02_836849 ftoc.qxd 6/9/05 6:38 PM Page vii Contents at a Glance Introduction...................................................1 Part I: Introducing Vancouver and Victoria .....7 Chapter 1: Discovering the Best of Vancouver and Victoria ..........................................................................9 Chapter 2: Digging Deeper into Vancouver and Victoria ....17 Chapter 3: Deciding When to Go ..........................................23 Part II: Planning Your Trip to Vancouver and Victoria ............................................29 Chapter 4: Managing Your Money ........................................31 Chapter 5: Getting to Vancouver and Victoria ....................40 Chapter 6: Catering to Special Travel Needs or Interests ........................................................................49 Chapter 7: Taking Care of the Remaining Details ................57 Part III: Vancouver ......................................71 Chapter 8: Arriving and Getting Oriented ..........................73 Chapter 9: Checking In at Vancouver’s Best Hotels ............87 Chapter 10: Dining and Snacking in Vancouver ................108 Chapter 11: Exploring Vancouver ........................................140 Chapter 12: Shopping the Local Stores ..............................165 Chapter 13: Following an Itinerary: Four Great Options ....182 Chapter 14: Going Beyond Vancouver: Three Great Day Trips ....................................................190 Chapter 15: Living It Up After Dark: Vancouver’s Nightlife ............................................................................200 Part IV: Victoria ........................................213 Chapter 16: Arriving and Getting Oriented ........................215 Chapter 17: Checking In at Victoria’s Best Hotels ............224 Chapter 18: Dining and Snacking in Victoria ......................239 ChapterCOPYRIGHTED 19: Discovering Victoria’s BestMATERIAL Attractions ........258 Chapter 20: Shopping the Local Stores ..............................271 Chapter 21: Following an Itinerary: Two Great Options ....280 Chapter 22: Living It Up After the Sun Goes Down: Victoria Nightlife ............................................................284 02_836849 ftoc.qxd 6/9/05 6:38 PM Page viii Part V: The Part of Tens .............................293 Chapter 23: Ten Things You Can’t Live Without in Vancouver ....................................................................295 Chapter 24: Ten Things You Can’t Live Without in Victoria ........................................................................299 Chapter 25: Ten Celebrities You Didn’t Realize Were from the Area ........................................................302 Appendix: Quick Concierge ........................307 Index.........................................................317 02_836849 ftoc.qxd 6/9/05 6:38 PM Page ix Maps at a Glance Greater Vancouver..............................................................................76 Vancouver Accommodations ............................................................92 Vancouver Dining and Snacking......................................................110 Vancouver Attractions ....................................................................142 Greater Vancouver Attractions ......................................................145 Vancouver Shopping ........................................................................166 Itinerary #1: Vancouver for Beer Lovers........................................183 Itinerary #3: Vancouver for Nature Lovers....................................187 Exploring Beyond Vancouver..........................................................193 Vancouver Nightlife ..........................................................................202 Victoria Neighborhoods ..................................................................219 Victoria’s Best Hotels ......................................................................225 Victoria Dining and Snacking ..........................................................241 Victoria Attractions ..........................................................................259 Victoria Shopping ............................................................................273 Victoria Nightlife ..............................................................................287 02_836849 ftoc.qxd 6/9/05 6:38 PM Page x 02_836849 ftoc.qxd 6/9/05 6:38 PM Page xi Table of Contents Introduction..................................................1 About This Book ..............................................................2 Conventions Used in This Book ....................................2 Foolish Assumptions ......................................................3 How This Book Is Organized ..........................................4 Part I: Introducing Vancouver and Victoria .......4 Part II: Planning Your Trip to Vancouver and Victoria ........................................................4 Part III: Vancouver .................................................4 Part IV: Victoria .....................................................5 Part V: The Part of Tens .......................................5 Icons Used in This Book .................................................5 Where to Go from Here? .................................................6 Part I: Introducing Vancouver and Victoria .....7 Chapter 1: Discovering the Best of Vancouver and Victoria ...............................................................9 Vancouver’s Best .............................................................9 Best hotels .............................................................9 Best restaurants and food experiences ...........10 Best attractions ...................................................11 Best adventures ..................................................12 Best shopping ......................................................12 Best escapes .........................................................13 Victoria’s Best ................................................................13 Best hotels ...........................................................13 Best restaurants ..................................................13 Best teas ...............................................................14 Best pubs .............................................................14 Best attractions ...................................................15 Best walks ............................................................15 Best shopping ......................................................15 Best escapes ........................................................16 Chapter 2: Digging Deeper into Vancouver and Victoria .............................................................17 Discovering Vancouver’s Highlights ...........................18 Vancouver history 101 ........................................18 Vancouver’s many cultures: Exploring the mosaic ........................................................18 02_836849 ftoc.qxd 6/9/05 6:38 PM Page xii xii Vancouver & Victoria For Dummies, 3rd Edition Building Blocks: Local architecture ..................19 Wild Vancouver: Finding the nature of the business ................................................19 Taste of Vancouver: Local cuisine .....................19 Feeding culture vultures: Arts in Vancouver ...19 Background check: Recommended books ......20 Sampling England in Victoria .......................................20 Victoria history 101 ............................................20 Stately estates: Victoria’s architecture ............21 Walking about: Victoria on foot .........................21 Strolling through gardens ..................................21 Turning in Early in Vancouver and Victoria ...............21 Chapter 3: Deciding When to Go ............................23 Chasing the Rain Away .................................................23 Figuring Out the Secret of the Seasons ......................24 Blooming in spring ..............................................25 Shining in summer ..............................................25 Glowing in autumn ..............................................25 Welcoming in winter ...........................................26 Getting the Lowdown on Vancouver’s Main Events ................................................................26 January/February ...............................................26 March/April ..........................................................26 June .......................................................................27 July and August ...................................................27 September and October .....................................27 Checking Out Victoria’s Main Events ..........................28 June and July .......................................................28 August and September .......................................28 Part II: Planning Your Trip to Vancouver and Victoria ............................................29 Chapter 4: Managing Your Money ..........................31 Adding Up the Costs of Your Trip ...............................31 Lodging .................................................................31 Transportation ....................................................32 Restaurants ..........................................................33 Attractions ...........................................................33 Shopping ..............................................................33 Nightlife ................................................................33