Vancouver normally is packed - tighter than a sardine can - with tourists from around the world at that time of year. Vancouver does not have motels downtown. There are perhaps 3 but that is an exceptionally seedy area. Prices will not be cheap. If you can offer a $$ value of what you consider moderately priced – that might help.
You might use Travels Web – choose Vancouver – I have used them to stay elsewhere.
http://www.travels-web.com/hotel/bc-vancouver.shtml
This place is well respected and on the lesser side for cost;
http://www.budgetpathotel.bc.ca/rooms.html
The Howard Johnson has travellers from about the world staying there – at lesser cost.
http://vancouver.hotelscheap.org/hotel/hotelinfo.asp?mem=1267&searchtype=hotel&hotelid=136388&location=&latitude=&longitude=&checkindate=10%2F16%2F2007&checkoutdate=10%2F20%2F2007&numberOfAdults=1&numberOfBeds=2&specialRate=N&rating=3%2E0&city=Vancouver&state=BC&country=CA
Just GOOGLE – ‘cheap Vancouver hotels’.
In Vancouver, you might like to get the bus over – or drive – to North Vancouver and take the lift up Grouse Mountain. Plan it, so that when you come down again, it will be sunset – provides you a more than fantastic view. You can purchase an inexpensive meal up there, and producing the receipt, will get you your ticket for the lift refunded. There are interesting things to do up there.
http://www.grousemountain.com/Summer/
http://www.grousemountain.com/Summer/dining/the-observatory/
As Vancouver is a seaport – food of every culture you can imagine is offered and restaurants everywhere. This website may help you:
http://www.vancouver-bc.com/Dining/
As shelley advised, Buchart Gardens is on Vancouver Island.
http://www.butchartgardens.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
It costs quite a bit to get to the island and then of course, you have to pay to get into the Gardens. Well worth it mind you. Here is the website for the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay (Vancouver to Victoria) terminals – and there is an icon for the fees. Please note that the size of vehicle makes a difference in price and each passenger is charged. I find it best to purchase the ticket over the net – for then you DO have a slot for your car, if you arrive on time that is. If you don’t reserve on the net, you can find yourself waiting for perhaps 3 sailings before you get on as July is a very busy time.
http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/tssw-current.html
Vancouver itself, is full of gardens. They are everywhere.
Stanley Park is wonderful – together with its world class aquarium is fantastic - beluga whales, sea otters and such….
http://www.vanaqua.org/home/
http://englishbay.com/rec/thepark.htm
You might check like to check out Van Dusen gardens
http://vancouver.ca/parks/parks/vandusen/website/
– and Queen Elizabeth Gardens http://vancouver.ca/parks/parks/queenelizabeth/
Which are located in Vancouver. Not near half as large but both still lovely. Van dusen charges but QE does not.
http://www.2010cards.com/freevancard/?c=downtown2.html
http://www.ehabweb.net/dtvan.html
Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge (north Vancouver) is wonderful experience. No fee and managed by the Province. You can walk and hike all about. There is another swinging bridge where all the tourists go, and you have to pay – I wouldn’t go there.
If you want, you can go skiing for the day at Blackcomb/Whistler and then have your dinner on the beach in Vancouver at the end of the day.
The distance between eyes and ears is just four fingers but the distance between listening and seeing with our eyes is infinite.
- - - Persian proverb