Funcouver: Everything You Wanted to Know About Visiting Vancouver

We've gotten several new Twitter followers this week (Yay!), and we asked one of them how he found us. He said he was searching for things to do in Vancouver and found the BikeHike site. Well, this got us thinking...

There are a lot of people nowadays looking for information about Vancouver because of the upcoming Winter Olympics. As all travellers know, the best way to find out more about a place is to ask a local. BikeHike is based in Vancouver so we know the place pretty well. Here are some links and info that we think you might find useful if you're thinking about a trip to Vancouver:

Food
If you're searching for a good restaurant, try the Dine Here website. It has a great search option and loads of reviews.

Some of our favourite restaurants:
Bon's Off Broadway - breakfast
Provence Marinaside - brunch
Burgoo - lunch / dinner
Japadog - streetside vendor
The Foundation - vegetarian
The Balkan House - meatatarian
Vij's Rangoli - Indian dinner
Les Faux Bourgeois - French bistro dinner

Music / Concerts
The Georgia Straight (a free indie paper in Vancouver) has a fab listing of concerts around the area. Here's a link to the free concert events happening during the Olympics: http://www.straight.com/vancouver/winter-olympics-calendar-events

For concert listings year-round, check out: http://www.straight.com/timeout/search/music

Night Scene
Club Zone is probably the premier website for club listings in Vancouver.

Some recommendations for the following clubbing categories:
Pub with Live Music: Ceili's, Blarney Stone
The Tried and Tested Clubs: Caprice, Ginger Sixty Two
Hit or Miss (depends on the night and your preferences): Pop Opera, The Cellar
Gay / Lesbian: Celebrities (except on straight nights - phone ahead)

In general, if you're looking to go clubbing in Vancouver head to Granville Street. If you go before 10pm, you can usually ask the bouncers to let you check out the place before paying the entrance fee. Almost all clubs in Vancouver require a valid drivers license for entry - they scan it and keep it in the database in case something happens and the police need to know who was in the club that night. Always bring at least two pieces of valid identification.

Events
If you're visiting Vancouver during the Winter Olympics, this is a great site for free event listings: http://www.citycaucus.com/2010free

Our resident Vancouver blogger is Miss 604 is also a good source for general Vancouver-based events and news.

Other Popular Things To Do

1. Visit the Vancouver Aquarium - one of the best aquariums in the world; highly educational, fun and interactive
2. Science World (officially: the Telus World of Science) - fun for the family with lots of brain puzzles and interesting factoids about your body and the world around you
3. Biking / walking along the sea wall - you'll have lots of company since this is something just about all Vancouverites have done at least once in their lifetime
4. Visit Stanley Park - it's a beautiful park with views of the ocean and the city; you might even see a seal!
5. Shopping along 4th Avenue or Robson Street - you'll find the regular chain stores on Robson; 4th Avenue is where all the local designers set up shop
6. Visit Granville Island - there will be lots of events happening on Granville Island during the Olympics, but it's a great place all year round to enjoy a stroll, eat some freshly baked bread, and have a beer after the theatre with friends
7. Go hiking - one of the most popular activities amongst Vancouverites
   

Quirky

1. Visit the Vancouver Flea Market. The entrance fee is $0.75 and promises an afternoon of "treasure-hunting"
2. Look for local Vancouverite eccentrics like the Duck Lady around downtown. I haven't seen her in a while, but she is usually found with her duck (real) and a basket of fortunes. She used to charge $2 per fortune (don't know if that has changed).
3. Wander through Chinatown looking for the cheapest umbrella. Chinatown is filled with small "dollar store" type shops with lots of interesting finds. Chinatown also has Hong Kong style diners that serve an unusual Asian version of British afternoon tea that is more of a full meal than an afternoon snack.
   

Happy Travels! :)

Anny Chih

Photo Credits:
Japadog http://www.schemamag.ca/archive2/2008/03/japa_dog_perkily_perfect_hotdo.html
Vancouver Club Scene http://vancouverclubsandbars.com/
Vancouver Flea Market http://www.bearspage.info/h/tra/ca/bc/va.html