Seattle / Vancouver - what to do?

[bmwmike]

If i were you i would put out the extra money and stay in Richmond rather than driving all over. Surrey can be a lot longer to drive than you think.
Richmond has a lot of hotels since the major airport is in Richmond. Even Vancouver is closer than Surrey to Richmond #3 road. I would choose to stay in Vancouver over Surrey if not staying in Richmond.

[ehhhwik]

Originally Posted by borsalino

Richmond isn't very far from surrey about 20 min drive like you said when there is no traffic. But just don't drive across the alex fraser bridge tommorrow morning, it can get quite backed up. Also on weekdays coming back from richmond to surrey during 4-5:30pm there is alot of trafffic on 99 hwy. Just avoid those times and you'll be fine. Just giving you the heads up because I absolutely hate being in traffic. Enjoy your trip.

+1, Vancouver traffic can be a big pain in the ass, even right smack in the middle of the afternoon (non-rush hr), rush hour is just worst

[dejav0o]

Originally Posted by borsalino

ehhhwik thanks for outlining the differences. I have never been to an authentic chinese restaurant, unless you call Mr.Ho in Burnaby one. I think I will try one of the hong kong style restaurants you mentioned in the near future.

Sorry to continue on with the Chinese history lesson... but most of what Americans think of "Chinese" food now is born from Cantonese/HK style cuisine. Hence if you ever go to China, their food/taste is different than what we have here.

[ehhhwik]

Originally Posted by dejav0o

Sorry to continue on with the Chinese history lesson... but most of what Americans think of "Chinese" food now is born from Cantonese/HK style cuisine. Hence if you ever go to China, their food/taste is different than what we have here.

+1, a lot of the Chinese food these days (sweet and sour pork, chicken fried rice, lemon chicken, etc) are sort of what i perosonally would consider to be Chinese fast food, its considered as Chinese food, but there are better ones out there

[ska///235i]

Ok...sorry to bother you guys

So now I have a choice of either staying at Westin hotel in Surrey or Hyatt at downtown Vancouver...Hyatt is the way to go????

[borsalino]

yes the hyatt is the way to go. First, it is in the heart of the city and close to all the tourist attractions. Secondly, you don't want to stay in surrey because there is nothing to do there and you will have to drive from surrey to vancouver all the time. Lastly,the hyatt is a pretty nice hotel. I can't comment on the westin in surrey because I've never been there nor have I ever heard of it lol.

[spacedogg]

I second the Hyatt. Surrey is not worth it...even if it's cheaper.

The Chinese place (Victoria Garden) underneath the Hyatt is pretty decent. Although the more popular places (albeit pricey) would be Kirin and Sun Sui Wah.

Priceline it. You might be able to get the Westin Bayshore (downtown) for cheap. You can do some research on Priceline forums to see what others are bidding.

[Shamu]

Originally Posted by ska

Ok...sorry to bother you guys

So now I have a choice of either staying at Westin hotel in Surrey or Hyatt at downtown Vancouver...Hyatt is the way to go????

Oh Hyatt hands down! Downtown Chinese restaurants include:

1. Victoria
2. Kirin
3. King Fortune

Surrey is considered the ''ghetto'' of British Columbia for most lower mainland residents so I would advise against going anywhere near there.

As for Vancouver, there is so much to do, so much to eat, and so much to see.
If you only have one day, I would recommend just staying in the Downtown area, a must visit is a walk along the seawall (Stanley Park, Yaletown area), shopping along Robson and intersecting streets (don't bother with Pacific Center, our underground mall downtown, theres nothing special there).

[ehhhwik]

Hyatt downtown for sure, i will probably see you at Victoria resturant if you go for dim sum on Sundays, lol!

[ehhhwik]

Originally Posted by ctsport

Surrey is considered the ''ghetto'' of British Columbia for most lower mainland residents so I would advise against going anywhere near there.

[ska///235i]

thanks all ..... Hyatt it is

Originally Posted by ehhhwik

Hyatt downtown for sure, i will probably see you at Victoria resturant if you go for dim sum on Sundays, lol!

ahahaha....wont be there on Sunday but we'll be there for Dim Sum on Saturday morning before we head back to Seattle for the cruise :rocks:

Originally Posted by ctsport

Surrey is considered the ''ghetto'' of British Columbia for most lower mainland residents so I would advise against going anywhere near there.

G'ed up from the hood

[Ghunger]

Was going to suggest some things in Seattle but I think others have already taken the good suggestions. Definitely more than you can do in a couple days.

One note, I don't know if you were thinking about it or not but Mt. Rainier is closed for the forseeable future. The winter storms we had this last winter destroyed most the major roads through the park washing out bridges and camp grounds so they just closed the park essentially.

[scottwww]

Originally Posted by Ghunger

One note, I don't know if you were thinking about it or not but Mt. Rainier is closed for the forseeable future. The winter storms we had this last winter destroyed most the major roads through the park washing out bridges and camp grounds so they just closed the park essentially.

That's the first I have heard of that. I usually like to drive through the park and through Paradise when I go visit family in Washington. I guess I'll just have to go through Yakima, Cle Elum, White Pass, whatever... or Portland.

Is there any word about how long the park should remain closed?

That really is a loss.

[Ghunger]

Originally Posted by scottwww

That's the first I have heard of that. I usually like to drive through the park and through Paradise when I go visit family in Washington. I guess I'll just have to go through Yakima, Cle Elum, White Pass, whatever... or Portland.

Is there any word about how long the park should remain closed?

That really is a loss.

Hopefully not hijacking too much here. Here's a page that details the info. Too much to list in this thread. It really is a shame, there are some fantastic roads in that area.

http://www.nps.gov/mora/parknews/nov...6-flooding.htm

One thing I thought of, You could take a harbor or lake cruise. Nice way to see the city from the water and they also offer dinner cruises.

http://www.argosycruises.com

[ehhhwik]

Originally Posted by ska

thanks all ..... Hyatt it is




ahahaha....wont be there on Sunday but we'll be there for Dim Sum on Saturday morning before we head back to Seattle for the cruise :rocks:





G'ed up from the hood

yea, in Surrey there's so much crime, weed grow ups, meth. labs, etc...recently some guy got shot (drive by i think) in a brand new BMW M5 in broad day light, something thats unheard of in Vancouver

[Shamu]

Originally Posted by ehhhwik

yea, in Surrey there's so much crime, weed grow ups, meth. labs, etc...recently some guy got shot (drive by i think) in a brand new BMW M5 in broad day light, something thats unheard of in Vancouver

are you referring to the guy in the black M5 that was shot early morning while driving? his car kept going and stopped only after crashing into a series of other parked cars...needless to say he was dead at the wheel.

if this is what you're referring to, it happened in Kerrisdale -- quite a posh neighborhood in Vancouver...

[ehhhwik]

Originally Posted by Shamu

are you referring to the guy in the black M5 that was shot early morning while driving? his car kept going and stopped only after crashing into a series of other parked cars...needless to say he was dead at the wheel.

if this is what you're referring to, it happened in Kerrisdale -- quite a posh neighborhood in Vancouver...

yea, it was in kerrisdale, my bad, anyways, thats just crazy to happen in Vancouver, i think he was shot multiple times