Quick Trip to Vancouver, BC Next Month

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » October 3, 2006, 11:20 am

The girlfriend and I are planning to drive up to BC next month for a weekend. Any recommendations for food/lodging/wine tasting/etc? We are just going because we have never been so just trying to figure out what is what up there.

Canada still accepts birth certificates or do I have to get my passport, eh?

Thanks!

PS: How far is Whistler from there?

Mr Bacon · Post by **Mr Bacon** » October 3, 2006, 11:34 am

Oh, I thought you meant Vancouver, FL

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » October 3, 2006, 11:50 am

Now that would be one bad bitch of a drive.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » October 3, 2006, 12:29 pm

Claiming you have a girlfriend on a messageboard when you don't isn't cool man

I think a passport would be safest, when I tried to get through from the US to Canada they stopped me for ages just because I didn't have my passport.

They did eventually let me through and we played a fine gig in an Irish bar and then got eaten by mosquito flying fly thingers and everyone lived happily ever after (except the people who had to listen to us play).

Vaemas · Post by **Vaemas** » October 3, 2006, 12:36 pm

I'd go passport. Although the land border crossing requirement doesn't go into effect until January 1, 2008, can't hurt to have your passport with you.

Effective January 8, 2007, all air and sea travel to neighboring countries will require passport. See link below:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

VariaVespasa · Post by **VariaVespasa** » October 3, 2006, 12:57 pm

Whistler is about 2 hours north of Vancouver.

I dont know about civilised downtown dining for the most part, but I believe the Kettle of Fish 1 block east of the Burrard Bridge on Pacific is good if seafood is your thing.

Schedule an afternoon for Grouse Mountain and the Capilano Suspension Bridge and fish hatchery on the north shore.

Taking the ferry over to Victoria for a day or two would be worthwhile too, if you have the time, although it doesnt sound like you do. You could go over on the first ferry of the day and return on the last one and get a decent day in over there if you wanted to. If you decide to do that its a good idea to call and reserve your place on the ferry to ensure you dont miss the sailings you want due to lines. Or just take the bus over there and back since they have priority loading on the ferries.

*Hugs*
Varia

Post by **Sylvus** » October 3, 2006, 12:59 pm

Although I wouldn't recommend trying it on purpose, I have crossed the border from Detroit to Windsor post-9/11 with only my driver's license. They hassled me a bit, but ended up letting me through. Pre-9/11 I probably made 20 or 30 trips without ever providing anything other than my Driver's License.

I have also crossed a few times with DL + Birth Certificate, had no problems.

Passport is certainly the best option, if you already have one.

Post by **Xouqoa** » October 3, 2006, 2:12 pm

If you don't have it already, you won't get it in time unless you pay for the expedited option - which is pretty expensive.

Akanae · Post by **Akanae** » October 3, 2006, 3:09 pm

When we went through the border last October birth certificates/ drivers license was fine. But the american border guards did do a pretty through check on us, on the way in and on the way out. They even went through our luggage!

Abelard · Post by **Abelard** » October 3, 2006, 8:35 pm

Banff is in Alberta, but its pretty close to B.C. and is absolutely gorgeous.

My Oma and Opa (I'm half Dutch) live in Victoria. I've loved every visit over there. Great little community with perfect weather and nice beaches.

I'm more of a city boy at heart and Vancouver was pretty fun too. Depends what you're looking for in a vacation I suppose. I hear a lot of really good things about Whistler.

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » October 3, 2006, 9:09 pm

Vancouver is the greatest city in the world, but the night life is kind of ass.

Depending on what you want to do, it's a pretty outdoorsy type of place. The ocean is on one side of the city and mountains on the other. Vancouver and Victoria have some of the best dark water scuba diving in the world if you are experienced in that, you can rent equipment decently cheap. Whistler is a couple of hours away by car, but it probably won't have skiing until November when the hills have a decent base. It still might be worth the trip up if you like that sort of setting.

There's tons of hiking trails and river rafting, a decent arts community, plenty of nature. Not so many worthwhile tourist attractions, so it helps to do a little research of your own.

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » October 3, 2006, 10:21 pm

canada has the hottest girls in north america my proof is driving from winnepeg to vancouver and driving around the banff area was so awesome (except for the jerks in RVs going 15 on the mountain roads!)

anyway i would goto banff!

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » October 3, 2006, 10:35 pm

Right on, thanks for the info. Neither of us are much for touristy things, unless there are some cool historical buildings or whatnot. We primarily like to be outdoors hiking and then doing some wine tasting and looking for cool restaurants. Just figured I would get some opinions of locals and/or people who know the place before doing any of my own research--I am lazy like that.

I am looking forward to heading up there! It is cool that it only takes half a day to drive, depending on shitty Seattle traffic.

Akanae · Post by **Akanae** » October 3, 2006, 11:15 pm

If you can afford it, spend a night or two here http://www.fairmont.com/lakelouise/ (located in Banff) October is their off season and you may be able to get a better rate just showing up and asking. At the very least make a day trip of it. Amazing trail along the lake that goes to a lookout point for some glaciers. And the hotel itself has a lot of history

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » October 4, 2006, 12:25 am

That looks great! What is the current exchange rate?

laneela · Post by **laneela** » October 4, 2006, 1:00 am

Looks to be 1.12 Canadian to the USD.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=1+ ... gle+Search

VariaVespasa · Post by **VariaVespasa** » October 4, 2006, 3:11 am

Agreed, Bannf is well worth a visit if you have time, but its a noticeable drive from Vancouver (10 hours or so), so I didnt think you would have enough time for it. But if you do....

*Hugs*
Varia

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » October 4, 2006, 3:20 am

Ohhh yeah, I was not paying attention to distance....hmm, will have to let that idea sit on the shelf for now. It seems there is plenty to do for a weekend in Vancouver though.

VariaVespasa · Post by **VariaVespasa** » October 4, 2006, 10:10 am

How long a weekend are we talking about here, by the way?

archeiron · Post by **archeiron** » October 6, 2006, 10:40 am

kyoukan wrote:Vancouver is the greatest city in the world, but the night life is kind of ass.

Depending on what you want to do, it's a pretty outdoorsy type of place. The ocean is on one side of the city and mountains on the other. Vancouver and Victoria have some of the best dark water scuba diving in the world if you are experienced in that, you can rent equipment decently cheap. Whistler is a couple of hours away by car, but it probably won't have skiing until November when the hills have a decent base. It still might be worth the trip up if you like that sort of setting.

There's tons of hiking trails and river rafting, a decent arts community, plenty of nature. Not so many worthwhile tourist attractions, so it helps to do a little research of your own.

My impression from my last trip up was that it looks like a great place live, but isn't really a hot tourist destination, which is consistent with what you are saying.

I feel much the same about Seattle; I love living here, but it gets tedious when family comes to visit and I have to do the same three touristy things over again.

Wulfran · Post by **Wulfran** » October 6, 2006, 1:36 pm

Canelek wrote:Ohhh yeah, I was not paying attention to distance....hmm, will have to let that idea sit on the shelf for now. It seems there is plenty to do for a weekend in Vancouver though.

We'd skin your lizzerd arse if you brought it to Alberta anyway! You're best to stay in BC with the tree huggers!

BTW its hockey season so you could try and catch a Canucks game if they're in town then too!

kyoukan · Post by **kyoukan** » October 6, 2006, 10:07 pm

archeiron wrote:My impression from my last trip up was that it looks like a great place live, but isn't really a hot tourist destination, which is consistent with what you are saying.

I feel much the same about Seattle; I love living here, but it gets tedious when family comes to visit and I have to do the same three touristy things over again.

I can keep visitors decently entertained. You just have to be a local to know where to go. What the nice restaurants are, and where the cool spots that don't really promote themselves as a tourist destination. There are some amazing restaurants and little galleries that you could spend months in, but the big stuff is all pretty weak unless you like outdoor type activities.

*~*stragi*~* · Post by ***~*stragi*~*** » October 6, 2006, 10:48 pm

is bc a good spot if i wanted to cliff jump off glaciers and slam mountain dew
is it xtreme

Kilrain · Post by **Kilrain** » October 7, 2006, 2:50 am

Vancouver Aquarium is worth seeing.

Gastown is worth seeing.

And as Wulfran said, if you can catch a Canuck's game, you'd enjoy it.

There is a shitty (dive bar) that is a ton of fun... I forget the name, it's been a while since I've been in Vancouver, but it's called Copa? Cada? I forget... if someone can help me out... it is a landmark bar in downtown Vancouver... a shithole... but you can't help but have a good time, if you're not from there.

If I remember the name of the place I'll post.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » October 7, 2006, 3:50 am

Kilrain wrote: There is a shitty (dive bar) that is a ton of fun... I forget the name, it's been a while since I've been in Vancouver, but it's called Copa? Cada? I forget... if someone can help me out... it is a landmark bar in downtown Vancouver... a shithole... but you can't help but have a good time, if you're not from there.

Sounds like Kirain's trying to set American up the bomb. I sense something similar to the opening scene in Blade except the guests are beaten with hockey sticks.