Author: darren0d7962769e

  • Whale Watching in Victoria: A Bucket List Experience We’ll Never Forget:

    Whale Watching in Victoria- An Experience We’ll Never Forget

    When planning our tour, we had a bucket list, and one of the top items was whale watching, something we had never experienced before. While there was a chance we might spot whales during the BC ferry crossing, we didn’t, and we were determined to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

    We booked a whale watching trip with Orca Spirit Adventures, conveniently located just a five-minute walk from our hotel at Laurel Point. Thankfully, the morning was calm — I’m not sure how well I’d have managed if the sea had been choppy! After a thorough safety briefing from the team, we set off. The journey to the area where whales had been sighted took around 30 minutes, near Race Rocks. This gave us time to enjoy the stunning Vancouver Island coastline along the way.

    Race Rocks is a nature reserve, and we saw masses of seals and sea lions on the main island where the Race Rocks Lighthouse stands. The noise was incredible! One of the crew members told us she’d spent a week conducting marine research there — though how she coped with the constant barking, I’ll never know.

    Several boats were already in the area, sharing updates with each other on whale sightings. And then, we saw them! In the distance, humpback whales appeared. The skipper set the engines to idle, and for a few moments, there was complete silence as we waited, holding our breath. Then came the unmistakable mist of the whales’ blowholes as they exhaled.

    What a moment! We watched as these majestic mammals moved gracefully, almost in slow motion, through the ocean. We followed from a respectful distance, and before long, more whales appeared. A pair of humpbacks even came close to our boat, clearly unbothered by our presence. Occasionally, we were treated to a dramatic tail flick. It was a magical experience, one that will be forever etched in our memories.

    We managed to snap a few photos and videos, but we were grateful that one of the Orca Spirit team had a professional DSLR with a powerful telephoto lens. This meant we could fully immerse ourselves in the moment without worrying about capturing it all ourselves. The team uploaded their photos later that day, making them available to all guests,  a brilliant touch.

    We spent a good amount of time observing the whales, but eventually, it was time to return to Victoria Harbour as the tour drew to a close. It was a truly unforgettable outing with Orca Spirit Adventures, and the next time we find ourselves in Victoria, we’ll definitely be doing it again.

    Tips:

    • Dress accordingly to the weather and remember, it can get cold out on the ocean.
    • It’s great to take photos, but enjoy and savour the moments too.
    • Orca Spirit Adventures really looked after us, and we would certainly book with them again.

  • Vancouver Island

    Vancouver Island

    We booked a coach to Vancouver Island to take us from Downtown Vancouver to Victoria, via the Butchart Gardens, with GrayLine Westcoast Sightseeing. We were still waking up relatively early, so catching the coach first thing was no issue for us. We were welcomed aboard by our fantastic driver and guide called David, originally from Liverpool, England. His knowledge was incredible, and we learnt a lot from him.

    Our first stop was Queen Elizabeth Park, which gave us a great view looking back over Vancouver. Then we headed on to the BC Ferries terminal at Tsawwassen to cross to Swartz Bay, a journey of just over 90 minutes. As the ferry neared Vancouver Island, weaving between smaller islands along the route, and with the expanses of pine forest all around, we really appreciated that we were in Canada. It’s a stunning and peaceful ferry trip, and it all worked like clockwork. Before long, we were disembarked and on our way.

    We stopped off at the Butchart Gardens, which are absolutely amazing. We’d always planned to do this trip in the fall, so we could catch the vibrant colours as the leaves began to change. The temperatures at this time of year were pleasantly mild, and we had some sunshine too, including on the day we visited the gardens, which turned out to be a beautiful sunny September day.

    I’m no gardener, but you can’t help but be in awe of the colours and variety at Butchart Gardens, it truly is incredible. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. It was fairly busy, but as it was a Monday and not a holiday period, it was very manageable. If your time on Vancouver Island is limited, as ours was, I can’t recommend stopping here enough. It’s fabulous, and you can do it all in a day from Vancouver return with Gray Line.

    After a late lunch, we boarded the coach again and continued to Victoria, the capital of British Columbia. We said farewell to David after a totally wonderful day and arrived at our hotel for the next few days — The Inn at Laurel Point, with a room overlooking the harbour. As we had already discovered, the Canadian common denominator is warmth and friendliness, and the team at the Inn at Laurel Point were no exception.

    Victoria is a lovely coastal city, with the very impressive British Columbia Parliament Buildings overlooking the harbour. The building is beautifully lit at night by thousands of bulbs, creating a real postcard moment. Not far from there sits the equally grand Empress Hotel. We took a stroll through to have a look, as it’s a beautiful building inside and out. If you fancy a traditional afternoon tea, this is definitely the place to go. Maybe next time we’re in Victoria, we’ll treat ourselves.

    And that was just day one — the rest of our time on Vancouver Island brought even more wonders, which I’ll share next time. 

    Tips:

    • Get out on deck on the ferry crossing, weather permitting. It is fantastic, as you weave around the islands.
    • Visit The Butchart Gardens- You will not be disappointed.
    • Wander through The Empress hotel- It is beautiful.
    • The Parliament Buildings at night are spectacular.
    • An approved organised tour is worth the money.

  • Capilano- Suspended in Nature:

    Capilano- Suspended in Nature

    There are plenty of things to do in Vancouver, but one experience that really stood out for us, and one I’d absolutely recommend to anyone, is visiting Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in North Vancouver. Free shuttle buses run every 15–20 minutes from downtown. We caught one from Canada Place, and after a short and scenic 15-minute ride through Stanley Park, across the Lions Gate Bridge into North Vancouver, we were surrounded by towering evergreens and the sound of rushing water.

    Of course, the star of the show is the suspension bridge itself—137 meters long and hanging 70 meters above the Capilano River. Walking across it, you will find it sways a little, but the views are totally worth it. You get this amazing perspective of the forest canopy, and if you’re lucky, a quiet moment when it’s just you, the trees, and the river below. But honestly, there’s so much more to the park than just the bridge. The storey centre provides a fascinating history into the creation of the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park today.

    We spent several hours wandering the forest paths and discovering all the different experiences tucked away in the park. The Treetops Adventure was one of my favourites. It’s a series of elevated walkways that take you from tree to tree, high up among ancient Douglas firs. Then there’s the Cliffwalk, a narrow walkway that hugs the side of a granite cliff. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but the views are incredible, and it’s a real highlight if you’re into a bit of thrill.

    Capilano Suspension Bridge Park pays tribute to indigenous culture, with beautiful First Nations totem poles and exhibits in the Kia’palano Educational Centre.  It adds an important layer to the experience, and it’s worth taking your time here to absorb the first human connections.

    After all the exercise and enjoyment, we were definitely ready for a break. There are several food options in the park, from casual snacks to full meals. We treated ourselves to a full-on lunch with a view of the rainforest. It was honestly the perfect way to take it all in and replenish our energy levels.

    Before heading back downtown via the shuttle bus, we popped into the Trading Post gift shop, which is packed with great souvenirs, some classic, some quirky, and a few surprisingly stylish finds. Definitely a good spot if you want to take a little piece of the experience home with you.

    Tips:

    • During high season it can get very busy, so it would be worth getting there earlier rather than later.
    • Take your time. Pace yourself and soak it all in.
    • Wear comfortable footwear with good grip and it’s a rainforest, so consider packing a light raincoat.
    • Check out the gift shop.
    • Don’t forget your camera or smart phone, but hold on tight to it, as its a long way down.

  • First Impressions

    First Impressions

    Vancouver — what a beautiful location, with gleaming skyscrapers set against a dramatic backdrop, where mountains meet the Pacific Ocean.

    After nearly 10 hours on a British Airways flight from London Heathrow, we landed at Vancouver International Airport. Feeling tired, we took a registered cab into the city, having agreed on the fare within the YVR to city taxi zone guidance. From the get-go, our taxi driver was friendly, offering tips and ideas for places to visit. That friendliness turned out to be a constant throughout our journey across Western Canada. 

    About 30 minutes later, we arrived at our hotel — the Coast Coal Harbour on West Hastings Street, in the heart of downtown. It’s in a great position, just a couple of blocks from the waterfront and the seaplane terminal near the Vancouver Convention Centre. It is very spacious and comfortable with very friendly and helpful staff. Check-in was quick, and we headed up to our room, which had a lovely view between two tower blocks across the harbour towards Stanley Park. By the time we had unpacked and got ourselves organised, it was past 9.30pm, so we decided to get some much needed sleep and try to reset our body clocks to Pacific Time — eight hours behind GMT.

    As expected, we were up early at around 6.30am after a broken nights sleep, our bodies still adjusting to the time difference. We were showered and out the door before 8am, stepping into a warm and sunny September morning. The streets were quiet — unsurprising for that time on a Sunday, and the peacefulness suited us perfectly.

    Getting outdoors, eating on schedule, and getting exercise, are good ways to help to beat jet lag, so we set out to walk around Coal Harbour. Not long after, we stopped at Café Villaggio for a much-needed coffee and savoury breakfast — the perfect refuel.

    From there, we made our way to Stanley Park for a morning walk along the seawall. We had planned to take it fairly easy on our first full day, ensuring we spent plenty of time outside, with gentle exercise and eating at the typical times we do at home. It was interesting how our minds seemed to accept it was Sunday morning, but our bodies weren’t quite convinced yet! We paused at the Totem Poles, beautifully carved and painted monuments created by artists from several First Nations communities — each one telling a unique cultural story. They are very intricate, vibrant and hugely interesting, with information about each one provided, to translate their meanings.

    We continued on to Brockton Point Lighthouse, stopping to sit on the benches and watch the Harbour Air seaplanes take off and land across the water. It’s such a busy air terminal flying passengers around the area, some going as far as Seattle. We then decided to head back and grab some lunch, further encouraging our circadian rhythm to adjust to Pacific time.

    That afternoon we followed the waterfront promenade to Canada Place, with its striking white sails rising above the pier like a modern-day ship. The harbour was busy with activity, seaplanes taking off and landing, which we would sit and watch, marvelling at the incredible short take off distance. At Canada Place, a large cruise ship was docked at the cruise ship terminal, preparing for departure to Alaska. From here, the views stretched across the harbour to the North Shore Mountains, The glass towers of downtown reflected the sunlight, and cyclists, joggers and walkers made the most of this iconic waterfront.

    Our afternoon concluded with a wander around Robson street for some retail therapy, before heading back to our hotel. We ended our first full day in Vancouver with dinner at The Nightingale Restaurant, just a short walk along West Hastings Street. It’s a fabulous restaurant with a great vibe, excellent food and service. It was a fantastic way to wrap up an unforgettable introduction to this amazing city.

    Tips:

    • Agree your cab fare beforehand in line with the city taxi zone guidance prices.
    • Try and get outside into sunlight, exercise and eat at your typical mealtimes to assist getting over jet lag.
    • Walk the Stanley Park seawall, stop off at the Totem Poles.
    • The Coast Coal Harbour Hotel is worth considering- we really enjoyed our stay.
    • We would recommend the Nightingale restaurant for dining.

    We paused at the Totem Poles, beautifully carved and painted monuments created by artists from several First Nations communities — each one telling a unique cultural story. They were intricate, vibrant, and deeply moving to see in person. We continued on to Brockton Point Lighthouse, stopping now and then to rest on benches and watch the Harbour Air seaplanes take off and land across the water.

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