Looking forward to the next two days in Vancouver.

[tuvor]

Visit friends, show off my homemade strawberry wine, make sure English Bay is still beautiful, get my Bollywood DVD fix in Little India, pick up some olive oil soap and cheap olives at the Parthenon, visit the Virgin Megastore one last time before it's gone...

I love living in a small town on Vancouver Island, but MAN, I'm jonesin' for some big-city hustle 'n' bustle!

[tigereye]

1. next time I visit the West Coast

that is where I would like to go. ( just got back from SF two days ago)

Hope you have a great time!

[tuvor]

4. Thanks, tigereye.

It's my old neighbourhood, so I know I will.

Never been to SF, but I understand it and Vancouver are like sister cities.

Ha. "Sister cities". I didn't even mean for that.

[enigmatic]

2. Homemade Strawberry Wine???

I'm there:)

[tuvor]

3. I am such a novice, but it is SO GOOD.

I only have a few bottles left, but I might even enter it in the town fair. Admission is five bucks, top prize is...five bucks.

I'm attempting blackberry wine next. They should be in season in about a week. Never had any myself, but apparently Gordon Lightfoot liked it.

Ever been to Vancouver, enigmatic?

[enigmatic]

5. I was there a night before I came to Edmonton

I wanted to stay longer, but I didn't have time. I want to go back for a few days next year, though..

[tuvor]

6. Yeah...

One day probably isn't enough. :)

[enigmatic]

9. I just went Downtown

And checked out the record stores and had some sushi; it was a good night. And I never had so many people trying to lay some weed on me at one time; it was unbelieveable! Not that I was complaining..

[tuvor]

10. I guess you need something to take the edge off all the Starbucks coffee?

Starbucks--one thing I don't miss about Vancouver.

There're even two kiddie-corner from each other right in the middle of downtown!

[Lisa]

7. looks like a nice blackberry crop coming on the South Island

As long as we don't get any big soakers, they'll have a high sugar content and not go mushy or moldy.

So the wine could have quite a punch, if the trend continues up your way!

[tuvor]

8. Thanks for the good news, Lisa!

It's been dry as a popcorn fart here for the past several days. Fingers crossed.

[grace0418]

11. I'm going to Vancouver August 13 for a week!

I'm so excited. It's my first visit. Got any tips?

[tuvor]

12. yvrgirl and HEyHEY would know more than me, but

I just checked your profile, so I assume there's not much you can get in Vancouver that you can't in Chicago.

That said, I'd check out as much of the nature as possible.

English Bay (specifically where Davie Street meets Denman Street, and look west) is just a joy to behold, and Stanley Park is nearby.

Hell, that's all I can recommend. I know of other places, but that area, the West End, was my neighbourhood for nine years, and we didn't need/have a car to check everything else out.

Oh! Granville Island, a mini-ferry ride away from English Bay. Make sure you go there. Similar to Pike's Market in Seattle.

And although it's bad, it's not particularly unsafe, but be aware of the Downtown East Side and that there are a lot of obvious social problems there.

Hope you have a great time!

[grace0418]

13. Thank you so much! We're staying in the West End, at

Davie and Thurlow, so we'll be sure to check out English Bay. Yes, from what I've seen Vancouver has a lot of the same urban-type attractions that Chicago does, but it has the addition of a beautiful natural environment. I like that mix.

We really enjoyed going to Portland, OR recently because one day we were poking around letterpress studios, bookstores, and art galleries and the next day we were hiking past beautiful waterfalls. I feel like Vancouver will have a similar mix. As nice as the lake is, you just don't get that in Chicago.

Anyway, thanks again for the advice. I will ask around some more.

P.S. We will have a rental car and aren't opposed to day trips in the area, if you have any recommendations there.

[yvr girl]

14. There's tons to do

A day trip to Whistler is always good. The Sea to Sky Highway is a beautiful (if somewhat twisty) drive. Whistler is fun - lots of shopping and great restaurants.

You can try ocean kayaking from Deep Cove or rent a little speedboat from Sewels Marina in Horseshoe Bay.

Granville Island and Stanley Park are must sees.

If you like Shakespeare, you must go to Bard on the Beach. Theatre Under the Stars is also fun. You might also like Theatre Sports.

Check out this site for more info.

http://www.bcpassport.com/