http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18993 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18993 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6552 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6552 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6566 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6566 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6508
It's a perfect place to sit and watch the world go by, read the papers or eat away a hangover!!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6508 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6445
In the summer you can see turtles floating in the ponds and the flowers are stunning.

The guided tours are free and really interesting.

Well worth popping into especially if you happen to be in China town.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6445 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6437
Farther north on Main is also lovely, but quite different. Between about 33rd and 16th it has plenty of antique shops, second hand stores and cute little stores selling home furnishings and accessories (no chain stores). Between 16th and Seventh it's more eclectic, with some very good second-hand stores (the Salvation Army is on 12th just east of Main) and cafes. Urban Source, at 16th and Main, is a fantastic resource for craft supplies: they recycle industrial leftovers, and the results and the offerings are irresistable.

The strange triangle between Fraser, Main and Broadway is known as Dysfunction Junction, and hosts 2 outstanding second-hand bookstores, literary cafe Our Town, a pool hall, a neon art cafe, and several hole-in-the-wall galleries and restaurants. The Jem gallery is a particular gem; a recent exhibit featured the work of I.Braineater, an outstanding local artist.

Farther north again, Loomis arts and crafts superstore is an awesome place for paper junkies. Just to the west is the Seawall; you can go on the south side all the way to Kitsilano, or you can take the north side and go up to Yaletown, English Bay, and Stanley Park. If you know some tricks you can connect with Portside Road and skate all the way from Science World (near Loomis) to Stanley Park and back to the foot of Main street, a loop of about ten miles if you don't also skate around the park itself. And it's all on the Seawall, away from traffic, except for a mile along Portside Road.

North along Main is Chinatown, and then at the very foot of Main street is the Viaduct which will give you a fantastic view of the mountains, North Vancouver, and Downtown. It will also take you to Crab Park (closed after 10pm) which is the only beach on the Downtown Eastside, and features nesting eagles and hawks, seals in the water, and a marvelous break from city noise.

Nearby, on Alexander just west of Main is the Alibi Room, a very arty place with a very hot crowd, very good food, and very original (and tasty) cocktails. Open late, and for great Saturday brunch, but the DJ might be a bit loud if you're hungover. Not that I would know what that's like.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6437 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6434
See the Sun Yat-Sen garden and park, the Chinese Cultural Centre, and Pender Street between Carrall and Gore. Keefer Street is also Chinatown, between Columbia and Gore, and in the summer (late May-September) on Friday and Saturday nights it's closed to host the street market. This features entertainment, games, children's rides (dinky ones, but fun) and lots of bargains along the cheap bag/sunglasses/clothing line.

Good restaurants include Goldstone on Keefer (closes early), Hon's on Keefer, and Gain Wah on Keefer, which is open late. Great groceries are to be had at many of the local stores, or the local Asian supermarket, T&T, on Keefer near the Stadium Skytrain station.

After the street market (which runs till nine or so) walk over to La Casa Gelato on Venables and get one of their 200+ flavours of ice cream: rocky road, yes, but also durian, basil and pernod, or gorgonzola.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6434 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6406 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6406 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3178 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3178 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/741 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/741 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6498
It's a tasty and fun experience. And it's only around £12 per person. It gets busy though, so either make reservations or be willing to wait a while (it's worth it!).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6498 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6447
Trout lake is beautiful in all seasons. You can walk the perimeter of the lake taking in the breathtaking views of the rocky mountains with the echoes of children giggling whilst paddling in the water.

You will find Vancouverites riding bikes, reading books, sunbathing, swimming and occasionally even a samba band practicing!

In the summer it houses one of the best farmers markets in British Columbia.

Good place to visit if you need to warm your heart and soul.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6447 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6439 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6439 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6428 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6428 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6416 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6416 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6234 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6234 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3177 If you go around back, there's a bar that sometimes never closes full of students. Apparently smoking friendly too.

The Brickhouse
730 Main St, Vancouver
Lo-Fi place to relax on some couches, shoot pool and drink in a non BS atmosphere. meet girls and actually be able to talk to them without blasting garbage House music. No idea when it closes. Sometimes 5:00am, sometimes 2:00am.

The Templeton Restaurant
Monday night is movie night. See a movie still in theatres and get blasted on $9 pitchers of ale. It's a diner, but all the food is organic and tasty.

Arts backstage lounge (on Granville Island).
Take a $2.50 ferry ride to granville island from beach avenue. check out the best patio in Vancouver. Full of Emily Carr students, and a secret place to watch the fireworks if you don't want to brave the ridiculous crowds of drunk teenagers.

Butchershop on Main St.
All sorts of stuff goes on here like midnight movies, local artists, great people.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3177 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3176 www.livemusicvancouver.com

The best hostel in the city (during the summer) is the Jericho Beach Hostel. They organize all sorts of bar-crawls, vollyball and the usual BS. Plus it's a giant dorm right on the beach.

However, if you're coming here anywhere outside of summer, stay here www.samesun.com/vancouver_hostel.html or check out the Cambie Hostel/Bar. Both Hostels have good bars with cheap $6-10 pitchers of beer, full of ex-pats, and opportunities to go into the interior/Banff ect. The Cambie is a rowdy dive of a bar, so expect picnic tables, and lot's of beer being tossed everywhere by 19-23yr olds.

There are a few smaller hotels around Robson St. for about $90CAD a night. There's a million luxury hotels such as the Opus Hotel, and Hotel Vancouver (google for info).

For restaurants, you can either score $0.99 sushi on Davie St or check this www.straight.com/content.cfm?id=12744 (Best of Vancouver).

420!
Contrary to popular belief, it's not 100% legal here. However use common sense and you'll be fine. There are a few cafes around town, and an actual store operating called 'Vancouver Connection'. Read this magazine: www.cannabisculture.com/ and ask around the forum.

Get on the skytrain and get off on Broadway St. Make your way down commercial drive towards the water and you'll come across a billion artist-run centres/cafes/bars galore.

If you really want to do something awesome, look for vacation cabins along Shushwap Lake, Christina Lake, or the millions of other cabins. Rent a boat and party till the sun comes up on the beach in Osoyoos or whatever. Not cheap :(

Finally, if you want to check out local punk/metal bands, meet awesome people and drink the cheapest booze on the planet go here www.thecobalt.net]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/3176 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/1461 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/1461 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/1460 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/1460