Cleared with all the right people - work is covered - dogs going to the kennel.

Off to Vancouver for a long weekend. Flying out on wednesday and coming back on Monday the first weekend of June.

Smuler - you said to hit you up. I'll IM you as well.

What are people's recommendations for things to do, where to go, places to stay, etc...

I've never been to Vancouver...

Thanks,
eric

Victoria Island, Stanley Park. Granville island. Restaurants galore. If you are adventuresome, you can even visit seattle.

Also looking into flying into Seattle for 1/2 the price and then taking Amtrak to Vancouver. Been told it is a fantastic view the whole way.

I just answered your PM

You have 4 1/2 days

Akibono is right about Victoria, but IMHO, you don't have enough time.

Look to see if there are any festivals in town that weekend

Book your hotel on PL.. name your own price

So many properties are available, now that the Olympics are over


Smoke's no prob- I'll tell you where to go

Beer scene is sorta dismal- but I'm such a beer snob. Most people will do fine....

I can give you a list of 10 fine places to drink....


I always rent a car, since I like cruising the SW scene there ( remember- illegal )

Outcalls are legal, but @ twice the price of Montreal- I'll pass

Look at PERB ( I'm a long time member ) for what's going on

AMP's are big there- not my thing


You bike ride ?


Best Regards


Smuler

I do bike ride - although I am in really bad shape right now. Always get a bike when I'm staying in Amersfoort.

Started looking into PL today.

Never tried the SW way of things....

http://www.inthehousefestival.com/index ... ticleID=13

The above festival is going on the when I'm there. Looks like it could be some fun.

If you ride...it really is flat

You can ride Stanley Park..

Real easy



Nothing like riding on the waterfront- and that's the key for me...

I ride in NYC on Sundays...fantastic experince

Vancouver is the best place I ever rode !!

Combined with World Class BC bud, and my camera....... priceless

I'll send you a picture of an encounter I had on the bikepath


I think the world of Yelp :
http://www.yelp.ca/vancouver



Gastown is now moving across Main, into Skid Row..pushing the crack/meth heads further towards Hastings

Place reminded me of Fort Apache in the Bronx in the 80's



Best Regards

Smuler

Br

Been to Vancouver 2x. Smuler hit most of the hotspots,,personally,, I would pass on Victoria and head to Whistler and check out the Sea to Sky Highway. Grouse Mtn is a good day trip if you like to hike,,definitely rent a bike and ride the sea wall around Stanley Park. Hastings is pretty shady,,worth a short walk but not worth spending a lot of time (IMO). Cole Harbor,, Granville, Yaletown, are all cool/hip spots to hang out. Robson Street is the main tourist area.

Seattle is worth a couple of days if you have not been..awesome music and food scene.

Have fun

Another recommendation is to drop by the tokers lounge at the Vancouver Seed bank. It isnt too far from chinatown and hastings. I am not sure, but they have a party on either the first or third saturday of the month. It is great, as they have an excellent raffle for some really kind buds. Buy a bunch of those raffle tickets. Also they do sell some awesome cookies in their lounge, and you can meet some really cool canadians:)

Have to agree with a previous poster, perb.ca will help you fill up your weekend. Have fun!

I live in western Washington and hit Vancouver pretty often although I might have to PM Smuler for some info on smoke which I never have much luck finding since Blunt Bros. burnt down. Can't disagree with any of the advice already given but I wanted to chime in on two things.

First, just to be clear Victoria city is on Vancouver Island (the city of Vancouver is on the mainland). Victoria can probably be given a miss if you're looking for big city action but the island it's on is very pretty and the ferry boat ride to either Nanaimo or Schwartz Bay could be a nice day trip if that's your thing. Schwartz Bay is closest to Victoria and there are buses from the ferry terminal to the city which is about 15 miles away.

The Amtrak ride from Seattle to Vancouver is beautiful and winds along the shores of Puget Sound for much of its route but it is very slow. Especially after you enter Canada. Depending on border crossing wait times Vancouver to Seattle by car is about 2 1/2 - 3 hours while Amtrak will be closer to 4 hours.

Hey Laszlo

I sent Br there

Let's see how he does

PM me when you go next

Last year I was there on the hottest day in recent BC history

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columb ... ecast.html

Wow-it was hot


Years ago, I took the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, then drove to Ucluelet, and then returned back to Vancouver, all in one day. That was a beautiful trip

The Pacific Ocean was so blue, I was amazed ....

Nature couldn't have been more beautiful that day.

My top 2 Alltime favorite breakfast place is there : Sophie's Cosmic Cafe :

http://www.sophiescosmiccafe.com/home.html

Best Regards

Smuler

Hey Smuler, thanks for the Vancouver info!

I just realized that BR's trip is underway or already over. Too late again...DOH!

Sounds like your day trip to Ucluelet and back to Van was just about perfect - well done, that's definitely off the beaten tourist path! Just what I'd expect from an Ignatzmice brother. On hot days in this part of the world it is particularly annoying because air conditioning isn't so common. I remember that day last July, too, and I was suffering right along with you!

Best!

Laszlo

Ever been to :

205 Main Street, Vancouver, BC

Number Five Orange ?

20 years ago, me and my friend were there. Our waitress, after serving us mugs of beer, stripped, and got up to do a set. She then finished, put her clothes back on, and got us a refill.

Classic..

This of course, was before I knew how bad that neighborhood was..


I do business with a company located in the middle of skid row..

I ask them , " do you know what goes on in your parking lot at night ? "


So many people fried on crystal...in such a beautiful place

Sad....


Best Regards

Smuler

Yeah it was at least that long ago but I've been to the No. 5 Orange. I also remember hitting The Cecil near the bridge end of Burrard St. But I think all of the strip clubs in Van are pretty tame now unfortunately.

I do enjoy the AMP scene and there's no shortage of cute Asians in Van working in them.

An interesting in-call place that I've not yet had the pleasure to visit is the Fox Den, run by the Carman Fox escort agency. They charge high-end prices. Once I splurged on a couple hours with Sexi Fox (all of the escorts get the same surname) which ranks right up there with my best p4p memories but I can't afford to use them very often.

You're absoutely correct about the sadness of seeing so many destroyed people down around E. Hastings. It's almost surreal to see them with the beautiful mountains in the background.

Guys,

Loving the info.

I am in complete "new city" overload. Trying to do it all and wearing myself out. ;-)