Vancouver Pre-Honeymoon
 

My fiance and I are going to be visiting Vancouver for three days (May 19,20,21 of 2004) before the cruise that we are getting married on departs for Alaska. We also get the opportunity to spend one more day in Vancouver after the cruise returns on Saturday morning (May 29). We have never been to Vancouver before and would love any advice on what we should do/see. What will the weather be like then? Where should we stay? Is there anything romantic that you can recommend? What do you suggest we save for the Saturday after the cruise? Where should we eat? Basically, I would be interested in anything you can suggest, recommend, or tell me. Thank you so much for your help. I would love for my trip to be filled with romance and adventure. I want to have an unforgetable experience.

First the easy part. The weather in May is usually pretty good but there is an equal chance of hitting a very warm spell as a cool wet one and so - since you will need them anyways for an Alaskan cruise - I would take sweaters and rain gear along with your shorts and t-shirts.

There is so much to do in Vancouver that is romantic though it's largely nature based. An evening trip up the gondola to Grouse Mountain with the city spread below you is pretty romantic. A horse and Carraige ride through Stnley Park would also rank high. If you're into hiking, jogging and/or biking the possibilities in Vancouver are huge and all with magnificent scenery.

If money is no object then a harbour suite at the Pan Pacific overlooking the Harbour and atop the Cruise Ship Terminal would be very memoprable. There are also some great B & B's - the most highly rated being the O Canada House. I do reccomend you stay on the Downtown Peninsula because that's really where it's at.

Since you do have time I suggest you get a tour book on Vancouver and read up about it. There was a book called something like 'The best places to cuddle in Vancouver' which may be of interest. Also since I don't know your tastes in food it's difficult to tell you where to eat. Vancouver is famous for it's West Coast Cuisine and has the best Asian, (Chinese, Japanese, East Indian, Vietnamese, etc. ) restaurants outside Asia. So you should sample some of these.

Good luck in your search and congratulations.

We are fans of O Canada house and think it is a great place for a honeymoon or pre honeymoon. I recommend the North Suite with the clawfoot tub. The staff at O'Canada House is superb! This is in the West End. A friend who visits Vancouver regularly also recommends the Blue Horizon and says one should ask for the room from which you can view the inner and outer harbors. I'd say you should check out the VanDeusen Botancial Gardens which should be spectacular in May. I also happen to think the Anthropology Museum at U of BC is worth a visit. Check out Vij's and Bin 941 as places to eat. It's a wonderful city..I wish I could move there.

PS: We used the Best Places:Vancouver book and liked it alot!

I am a little late, but had to respond. My husband and I did the same thing for our honeymoon. An Alaskan Crusise with a few days in Vancouver. WE stayed at The West End Guest House. A great Victorian bed and breakfast. I highly recommend it. We also took the Grayline tour trolley the first day to orient us to the city and we went everywhere. Stanley Park, Gastown, China Town, Granville. WE had an awesome time. I wish you the best. Check out West End Guest House.