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/31947 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/31947 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22282 While there you could WWOOF, which is a voluntarily work scheme in which you work for food and accommodation, usually five hours a day. A brilliant way to meet the locals and save money.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22282 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9013
The tour was guided by a naturalist, very knowledgeable about marine life and the area, using underwater hydrophones to capture the noise of the whales in their pods communicating with each other. There were also related books and articles from the National Geographic on board. You get plenty of time to walk around and stand in the back part of the un-enclosed boat and watch the whales and the otherwise unreachable parts of Canada's coastline.

I recommend this tour wholeheartedly. There are many whale watching tours advertised in Vancouver, most of them picturing speedboats with tourists in wetsuit outfits! If your thing is more laid back, to walk about the boat and photograph what you see, appreciate the stunning environment and relax (in your own clothes!) then this is the tour for you.

We were lucky enough to see three pods of whales travelling close to each other, killer whales and sea lions (respecting the regulations of distance of boats by law) and part of the money you pay for the tour goes to the research and protection of these amazing creatures.

My top tips: hats, gloves, a bottle of water and a snack bar for your pocket (you travel a long way out and are gone a few hours), leave the digital camera at home in favour of your old APS film camera (I had much better pictures on that than my mum on her digital camera- the shutter speeds are too slow on digital to capture the best of shots). And on that note, as our guide poignantly pointed out - don't miss what you are seeing because you are watching it through the camera lens. You can download brilliant pictures from the website!

I did this trip with my mum. I am planning to return to Vancouver and would happily do this excursion alone as a single traveller so don't be put off...]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9013 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6750
The view stretches from the cruise ships on the horizon off to Alaska to the mountains to the city.

The atmosphere of couples and families just relaxing is unbeatable. Truly the best way to see the city's beauty.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6750 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6680 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6680 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6596 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6596 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6552 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6552 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6567 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6567 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6550 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6550 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6504 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6504 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6499 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6499 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6479 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6479 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6466 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6466 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6459 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6459 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6453 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6453 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/6421
The best way to get there from downtown Vancouver is by taking the Seabus from Waterfront Station in Gastown (a 15 minute ferry ride costing $3.25 and is valid on all buses for 90 minutes). You arrive at Lonsdale Quay, a smaller version of Granville Island, but this is just the jumping off point for a whole range of activities. You can use your ferry ticket to take a bus to Grouse Mountain & take the cable car up to see the bears they have there. You can take a different bus to Lynn Valley & hike through forested trails. You can take yet another bus and browse the Persian stores on Lonsdale Avenue & end up at Brazza's (19th and Lonsdale) for a Cappucino and a gelato. The more energetic of you can take a bus to Lighthouse park in West Vancouver. A 30 minute hike through ancient forest rewards you with a view over the waters at the edge of Howe Sound, to downtown Vancouver.

If you are really committed to do something extensive like visit Whistler, then you probably have to drive. Take the Lions' Gate bridge from downtown Vancouver and follow the highway & signs there (don't forget to gasp in admiration at the North Shore mountains as you cross the bridge). You must appoint a designated driver who will watch the treacherous highway 99 (Sea to Sky Highway) while everyone else oohs and ahhs at the view up Howe Sound to the glaciers at the top.

I live in North Vancouver & I think it represents the more natural side of the city.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6421 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6418 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6418 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6415 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6415 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6311
From late November to early April (depending on the snow, of course) this is the closest and most accessible of the downtown ski resorts. For the ultimate Grouse Mountain experience you have to go after dark. Take the 6pm cable car for cheaper tickets, rent your skis at the top and head off down The Cut for what is, in my opinion anyway, the most stunning night time view you will ever get from a ski run. Laid out before you twinkling away is the entirety of Vancouver and on a clear night you can see right out to the ships in the Burrard Inlet. Fantastic.

Follow it up with a few Rickards Reds in the great mountain-top restaurant before catching the last cable car down (about 11pm).]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/6311