Help ! Only 2 days in Vancover
 

We will have two nights as a post cruise in Vancover. I am thinking about eating at Tojo's one night as my son loves sushi. But, perhaps we could do Tojo's for a lunch. The other night, I need a suggestion: what is the restaurant that is on the beach? Maybe it is called the Beach House? Also how about Kirin Mandarin?
I dont want Italian or French, as we are just coming off of a cruise. So, I am thinking something that I cant gget elsewhere.

Also, with two days to see Vancover, there are choices. I want to do Granville Market for sure. Is it foolish to try to do Buchert Gardens with only 2 days?

>>>>>>Is it foolish to try to do Buchert Gardens with only 2 days?<<<<<<

I don't know how else to put this but, in a word, yes.

Vancouver Island, where Butchart Gardens are located, is only worth visiting if you have more than 3 days in Vancouver, in my opinion.

Gorgeous as the Butchart Gardens are, I think it's more important to visit Stanley Park in Vancouver.

If you're into gardens, Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver is somewhat similar to Butchart Gardens, in that it too is a place where a disused quarry has been turned into a sunken garden. I found Butchart Gardens better than Queen Elizabeth Park, but QE Park was a close second, and very beautiful in its own right, according to my taste.

VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver also are lovely.

Bad News-Tojos is closed for lunch-as are almost all Japanese Sushi restaurants of note.

One downtown exception is http://www.okadasushi.com/

Generally speaking,I concur that trying to do Butchart Gardens on such short timeframe is too ambitious. What with the ferry passage and transportation to/from, you'd have to hurry big time and thus not enjoy the 2 days.
However, if you have a burning desire to see Butchart Gardens (and it is a wonderful place), then go for it but to the exclusion of Vancouver for an entire day. This is especially so if you'd opt for a jetcopter or floatplane to fly you to/from Vancouver Island, which would give you several more hours of free time. I think I saw a posting recently that a one-way ticket from Vancouver costs something like $77. each way.

I think the floatplanes are usually $99 each way. If I absolutely had to see the Butchart Gardens in such limited time, I would want to do it as fast as possible and that would be by air. With the flights being $200 return (each), a taxi to and from gardens at $80 or so, plus the approx. $20 entry fee (each) it would be a very expensive jaunt.

But really, I agree 100% with Judy including the part about Queen Elizabeth Park.