Going to Vancouver, BC

[neovan]

Going to Canada for the first time this labor day weekend and I'm wondering if the public transportation system is easy enough to follow or is it better if I rent a car. Do I need a Canadian drivers license or will my California DL be enough?

Also, what is there to do besides Stanley Park and Robson St.? How's the nightlife?

TIA

 

[neovan]

bump

 

[FP]

California DL is enough.

I think prostitution is legal there.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: binister

I think prostitution is legal there.

Um, no.

Anyway, Public transport is relatively easy, but if you plan on trying to get around to a lot of different places you are better off just renting a car.

Nightlife is ok here, there are a lot of places on Granville Street now that are pretty good on a Friday or Saturday night. If you are into restaurants/good food, there are a tonne of great restaurants in town (PM with a price range and I can give you some recommendations).

Granville Island is nice in the summer, though it may be a zoo on Labour Day weekend.

Ummm, if I think of more stuff I will post it.

 

[silverpig]

The weather is supposed to be nice, so head down Denman street to English Bay if you want, or maybe Kits beach on the other side of the water. If you're into hiking, try the Grouse grind. It's short (an hour or two), very close to the city, and you get a great view from the top. Of course, if you're lazy and still want the view, there's always the gondola.

 

[homercles337]

Drinking age == 18 yo. Hot, young, drunk chics. Need i say more?

 

[syee]

It's been a while since I've been out clubbing in Vancouver, but most of the nightclubs are out on Richards St. I did see a bunch of people lined up outside of Celebrities (i think it's a bar/nightclub) on a Wednesday night, so I'm guessing it's a popular hangout. I think that's out by Nelson/Burrard St area?

You could also go down to Gastown, rent a bike or rollerblades and go around the seawall or inside Stanley Park. If you're into something Asian, there's always Richmond where you can satisfy pretty much any Asian desire you have.

Tawassen (sp?) is pretty nice too I've heard. Robson is good for shopping if you're looking for your designer stuff or just want to check out women

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: homercles337
Drinking age == 18 yo. Hot, young, drunk chics. Need i say more?

Nope. It's 19.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: syee
It's been a while since I've been out clubbing in Vancouver, but most of the nightclubs are out on Richards St. I did see a bunch of people lined up outside of Celebrities (i think it's a bar/nightclub) on a Wednesday night, so I'm guessing it's a popular hangout. I think that's out by Nelson/Burrard St area?

You could also go down to Gastown, rent a bike or rollerblades and go around the seawall or inside Stanley Park. If you're into something Asian, there's always Richmond where you can satisfy pretty much any Asian desire you have.

Tawassen (sp?) is pretty nice too I've heard. Robson is good for shopping if you're looking for your designer stuff or just want to check out women

Most are on Granville I'd say, although there are quite a few on Richards as well. Celebrities is a very gay-friendly (but definitely not mostly gay) bar.

I used to work in Tsawwassen. There's nothing to do, so for a tourist it's only good for the ferry terminal to Victoria

 

[KeithTalent]

Yeah, most of the good clubs and bars have moved off Richards to Granville. There are really only two clubs left on Richards and neither are that great, though Richard's on Richards gets the occasional decent musical act.

There are still some seedy parts on Granville, but they are trying very hard to have a bit of a renaissance there.

 

[HomeAppraiser]

Just went in June. Canada requires photo ID and a birth certificate or passport to get in, the US requires photo ID and a birth certificate or official voters registration card or passport to get back. The US will require passports in January 2007. The Canadian crossing guy didn't even look at our papers, we went to hand it to him but he just waved and said "On your way". The US gal took our papers and ran our names on the computer. Good to see that they are doing their job. Bring back some cool looking Toonie ($2Cad) coins for your friends. The River Rock Casino is no smoking That is all I can tink of for now.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Go to Earl's for a meal sometime, there are multiple locations across town and they are all themed a little different... I went twice while I was there, it's pretty good. There are a number of other very good restaurants throughout the city.

 

[mrrman]

if you want to go to a peeler joint...hit the No 5 Orange near Gastown

 

[conehead433]

Can't believe no one has mentioned the scenery. Check out the island and all the other local spots.

 

[tjaisv]

and don't foreget, BC bud is the best...

 

[FP]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: binister

I think prostitution is legal there.

Um, no.

Anyway, Public transport is relatively easy, but if you plan on trying to get around to a lot of different places you are better off just renting a car.

Nightlife is ok here, there are a lot of places on Granville Street now that are pretty good on a Friday or Saturday night. If you are into restaurants/good food, there are a tonne of great restaurants in town (PM with a price range and I can give you some recommendations).

Granville Island is nice in the summer, though it may be a zoo on Labour Day weekend.

Ummm, if I think of more stuff I will post it.

Um, maybe?

Prostitution Status: Prostitution is legal; pimping and operating or being found in or working in a "bawdy house" (every place where one or more prostitutes regularly work or where "indecent acts" are performed) are not. Solicitation in public is also illegal, which covers street and hotel prostitution. Massage parlours which provide handjobs or more are semi-tolerated. Generally the best bet are outcall escort services (which operate on shaky ground also, but are legal for both the prostitute and the customer) and independant call girls. There has been one report about a sting operation in Ontario, directed against an owner of an escort service. A detailed analysis of the Canadian laws is available. A coalition to Reform the Bawdy House Act has been formed. For more information on the legal situation in Canada, check the web site of the Sex Worker's Alliance of Vancouver.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: binister

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: binister

I think prostitution is legal there.

Um, no.

Anyway, Public transport is relatively easy, but if you plan on trying to get around to a lot of different places you are better off just renting a car.

Nightlife is ok here, there are a lot of places on Granville Street now that are pretty good on a Friday or Saturday night. If you are into restaurants/good food, there are a tonne of great restaurants in town (PM with a price range and I can give you some recommendations).

Granville Island is nice in the summer, though it may be a zoo on Labour Day weekend.

Ummm, if I think of more stuff I will post it.

Um, maybe?

Prostitution Status: Prostitution is legal; pimping and operating or being found in or working in a "bawdy house" (every place where one or more prostitutes regularly work or where "indecent acts" are performed) are not. Solicitation in public is also illegal, which covers street and hotel prostitution. Massage parlours which provide handjobs or more are semi-tolerated. Generally the best bet are outcall escort services (which operate on shaky ground also, but are legal for both the prostitute and the customer) and independant call girls. There has been one report about a sting operation in Ontario, directed against an owner of an escort service. A detailed analysis of the Canadian laws is available. A coalition to Reform the Bawdy House Act has been formed. For more information on the legal situation in Canada, check the web site of the Sex Worker's Alliance of Vancouver.

Well legal is definitely a stretch, sounds more like turning a blind eye.

 

[neovan]

thanks for all the suggestions so far.
will i spend the whole day at victoria if i go there?

 

[lozina]

taking a ride along the sea-to-sky highway towards Whistler was pretty cool.

the best thing I did on victoria island was rent a kayak from the main harbor and row out to some secluded rocks with seals which kind of toyed around with us by popping out of the water near our boats to scare us

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: neovan
thanks for all the suggestions so far.
will i spend the whole day at victoria if i go there?

Half the day getting to/on the ferry and half the day in Victoria. Pretty nice over there, though not overly-exciting IMHO.

The Sea-to-sky suggestion is a good one. Whistler is amazing!

 

[cyclistca]

Originally posted by: neovan
thanks for all the suggestions so far.
will i spend the whole day at victoria if i go there?

On Labor day weekend you'll spend the whole day trying to get to Vancouver Island. The ferries are crazy on long weekends.

Earls is ok but their are better resturants.

Try the Tomato around 17th and Cambie.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: neovan
thanks for all the suggestions so far.
will i spend the whole day at victoria if i go there?

For sure. You can easily spend the day there. If you're coming this weekend, make sure you go to the bcferries website and reserve a spot for your car for an early sailing. If you don't, you might have to wait a few sailings as this weekend will be busy.

It's much cheaper to walk on, but it's a bit of a pain in the arse to get to the ferry terminals via public transportation.

 

[syee]

One other thing that was cool was go visit Deep Cove. You can rent small speedboats out there (can't remember exactly how much it was, but it was something around the $80-$100 mark) for a few hours. You can pretty much drive the boat anywhere around the cove...

 

[neegotiator]

nude beaches