andyc

I see from the weather forcast they are expecting rain in Vancouver next weekend - just when I am going ;-)

What can you do in the rain? Would going around Stanely Park on a bike and up Grouse mountain be a total washout?

Judy_in_Calgary

Well, Andyc, I don't know which weather forecast you're looking at. I've just looked at The Weather Network.

It's calling for light rain and 14 deg C (57 deg F) on Saturday morning (August 28th). The amount of rain that is expected is close to 1 mm, not exactly a torrential downpour.

Then Saturday afternoon is supposed to improve to variable cloudiness with 20% chance of precipitation and a temperature of 18 deg C (64 deg F).

Sunday is supposed to have variable cloudiness again (this time with 30% change of precipitation) and a high of 20 deg C (68 deg F).

I would do shopping / museums on Saturday morning, stuff like Granville Island Market or the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. I've done both of those when it has been drizzling, and they were fine.

I would then aim to get to Stanley Park on Saturday afternoon when the weather may have cleared up some.

If you're so inclined, you might try to drive around the North Shore (Horseshoe Bay, Capilano or Lynn Canyon, and all that good stuff) on Sunday. I've seen Horseshoe Bay and the coast along there in sunny weather and also during on-again / off-again drizzle, and it was pleasant even during the drizzle.

I must admit, though, that I have not attempted to go up Grouse Mountain during rain, so I cannot comment on that.

I think you'll be comfortable provided you wear rain gear.

I do hope Vancouver will show itself to you in sunlight, even if the sun only peaks out now and then, because it really is gorgeous in the sunshine. But even cloud / drizzle has its own charm.

Luckily the forecast wind speed is not bad, 15 km/h for Saturday morning, 5 km/h for Saturday afternoon, and calm for Sunday. A howling wind is one weather mood in which I do not enjoy being out of doors, and in which I find it a challenge to find the charm.

I've just looked at a couple of your other posts to put all of this into context. I see you may be going to Victoria as well. If you're going to Vancouver for only a weekend, it may be a bit of a stretch to include Victoria. However, if you really want to do that, you might want to go to Victoria on Saturday and explore Vancouver on Sunday.

The reason I say that is that Victoria's weather forecast for Saturday is better than Vancouver's is. The forecast for Victoria is calling for cloudy periods on Saturday morning, 10% chance of precipitation, 13 deg C (55 deg F), 15 km/h wind speed. Saturday afternoon is supposed to improve to 18 deg C, variable cloudiness, 20% chance of precipitation, calm.

andyc

Thanks Judy - some excellent tips - I am actually going next weekend i.e. 4th September - when www.weather.com is not showing it to be so nice. I am from Scotland - so I am used to the rain anyway ;-)

Judy_in_Calgary

Funnily enough, Andy, Fodors' Destination section devotes a page to Rainy Days in Vancouver at

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...;feature=30007

Their only advice with which I would take issue is afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria. There are several previous discussion threads here that state that the Empress's expensive afternoon tea is a rip off, and there are other places in Victoria that offer better deals. Just do a word search for TEA VICTORIA.

Another indoor activity that hasn't made it onto Fodors' Destination section for Vancouver, but that has been mentioned by some posters here, is a new place called the Storyeum in Gastown. It provides a 72 minute re-enactment of British Columbia's history. It apparently has been popular this summer.

The Museum of Anthropology has a special place in my heart. If one has had the good fortune to see the Museum of Anthropology and also to see Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump on the eastern slopes of the Rockies in Alberta, one can appreciate what a forceful factor environment is in shaping a lifestyle. The west coast and the prairies gave rise to two very different cultures (albeit all hunting gathering societies -- from the Arctic through the Amazon Rainforest to the Kalahari Desert -- share some characteristics in common).

was_gannetmusic

Andy......chances of the forecast getting THIS weekend's weather correct are about 50/50.
The long range forecast is little more than a slightly educated guess.

You will enjoy Vancouver in any case - a great city.

Jerry

Cat123

Forecasts mean nothing in Vancouver - the weather here can change very rapidly. That being said, I would definitely not recommend Grouse in the rain since you won't be able to see anything. Stanley Park should be ok, although not as nice as in the sun, obviously.

Judy's suggestions of Granville Island and the Museum of Anthropology are good ones. Granville has lots of shops and artists studios you can wander into, even in the rain. It also has lots of food and a few bars (even a brewery) that can make a rainy day very pleasant. Enjoy your time!