Vancouver
 

My wife and I are spending three nights in Vancouver and two nights in Whistler in early July. Are there any "can't miss" destinations. We prefer outdoor activities and are in good physical shape. Any recommendations including restaurants would be appreciated.

In Vancouver try the Grouse Grind. That'll tell you how good physical shape you're in. It's a rugged 1,200 metre plus almost straight up staircase to the top of Grouse Mountain. Most people in fairly good shape take about an hour to do it one way. The record is about 29 minutes up and a little over 20 down.

Equivilant hikes are available in Whistler up Whistler and Blackcomb mountain.

Both Vancouver and Whistler have really great restaurants. Vancouver is famous for it';s West Coast Cuisine and some of the best Chinese, East Indian and Japanese restaurants in the world. Whistler has many branches of Vancouver's West Coast and continental restaurants but it doesn't compare in the Asian variety.

Could you please recommend an Indian restaurant...and please don't say Vij's.

East Indian food, like Chinese has a number of regional varieties. I'm far from a mavin of Indian cuisine though I really love tandoori. A good one that I was at recently is Da Tandoor on Pacific street Downtown. Samosa Garden is another one I've eaten at but it's on Kingsway - not very central. A new Indian Restaurant claiming to be 'high end gourmet' just opened in the same block as my office on 1600 W. Broadway. It starts with 'M' but I can't recall it's name right now. The people who've eaten there say it's very good.

There's a South Indian cuisine which you eat with banana leaves rather than utensils but I can't reccomend any special one. There's also an East African variety of Indian food which I hear is very good. There are probably hundreds of Indian Restaurants in the city but as you can see I'm not an expert on them. Hopefully someone else will respond who is.

The name is of that new high-end place on Broadway is Maurya-just drove by but haven't been yet.
My all-time fave is Rubina Tandoor on Kingsway-never had a bad meal-menu covers a number of regions.
DC-check the older posts there are recommendations for Kayaking, Mountain Biking and Sailing.

DC: For outdoor activities in Vancouver, try renting bicycles and riding around Stanley Park. You can also ride them over on the beach side of the city. My husband enjoyed the vicycle ride a lot. You can rent Bicycles at Georgia and Denman.

We much preferred Victoria over Vancouver. Vancouver is a very large city.

We really liked Rain City Cafe but it was expensive. Excellent food and wine pairings.

We are still in Vancouver. Heading over to Whistler for the weekend.