We have 2 days in Vancouver before boarding our cruise ship to Alaska. We are torn between going to Granville Island or taking a float plane/ferry to Victoria to see the gardens. Can anyone recommend either? We do want to look around Vancouver (we have never been there) so there maybe enough to keep us busy.I assume going to Victoria is an all day event.

With only 2 days stay with Vancouver. Check the hop on hop off bus through Stanley Park. Gastown and Granville Island will keep you busy.

Oh definitely stay in Vancouver.

Vancouver needs 3 full days, in my opinion, minimum. 2 days will be scraping the surface. Vancouver also has botanical gardens that aren't as famous as Victoria's but just as beautiful in my opinion.

Don't agree with the suggestion of making Gastown a priority - I'd put it at the bottom of your list. 25 years ago it was one of Vancouver's only areas offering souvenir shops for tourists, but nowadays it's pretty ho-hum as a tourist destination, if not downright tacky. It has a great pre-prohibition-era cocktail scene and some good foodie restaurants and pubs, if you're seeking that, but for a wander around, don't spend more than half an hour there. I just don't find it has any "wow" factor for tourists unless you're seeking a specific restaurant. In fact, it's a bit grungey as it's next to a very downtrodden area. Expect lots of homeless people. Same thing goes for Chinatown - definitely do not go to Chinatown by evening - nothing is open and it's really seedy.

Here's what I'd suggest:

Spend half a day in Stanley Park making sure you walk from English Bay to Third Beach for a real west coast experience and a real "wow" experience. Lots of temperate rain forest, gardens, beaches, and monuments spread over an area 1000 acres.

Spend 2-3 hours on Granville Island, making sure you're there before 5pm as the stores all close at 7pm. It's no fun being there after 7pm otherwise. Take a water taxi to get there for a fun experience. Spend half an hour in the market but spend the rest of the time exploring whimsical alleys, art studios, and the other buildings (which are full of shops, cafes, restaurants, etc.)

Spend time along the seawall by English Bay by the evening for a very Vancouver experience. Lots of inexpensive restaurants, cafes, and dessert shops along Denman Street.

Visit the Museum of Anthropology on UBC campus if you're seeking Vancouver's best museum (in my opinion). You'll need 1-2 hours.

Van Dusen Botanical Garden (2 hours) + Queen Elizabeth Park (30 minutes) are located a 10 minute drive south of downtown
Vancouver in an affluent residential neighbourhood - they'll be great replacements for Butchart Gardens. Together they will give you a gorgeous west coast botanical garden experience with not only views (at QE Park), but different gardens, hedge mazes, etc (Van Dusen). Don't bother spending 3 hours (ONE WAY) to to get to Victoria for Butchart with your little time.

A nice evening stroll as well is from the Yaletown waterfront along the False Creek seawall to English Bay.

If you're seeking more wilderness adventures, head to North Vancouver (20-30 minutes from downtown VAncouver) to Lynn Canyon Park (for a free suspension bridge and trails through the temperate rain forest) or head up the skyride to Grouse Mountain on a clear day for a view overlooking the city (plus other attractions).

I've just listed about 4 days worth of activities, and that's still leaving out the outlying areas.

BC_Robyn: Just copied and pasted your suggestions into our two days in Vancouver before heading over to the Jasper, Banff, etc. in early Sept. Just wondering, do you have any favorite dinner places to recommend. Looking for casual, definitely not elegant and moderately priced. Like most cuisines including Italian, Indian, Asian, etc. We will be staying at the Downtown Fairmont and although we'll have a car, would prefer to walk. thanks

lovingretirement - glad you can make use of my vague itinerary. There's so many beautiful and interesting areas in Vancouver, but I find most short-term visitors spend their days in the wrong areas - I'm more than happy to give you specific suggestions if there's something in particular you're interested in.

For Italian, Indian and Asian... Vancouver does Asian very, very well. For Indian, it exists (mostly Punjabi-style Indian), but I don't consider it Vancouver's strench, although Vig's in South Granville is popular for high end Indian fusion.

For Asian, Vancouver does Cantonese-style Chinese and izakaya-style Japanese very well. For Cantonese food, the best is in the city of Richmond - a 20 minute Canada Line (subway) ride south of downtown. Richmond's population is over 50% Chinese from Hong Kong, so it's the best place for Chinese. Jade or Shainghai River are considered excellent places for Chinese. The Richmond "Summer Night Market" is also a great experience for Chinese street food on the weekends: http://www.summernightmarket.com/

In downtown Vancouver, Hapa Izakaya or Kitanoya Guu are my favourites for Japanese. Think Japanese small plates in noisy boisterous environments:

http://hapaizakaya.com/
http://www.guu-izakaya.com/

For Italian... there are new favourites (Italian Kitchen, Nicli Antica - for Neoapolitan pizza) and old favourites (Cin Cin, Cioppinno, il Giardino)... but I'm honestly not as much of a guru when it comes to dining out at Italian restaurants because I rarely ever do. I don't know why to be honest... perhaps it's that Vancouver has such a small Italian community and an overabundance of restaurants that feature local Pacific west coast menus that features local fresh sustainable seafood and regional cuisine, I find that's where I'd go over Italian. If you're interested in that, I can give you a few recommendations.

strench? Ugh.. I meant to write "Strength"

And same for Vig's - that should have said Vij's

Once again, Robyn has given excellent advice - you'll get
a great overview of the city following any/all of the
suggestions offered.

If you are walking the seawall west from the entrance to
Granville Island towards the Burrard Street Bridge be sure
to have lunch or an early supper at Go Fish. It's a 'shack'
on the seawall that has really really fresh fun fish like
salmon tacos, halibut f&c, etc. If the weather is anything
less than pouring rain the line-ups will be daunting but
they do move quickly.

Thanks again BC_Robyn. I would welcome suggestions on regional cuisine (exactly what is that?) and immimi; will also add your lunch spot.

BC_Robyn,

Thank you very much!!!

Lynn Canyon and Queen Elizabeth Park were on my list but you just pushed them up quite a bit.

I'll be visiting Victoria and Vancouver with my wife the middle of the month. However, we'll be without a car so it'll be public transportation.

I've set aside a good part of a day to rent bikes and tour around Stanley Park. We may add some walking time around False Creek and English Bay.

I'm glad we allowed several days in Vancouver.

Living in South Florida we're not used to public transportation so we'll have to try it out.

Thanks again.

Do them both if you have the energy!

Day one fly over on the float do The Butchart Gardens then downtown Victoria, visit the Royal BC Museum next door to the Empress Hotel and Victoria Harbour. Then catch the bus back by ferry to downtown Vancouver. The ferry ride is nice as it passes through the Gulf Islands.

Day two start with Breakfast at Granville Island then head over to Stanley Park a must! Then if your not to tired head over to Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain. Maybe finish with dinner in Chinatown or Gastown.

Its a lot to take in on two days but if your not back again you will have seen some of the prime attractions. You can always kick back on your cruise afterwards.

Good Luck on what ever you decide! Enjoy you will love any of it!