Vancouver

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Vancouver is the third largest city in Canada. Located on the West Coast in British Columbia, very close to Seattle on the other side of the border, it is one of the warmest cities in the country and features some great vistas and outdoor activities.


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Meetings

Last updated: October 31, 2007

Having been inspired by such regular weekly meetings as Thursday nights at Revival in New York City, Vancouver Couchsurfers are now holding regular weekly meetings. Check here to find out where and when the next meeting will be held. We encourage all couchsurfers and friends of the CS community to join us when they are in town! All other meetings are discussed in the Vancouver Couch Surfer's group.

This week: Brick House, 730 Main Street. Tuesday @ 20:00 (8pm)

'Past weeks: Tuesday, October 22, 2007 - Library Square Pub, 350 W. Georgia St. www.couchsurfing.com/meetings.html?mid=4308

Tuesday, September 25, 2007 - Backstage Lounge, 1585 Johnston Street (on Granville Island) http://www.thebackstagelounge.com/ http://www.couchsurfing.com/meetings.html?mid=4193

Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - Ivanhoe Pub, 1038 Main Street http://www.couchsurfing.com/meetings.html?mid=4094

Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - The Kingston Pub, 755 Richards Street http://www.couchsurfing.com/meetings.html?mid=3946


"Alright. Having coordinated, synchronized, schemed, plotted, and planified, Erin and I have scoured, scrubbed, washed, pressed, and dried the downtown core in an effort to find the best place for weekly get togethers.

In our humble opinions the first choice is the Kingston, followed by the one at Library Square. Name forgotten. note to self: sample less from each pub.

So in order to give people time to spread the word we agreed that the best time for the first meeting will be in exactly one week on the 11th and will repeat infinitum ad nauseum every Tuesday thereafter.

Since this is the inaugural weekly meeting, we ask that if you have a snorkle, goggles, face mask, or other funny eyewear then please bring it so that we can identify you easily.

So we hope to see you there and don't forget to bring a smile and your latest couchsurfer(s). Spread the word!" - Dan Royer

City Layout

The layout of Vancouver is easy to grasp as it follows a grid pattern like many North American cities. The East/West running streets are generally called by numbers with 1st Ave being in the north and the numbers getting bigger towards the South. The North/South Streets have real names and so harder to work out. 1st Ave goes just under the downtown area and so north of it are streets with real names but there aren't too many so you shouldn't get too lost. You can work out an address location from the house number pretty easy as house number 1 is at the north end of the street, always! The east/west numbers start at Main street and spread out to the east or west from there. Thats why its always good to ask that if it is a number named street like 4th Ave if the address is on West 4th or East 4th. (You'll get good at directions in Van but if in doubt remember that the mountains are to the north). There are always 100 numbers per block and so you can count the number of blocks you have to walk by counting the hundreds from where you are to where you're going. Most people have huge house numbers on their houses to make it nice for you to find.

Transport

There is a comprehensive bus and train system covering Vancouver known as the Greater Vancouver Transit Authority, or Translink. Translink runs buses, the SkyTrain light rail, and the Seabus from downtown to North Vancouver.

The area serviced by Translink is split into three "zones". Travelling in a single zone costs less than travelling between different zones. After 18:30 and on Sundays you can travel to any zone on the cheapest one zone ticket which costs $2.25 and is valid for 1.5 hours.

The SkyTrain light rail system is completely automated and there are no barriers or checkpoints although the transport police occasionally search trains and ask for tickets. The fine for not having a valid ticket is $150. You can buy a single ticket at SkyTrain stations. Skytrain tickets and bus tickets are the same thing so you can go from train to bus and back at no extra charge.

When boarding buses you must provide exact change, however, bus drivers are pretty friendly and often let you get away with it if you look like a tourist.

There are 2 main express bus routes that run North/South from the airport to Downtown (98 B-line) and East/West along Broadway (99 B-line) (just south of downtown). They are very quick but move a long distance between stops, so you need to plan ahead.

Taxis are not too expensive. A ride to downtown from the airport costing $30 to $40. (The same trip can be done by bus.)

Guides

Translink offers a trip planning guide. So Does Google.

Annual Events and Festivals

Last updated: September 11, 2007

Olympics: Vancouver 2010

Sports

Attractions

Beaches

Parks & Hiking

Food

Night life

Tips

Seasons

Vancouver is an excellent place for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, kayaking, sailing, and other sports. As such many of the residents here are very active and healthy. In summer the weather is generally fine and so there are plenty of things to do and see. In Winter it can rain for weeks on end and unless you have the money and ability to ski or board, there is very little to do. If you are able to go skiing then there are many resorts, some of which are very near to the city. Locals who do not ski in the winter seem to favour playing video games and watching large screen televisions. And hockey.

420 & Beer

Smoking marijuana is popular in Vancouver. There is not much of a pub or drinking culture and alcohol is expensive compared to other parts of Canada and the US. If you like beer they do serve very good and reasonably priced Guiness at The Irish Heather in Gastown.

Transportation

Public transportation in Vancouver is generally frequent and reliable. Though transit service is less frequent on weekends than it is on weekdays, the major routes still have good service. The Greater Vancouver area is divided into three transit zones. Travel within any one zone will cost $2.25, travel between 2 zones is $3.25, and travel over all 3 zones is $4.50. Once your fare is paid, you can travel on bus, Skytrain, and Seabus as much as you like for 1.5 hours. In January 2008, transit fares will increase to $2.50, $3.50, and $5.00 respectively. See Translink's website for schedules and information here.

Biking around the city is common. There are designated bicycle routes throughout the city. For a map of these routes and other information see here. Bike rentals can be found at Bayshore Bike Rentals, Spokes Bicycle Rentals, Reckless Bike Stores to name a few.

Taxi service in Vancouver can be frustrating at times, particularly in the late evening or early morning hours. If you are out late and intend to take a cab home that evening, you should allow at least 30 minutes between when you call for one and when you want it to arrive. That being said, you may have the experience of your taxi arriving far quicker than you anticipated. Taxi's can be hailed street side as well.

As with any major city, car rentals are easy to come by. Some major rental companies are: Budget,

Internet

There is free internet access at Spartacus Books as well as comfy couches. This volunteer-run bookstore, located on the 2nd floor of 319 W Hastings (@ Cambie Street), has been around over 30 years. There are free Wifi hotspots all over town, including almost every coffee shop.

Food can be expensive but if you are on a tight budget simply find a decent pizza by-the-slice joint such as 2001 Flavours at Dunsmuir and Seymour ($1.25 per slice).

If you only have limited time here then do not listen to folks that tell you to go to Granville Island Market, The Art Gallery, or Robson Street. They are nice but no different from any other market or gallery. What distinguishes Vancouver is its natural environment. Get on a bike, go for a hike, or take a ferry to Victoria.

Travelling from the USA

Crossing the border can be difficult. If you have

  • No fixed address
  • No money in your bank account
  • No job
  • No plan about where you are staying in Canada
  • No idea when you will be back
  • Shabby appearance

it will make border guards nervous enough to search all your stuff, drop most of it on the ground, etc. The further the distance you have travelled (eg from California) the more suspicious they become. Try to look presentable and have a concrete story that makes you sound like an employed & contributing member of society (whether or not it's true).

Trivia

The Nine O'clock gun

Other wikis


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