We will be in Vancouver for a couple of days this summer without a car, using the Skytrain for our main transportation. My kids want to spend most of our brief time there in the Downtown and Robson Street areas. I would really like to see some totem poles up close while we are there. I know the "main" ones are in Stanley Park, but I doubt we will make it there. Are there any other parks in the downtown area with totem poles? If we do decide to go outside of downtown, it will probably be to take the skyride at Grouse Mountain. Are there totem poles there? Also, about how much time would we need to allow to travel by bus from downtown to Grouse Mountain, ride the skyride up and down, and get back to downtown?

Hi Dan-
The 'main' poles may be in the Park but
the most impressive ones are at the
Museum of Anthropology at UBC. Although
you can't get there by skytrain there
is a good bus service to the campus from
downtown. There are also poles at the
Capilano Suspension Bridge complex which
is on the way to Grouse Mtn. This is a
private operation and they charge admission. Sometimes they have pole
carvers on Granville Island - check their website.

There is quite a difference between
Coast Salish (for instance) and Haida
poles and it would be worthwhile doing
a little research to find out which
style you're interested in. IMHO, the
poles at UBC are AWESOME! and all others
pale (or pole) in comparison but you may
prefer the colours, etc. of the Cowichan
poles for example.

Time frame for Grouse Mtn.? If you time
your busses perfectly and don't dawdle
- probably 3 1/2 - 4 hours.

First of all, go to Stanley Park. There's no point is viting this city and spending your time in stores.

Second of all, you can take the Seabus from downtown "mainland" Vancouver across the water to North Vancpouiver, and then probably take a bus to Grouse Mountin, but if not, a cab ride would not be unreasonable, because you are at least on the right side of the water, and the Seabus is like a bargain-priced harbour cruise.

And third of all, go to Stanley Park. Honest. In addition to the toteem poles, there are great views of the city, and interesting beaches, even when it is chilly.

BAK

There is also at least one (quite likely more) totem pole at Vanier Park, where the planetarium is. But Stanley Park definitely should come ahead of Vanier Park, and so should the Museum of Anthropology most likely (particularly if you work in walks nearby along Jericho Beach and Spanish Banks).

Dwoodliff, travelling to Vancouver without visiting Stanley Park would be something like going to San Antonio without doing the River Walk.

Well, Stanley Park and the River Walk are two very different places, but I'm just trying to find an analogy based on a place you know, according to one of your other posts.

Robson Street is nice but, when all is said and done, it's a street of shops and restaurants. Stanley Park is one of the loveliest parks in the world.

O.K., you guys have convinced me that we MUST go to Stanley Park. We will be visiting the Vancouver Art Gallery (my daughter is an art student), and I see that you can catch a bus from there to the park, and do a horse-drawn trolley tour. We may have to skip going to Grouse Mountain, due to our limited time, but I'm O.K. with that. (If we do manage to fine the time, which would you guys recommend -- Grouse Mountain or Granville Island?) Thanks so much for all the suggestions.

You shouldn't miss Grouse Mountain. After all, ther aern't many large cities where you can go up a 1100 metre mountain and see the entire city and more laid out at your feet. I reccomend you go there on a clear early evening and stay till it's dark to get the full impact. There is a cafeteria and Dining Room at the top as well as a First Nations dinner show which the kids would probably really love. They'ld probably get a kick out of the Capilano Suspension Bridge as well which is on the way to the Grouse Mountain Gondola. Maybe you should add an extra day to your itinery. Vancouver deserves it.

Remember that Grouse Mountain can be an evening activity; you get a great view of the illuminated buildings downtown, lights gleaming on the water, the brilliant floating gas stations,a nd more.

BAK