Thread: What do you think of our Vancouver precruise trip itinerary?

Hi there, Hubby and I are taking an Alaskan HAL cruise next May and are arriving in Vancouver on Thursday (cruise leaves Saturday). I think that I like planning trips almost as much as I like planning them and have formulated our 'plan of attack' on Vancouver. Just would like to see if anyone has any input on our *tentative* itinerary! Here it is:


Thursday (arrive Vancouver 2 pm)

Get to the hotel (please Hotwire Gods, let it be Pan Pacific!)
rest, relax, settle in, enjoy the (hopeful) view

6 pm -- Granville Island

Check out the market and go to Liberty Wines -closes @8 pm (to pick up cruise wine provisions!) --it's on the way to the restaurant and conveniently located near the market

7 pm -- Bistro 101 at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts

Featured on Rachel Ray's "$40 a day" (she's from Vancouver), it's a restaurant run by aspiring student chefs (overseen by professionals) serving high end cuisine at low end prices ($24 pp for three course meal). Wine pricing is excellent for the area as well!

Here's a link to the restaurant:
Bistro 101 - Home

Sample Menus:

http://www.bistro101.com/_Library/do...u_website_.pdf
http://www.bistro101.com/_Library/do...u_Website_.pdf

Friday

8 am

Either a local favorite Bon Chaz (Freshly Baked Before Your Eyes) or La Bretagne Crepery (La Bretagne the Original Creperie - West End - Vancouver, BC) for Breakfast. I am leaning toward Bon Chaz for the personal French press coffee and amazing sweets, but La Bretagne is closer to our destination for the day, Stanley Park. Bon Chaz is cheap, like $1.75 for the french press and $1.25 pastries. Bretagne is a little pricier, but affordable (menu: La Bretagne Creperie Menu).

9 am

Rent a tandem bicycle for two and tour Stanley Park! (Vancouver Bike and Roller Blade Rental )
cost: $32.80 for four hours, but they also do hourly rentals

"The 5.5-mile (8.8km) concrete route circles the perimeter of the park, offering a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and mountains. The salty breeze fused with hemlock and cedar, immense open space, and surroundings rejuvenate even the staunchest of workaholics. Parents pushing strollers, joggers, walkers, cyclists, and rollerbladers traffic the pedestrian thoroughfare. Benches are placed along the way. The sandy beaches that lay just off the wall are ideal for picnics and naps." -- Yahoo Trip Planner

The Vancouver Aquarium is located within the park and supposedly you can see whales through a glass wall without having to actually enter the aquarium. Time permitting, I'd like to go inside the aquarium, but Vancouver is big and lots to do, so not sure!

NOON

Either lunch at Guu with Garlic or Guu Otokmae, both look scrumptious! Highly recommended on Yelp and Trip Advisor also.
北の家 GUU with Garlic -Kitanoya GUU with Garlic - Japanese Tapas,Izakaya, on Robson, Vancouver -
北の家 GUU with 男前 -Kitanoya GUU with Otokomae - Japanese Tapas,Izakaya, in Gastown -

Leaning towards the Otokmae Guu because of being in gastown and fab drink menu! ($5.50 for really cool looking drinks! food porn: Photos for Guu | Yelp


2 pm

If we can still see, would love to do a trip to the Vancouver Art Gallery. Art isn't for boring ole pompous folk when it's done like this!

Google Image Result for http://everystockphoto.s3.amazonaws.com/sexy_lady_legs_51092_l.jpg

Ok, long link. But how about this? :

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...:429,r:4,s:264

5 pm

If we can still walk, I'd like to hit up Rodney's Oyser House in Yaletown(Rodney’s Oyster House, Yaletown, Vancouver). First off, I'd just like to see Yaletown, and secondly, they have great oysters at much less prices than the downtown restaurants and a great happy hour (3-6 pm) with a lot of locals! They call happy hour "Low Tide." Oysters are $1.50/each during "low tide." I've read that ordering anything other than oysters there can be a bit pricey though. If I wanted pricey, I would go to Le Crocodile!

7 pm
Omg, take a nap already!

Lounge in that gorgeous jacuzzi at the PP! (kids can't come during certain hours in the evening, someone let me know which hours if you know!)

Saturday

If we land the PP then we will have a leisurely morning/day. Yay for the PP taking our luggage to the ship!

I have no clue what we will do, but I hope it is something fabulous!
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P.S. Our original plans included spending Friday in Victoria, but neither one of us can really stomach spending 3.5 hours there, then 3.5 hours back to Vancouver. Yes, the ferry ride is only 1.5 hours, but one has to travel to the ferry, then once off the ferry to the island you have to transport yourself to Victoria itself. Too much for a leisurely vacation, imo, and will miss an entire day in Vancouver!


Any thoughts on our itinerary? Thanks for the input!

Fantastic, but ambitious schedule! I hope you won't be too rushed to enjoy it all.

I looked at your menus and made a note to self to try those places next time we are in Vancouver!

Thank You, Char! I have done an obscene amount of research (like nearly every day for a year) on places that I would most like to eat, but at modest prices. Was looking for places to go that the locals go and not get sucked into too much touristy (overpriced) places.

I search yelp mostly, seems like a lot more foodies post on yelp rather than TA (more detailed descriptions and photos). Though TA is a great resource! I also read a lot of blogs, turning over every stone

Though if anyone has any other suggestions, I would love to hear them!

Safe Travels All