Visiting Vancouver BC & San Juan Islands

[dmede]

I'm going to Vancouver BC and the San Juan Islands in three weeks for my honey moon. Anybody got any tips on things to see? Nautical and otherwise?

Were satying in Vancouver near Stanley Park on English Bay and we'll also be staying on both San Juan Island and Orcas Island. It's an 8 day trip.

I'm looking for some good local food & drink. A place to buy a cuban cigar or two (one I can trust). Some good walks, good views, that kind of stuff.

thanks,
dave

[paladin]

yure on your honemoon and ya wanna go sightseeing......I hope she likes boats or your liable to have a short marriage....:D :D

[Thorne]

Don't miss the Heffenweisen beer at Friday Harbor -- Pub nearest the harbor. Of course the gardens at Victoria if at all possible, big hit with the ladies if nothing else. Nainamo is a great place to visit also.

Be ready for the **serious** tidal changes! They caught me by surprise several times, once I went for a stroll and came back to find the inflatable (which I had left tied to a log well above the waterline) now nearly submerged with only the transom pointing up out of the water. Luckily the painter was tied with a pull-loop and lead up the beach so I didn't have to swim it...

[Nanoose]

I'd really encourage you to not miss Victoria - beautiful place, surrounded by water...some Olde English charm...Butchart Gardens.

[Don Kurylko]

A walk around the StanleyPark sea wall. It's the best! Visit the Aquarium while you’re at it. Oh yeah, a walk across the Lions Gate bridge. Scary! Gondola ride up GrouseMountain. Fantastic view, if it’s not raining. Capalaino Canyon suspension bridge. Cheap thrills. GranvilleIsland is fun to explore too. A drive out to HorseshoeBay and WhycliffPark, via Marine Drive in lower West Van, is a nice way to spend an afternoon. See http://www.katkam.ca/ (http://www.katkam.ca/) for more. Happy Honeymoon! :)

[dmede]

yure on your honemoon and ya wanna go sightseeing......I hope she likes boats or your liable to have a short marriage....:D :D

Hey I got eight days up there, if I don't get out of bed for at least a couple of 'um I'm liable to get hurt!

[Bob Smalser]

Our honeymoon 30+ years ago was at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, and I still recommend it and Vancouver Island, as a side trip if nothing else.

http://www.hotel--canada.com/empresslg.jpg

Victoria has more of the flavor of England than The City of Vancouver.

[Lew Barrett]

Here's a third vote for Vancouver Island and especially Victoria (as well as Vancouver of course). Victoria is very charming, certainly tourist oriented (but then....you're tourists) easily worth 2 or 3 days and I think the most cosmopolitan destination of the bunch. You will think you're in a small English city. Old Morris Cigars (I think that's them) on Government Street (Victoria) has a fabulous collection, but your socks will roll up and down and your bow tie will rotate when you get the bill. Still, probably worth it, I guess.
C*&an cigars are as yuo note, legal there (but of course for an American, smoking them isn't) but I won't tell. There are a number of good cigar stores in Vancouver, no deals available anywhere, let your fingers do the walking or ask at the hotel where the nearest real tobacconist is. I think I got some on Denmen (sp?) Street a few years back. Same deal with the rotating bow tie and socks. Just do it and enjoy one for me. You won't have any difficulty finding them...they're around. Buy a Monte #2 or a good old Punch Punch. Can't go wrong with those.
With 8 days, and all three destinations in mind, I'd spend 3 in Vancouver...go to Granville Island, visit the nautical antiques shop there....and get a couple of good "old country" cigars for puffing as you stroll. Have some Chinese food, some of it reputed to be the best in North America (if you know the right spots).
Victoria; The aforementioned Old Morris Cigars, and The Maritime Museum of BC, right downtown and a few blocks from the Smalser's recommended Empress, has great ships' models, a 20" WWI torpedo, replica sailing vessles; Bofurs guns, great nautical art and artifacts, a fun couple of hours for you, probably tolerable for your bride. You're going off season, probably a good thing in some ways. The inner Harbour is sweet, eco tourisim whale watching rides readily available.
Truly, the San Juans (for tourists) are best by boat. There's not a ton to do most places but nice vistas abound; the usual spots will be recommended. Stuart Island has a nice marine park with potential whale watching from the shore (walk to the lighthouse) at some times of the year, great little nature trail; but only if you're a camper as there's no hotel or facilities there. As Thorne says, Friday Harbor is the big town. Four blocks big as far as commercial interest is concerned. All the good wooden boats will, mostly, be hidden away. Also on San Juan Island (for honeymooners) is Roche Harbor and the "famous" Hotel De Haro. Worth a night maybe, no more. "The Duck Soup Inn" was one of SJ's top restaurants a few years back; I suspect it still is. Great place for a splurge if you're looking for a fine meal. I googled them; they're still there. Even have a page: http://www.ducksoupinn.com/. Highly recommended. On Orcas there's Rosario Resort: same comments apply as to Hotel De Haro more or less. They have a big Sunday buffet brunch that's pretty well attended if you're there across a weekend. Not worth the trip if you're not there already, but that's just me. There are bed and breakfasts squirreled away in different spots, probably worth looking into. A personal favorite of mine is Deer Harbor, but then we go by boat; I'm unclear what facilities might be there for car/ferry tourists.
The Islands are great in nice weather, but if it's foul, which it could be until well into June, you'll be traipsing around in cold rain. Bear that in mind before dismissing Victoria out of hand. Congratulations by the way!
Lew

[pcford]

"Truly, the San Juans (for tourists) are best by boat. "

He could take one of those green and white boats to Vancouver island.
(Washington state ferry.)

Also, I have to disagree with your lack of enthusiasm for Roche Harbor.
Have spent several days hanging out there. Nice and easy.

[WFK]

Hi Dave,

I live on Orcas, ....... so if there's anything I can do to help with your itinerary get a hold of me, and if you have time, you'll need to come by the shop. There's lots to see!
A trip up Mt. Constitution is a must as it's the highest point in the Sanjuans and if you like I can give you more info into restaurants and lodgings as well.

Bill

[Bill Childs]

If you get to the Front Street Ale House in Friday Harbor have a Raging Main Ale or two. It makes dealing with all the tourists much easier.

[Brian Granger]

I must say - there are not really any *bad* parts of the San Juans. Some of my favorites...

San Juan Island:

- Early morning at the Lime Kiln Cafe in Roche Harbor they make amazing fresh doughnuts. Can't be beat. I think they open at 8 or 7 in the summer (after late June).

- The entire west coast of San Juan Island is absolutely beautiful and there are few people there. Wide open views of the water and no one else around. This is also one of the good spots for seeing the killer whale pods from the land.

Orcas Island:

- I must agree with the earlier post that the view (and sunsets) from Mt. Constitution are amazing.

- If you like places off the beaten track, check out Olga.

Enjoy.

Brian

[Rick Starr]

Last fall we traveled a quarter of the way around the earth to see Vancouver Island and would do so again in a minute. If time and resources allow, definitely see the pacific coast of the island.

[Lew Barrett]

Maybe I'm jaded? I was certainly considering it as a boater; expensive moorage, lousy anchorage (too busy). Good boat watching (but probably not at this time of year) For me, too much the ersatz resort destination (in season; might be more relaxed at this time of year) for my taste, but each to their own and you're certainly entitled;) . I'd sooner Stuart Island, Deer Harbor, or other Orcas location. Anyway, I gave it an OK for a night as the Hotel De Haro would be nice for honeymooners. I still think if you come all the way here and have 8 days there's no reason to skip Vancouver Island. Yup, could take the Ferry to Victoria and go to Morris Cigars! Hey, no misses on this trip, it will all be good; even better if the weather cooperates.
Lew



"Truly, the San Juans (for tourists) are best by boat. "
Also, I have to disagree with your lack of enthusiasm for Roche Harbor.
Have spent several days hanging out there. Nice and easy.

[dmede]

Thanks for the tips everybody.

And thanks for the offer Bill. Were's your shop? Maybe we'll get a chance to stop by. We have our accomodations all taken care of but if you got a tip on a great place to eat in Orcas I'll try it :D

dave

[katz]

Don't forget the famous St. Roch Schooner at the Vancouver Maritime Museum. She is currently berthed at the museum.

"St. Roch, wooden schooner powered by sails and an auxiliary engine, launched in North Vancouver in Apr 1928 for ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE operations in the Arctic. Under the command of Sergeant Henry A. LARSEN, it sailed 23 June 1940 from Vancouver to traverse the NORTHWEST PASSAGE.

Taking a treacherous southerly route through the arctic islands, it was trapped in the ice for 2 winters and did not reach Halifax until 11 Oct 1942. It was the second vessel, after Roald AMUNDSEN's Gjoa, to traverse the Northwest Passage, and the first to make the voyage west to east.

The St. Roch returned to Vancouver by a more northerly route, through LANCASTER SOUND and Barrow Strait, in only 86 days (22 July-16 Oct 1944). This voyage made it the first vessel to negotiate the passage both ways. The exploits of the St. Roch strengthened Canadian ARCTIC SOVEREIGNTY.

In 1950 the St. Roch made a southern voyage and thus became the first ship to circumnavigate North America. It was purchased by the city of Vancouver in 1954 and permanently berthed at the Maritime Museum. The federal government declared the St. Roch a national HISTORIC SITE in 1962. "

Author ROGER SARTY

The Canadian Encyclopedia © 2006 Historica Foundation of Canada