We are arriving in Vancouver about 1 p.m and are staying at the Hotel Coast Plaza suites. We are looking for things to do in the afternoon. Any suggestions?

We had one of the most memorable lunches ever in Stanly Park at a gazebo style restaurant.
Even without lunch the park is wonderful.

Granville Island, all kind of shops, art galleries, restaurants, the best ice cream this side of Florence.

Here is the link for Granville Island, I need to go back, I 've forgotten how beautiful Vaoncouver is....

http://www.seegranvilleisland.com/

Stanley Park(the aquarium is world class)(if you remember earlier in the year the picture of the two otters holding paws, this is the aquarium), Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain Tram ride for a fantastic view of the city (up top is carvings, and several wild animals enclosures, also good hiking trails), Chinatown, Gastown, Queen Elizabeth Park (has a conservatory and good views of the city as well - locals will refer to it as Little Mountain it used to be a quarry), if you like shopping--Robson Street. Good restaurants that the locals like: The Cannery (you would need a taxi to get there), the Keg, the seafood restaurant in Stanley Park, whose name has escaped me at the moment) We have several excellent Chinese restaurants and I have been told Indo restaurants as well. One afternoon will not do everything I am afraid.

Californian I know which ice cream you are talking about. A friend of mine manufactures it and the certain restaurants sell it. Yummmmmmmmm.

mid life traveller hit most of the main sites.
I believe the restaurant mentioned in Stanley Park is called The Fish House. There are cruises that you can take of the harbour, but I'm not sure how long they are or when they start. Search Vancouver Harbour Cruise and you should find info.
My top spots to hit would be Stanley Park, Granville Island and then shopping downtown. You will have to choose just one if you only have an afternoon.

We arrived a day early before a cruise and caught the hop-on-off tour bus around noon. We were able to see alot and get a nice overview of the city this way. We went to Stanley Park and saw the totem poles and went to the acquarium, went to an island with lots of shops on it and landed up in gastown. From there we walked to Chinatown for dinner and walked back along Robson to our hotel. They next morning we took the public bus to the university where we went to the museum. We saw a lot in a little over 24 hours by using the hop-on-off tour bus.

Shelley, the island you are referring to with the shops is Granville Island. The museum at UBC is the Anthropology Museum and it is an incredible collection of native art. Well worth a visit if you are interested in that type of thing.

bbangel Thank you for supplying the name of the restaurant. I had a memory lapse when I was quickly trying to give some ideas of what to see and where to eat.

Thanks Midlife for filling in the details. I also was having a memory lapse.

Isn't it comforting Shelley to know that we have company with the memory lapses. Too many things to do and too little time to do it. Must be why we enjoy traveling so much, because we let others do the work for us.