Thank you both for responding.
First,
@ Eco_jt, beware that this is a poor time of year to visit: cold, sleet, and rain, maybe even a cold snap with wind and snow.
For that reason, Stanley Park (a great city park if I may add) is not as inviting as it otherwise would be. Also, the 2006 hurricane tore out a lot of big trees.
However, Prospect Point is a good viewpoint, and there is a good restaurant there. Also in Stanley Park is the Ferguson Point Teahouse.
For shopping, the city is OK, but Robson Street and area has the most high-end stores in town. The Robson Square complex is our main civic centre and is worth a visit.
Be sure to ride our rapid transit and compare it to yours. The Canada Line is the newest Line, and runs from downtown to the Airport, as well as to the mainly-Asian suburb of Richmond. With a day or week transit pass, you can ride the other parts ofthe rail system and get a feeling of the city.
The Museum of Anthropology at UBC is worth a look. Centuries-old Indian art.
Gastown (you have the equivalent in Portland, so it's not that big a deal)
Granville Island. The Market.
Check out the airport and compare it to yours. (remember, both cities are about 2.25 m in pop)
English Bay and Beach Avenue. The West End. Simon Fraser Univeristy.
Across the Lions Gate Bridge to the North Shore. Deep Cove in North Vancouver. The British properities in West Vancouver.
Commercial Drive and "Little Italy." (stop for a cappucino)
South of the city, in the Municipality is the fishing village of Steveston. Real maritime flavour. Charming with great seafood restaurants.
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@Zilfondel: Vancouver real estate looks much like real estate in most other cities, except that it is one of the priciest towns in N. America.
You'll see condominiums, and mid-sized houses going for $600,000, and lots of larger homes and big condos in highrises going for well over $ a million.
This is being fueled largely by offshore investors from Asia, but Vancouver has always been rather expensive anyway, due to to the land shortage.
Check out the Regional Town Centres to see how we handle density issues.
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To both of you, hope this helps, and get back to me if you'd like. I'd beinterested in your feedback, either here, or on the Vancouver page of SSP,
(or send me a private message if you'd prefer... that's even better)
Anyway ... Bon Voyage !!
