@Nrdsb4 - if you are on Facebook, ‘like’ Vancity Buzz. You will get all kinds of timely and pertinent information about things going on around Vancouver. One of my CC friends clued me in on it a couple of months ago, and I read posts from them several times a day.
We travel to Vancouver often for a weekend getaway. I highly recommend both Fairmont Waterfront and Fairmont Pacific properties; the latter faces the Olympic Cauldron on the waterfront. Both have outdoor pools, good exercise rooms, and spas.
Absolutely agree with MOfWC - rent bikes and ride around the park. Awesome views of the downtown skyline! Take a trip to Grouse Mountain and make a dinner reservation at the Observatory in the top - it is a restaurant with incredible views of the city lights below and the harbor, and the food is excellent. Did I also mention that you get to ride the tram for free if you eat at the top?
When we went, we stayed several nights in Vancouver, several nights in Whistler (mountain biking is big there if you’re into that kind of biking), then we did a night or two in Victoria where I highly recommend visiting Buchart Gardens. We also drove to Tofino for several nights and loved that area, relaxing & hiking. It was a wonderful trip!
Wow, so many great ideas. I knew I could count on you guys. 
Biking around that park sounds so great.
I’m so sick of this heat that even gray and rainy would still be okay with me.
@Nrdsb4 - About a week and a half ago I spent a week in Texas - a few days in Austin and a few days in Houston. It hadn’t hit 100 all year until I got there, and then every day was 100°+ degrees. I kept telling myself… “Vancouver in three weeks, Vancouver in three weeks, Vancouver in three weeks.”
People there told me, “It’s really been a mild summer until you got here.” Thanks!
teriwtt, it’s true, we have had a mild summer until recently. August usually sucks here. I hate it, have always hated it. I need to convince DH that every August, we will rent a house in a cool climate. If we can sell our lake house, I think he will agree.
@teriwtt, how are you getting from Vancouver to the island? Are you taking the puddle jumper or a ferry? Are you planning for it to be a whole day of travel?
We seem to go to Vancouver in November.( Pearl Jam- 
) Not the nicest time for walks along the bay, I think the last time we went, was before my knee replacement, and I didnt think I was going to be able to make it back. Luckily, there are lots of nicely spaced benches along the path.
@nrdsb4 - We took a ferry as we had rented a car to drive to Whistler and also to drive around Vancouver Island. With kids in tow, we had planned to look into a whale watch trip once on the island yet, a whole pod of orcas followed the ferry for awhile plus we saw many dolphins so we got a whale watch for free.
nrdsb4, I would recommend a few days in the city itself then head to Whistler for a few more days. The drive there is beautiful and Whistler itself will have everything you want. Highly recommend the Four Seasons Whistler if you want to be pampered. It’s gorgeous, especially the suites, and the staff is well-trained. The Spa there is terrific, too. There are lots of outdoor activities and you are close to the village where you’ll find lots of nice shops, galleries, restaurants if you want to venture out. The scenery, of course, is spectacular.
@emeraldkity4, Okay, so flights on our preferred dates to Vancouver were not working out, but I put on hold a flight to Seattle with the thought of taking a nice drive into Vancouver.
Is this any big problem? Any scary roads with horrible drop offs?
No scary roads!! You get on I-5, put a brick on the gas pedal, and off you go. Just beware of the rush hour traffic between Seattle and Everett. I highly recommend making a stop in Bellingham to stretch your legs. Pretty good seafood and water views can be found at Antony’s Home Port restaurant there.
See if you can find a flight to BLI - looooove that little airport! SEA can be a zoo at times.
Are you still mulling over California? If so there are some GREAT places along the central coast. I’ve been to Vancouver and wasn’t very impressed, but that’s just me…
@fractalmstr, we have punted on California for the time being. We have done some resorts there, my family all hail from Northern California (I was born in SoCal at March Air Force Base), so we will always have a pull to go there again. We just decided to go out of our comfort zone this time and try something entirely new.
But I would be interested in hearing about your recommendations for California!
Just curious Nrdsb4 - did you try VRBO? Perhaps someone had a last minute cancellation in an area you like. I much prefer them over any of the other home rental property websites.
For a more memorable trip, take the Victoria Clipper high speed ferry from Seattle to Victoria. Plan to stay in Victoria at least a night as it is a very walkable city. Then, take the BC ferry over to Vancouver, or for real northwest flavor, take a Harbour Air seaplane directly from Victoria Harbor to Vancouver Harbor. Return to Seattle is by Amtrak from Vancouver.
Trains, planes and substitute a ferry for the automobile.
Good suggestions. I’d avoid the I-5 slog as much as possible. But… Bring ginger ale and Dramamine for that Clipper ride! It can be quite a vomit comet.
^^^^^Yikes, DH can get VERY severe motion sickness. Don’t know if I want to risk that Clipper ride. But if we do end up staying on Vancouver Island, we are going to have to take a ferry, so I need to plan for that.
We tried to cruise on those big ships with the “stablizers.” He STILL got sick, and the next few cruises he did fine with dramamine and those wrist bands (aka placebos), but he SLEPT all the time! He basically said he did his time on cruise ships and won’t go on any more.
As an alternative, has anyone taken the train from Seattle to Vancouver?
I have not, but I always wanted to!!!
There is also Kenmore Air…