Hi there

Hubby and I have just booked a 3 week holiday in Vancouver for December this year and have been looking at things to do.

Can any of you suggest anything that might not be on the tourist map but should be seen / done whilst we are there.

Many thanks

Sharon (Gold Coast Australia)

Visit Hawaii

We highly recommend "Bright Lights" in Stanley Park especially if you have young ones - the firefighters set up xmas lights in the park and you travel round on a mini-train - our children loved it especially as it snowed which created a winter wonderland but dress up for the cold!

Also try and go to Vancouver Island - no where in particular but the place is amazing.

Not the best time to see vancity (although you can be lucky)- it's right in the middle of the wet season - bring wellies and brolly. Unless of course you are skiers then its a whole different ball game. Head up to whistler and the north shore.

Vancouver is a small city and is fairly limited for indoor stuff, in terms of museums - I would definitely see the museum of anthropology at UBC which is actually world class - Vancouver Museam and the Martime Museam (near one another in Kits - not outstanding but ok for a wet afternoon) - then have a stroll up west 4 th - grab a bite to eat at the Italian Kitchen or Refuel. There is also a Bill Reid exhibition in vancouver and the art gallery which are worth seeing.

http://www.hr.ubc.ca/blogs/hr/2010/0...-anthropology/

South granville is an area often overlooked by tourists- go for dinner at the red door and catch a play at the stanley, check out the local galleries. If you are adventours with food - check out Shabusen - Japanese Korean fusion - one of my favs - you cook your own meat on a korean bbq in the middle of your table. VJ's is often touted as being great Indian food - with a modern twist.

http://www.southgranville.org/visitors.html

Commercial drive is a great place for an afternoon or an evening, lots of great independent eateries and stores that you wont find anywhere else- real Italian influence.

http://www.thedrive.ca/

A couple of nights in victoria would be nice. If you are looking to do lots and get around, I would reccommend a night in tofino on the island - the wickinnish is a great place to watch the winter storms - lots of natural hot pool in the area.

http://www.wickinn.com/inn.html

The rest I assume you know - check out granville island, yaletown, and gas town. take the sea bus over to the north shore and check out the new waterfront (like a min granville island) have a bite at the district - wander round the quay.

good luck

http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visi..._to_do/events/

I second DBoys Shabusen recommendation.


Yum!!

Its top shelf and the lunch all you can scoff menu is stupid cheap - they also have one on Burrard near Alberni - i;ve not been to that one though. One of vancouver's many, many great places to eat,

Change your holiday to be in summertime, December is a poor time to visit and you'll get a bad impression. Thankfully the depressing season is almost over here now and we've had a few nice sunny days, which is apparently good for February.

Or Vegas....viva Las Vegas...

Been there done that

No children to take on the mini-train but will definatly check out the lights. Thanks

Thank you so much for all the great info....certainly given us something to look at.

Can't really change it to summer as we are spending some of our time staying with friends skiing at Whistler

Very hard to ski in Las Vegas

Spending the Kid's Inheritance? Very easy in Vegas.

Very true...but already doing that here in Australia