Vancouver Tourism Guides

By Matt Coolen

Vancouver's Top Hotels

The Opus Hotel
The Opus Hotel is Vancouver's most well known boutique hotel. Right in the middle of Yaletown Opus is often visited by the young & rich as well as celebrities alike.

From the moment you walk in there is a classy and modern feel to The Opus. With a chic lounge to the right of the main lobby where Vancouver's most beautiful and elite congregate at night and dine during the day, combined with some of the city sexiest rooms The Opus Hotel is not only a place to lay your head but also a symbol of status.

Nearby to some of the cities best food and nightlife there's never a reason to stray to far.

The Loden Hotel
The Loden Hotel located in the middle Coal Harbor, is quickly becoming one of the most sought after reservations in Vancouver. This is not just for their ultra-chic rooms that carry a warmth that most hotels just don't have, but also for their beautiful lounge / resaurant Voya located off the lobby.

Having amazing food right downstairs, being only two blocks away from the shopping mecca that is Robson street, and located right in the middle of the business area of downtown, check out The Loden on your next stay and you might not leave.

The Shangri La Vancouver
The Shangri La is easily Vancouver's most recognizable hotel, or building standing at 197m its makes everything around it look, well, small, really small.

Its is the only one in North America of the famous Shangri La brand from Hong Kong and creating a huge buzz worldwide.

Its restaurant Market is already being renowned as one of Vancouver's best places to dine, not to mention one of the city's top "to be seen at" places.

Where The $@*& Am I?

Vancouver Tourist Attractions

There's nothing worse then going to a new city, wanting to see everything it has to offer and dropping money on a tourist trap that sucks.

I don't want that for you. After all, you waste a full day being bored, a bunch of cash and leave Vancouver with a bad taste in your mouth without ever coming back. That means you probably won't read this incredible website again. Now no one is happy. Let's change that.

Grouse Mountain
Worth It or Not Worth It: Worth it

Grouse Mountain is a little more expensive than most Vancouver tourist attractions at $30 per person. For that you get a gondola ride up the mountain and back down. Once up on Grouse Mountain no matter what time of the year it is, as long as its a clear day you get the most amazing view of the city that Vancouver has to offer. There is a pretty good restaurant "The Observatory", which is a little expensive but you get a seat and a great view 3700 feet above the city.

In the winter expect it to be busy with snowboarders and skiers. But there is ice pond skating, at christmas the is a santa clause house setup, with real reindeer. All year long there is a grizzly bear complex as well as timber wolves.

In the summer its a little easier to walk around, plus there's a little more to do if you aren't into winter sports. There is helicopter tours, hang gliding, animal shows, and they dry run the ski lift so you can go down and back up the other side of the mountain, on a clear day you can see all the to Mount Baker in Washington.

Capilano Suspension Bridge
Worth It or Not Worth It: Not worth it

This bridge is way over hyped, at $30 per person skip it. Instead go to Lynn Valley in North Vancouver as well which is home to the Lynn Valley Suspension bridge. This bridge was built in 1912 and is 166 ft above ground. The best part is the price, you can't beat free. As a bonus this bridge also leads to lots of cool hiking trails.

Vancouver Aquarium
Worth It or Not Worth It: Worth it

Located in Stanley Park, The Aquarium is $20 per person, and is pretty cool. There are enough exhibits to keep you busy for a full day. The Beluga and Dolphin shows are aimed mostly at kids, but just watching them do their own thing is pretty cool. The food here is crazy expensive and not good, so make sure you fill up before you leave and sneak some snacks in. Don't miss the downstairs windows where you can see into the big tanks which aren't very advertised.

Stanley Park
Worth It or Not Worth It: Worth it

Stanley Park is a world famous, 1000 acre rainforest located just on the downtown limits on your way to the Lionsgate bridge. There are many ways to see Stanley Park, which is filled is giant redwood trees. You can rollerblade or bike around the sea wall, you can just walk through the many paths in the park, you can even get pulled in a carriage by huge Clydesdale horses, you decide.

Vancouver Zoo
Worth It or Not Worth It: 100% not worth it

This Zoo is terrible. It's far out of the way, it's expensive (probably because once you are out there, you have no choice but to pay their admission and eat their food) and the exhibits are incredibly boring. I think I remember about nine deer cages. Nine! Save your time, save your money, go rent Madagascar and call it day.

Dr Sun-Yet Classical Chinese Garden
Worth It or Not Worth It: Worth it

The Chinese Garden is nice to look at, but after you pay your $8 per person to get into the paid area then you realize that you pretty much could have seen it all from the free area which has an entrance south east of the paid entrance. Take some pictures in the free area, save your money and buy me a drink to thank me.

Art Gallery
Worth It or Not Worth It: Tough call

You know, this is a hard one to review because the admission and what you will see inside largely depends and what is being shown at that time. I'm leaving this up to you.

Go For a Walk!

Chinatown - Learn about a different culture, see cool shops, and take pictures in front of ducks hanging in windows.

Gastown - Awesome shopping, see a steam clock as it tells you the time, grab some good food in Vancouver's first neighborhood.

Granville Island - Cool little markets, good food, great views.

Robson Street - Shopping mecca, tons of food from all cultures, lots of Vancouver's most beautiful people.

Vancouver is widely known as a city that you can be kayaking in the morning, walking on the beach at lunch, skiing in the afternoon and hit a nightclub at night. Make sure to take advantage of everything this beautiful city has to offer.