Vancouver: Granville Island or Lonsdale Quay/Grouse Mtn. for teens?
Apr 4th, 2004, 03:52 PM
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Vancouver: Granville Island or Lonsdale Quay/Grouse Mtn. for teens?
I will be in Vancouver for a couple of days in July with 2 older teens. For day #1, I am debating between Granville Island or Lonsdale Quay/Grouse Mtn. In reading previous posts, Granville Island has been recommended for adults and small kids, but I haven't seen anything specific listed for teens (they don't care for a "farmers market"
. Also, wondering about the Native American show/dinner at Grouse Mtn. -- has anyone tried this? For day #2, we plan on shopping on/around Robson St. and maybe at Metrotown. Any other suggestions? We won't have a car, and our train leaves on day #2 at 6 p.m.
. Also, wondering about the Native American show/dinner at Grouse Mtn. -- has anyone tried this? For day #2, we plan on shopping on/around Robson St. and maybe at Metrotown. Any other suggestions? We won't have a car, and our train leaves on day #2 at 6 p.m.
Apr 4th, 2004, 07:03 PM
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Both hotels are of equal quality and are at opposite sides of Downtown Vancouver albeit it's easier to get to downtown by car or taxi from Granville Island than Lonsdale Quay. Both are located close to Public Markets and fair to great Restaurants but the edge again goes to Granville Island for quality and quantity.
Where Lonsdale Quay stars is in it's closeness to the North Shore Mountains and it's ease in getting to Downtown via the Seabus which terminates in the Quay. The Skytrain (Rapid Transit), station is connected to the Downtown Seabus terminal and via it Metrotown or even other parts of Downtown are easily accessed. There are quaint little water taxis going from Granville Island to the South side of Downtown but it's still a kilometre or more to the heart of Downtown. Granville Island does have a few good performing arts Theatres and many very good galleries if you or the kids are interested in that. Lonsdale Quay has neither that I know of.
By the way in Canada what you call Native Americans are generally referred to as First Nations. I saw the show a few years ago and it is quite slick and entertaining although the food is less than abundant. But it's worth the price of admission.
Where Lonsdale Quay stars is in it's closeness to the North Shore Mountains and it's ease in getting to Downtown via the Seabus which terminates in the Quay. The Skytrain (Rapid Transit), station is connected to the Downtown Seabus terminal and via it Metrotown or even other parts of Downtown are easily accessed. There are quaint little water taxis going from Granville Island to the South side of Downtown but it's still a kilometre or more to the heart of Downtown. Granville Island does have a few good performing arts Theatres and many very good galleries if you or the kids are interested in that. Lonsdale Quay has neither that I know of.
By the way in Canada what you call Native Americans are generally referred to as First Nations. I saw the show a few years ago and it is quite slick and entertaining although the food is less than abundant. But it's worth the price of admission.
Apr 4th, 2004, 08:11 PM
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GaryA: Am I bad. Of course, you wouldn't call them "Native Americans" in Canada. Exactly what kind of food did they serve during the show? (My son doesn't eat anything he can't recognize.)
We aren't planning to stay on Granville Island or Lonsdale Quay -- just visit there. We might stay in Downtown, but are actually leaning toward the Royal Towers in Westminster, because of the casino. My daughter is 19, and just discovered that is the legal gambling age in Vancouver -- and it's only 3 blocks from the Skytrain!
A couple more questions, if you don't mind: What is a quay? What is a busker? Thanks so much.
We aren't planning to stay on Granville Island or Lonsdale Quay -- just visit there. We might stay in Downtown, but are actually leaning toward the Royal Towers in Westminster, because of the casino. My daughter is 19, and just discovered that is the legal gambling age in Vancouver -- and it's only 3 blocks from the Skytrain!
A couple more questions, if you don't mind: What is a quay? What is a busker? Thanks so much.
Apr 4th, 2004, 09:40 PM
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I would do Granville Island in the morning, have lunch there and then head to Grouse for the afternoon and maybe the Hiwus feasthouse dinner - which will likely be salmon but nothing too fancy. You could also just have dinner at the Altitudes bistro up top and there is also fine dining at The Observatory. Grouse Mountain itself is very nice, has a great view and some activities but older teens will likely not want to spend a whole day there so an afternoon is just right. The exception would be if you want to do lots of hiking in which case you could head out for a full day.
Granville Island is much more than a farmers market but it depends on what your kids are in to. There are lots of unique little shops there - some great jewellery studios that have affordable things as well as lots artist's studios. There are also lots of boating stores and you or your son can rent boats/kayaks to go for a ride if you want to. Additionally, there's a micro-brewery that you can go on a tour of which your 19-year old might like.
Don't bother with Lonsdale Quay - Granville Island is much nicer and your kids will get really bored at Lonsdale since there's not as much to see.
Enjoy!
Apr 5th, 2004, 07:23 AM
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And a 'Quay' is pronounced 'Key'. Go figure!
The food at the First Nations show is primarily shellfish with salmon and various types of fruits, berries and vegtables common to their heritage. I don't recall any meat but perhaps there was some.
If you want to stay at a hotel with a Casino that is closer to Downtown and Granville Island and is slightly better quality than the Royal Towers than I suggest the Holiday Inn on Broadway. However unlike the Royal Towers there are no slots there as the City of Vancouver has not yet allowed them. The Holiday Inn is a good mile or so west of the Skytrain Station on Broadway & Commercial. But there are busses every few minutes heading to and from that station which does have a reputation for lots of drug dealers but they're more likely to pester your kids if they're alone rather than with a parent.
The Royal Towers is three very steep blocks above the Columbia Skytrain Station so it's still a shlep. Still New Westminster does have a charm of it's own, being older than Vancouver. But for your short time in town I would stay closer to Downtown.
The food at the First Nations show is primarily shellfish with salmon and various types of fruits, berries and vegtables common to their heritage. I don't recall any meat but perhaps there was some.
If you want to stay at a hotel with a Casino that is closer to Downtown and Granville Island and is slightly better quality than the Royal Towers than I suggest the Holiday Inn on Broadway. However unlike the Royal Towers there are no slots there as the City of Vancouver has not yet allowed them. The Holiday Inn is a good mile or so west of the Skytrain Station on Broadway & Commercial. But there are busses every few minutes heading to and from that station which does have a reputation for lots of drug dealers but they're more likely to pester your kids if they're alone rather than with a parent.
The Royal Towers is three very steep blocks above the Columbia Skytrain Station so it's still a shlep. Still New Westminster does have a charm of it's own, being older than Vancouver. But for your short time in town I would stay closer to Downtown.
