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Just planning a 4 days sight-seeing trip to Vancouver, Canada. I was wondering if October would be cold/rainy, and if it would be better if we do this in September. I would'nt mind the weather if it is cold/sunny.
thanks
by jdclyde
What kind of sites are you going looking for?
(no, I don't know about the weather, but I would bet you could find a yearly rainfall trends chart somewhere?)
by onbliss
...city and vicinity. Things that kids (8yr and 2yr (almost)would enjoy or be comfortable.
I looked at Weather.com charts and averages, but thought somebody here might have some more insights.
by jaqui
maybe not, I've only lived in Vancouver BC Canada for 39 out of 41 years. :p
it has been warm and sunny until this last week, we finally got some rain [ one day ] and cooler temperatures.
I have seen it warm and sunny until late november, as well as cool and wet as early as beginning september. cold we don't really get until january.
recommended clothing to bring:
water resistant windbreaker, shoes that can be worn in the rain or on a hot sunny day.
if 10 C is cold to you, then warm clothing.
[ t-shirt temperature to most people ]
activities, specially for the kids, science world, with lots of hands on exhibits for the kids t play with, the planetarium [ anthopological museum as well as a bit about space ] and the maritime museum, the aquarium in Stanley Park, Granville Island Market [ large kids space area, marina for pleasure baots, grocery shopping as well as souvenir type shops, but not really a tourist trap ]
The Kite Shop on Water Street in Historic Gastown.
[ kites galore there :D ]
September, you might even be able to make one of the last trips on "The Royal Hudson" steam train to Whistler, a day trip.
by onbliss
by jdclyde
You get wetter than that every morning when you take a shower. :D
Just make sure you children have on a nice knit sweater in case the day becomes a blustery one! ;\ (one of my all time favorite stories! :D )
by jaqui
or it would be raining here 365 days a year!!
I'll allow the .25 day differential to be non raining, but my state of mind it should always be raining.. :p
by jaqui
we are in a rainforest climate here, but the rain is more november to april on average.
more a light drizzle than a real downpour. I can walk 6 blocks before my hair is wet right through to my scalp.
if it helps, my normal attire year round:
leather trench coat, black t-shirt, black jeans, combat boots.
and yup, doesn't matter what the weather is doing, that's what I wear. 30C [ 90 F ] or below freezing, I wear the same. [ below freezing here, -1 to -3 C maybe about 30 F, the kicker is that winter is higher humidity here, so it's a wet cold not the dry cold east of the Rockies ]
by snr2005
Sep is likelier to be nicer (but Oct, can be very sunny and cool in a good way.)
Don't forget to take walks on:
* Kitsilano Beach
* 4th Avenue (for the shops between Burrard and Arbutus)
* Grouse Mountain (on the North Shore/North Vancouver)
Local family-friendly restaurants where the food is good, and the atmosphere is not lowbrow:
Earl's
Milestones
They're both examples of local restaurants that became local chains, and have now expanded to other regions (but maintained quality and variety).
And if you like to indulge yourselves, you should track down:
Bernard Callebaut chocolates
Ecco Il Pane (bakery and cafe)
Have fun!
by onbliss
by d_a_c
Just saw you're post. Vancouver is great anytime! October can be nice (cool) maybe a bit wet but that;s what keeps us green. Take in Stanley Park and Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge (free) and CApilano Suspension Bridge (admission but they have a walk in the trees). Enjoy yourself, we'd love to have you.
Dave
by hal jordan
by onbliss
My wife was excited about the Suspension bridges. But I have a fear of heights. So we might go to Lynn or Capilano and she might do the walk across the bridge with my elder son :-) Do you know if the drive to these places would cause me trouble?
My FoH is one reason we are thinking about taking a bus trip to Whistler than driving on the cliff-hugging roads :-)
by tpopoff
Capilano Suspension Bridge, Capilano River and Grouse Mountain are all on the same road. I think it's called "Capilano Road" *snicker*. Once over the Lions Gate bridge from downtown you take the North Vancouver exit and take the next major intersection to the left. That's it, just follow the road. piece of cake.
Lynn Valley is the same as above except you get on the Upper Levels highway off Capilano road heading east. A few KM's down the highway is the Lynn Valley exit.
Another couple of suggestions: the Bloedel Conservatory, the Museum of Anthropology (very cool if you are interested in West Coast Native art and history, I think it's still free on Tuesdays) and Van Dusen gardens, which is stunning in the fall. Great place for a picnic.
.T.
by sea2sky
The Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99) is pretty broad (2 lanes with shoulders) in most places now. They are currently changing it to 4 lanes (2 lanes each way) in preparation for the 2010 Olympics. If you can handle driving over a bridge you will be able to easily handle the road. Where most people have issues is the curves on the road, though this is changing daily. If curves are an issue then just pull over and let the people behind you by (unfortunately most of the passing lanes have been removed temporarily because of the construction).
Whistler is a fun happening place (if a bit of a tourist trap), and there are lots of sights to see on the way. Squamish is a town halfway between Whister and Vancouver is a good place to stop for lunch or a break. Here are some stops you may be interested in on the way to Whistler, if you drive.
Britannia Beach
B.C. Mining Museum http://www.bcmuseumofmining.org/
Squamish
Shannon Falls http://www.shannonfalls.com/ (lots of people seem to like falls ) :-)
Squamish Chief http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stawamus_Chief
West Coast railway museum http://www.bcscene.com/museums_rail2.htm
(The royal Hudson is currently not running and is being restored here)
Squamish Spit and river http://www.tourismsquamish.com/Things_to_do/Attractions/Squamish_Spit.html
Bald Eagle Viewing http://www.tourismsquamish.com/Things_to_do/Attractions/Eagle_Run.html
North to Whistler
Brandywine falls http://www.43places.com/places/view/233114
Some great pullouts with fantastic views.
by onbliss
Yeah we have Stanely Park, Granville Island, Anthropology Museum and Whistler in our list.
We were thinking about taking the Grayhound (?) bus to Whistler. Some of the train tours were atrociously price :-).
by onbliss
by jaqui
a must is a camera and a video camera for those great views.
it would be a shame to not be able to have some pics of the scenery around here because you forgot the camera.
or that scenic panning shot of the straight from one of the pullouts on a sunny day, with a cruise ship or sail boats out on the straight.
by onbliss
We are planning to take the bus. I just don't want to get nervous. The Grayhound bus seems to be about $40 (CAD). Since we would be just making a day-trip, we would'nt be having time to stop at Squamish even if we were driving.
The way I console myself is that in a bus I would be able to enjoy the scenery and take pictures. A silly incident: In Toronto, we went up the CN Tower. My wife and son went and stood on the glass floor. I could'nt even place one feet on it, even with the other feet placed on the hard floor. The knees and mind would'nt just allow. Such is the fear :-(
Thanks though for all your tips. Yeah, we just found out that Royal Hudson is not running.
by onbliss
Thanks for all your suggestions. We did the following:
1. Anthropology museum
2. Science World
3. Stanley Park + Acquarium
4. Capilano Suspension Bridge + Fish hatcheries.
5. Victoria (Miniature World + Parliament buildings from outside + downtown + harbour)
We tried - Lebanese, Buddhist Vegan and Indian cuisine. We were amazed at the wide variery of cuisines for vegetarians in Vancouver and Victoria.
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