Feedback on our Alaska plans so far please

[sdjen]

Hi! I was hoping some of you that have been to Alaska would be able to give me some tips/feedback on our plans so far. It will be me and my 9 year old daughter traveling.

We will be flying to Vancouver and arriving after 9 PM on Friday 7/31. Staying at the Hyatt on Burrard for 3 nights pre cruise. Found a rate of $145 a night through LMT. I really wanted to stay at the Pan Pacific but they have been sold out for our dates for months and the price would be about triple!

Here is what we want to do Saturday, Sunday and maybe Monday morning. BTW - Saturday night we are going to the Taylor Swift concert at BC Place so we need to be done by about 5 PM with touring on Saturday. Any feedback?

Stanley Park - including aquarium
Grouse Mountain
Capiliano Bridge
Fly Over Canada (thinking this might work the morning we embark??)

Would also like to squeeze in a visit to Steveston Village. This is where Once Upon a Time is filmed and my dd is a huge fan. Looks like a fun place to visit.

We also happen to be there the weekend of the BC day holiday so that may cause us some issues with traffic etc...??

For Alaska

Skagway - booked the Dog sledding and Grizzly Falls Ziplining excursion direct with the company and saved $50 for both my daughter and myself.

Juneau - booked a whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier stop with Dolphin Jet Boat Tours. May try to do the Mt Roberts Tram here if the weather is good.

Ketchikan - booked a helicopter tour with a wildlife landing directly with the company. He recommended a late afternoon tour for optimal animal viewing.

Any advice, tips or feedback would be great! Cannot wait for this trip. Thanks in advance!

 

[bcwife76]

Hi! I was hoping some of you that have been to Alaska would be able to give me some tips/feedback on our plans so far. It will be me and my 9 year old daughter traveling.

We will be flying to Vancouver and arriving after 9 PM on Friday 7/31. Staying at the Hyatt on Burrard for 3 nights pre cruise. Found a rate of $145 a night through LMT. I really wanted to stay at the Pan Pacific but they have been sold out for our dates for months and the price would be about triple!

Here is what we want to do Saturday, Sunday and maybe Monday morning. BTW - Saturday night we are going to the Taylor Swift concert at BC Place so we need to be done by about 5 PM with touring on Saturday. Any feedback?

Stanley Park - including aquarium
Grouse Mountain
Capiliano Bridge
Fly Over Canada (thinking this might work the morning we embark??)

Would also like to squeeze in a visit to Steveston Village. This is where Once Upon a Time is filmed and my dd is a huge fan. Looks like a fun place to visit.

We also happen to be there the weekend of the BC day holiday so that may cause us some issues with traffic etc...??

For Alaska

Skagway - booked the Dog sledding and Grizzly Falls Ziplining excursion direct with the company and saved $50 for both my daughter and myself.

Juneau - booked a whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier stop with Dolphin Jet Boat Tours. May try to do the Mt Roberts Tram here if the weather is good.

Ketchikan - booked a helicopter tour with a wildlife landing directly with the company. He recommended a late afternoon tour for optimal animal viewing.

Any advice, tips or feedback would be great! Cannot wait for this trip. Thanks in advance!

Never been to Alaska so I can't comment, but I live in the Vancouver area so I can comment on that part

Grouse Mtn and Capilano bridge can be done in one day as they are on the same bus route ( you didn't mention renting a car so I assumed you'd be travelling by taxi or bus). Take the seabus across to North Vancouver and then hop on the 246 Highland bus, which will take you to Grouse. I think the 232 also goes there? Check their detailed schedule online.
Since it's the BC day holiday weekend, transit will be operating on a Sunday schedule on the holiday Monday as well.

Stanley Park/Aquarium is kind of a day in itself so might as well do that the day you have the Taylor Swift concert so you can stay in the downtown area.

If you want to do Fly Over Canada (haven't done it myself, no plans to) I'm not sure what you would do with your luggage beforehand??

Steveston is FAR from downtown, not really accessible by transit unless you want to take 2 hours to get there so unless you are renting a car I don't see it being feasible (and not really worth it IMO). How about Granville Island Market instead?

 

[bcwife76]

I also forgot to mention that the annual fireworks festival takes place at the end of July/beginning of August so that might be happening on the Saturday night that you are there. Since that is the night of the concert it probably won't affect you but if you do Stanley Park that day you will notice an extra influx of people as that is near one of the best viewing sights for the fireworks (they usually start at about 10:15 so your concert might still be going anyway). That's probably another reason you found you couldn't book the Pan Pacific - people come from all over to view the fireworks, esp since it's a long weekend. That would be the only reason for extra traffic that weekend (and mostly for the Saturday).

 

[sdjen]

Thanks for the info!

I looked on the translink site and it looks like by Skytrain and then bus it would take about an hour each way to Steveston so maybe Granville island is an easier option. I may let my daughter pick if she wants to do the aquarium or go there

We will not have a car and will be using taxis or public transit during our stay. I was also considering the hop on hop off bus for the weekend also - cant decide if that would be worth it or not?

There are fireworks on Saturday night from what I could find. We will be getting out of the concert about that time so wont count on seeing those.

The Hyatt seems to be the start of the pride parade on that Sunday. Because of that, I was planning on maybe trying to get out to Grouse that morning to avoid the traffic etc...?? What do you think?

Thanks for your help!

one more question - any kid friendly must do places to eat??

 

[bcwife76]

Thanks for the info!

I looked on the translink site and it looks like by Skytrain and then bus it would take about an hour each way to Steveston so maybe Granville island is an easier option. I may let my daughter pick if she wants to do the aquarium or go there

We will not have a car and will be using taxis or public transit during our stay. I was also considering the hop on hop off bus for the weekend also - cant decide if that would be worth it or not?

There are fireworks on Saturday night from what I could find. We will be getting out of the concert about that time so wont count on seeing those.

The Hyatt seems to be the start of the pride parade on that Sunday. Because of that, I was planning on maybe trying to get out to Grouse that morning to avoid the traffic etc...?? What do you think?

Thanks for your help!

one more question - any kid friendly must do places to eat??

I forgot the pride parade is also that weekend! Wow, early August really is a lot busier than when I was a kid LOL That parade goes down Denman so you should also miss that, but again the downtown core would still be very busy with people coming in to attend so yes, go over to North Van that day, first thing in the morning and then plan to spend the whole day over there

How old is your daughter? Restaurants that tend to have good kids menus include White Spot (there is one right on Georgia Street not far from Stanley Park as well as one near Pacific Centre mall), Boston Pizza, Red Robin (there is one on Robson Street not far from your hotel) etc. Hopefully the Beaver Tails shack is open at the top of Grouse Mtn, they are super yummy and uniquely Canadian ;-) There used to be a kiosk in Lonsdale Quay market (where you get the Seabus from) but don't think it's there any more. But Lonsdale Quay is another cute place to walk around, maybe do that on your way back from Grouse before getting the seabus back (if you take that route).

 

[jburge12000]

I would agree with one of the other posts that Stanley Park is an all day trip. We stayed at the Marriott at the base of the bridge that takes you to Grainville Island. We were not prepared that everything at Grainville island closes down at 7:00. Only the fancier restaurants are still open so if you want to see any of the shops or the market, plan on getting their earlier.

We also wanted to do Fly Over Canada the day we left for the cruise but were not able to do it. It might have been easier if we were stating at the Pan Pacific since they would have had our luggage, but by the time we got out of our hotel, returned our rental car across the street from the Pan Pacific, and the dragged our bags to the correct door at Canada Place we ended up just getting on the ship.

 

[jtkboston]

Never been to Alaska so I can't comment, but I live in the Vancouver area so I can comment on that part

Grouse Mtn and Capilano bridge can be done in one day as they are on the same bus route ( you didn't mention renting a car so I assumed you'd be travelling by taxi or bus). Take the seabus across to North Vancouver and then hop on the 246 Highland bus, which will take you to Grouse. I think the 232 also goes there? Check their detailed schedule online.
Since it's the BC day holiday weekend, transit will be operating on a Sunday schedule on the holiday Monday as well.

Stanley Park/Aquarium is kind of a day in itself so might as well do that the day you have the Taylor Swift concert so you can stay in the downtown area.

If you want to do Fly Over Canada (haven't done it myself, no plans to) I'm not sure what you would do with your luggage beforehand??

Steveston is FAR from downtown, not really accessible by transit unless you want to take 2 hours to get there so unless you are renting a car I don't see it being feasible (and not really worth it IMO). How about Granville Island Market instead?

Having taken the seabus and then city bus to Grouse Mtn, I don't recommend it. The first city bus was overcrowded and we had to wait for the next one.
I recommend you buy the mountain's package that includes a bus ride direct from Canada Place. You can book that from the information booth on the plaza.

For Fly Over Canada, doing it the morning bedore embarkation is perfect. I had my mom watch our bags, she didn't want to do the ride.

 

[bcwife76]

DCL might have packages available for tours? Not sure how that works but maybe something to look into.

And with all due respect, unless you are travelling at the height of rush hour (which it sounds like you will not) the 'city buses' will NOT be crowded, you will not have to wait til the next one.Not on a Saturday or Sunday that is for darn sure!

 

[bcwife76]

OP is travelling alone with her 9 year old daughter, there IS no one to watch their luggage while they do Fly Over Canada.

 

[jtkboston]

DCL might have packages available for tours? Not sure how that works but maybe something to look into. And with all due respect, unless you are travelling at the height of rush hour (which it sounds like you will not) the 'city buses' will NOT be crowded, you will not have to wait til the next one.Not on a Saturday or Sunday that is for darn sure!

The bus up to Grouse Mtn was overcrowded on the sunny Saturday in mid-July when we visited. YMMV.

 

[sdjen]

Thanks everyone,

I think we will try to use the first free shuttle to grouse to get there and hopefully avoid the crowds a little

I was hoping that we could drop our luggage and then do Flyover Canada with just carryons but maybe that won't work? I guess we can wait and hope someone posts when the cruise season starts in May if they were able to do this.

Thanks also for the great suggestions!!

 

[sassysocks]

We were also thinking about going to Steveston Village to see the Once Upon a Time set. Has anyone gone there before? What is it like? Is it worth it? I thought someone said it is close to the Vancouver airport. So, I was thinking about heading over there was our plane lands.

 

[pillow]

We were also thinking about going to Steveston Village to see the Once Upon a Time set. Has anyone gone there before? What is it like? Is it worth it? I thought someone said it is close to the Vancouver airport. So, I was thinking about heading over there was our plane lands.

I'm interested in this as well. Looks like its only about 15 minutes from the airport.

Jodie

 

[Kona2012]

We went to Steveston after our Alaska cruise in 2013. The day we got off the ship we were staying in a hotel near the airport so we planned to drive over and walk around. DS and I are huge fans of the show. The rest of my family was like "what the heck are we doing...." But it was very cool! We took a lot of pictures, had lunch at Granny's and while we were there the filming crew came up and were talking through the scenes they were going to be filming in the next few weeks. We were there the end of July. This crew of about twenty were walking throughout the main areas, stopping, discussing scenes, taking notes, taking pictures, etc... We were taking pictures of them and eavesdropping! We also went back there later that night for dinner and ice cream. We walked around the shops and the wharf area. Sat and ice cream with some locals and talked about the filming of the show. They were more interested in my Disney Harvey purse and where to get one. All in all a very cool experience, especially if you are huge fans of the show! It was a great way to end our amazing trip!
Have fun!
Deb

 

[xlxo]

We were also thinking about going to Steveston Village to see the Once Upon a Time set. Has anyone gone there before? What is it like? Is it worth it? I thought someone said it is close to the Vancouver airport. So, I was thinking about heading over there was our plane lands.

Have a look at this map...
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...&noexp=0&noal=0&sort=def&mra=ltm&z=12&start=0

Yes the airport is closer to Steveston than the cruise terminal. I would not say it's close to the airport, but it's not far either. Use Google Maps to assess travel time from where you are staying...

Is it worth it? To satisify a child curiosity for their favourite show.... I would say yes. With a tight timeline.... may be not. The nice thing about coming in the summer.... you have sunlight til 9:30pm to extended your activities. Sometimes you can combine taxi with the Canada Line to get around quicker to save time. In addition to TV and movies (Godzilla) Steveston is famous for the wharfs where you can get fresh seafood. Many go there for Pajo's fish and chips. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LJ4sqgkMS0

For the OP... with fireworks, pride parade congestion and your other tourist activities (Stanley Park, Grouse Mountain).... it will be very tight to fit Steveston in pre-cruise. What are your plans POST-cruise? Depending on your flight times... you might be able to check out Steveston while dragging your luggage along. Hope your daughter are early risers to try and fit everything in. Here's something crazy...

• off the Wonder and catch a taxi
• have the taxi go to Steveston for a drive thru
• pay the taxi driver 15 - 30 minutes to keep the meter running while you do your Steveston sightseeing and he watches the luggage while parked
• get back in the cab and to the airport for check-in

http://www.tourismrichmond.com/things-to-do/once/
http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2013/05/a-once-upon-a-time-fans-guide-to-vancouver/
http://onceuponatime.wikia.com/wiki/Steveston_Village

 

[sdjen]

OP here.

Here is what I am thinking.

Saturday - on the first bus to Grouse (skip Capilano since we are doing ziplining in Alaska). Back in town by mid afternoon and heading to Stanley park and the aquarium. I know we wont see the whole park but I have been told we can get the aquarium done in a couple of hours? Then back to the hotel- dinner maybe on the way and off to the concert.

Sunday - taking Canada Line to the Richmond stop and then either a bus or a cab to Steveston. Trying to get out of town by mid morning to avoid some of the parade crowds. Spending the day there or if we see everything, head back and hit some more Vancouver sites. May try to do Flyover Canada this evening to avoid some of the issues of doing it Monday before we get on the Wonder.

I don't want to be totally exhausted but want to see the sights as much as we can!

The other alternative would be to do Grouse on Sunday and then head to Steveston for the afternoon/evening. Any suggestions as to what would be better?

Thanks so much!

 

[KLK622]

The bus up to Grouse Mtn was overcrowded on the sunny Saturday in mid-July when we visited. YMMV.

We found it overcrowded on an overcast late May afternoon. They were handing out passes for the last bus of the day-luckily we got one. I am not sure how we would have gotten back if we didn't.

We didn't care for Grouse Mtn. and I wouldn't recommend it. The view was about the only cool thing to us-we have a 2 year old, so maybe an older child would find it more impressive?

 

[sdjen]

I want to see the lumberjack show but maybe it's not worth it? I also know it's not worth it if it's cloudy etc...

Thanks

 

[KLK622]

I want to see the lumberjack show but maybe it's not worth it? I also know it's not worth it if it's cloudy etc...

Thanks

We would have missed the last bus back if we had waited to see the only lumberjack show that was playing after we arrived-we probably could have avoided this with more planning (or not using the bus) but with a 2 year old we went when he woke up from his nap To me, the website made it look way cooler of a place than it actually was.

 

[xlxo]

OP here.
Here is what I am thinking.

Saturday - on the first bus to Grouse (skip Capilano since we are doing ziplining in Alaska). Back in town by mid afternoon and heading to Stanley park and the aquarium. I know we wont see the whole park but I have been told we can get the aquarium done in a couple of hours? Then back to the hotel- dinner maybe on the way and off to the concert.

When you say "bus".... I assume that's the shuttle in front of Canada Place (cruise terminal). When you return from Grouse, I know drivers offer an optional stop at Capilano Bridge. There may be a second optional stop at Stanley Park's Chilco entrance.

If you get to Grouse too early.... the shows might not begin until 11am... again check show times at the link below to adjust your arrival times.

Ziplining at Capilano? To clarify, Ziplining is at Grouse. Capilano is a suspension bridge.

We didn't care for Grouse Mtn. and I wouldn't recommend it. The view was about the only cool thing to us-we have a 2 year old, so maybe an older child would find it more impressive?

At $50 each for the trip up.... I can understand your dissappointment if all you saw was the gondola. The secret to enjoying Grouse is to schedule your activities around mountain show times. Check this link in June when the summer activities times are announced each day (lumberjack show, theatre in the sky, eye-of-the-wind, bears, wolves, birds of prey, ziplining, etc...). To see everything can take 4 hours.
https://www.grousemountain.com/plan-your-day

Same thing for the Vancouver Aquarium, you need to plan showtimes when you arrive to get full enjoyment/value...
http://www.vanaqua.org/experience/today