Please help me to plan a fun trip in Vancouver for my mom

August 14, 2009 10:45 AM

VancouverFilter: My mom is coming to visit for 2 weeks and I need help planning a fun trip for her! More details inside.

My mom had hip surgery last year and although she says she can walk fine, I don't want to take her on across-the-city hikes. She's also wearing a knee-high stiff plastic foot brace, so no activities that require specialised footwear (bowling, rollerblading etc).

With that caveat, she'll be here for two weeks. We'll be in the Burnaby/Metrotown area for the first week and then downtown (around Robson) for the second week. My dad will be joining us for the last 3-4 days of the stay. We'll be taking transit mostly but can rent a car for a few days for trips to out-of-the-way places.

I've only been in Vancouver for a short time myself so I'm not too familiar with the area. I'm from Singapore if that matters. My mom is pretty laidback, and I'm looking for low-budget activities. She tends to enjoy slightly active things like checking out a museum or walking through a park, but not more passive things like watching movies or going to a concert. She also likes to have lots of activities planned, not so much a meandering holiday.

I'm planning to take her to Stanley Park and Granville Island, and spend some time walking around downtown, but I'm not sure what other specific places we could go to. Also, if there's anything specific to see or do at Stanley Park or Granville Island, I want to know! Please help me brainstorm activities to keep my mom entertained.

posted by Xianny to sports, hobbies, & recreation (14 comments total)

I forgot to add: I haven't seen her in over a year, and would like to do some mother-daughter bonding but am stumped for ideas in that department as well. So bonus points for ideas in that direction.
posted by Xianny at 10:47 AM on August 14

The Sun Yat Sen Garden in downtown Chinatown is quite nice, and is a block from Stadium Skytrain station. Gastown is also right nearby and can be pleasant to walk, if touristy. However, check a map beforehand--it's right next to the really scuzzy part of Hasting, full of junkies and panhandlers, and not a place you want to walk your mother.

The water taxis on False Creek can take you from Granville Island to the Science Centre, which is also a nice place to visit.
posted by fatbird at 10:54 AM on August 14

Bowen Island by bus (the bus stop is nearby Granville Station) or by car.
If you rent a car, you should make it to Cathedral Grove on Vancouver Island!
Driving to Squamish-Whistler-Pemberton-Lilooet (not sure of the fire situation) also makes for a great day trip. Bring your lunch and stop on the way! The landscape is great.
If you're downtown, take the seabus to North Van; it makes for a cheap ride and some nice views of downtown. There are also boat tours right by Stanley Park entrance.
Go to Wreck Beach by UBC (clothing optional, but filled by fun and social people).
Walk Commercial Drive up and down, stop for a cafe or a cake. Trout Lake is not too far off, and a great place for lunching (and swimming). (God I miss the Drive!)
posted by ddaavviidd at 10:58 AM on August 14

Hong's Restaurant on Robson is a really great and really cheap giant Hong Kong style cafeteria. Good for on the way back from Stanley Park.

Denman (near the park and English Bay) is also kind of an interesting neighbourhood... Good for an ice cream stop.

Aberdeen Centre Mall in Richmond off No 3 Road should be fun for your mother. It has an awesome Asian food court. The food court at Yaohan Mall next to Aberdeen is super duper awesome.

If you're going to Granville Island, check out Emily Carr University - the students often present their artwork.

You should be able to take a little harbour ferry across False Creek from Granville Island to Yaletown, which has some cool and trendy boutiques.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:06 AM on August 14

- The Vancouver Art Gallery downtown has some good exhibits on right now.
- At Stanley Park, there are totem poles to look at, the Aquarium to visit (pricey though), and lots and lots of beautiful trails you could walk on. A lot of tourists rent bikes at Denman St and bike around the seawall, though I would guess that's probably out for you.
- At UBC (western edge of the city) there is the Museum of Anthropology which is superb. Look on the back of a $20 bill, see the raven sculpture in the corner? You can go see it at that museum.
- A lot of tourists go to the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver which is expensive. But there is the Lynn Canyon bridge just a bit to the east which is just as good, and free.
posted by PercussivePaul at 11:14 AM on August 14

While I think ddaavviidd has captured the quintessential spirit of Vancouver, I'm not sure if Wreck Beach and Commercial Drive (or Duck Lake - I have a friend who lives with his family off 12th at Commercial, so we go there all the time) will suit the sensibilities of your mother from Singapore.

Deep Cove on the North Shore would be a good place to go for a drive.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:27 AM on August 14

The Canada Line opens this Monday. If your mom would like to sit and take in the sights, you could have fun with the Canada Line, Skytrain, Westcoast Express and Seabus, plus the False Creek Ferries / Aquabus, and the rail line that goes from Granville Island to Science World. You could even just try that for one or two days out of the two weeks, as it would provide for a "rest" while still getting you out and about. And there are many fabulous lunch and park places along the way.
posted by acoutu at 11:33 AM on August 14

Museum of Anthropology out at UBC is definitely worth a trip if you like Bill Reid (and maybe even if you don't).
posted by juv3nal at 12:17 PM on August 14

I was going to suggest the Canada Line as well -- it might be kinda cool to be one of the first people on it, I don't know. Its free on Monday afternoon, but it'll be crazy busy with all the locals wanting to check it out. (Personally, I'm not going near it for a while, but this damn things been causing construction chaos for almost 5 years, so it had better be worth it!)

Since you're in Metrotown, take the skytrain to downtown, maybe the seabus to north van and the quay there (and back), then the Canada line to Richmond Once there, see the stuff mentioned previously (Also -- check out the Daiso store in Aberdeen center, if you're at all interested in browsing two stories of cheap Japanese dollar-store type-stuff... it's actually better than it sounds! Most things in the store are $2, and there are some amazing finds). Good food too. When you're done in Richmond, reverse the route home. Don't bother going the other way on the skytrain though; there's nothing in Surrey you need to see.
posted by cgg at 12:25 PM on August 14

there's nothing in Surrey you need to see

Oh, surely you haven't forgotten about Whalley?
posted by KokuRyu at 12:58 PM on August 14

Ddaavviidd, I don't think she should try the stairs to Wreck Beach with a bad hip and a leg brace! It's hard enough with two good legs!

That said, Van Dusen Gardens is lovely at this time of year, and if she's here on any Sundays check out the Main St. street fair. You'll have to get over the bridge but it's a good way to kill a couple hours checking out the vendors, listening to music, and trying some tasty food.
posted by Pomo at 2:42 PM on August 14

Great answers so far, thanks everyone! If anyone has more ideas I'd be glad to hear them.

My list so far looks something like this:
- Sun Yat Sen gardens in Chinatown
- stroll through Gastown
- Bowen Island (by car)
- Cathedral Grove (by car)
- Commercial Drive
- seabus to North Van - Lynn Canyon Bridge
- Granville Island - Emily Carr University
- Vancouver Art Gallery
- UBC Museum of Anthropology
- Main St. street fair (Sunday)
- Van Dusen Gardens
- Yaletown
- riding the skytrain for a day or so

I'll probably skip Science World, Wreck Beach, and the Asian malls. cgg, I adore Daiso, didn't know there was one here!
posted by Xianny at 4:33 PM on August 14

did you say Cathedral Grove? as in MacMillan Bloedel park?

Well if you are going to The Island mon, there are a few more sights for Mom to see. Make it a three-day adventure, and spend the two nights in Tofino or Ucluelet. Given that you have two weeks with Mom in Vancouver, might as well budget three of them on Vancouver Island.

So, Vancouver to Nanaimo - I recommend taking the first ferry (6.45 I believe?) you get to Nanaimo at a reasonable morning hour, and traffic is light as you begin driving towards Parksville. Breakfast on the ferry is reasonable.

Coombs, on the way to Cathedral Grove. Goats on the Roof !!

From Combs on the way over to Cathedral Grove there's Cameron Lake. It's a very pretty stop. Gorgeous Lake.

You get to Port Alberni in no time. Now you have a choice. You can take the ferry to Ucluelet from there (walk on, only), and navigate the Alberni Inlet (a gorgeous Indian Arm-like fjord) to Ucluelet... or continue on Highway 4 past Sproat Lake and Kennedy Lake.

On Long Beach (left: Ucluelet, right: Tofino) there are *beautiful* places to see. There's the Rainforest trail. The Bog trail. Chesterman beach. The Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet (oh that one is my favourite). Stay two nights there - great bonding opportunity with your Mom, and a trip that neither of you will forget.

Regarding where to stay - hellobc.ca is a good bet (Tourism BC) but my personal favourites are Middle Beach Lodge and Long Beach Resort near Tofino, and Cabins West near Ucluelet. The latter is not even 5 minutes away from Amphitrite lighthouse at the edge of Ucluelet, and 2 minutes on the region's most beautiful trail (well graded, nearly wheel-chair accessible) The Wild Pacific Trail.

PM me if you want more details about the area. I have been returning there year after year, it's my secret I-wanna-get-away-from-Vancouver hidey-hole.
posted by seawallrunner at 6:49 PM on August 14 [1 favorite]

Just wanted to mention you don't need a car to get to Bowen island. You can take a ferry from Granville island. In fact two friends of mine headed over on it tonight to attend a wedding on Bowen.
posted by sanitycheck at 12:31 AM on August 15