Vancover Canada.

Vito, I'll try to provide some brief answers to your questions.... > Best time of year is anytime it's not raining. No guarantees at any time of the year, but the summer is probably best (although June this year was rather "wet"). > ABSOLUTELY have to see? It would help to know a bit more about your interests, etc. Many visitors like the trip to Grouse Mountain, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Gastown or even a side trip to Victoria (Float Planes available in the harbour) or a day trip to Whistler. > I'm not sure what "isn't" really worth the hype? > Best area to stay - probably downtown in the Burrard / Georgia / Granville street area. > Hotels - it would help to have some idea on your price range and "comfort level". I typically stay at the Sutton Place on trips to Vancouver, but there are LOTS of Hotels in that general area, including the Hotel Vancouver, Four Seasons, Bayshore, Pan Pacific, Hotel Georgia (recently renovated), and Wedgewood. I'll give this some thought, and perhaps add more comments later. Cheers!

Vito A walk thru Stanley Park is a must as well as the sea wall in the park. Ken I am surprised you did not mention this. As Ken said Vancouver is much like Seattle and San Franscico iffy weather. We were there in June 2011 and welcomed great weather.

The University of BC has an anthropology museum with a wonderful collection of NW Coast Indian art and artifacts. Stanley Park is great. We used the aquabus to sail all around False Creek (I think that's the name), then got off on Granville Island to visit the Public Market. I don't remember the price, but an all day pass was quite reasonable. I would put Victoria on the must-see list. Stay over at least a night, preferably two. Visit the Royal British Columbia Museum for another fabulous display of NW Coast Indian art. Have the high tea at the Empress Hotel. If you like gardens, Butchart Gardens is a splendid example. There is a wine scene around both cities. You can visit and taste at a number of wineries. July was a great time to go.

@Shelley, At the time I posted that, I was in a huge rush to get out the door to see The Bourne Legacy, so I just had time to list a brief summary. If Vito could provide some idea on his preferences, it would be easier to offer more specific suggestions. @Vito, You might get some good ideas by having a look at the official Tourism Vancouver website. Depending on your budget, you might consider spending a night or two in Victoria. In addition to Butchart Gardens, you could have a look at the Royal B.C. Museum, take a Buggy ride around the downtown area, or as suggested have afternoon tea at the Empress (very British!). One cautionary note though - if you're wandering around Gastown, be sure that you don't venture into the downtown east side area (often called "the poorest neighborhood in Canada"). Cheers!

"Vancouver is much like Seattle and San Franscico iffy weather" Not really, Vancouver gets an average of 62.5 in of rain per year, Seattle 37.5 in, and San Francisco 20 in. Average Annual Days of rain: Vancouver 166, Seattle 158, San Francisco 64.

Vancouver is a WONDERFUL city - you will love it! We live in Seattle and travel to Vancouver regularly, to get a taste of a REAL CITY. (Seattle is a jumped-up cow town, frankly.) Anyway, Stanley Park is wonderful. The Capilano Suspension Bridge is in utterly gorgeous scenery and is way fun. We love the English Bay area - Vancouver is just so rockin' in the way they actually USE their waterfront as part of the city. English Bay is a laid-back neighborhood with lots of fun ethnic restaurants, too, as well as a lovely waterside park with a beach, places to walk, performers (in the summer), benches to sit on, people to observe. Take the water taxi from English Bay over to Granville Market and pick up some choice gourmet tasty things for a picnic. Or dine there! There are excellent food stalls, and on the Island, many cute boutiques and shops. We adore Robson Street, in the center of town by the Hotel Vancouver. Busy busy bustling and lined with nice shops and boutiques. Cocktails in the lobby of the Hotel Vancouver is a very swank and elegant way to start an evening out. We always go Hotwire for hotels, and get a 4 star in what Hotwire calls Downtown Vancouver West. We have never gone wrong, but were especially pleased with the Hilton. For cheaper rooms, try the Greenbrier, on Robson. It's little mini-apartment-style rooms, friendly, and cheap. Try Zabu Chicken for a casual dinner (also on Robson) - or our favorite place to eat, the Tapastree, also on Robson but down by Coal Harbor. YUMMY YUMMY and sort of casual/romatic/swank. And not too pricey. Granville tends to be noisy and very young - gets rowdy and night, lots of drunk folks wandering around. Fun if that is your scene. Same with Gas Town... and the edge of Gas Town fades into junkie-ville... just be careful. It's cute and worth a wander, but do keep your eyes open. Wow - I could ramble on forever! Have a great time!!!!

Hi Vito, I second most of the previous suggestions. Depending on what you are looking for in a trip to Vancouver, I would just like to point out that if you are interested in Vancouver's more hipster vibe and independent shops and Italian coffee you should check out Commercial Drive. Not the prettiest area of town, but definitely has character! As for hotels, if you are looking to do your trip on a budget the YMCA is perfectly reasonable. Clean and efficient. If you have time to spend a few days on Vancouver Island I would second the recommendation to check out the Royal BC Museum in Victoria. Depending on how much time you have and what time of year you are here, a day trip to Salt Spring Island is worth while as well if you are interested in wine, cheese, farmers markets, art, etc.
Happy travels!

Best time of year: September ABSOLUTELY have to see: Grouse Mtn, Capilano suspension bridge and treetop trails, Whistler village (day trip), Stanley park & seawall, Queen Elizabeth park, stroll from Robson st. down Burrad st. to Canada Place & Convention Centre, stroll around False Creek area & Granville Island....
Overhyped: Gastown, Chinatown, Commercial Drive, South Main Street..... Best area to stay: Downtown hotel - check above recommendations (Don't know your budget or hotels - we live here), Vancouver has a huge population that live in the downtown area - this is a lively, safe area to stay in. If you have the time: Do take the ferry over to Victoria for a night or two, lots to see and do there and it is a totally different city than Vancouver. Last but not least: WELCOME!!!!!!

Vancouver is a gorgeous city. I grew up there and lived there before coming to the US, so I can offer you many tips. For what it's worth, try and review The Georgia Straight or Yelp.com for reviews on local places, events, and goings on. I honestly prefer Vancouver in the autumn (September-October), late spring (June), and through most of the summer if you want to be out and enjoying a taste of the city itself. It's one of the few places in the world where you can go from strolling along a beach, into the cosmopolitan city center, to hiking or skiing on a superb mountain within 30 minutes. If you like outdoor activities, it's the place for a great vacation but be sure to time your trip according to what you want to do. November-early December are terrible for skiing given the unreliable arrival of snowfall in the mountains, and that's rainy season in general. Things to do: Walk The Seawall or Stanley Park for the waterfront. Get down to the water, take the Seabus to North Vancouver. Hike in the forest at UBC's Discovery Park or Stanley Park. An afternoon in the open-air market at Granville Island gives a chance to rub shoulders and elbows with the city's finest chefs and shoppers grabbing tonight's dinner. Eat sushi at Shabusen or one of many good eateries.