hi,
I'm forwarding my question here, since there's nobody at the travel section...

I'm going to spend 1 week in Vancouver from April 8th. I'd like to do some outdoors activities like whales watching, kayaking and also paragliding... then I'm wondering about the weather... what is it like right now? is it still too cold to do all that?
Also, I'd like to know if staying 3 days in Victoria might not be too much?

It will be my first time in the West coast of Canada, so some tips or if you have suggestions about what to do and where to go (I won't have a car) would be helpful... Thanks.

A week is really not long enough to do much of what you suggest and you have to be able to drive to get anywhere. Public transport out of the downtown core of Vancouver is abysmal. Travelling to Victoria and back takes a good chunk of each day once you have messed around waiting for catching buses to the terminal and getting ferries. You may need to book all of the activities you list in advance as well - some may not be available. Weather is sunny today but check here before you leave:

http://weather.canoe.ca/Weather/CityVancouverBC.html
http://www.britishcolumbia.com/recreation/?id=24 for paragliding
http://www.deepcovekayak.com/ Kayaking in North Vancouver
http://www.kayakbritishcolumbia.com/ for sea kayaking and whale watching...but it may be too cold to do this yet.

For whale watching try Sydney near the ferry terminal on Vancover island, its closer to where the pods normally swim and you get more watching time as you dont have to sail back to Victoria

Dingbat is right about public transport - but I can recommend something used by my rellies last September. They travelled from Horseshoe bay to Tofino (a whalewatching paradise).

Now, Vancouver island is the size of ENGLAND (!) but you can get a bus from Nanimo (sp?) to Tofiino, and it even takes in a stop at Cathedral Grove (stunning, just stunning!) www.tofinobus.com (And the links section of that site you might find interesting...)

However, that doesn't help you get to Victoria, but I thought if you wanted to see scenery and whales and want a sense of distances - it might work for you.

Kyaking, what about Roberts Creek on Sunshine Coast (again, ferry from Horseshoe bay, bus to Roberts Creek, stay at Up the Creek Hostel, run by an ex-Brit. He is a total outdoor entusiast and will be able to suggest loads! http://www.upthecreek.ca/).

But Dingbat's suggestion of Deep Cove is a lot easier (easy to get a bus to Deep Cove, not sure about getting one back late in the evening though...)

Clare

Just found this site - quick way to get around from Vancouver to the island (not overly cheap though!)

http://www.harbour-air.com/home/index.php

Many thanks to all of you!
My vacation begins on Saturday and I still haven't planned anything yet... hum, it will be once again a last minute rush decision! hopefully the weather will be a little bit sunny sometimes...

there is a Brit gathering in a pub in West van on Saturday night if you are interested....


Clare