milliebest

We are going to Vancouver for 10 days and then home to New York. I thought Toronto would be a good place to go before returning to New York. Is that a good combo or is there a better place to combine with Vancouver?

Need suggestions to see some good outsider or contemporary art.

mat54

Toronto is clean, safe and modern with lots of big city attractions - museums, art galleries, live theatres, shopping and a great many restaurants (and Toronto is very multicultural so there are lots of interesting eateries in addition to abundant fine dining). However I'm wondering if Montreal with its French culture, excellent dining and historic "Old Montreal" district might offer a bit more contrast for you?

geosand

would agree Montreal or Quebec city would be my choices

NorthwestMale

Hmmmmmmmmmph... somebody I know just opted to fly from Vancouver to the east coast of USA via Air Canada and Toronto... and he was aggravated to no end by the clowns at Air Canada.

While I love the idea above, about Montreal (and/or even Quebec City)... I think that you are SO NEAR TO Quebec (from just about anywhere in New York) that you can do those another time, on a land journey.

With ten days, and perhaps a little extra time to juggle, maybe you can arrange your Vancouver trip so that you come and go via Seattle?

With that, your customs hassles will be at physical borders and won't be complicated by airline staff or others on the same flights as you.

Have you ever been to Seattle? Seattle and Vancouver are SO far away from home that to cover them both in one fell swoop might be sensible for someone from New York.

BC_Robyn

I was thinking... most people who have 10 days to spare in Vancouver usually split it with other destinations within the immediate vinicity, whether that be Victoria or Tofino on Vancouver Island, Whistler, the Okanagan Valley, the Rockies, or even Seattle.

I guess it completely depends on what you want to experience.

Going from Vancouver to Toronto makes as much sense as going to Seattle and then choosing to go see Chicago after.

BC_Robyn

That's vicinity, not vinicity... oops!

tovarich

Quebec without doubt.Toronto is too much he same as the american big cities.Paul

mat54

In another post milliebest mentioned the visit would take place in March and would include time in Whistler, both of which could be factors in deciding where else to go. Milliebest - you mentioned liking contemporary art. What are your other interests? The outdoors, dining, theatre, shopping, etc.?

cantw82go

Perhaps you could rent a car or take the train through the Rockies and fly home from Calgary or Edmonton. If you drive, you have the freedom to stop and explore Banff, Lake Louise, the Okanagan Valley etc.

Check out West Jet for flights, although flying in and out of Canada is generally more expensive than in the US, they are also more generous with the baggage allowance.

I agree with the others that I would spend more time in the west with this trip and save eastern Canada for another time.

tomfuller

Agree with cantw82go save Toronto or Montreal for another trip.
Does this work for you? Fly to Chicago. Spend a day or two there then take the Empire Builder to Seattle. Short trip on Amtrak from Seattle to Vancouver. Fly back home from Vancouver or Seattle. If you decide you have the time, you could get off the Empire Builder for 24 hours at Whitefish MT and rent a car to see parts of Glacier NP.

milliebest

Wow, such great suggestions!!! I have a lot of homework to do. I didn't even think of Seattle. Am I showing my geographic stupidity.? I just wasn't thinking USA . Does Seattle have any art scenes? Any ideas on weird off the beaten track places to go? We love to meet the locals, use public transportation and be adventurous.

tomfuller

I'm sure you can find what you are looking for in the Seattle "Ride free" zone http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus...attle-rfa.html
The Amtrak station is just south of the zone down near Qwest Field where the Seahawks play.
Amtrak has 2 trains and 2 buses to Vancouver daily.
In Vancouver be sure to see Stanley Park and Granville Island.
I also liked Gastown and Canada Place as well.

juliae_mei

Yes, I agree with the idea of Seattle; it has a great art scene - Seattle Art Museum, University of Washington, Pioneer Square, Capitol Hill, Queen Anne Hill, take a ferry out to the San Juans and visit artist studios. Seattle has an artsy, outdoorsy, friendly vibe, but somehow Vancouver feels more cosmopolitan and sophisticated.

I also love the idea of spending a few days in Victoria and Vancouver Island. There are art galleries and art studios in the Gulf Islands, in Oak Bay in Victoria, downtown Victoria, Nanaimo, Sooke. Take the ferry to Sidney from Vancouver, drive up the Island Highway, take the ferry back to Vancouver from Dash Point to Horseshoe Bay.

For your original question, I vote for Quebec City.

BC_Robyn

Oooh, Salt Spring Island would make a great mini retreat within those 10 days. It's a rural island famous for its art studios and its arts scene:

http://saltspringtourism.com/blog/ca...gs-to-do/arts/

Another idea is the Sunshine Coast - a 40 minute ferry ride north/west of Vancouver. Again, another west coast region with a rich artist community.

BC_Robyn

Salt Spring Island is one of the Gulf Islands - a chain of islands located between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. (They're a part of the same chain of islands as Washington state's San Juan Islands).

Luciana8

Hi Millie!
If you're visiting Vancouver you should also go to Vancouver Island which is an amazing place where you can go camping, kayaking and see some bears!
If you like hiking, you should head to the Canadian Rockies, in Banff or Jasper.
If you need more information, check out this website: http://2vancouver.com/en/categories/...laces-to-visit
Have a nice trip!

NorthwestMale

Millie,

While it makes grand sense to come and go from Seattle, for a Vancouver trip, we might need to have a little better sense of YOU, in order to give more specific suggestions on what to do and see upon arrival.

Firstly, have you ever been to the west coast outside of, say, California?

If we can maybe eliminate things you might have done before, and then tailor ideas to more about what you enjoy, then we can be more specific.

For starters, Seattle is 150 miles by car/train from Vancouver, Canada.

You can probably see a good deal of BOTH cities withOUT needing a rental car during the time you're IN the central cities. (this would save both on car rental AND on staggering parking charges at hotels)

"Mount Rainier" is an easy day trip away from Seattle and probably worth seeing if you have time.

When you get to Vancouver, you can go a few minutes outside the downtown area, to the base of a mountain, and then ride a gondola 3000 feet up the side of the mountain, for hiking, dining and spectacular views from the top. (www.grousemountain.com)

Both the Seattle and Vancouver downtown areas are somewhat compacted by water and hills all around. It is fairly easy to get around in each place, but RAIN is always a possibility (though be aware that the rain is usually fairly light and steady - rather than HEAVY and intermittent).

Perhaps you'll come back and tell us, for example, how many days you might have between landing in Seattle and flying home from Seattle. Then we might give more detailed suggestions.

milliebest

I have been babysitting a new grandchild and put my trip on hold. Now I have to get serious because my daughter wants to make flight plans. We will be with my daughter and her children from March 19 to 30 in Vancouver and Whistler. Then, they will go home and we intend to go off on our own. I appreciate all the suggestions so far.

I thought we would fly to Vancouver and come home from Seattle. In between Vancover and Seattle, I still have to do more research. people have suggested Victoria, Tofino the Gulf Islands including Salt Spring Island and San Juans. We are retired so we do not have time constraints. Food and art have always been heighlights of our trips. We have traveled to Europe and China recently but never to the west coast except that my husband goes to LA. I thought we could either take the train or rent a car and go from Vancouver to Seattle and do some side trips between or from both cities. I am concerned about the weather possibly being too cold. Should I be concerned? I am off to the library to do some research.

BC_Robyn

I wouldn't be concerned about the weather being too cold. March in the Pacific Northwest means spring flowers, not snow. Temperatures won't be any colder than New York. In fact, it'll probably be warmer than New York, so I wouldn't be concerned about the cold.

Eschew

For art, consider the newly renovated Alberta Art Galary in Edmotnon. The upcoming exhibits are listed on their web page.
http://www.youraga.ca/upcoming/