cant' see all of it in a week or 2. B.C.'s total land and freshwater area is 95 million hectares, larger than France and Germany combined. Only 30 countries are larger.

Your wife might like a leisurely ride around the Stanley park seawall, watch out for tourists though, it's a bit crowded on nice days. then take her up the Grouse Mtn tramway.

bike, ski, hike, kayak, hunt, fish, bungee, horseback ride, glider trips, zoos, aquariums,sea diving, the list is endless...

and yes you can ski in the a.m. and bike or golf all p.m.

https://www.hellobc.com/en-CA/SightsActivitiesEvents/BritishColumbia.htm

Architectural & Structural Explorations
Airtrams & Gondolas, Bridges, Buildings & Structures, Buildings & Structures of Note, Castles, Churches, Dams, Ghost Towns, Historic & Heritage Sites, Interpretive Centres, Lighthouses, Mining, Suspension Bridges
Arts, Cultural & Historical Experiences
Aboriginal & Cultural, Artists & Art Galleries, Castles, Churches, Cinemas, Ghost Towns, Gold Panning, Historic & Heritage Sites, Lighthouses, Museums, Theatre & Performing Arts, Wineries & Vineyards
Attractions
Aboriginal & Cultural, Activity Zones, Airtrams & Gondolas, Amusement Parks, Aquariums, Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries, Bridges, Buildings & Structures, Castles, Churches, Cinemas, Dams, Gardens & City Parks, Ghost Towns, Historic & Heritage Sites, Hot Springs, Interpretive Centres, Lighthouses, Markets, Mining, Museums, Farms & Orchards, Planetariums, Professional & Spectator Sports, Science & Nature, Sightseeing Tours, Suspension Bridges, View Points, Water Parks & Slides, Wineries & Vineyards, Zoos
Entertainment
Activity Zones, Amusement Parks, Casinos, Cinemas, Dining, Markets, Professional & Spectator Sports, Shopping, Theatre & Performing Arts
Festivals & Events
Festivals & Events
Food & Wine
Afternoon Tea, Agricultural Tours, Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries, Culinary Schools, Dining, Dinner Cruises, Markets, Farms & Orchards, Specialty Food Producers, Wineries & Vineyards, Wine Tours
Land Activities
Activity Zones, Airtrams & Gondolas, ATV & 4 Wheel Drive, Bird Watching, Bungee Jumping, Camping, Caving, Cycling, Flightseeing, Gem & Rock Hunting, Gold Panning, Golf, Guest & Dude Ranches, Guide Outfitting, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing & Mountaineering, Walking, Zip Lining
Natural Sights, Parks & Wildlife
Bear Watching, Bird Watching, Camping, Caving, Fishing, Gardens & City Parks, Gem & Rock Hunting, Hot Springs, Mining, Farms & Orchards, Parks, Science & Nature, Suspension Bridges, View Points, Whale Watching, Wildlife Viewing - Marine & Land, Zoos
Rest & Relaxation
Afternoon Tea, Beaches & Swimming, Cruising, Dinner Cruises, Gardens & City Parks, Guest & Dude Ranches, Harbour Cruises, Hiking, Hot Springs, Sailing, Shopping, Spas And Wellness, Walking
Tours (Guided, Group & Driving)
Adventure Tours, Agricultural Tours, Backcountry Touring, Bear Watching, Bird Watching, Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries, Driving Routes, Cruising, Dams, Dinner Cruises, Flightseeing, Guide Outfitting, Harbour Cruises, Horseback Riding, Kayaking (Ocean), Kayaking (Lake), Kayaking (White water), Military, Mining, River Rafting, Sightseeing Tours, Trains, View Points, Walking Tours, Whale Watching, Wineries & Vineyards, Wine Tours
Transportation
Air, Bus / Motor Coach, Car / Truck rentals, Ferries, Motor Cycles / Scooter rentals, Other, RV rentals, Shuttles, Taxi / Limo
Water Activities
Beaches & Swimming, Canoeing, Cruising, Dinner Cruises, Diving, Fishing, Harbour Cruises, Hot Springs, House Boating, Jet Boating, Kayaking (Ocean), Kayaking (Lake), Kayaking (White water), Marinas/Moorage, Power-Boating, River Rafting, Sailing, Surfing, Swimming Pools, Water Parks & Slides, Water Skiing, Whale Watching
Winter Activities
Backcountry Skiing, Cat-Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Dogsledding, Skiing (Downhill), Heli-Skiing, Skating Rink, Snowboarding, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing, Tubing / Tobogganing
Hmm... if that is all there is to do there, maybe we can find another place that would be more fun.

Thanks for the ideas!
Joe
too cold?

having spent much of my life very close to you in Ohio, I know your climate well. Too humid and hot all summer, punctuated with mosquitoes and horseflies. And lots of snow to shovel all winter.

Here we suffer moderate summers in the mid 70's to mid 80's, no humidity, almost no bugs, and winter is usually around +/- 32F give or take. Snow lasts a day or 2 then the rain dissipates it. So I find your "too cold" statement a bit of a challenge for me to understand. many fine artists are here, and swimming is either in the ocean or heated pools; there are many large ones, pools, and of course the Pacific. It's a bit refreshing, but is certainly doable.

My quick check of climate mean temperatures show us warmer than Ohio 8/12 months.

Vancouver & Ohio - Month Average High Temps: F

January 41 Ohio= 31.2 - colder
February 44 Ohio = 35.2 - colder
March 50 Ohio = 39.4 - colder
April 58 Ohio = 52.9 - colder
May 65 Ohio = 56.9 - colder
June 69 Ohio = 71.5 - warmer
July 74 Ohio = 75.9 - warmer
August 74 Ohio = 74.2 - warmer
September 65 Ohio = 68.3 - warmer
October 58 Ohio = 52.0 - colder
November 48 Ohio = 40.4 - colder
December 41 Ohio = 31.1 - colder

jc
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regardless...

if you want to be able to get back into your country, you need to be able to make it past Homeland Security.

No passport, no entry. and that could ruin your entire morning.

http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/

jc
Bikerbob.com said:
...

I imagine us retiring in BC, but it's too cold for her to swim and paint.

...
lol. I think you're imagining a different Vancouver than the one I live in.
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