Travel - Vancouver & Los Angeles

[darb]

Hiyas,

Ill be in Vancouver from 23rd December to around 4th January ... then getting down to LA, and out to Moorpark where my sister lives, for another week.

Has anyone got any absolute "must see" things in and around those places, that you recommend, in context of photography? (or indeed anything else if you think its worth a mention.)

Cheers

Brad.

[dooda]

It sort of depends Brad. Vancouver is chalk full of cool places, a massive seawall, kilometers of park and beach along the water, compared often to Sydney.

Knowing you, I'd say you should take the tramb to the top of Grouse Mountain, maybe check out Lynn Canyon, head out to Kitsilano Beach, check out China town and Gas Town, and then Stanley Park is sort of a must as well. All of it is relatively close, and easy to get to. Plan on eating sushi when you're here.

As far as LA goes, it's a bit of a dive and sprawls forever. I don't know it really well, but UCLA area is pretty cool. The beaches are about 1 hour away by car, Venice Beach is fairly interesting.

[big pix]

, Venice Beach is fairly interesting.

Venice beach is just way cool..... it will take you a few days to just explore, not counting the odd bar for a quick one........

[gstark]

Brad,

LA has a number of great tourist venues - Disneyland, Universal Studios etc, but I have to echo the votes for Venice Beach, and will add Marina Del Ray and Santa Monica to that list - they're all quite close to one another, and also just a short drive north of LA.

But then make sure that you visit the Getty Museum; this was simply awesome!

[darb]

Thanks all ... will start checking those places out!

I should have clarified ... my time in vancouver itself is very limited ... have a condo up in whistler where ill be staying, but still hope to have a quick jaunt around vancouver on an off day or two.

Disneyland has to be on my hitlist. If it closes over winter, ill be going lampoons style.

[dooda]

Why you'd go to Disneyland I'd never know. I can't stand that place. Lines, screaming kids, and their screaming parents. Terrible music, worse food, it's everything that's bad about North America, condensed into a tiny space, experienced in a day.

Balboa Island is pretty cool though.

[birddog114]

Why you'd go to Disneyland I'd never know. I can't stand that place. Lines, screaming kids, and their screaming parents. Terrible music, worse food, it's everything that's bad about North America, condensed into a tiny space, experienced in a day.

Balboa Island is pretty cool though.

Yes, agreed! been there done that!
My children whenever they back to the States, they never go into Disneyland.
We've been to Disneyworld in Orlando, FL and it's far better than Disneyland in SCA, perhaps Universal Studio, hop on the tram for the back stage or wandering around Santa Monica, down to San Diego and cross the border into Mexico for a day trip.

[gstark]

Disneyland has to be on my hitlist. If it closes over winter,

It doesn't, but it's not open as late as it is during the summer months.

Give a wide berth to DCA.

Dave, in winter, except on a few key days, there are not that many people and it's very comfortable, with lines that are not too long.

And you can now "pre-queue" - reserve a place in a queue for one ride while enjoying a different one. You're given a window of time during which you turn up and jump the queue. Great for Space Mountain, the Haunted Mansion, and Star Tours.

[dooda]

I guess as long as the lines aren't too long. I did the fast pass at Disney World too recently. I hated DisneyWorld even more. I mean the rides are fun and all, but the atmosphere is way too much. It makes the head hurt. If you were with little kids I could understand going, but that day trip to San Diego and Mexico Birdie mentioned sounds far more interesting.

[darb]

im sure ill hate it after the innaugural visit too ... just one of those things never got to go over there as a kid and always wanted to

might not happen!