Xmas in Vancouver/New Year´s in Whistler
 

The whole family, 7 adults, 1 senior and two toddlers, is meeting on the 24th in Vancouver, looking for the experience of an exceptional winter/canadian Xmas celebration. How and where in Vancouver would you celebrate Xmas eve and day? Anything exceptional in Whistler for New Year´s eve?

My family and I attended a very nice candlelight service on Christmas Eve in Vancouver several years ago.

On Christmas Day, we found almost everything is closed except for some movie theaters. Be sure to make your dinner reservations in advance, because other than hotel and Chinese restaurants, most places are closed. We had a nice Christmas dinner at the William Tell Restaurant at the Georgian Court Hotel.

For Christmas eve plans, you might go to Van Dusen Gardens (botanical gardens), or to Stanley Park (which has a "Santa and Christmas" themed train ride...meaning a thing mostly suitable to kids.

I found the following, which assuming they do it again next Chrsitmas, could be a good diversion....

"Karaoke, VanDusen Botanical Gardens and Canada Place

Take a ride on the Karaoke Christmas Light Trolley Tour from December 8-10 and 15-24, 2007. The Vancouver Trolley Company takes visitors from Canada Place’s Holiday Promenade, through downtown Vancouver to Bright Nights in Stanley Park, and then to VanDusen Botanical Gardens for the Festival of Lights wonderland. Call toll free 1-888-451-5581 for $30.00 CDN tickets."

This is another option...

"Capilano Suspension Bridge invites you to share in the Christmas spirit at Canyon Lights, a winter celebration of light. Open every day except Christmas Day, experience one of Vancouver’s favourite attractions, the Suspension Bridge, all lit up for the first time. Cross the spectacularly lit Suspension Bridge lighting up the Canyon and rippling waters of the Capilano River below. Another highlight is the spectacular maple tree, draped in an extravaganza of colour. Canyon Lights will also feature over 200,000 twinkling lights throughout the park, including new sparkling white lights at Capilano’s newest attraction, Treetops Adventure. Explore the spectacularly lit forest from an entirely new perspective!

Enjoy mulled apple cider and festive treats while carolers, dressed in historical winter costumes, stroll through the park singing your favourite traditional Christmas carols."

Finally, the "Carol Ships" is a bit of a Vancouver tradition. Basically boats decorated in lights parade around the city's waters and you can pay to come aboard and sing carols and in many cases dine. http://www.carolships.org/s/Home.asp

First Baptist Church (downtown) has an early 'less religious' Christmas eve service for the community, and a candlelight service that starts at 11pm and ends right at midnight.

You might also want to consider going up Grouse Mountain. It offers lots of Christmas activities in the snow and if you luck out on a clear night, the view is wonderful. www.grounsemountain.com

Closer to the date google Christ Church Cathedral and St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Both are lovely, old (for Vancouver!) churches that offer wonderful Christmas musicial events/services, although most are done by the 24th. I'd still have a look at their websites closer to Christmas.

I've been to Christmas dinners at the William Tell and the Hotel Vancouver. Both were "fine", with the William Tell just a tad more up-scale. Other, large Vancouver hotels also offer Christmas dinners. With toddlers in tow, and even if you didn't have them with you, I'd recommend the first sitting wherever you decide as service gets verrry slow as the evening goes on. The Tell was a sit-down, the Hotel Vancouver was buffet-style.

If you're renting a condo for your Vancouver stay, you might want to consider pre-ordering your turkey dinner from one of the major hotels. Our family has also done that a few times, from the Westin Bayshore, but a couple of the other large hotels offer this service. You pre-order, wheel up in your rental car or in a taxi, hotel staff delivers the meal into your trunk, and off you go. The meal was good and we were able to be in our own space for Christmas dinner.

Are you wanting to eat out for New Year's Eve in Whistler? That is the reservation I'd want to make asap (but that's just me, I'd want to have it finalized). Whistler offers a "dry" New Year's Eve celebration and it's heavily attended. I've never been but I have friends with kids who've really enjoyed it. And if some of you adults want to party, Whistler has a fun bar/club scene.

Great suggestions from global_guy and BowenLinda. I wish I had known about some of these events prior to my families Christmas visit.

We attended the early candlelight service at the First Baptist Church which was a short walk from our hotel. It was a well attended service.

We had breakfast on Christmas Day at the Hotel Vancouver and were admiring the buffet offerings being prepared for later that day, including some beautiful dessert displays.

I have spent many new year eves in whistler.They have a large celibration.(sorry about spelling).This is a family event.it is outside .they check for booze.lots of music and like activities.small fee charged. fire works.there are many place that also provide more adult parties.Whistler may be a bit on the rowdy side this nite,but many rcmp are there to tone things down. even a car check for booze when entering city...

Wow! thanks curiosgeo, BowenLinda and global_guy for great suggestions!!!I´ll check with the family for preferencies on Lights on Bot. Gardens and Lights Trolley Tour, then maybe dinner, 1rst service at William Tell, or on one of the boats...that sounds beautiful, then midnight mass at one of the suggested churches...at least for the adults. I wonder if we could see the Capilano Bridge lights on xmas day? I´m worried everything will be closed w/nothing to do on the 25th...Yes, I´d like to reserve Whistler New Years dinner ASAP, but where could I do this?

Re Whistler, google www.vanmag.com for Whistler recommendations and this website for W favourites. Ask your hotel for recommendations for your type of New Year's Eve dinner (casual, not, type of food, etc.) Happpy eating.