Tag: british-columbia

  • Our final day

    Our Final Day

    Our trip back to Vancouver from Calgary was less than ideal! It was the only point of the entire tour where we had an issue. The issue was arriving at Calgary Airport and soon after check-in, our flight was delayed 4 hours. In fact, there were a number of domestic flight delays that afternoon. I’m just thankful we have membership with Priority Pass, so at least we were able to rest in a lounge. On our travels, Priority Pass really has been fantastic over the years, and when you are delayed, it really comes into its own.

    Consequently, we didn’t arrive until 9pm, missing our last dinner date in Vancouver, and without our luggage, as that took another flight, thanks to the airline! To be fair to them, it did follow us several hours later, arriving at our hotel during the night whilst we were sleeping. For our last night we stayed at the fabulous Westin Hotel, Bayshore. The receptionist, feeling sorry for us due to our plight, upgraded us to a corner room on a high floor with floor to ceiling windows. This gave us a wonderful view looking over Stanley Park and the harbour below. It really was fantastic, and we are so grateful to The Westin for their kindness.

    We got up fairly early, and after collecting our delayed luggage from the concierge, were soon out again in the lovely September sunshine for breakfast. As we were close to Café Villagio, the first place we ate on our very first day in Vancouver, we decided this would be a good place for our last breakfast in Canada, and it’s a great café. Fortunately, we were able to sit outside and enjoy our last few hours of Canadian air by the water. Taking in the incredible views of where the Pacific Ocean meets the mountains.

    After this fuel up, we were ready to walk along the seawall of Stanley Park. It really is a fantastic way to spend an hour or two, walking, running or cycling. It can get busy later in the day and there is a lane for cyclists, and the other lane is for walking or running. Cyclists must go counterclockwise only- to avoid collisions. You also need to make sure you don’t drift over into the cyclist’s lane if you are on foot.

    For us, we enjoy walking the seawall and we again stopped on a bench with a coffee and just watched the Harbour Air sea planes take off and land from their terminal at Coal Harbour. It is very busy, and I could sit there for hours just watching. It is incredible the very short distance it takes for them to get airborne.  As we continued our walk, we had the added bonus that the leaves were turning beautiful shades of yellows and reds. September really is a fabulous month to visit Western Canada. When we plan our next trip, it will be in September for sure.

    After a lovely walk, taking in the buzz of Vancouvers harbour, we decided to head into the city, as it was lunch time by this point, and we decided to try the downtown Jam Café on Beatty Street. You may remember we ate at their café in Victoria, and this was just as good. I love the vibe in the Jam Cafés, and the food is excellent.

    After our lunch, we headed back into Gas Town and to the steam clock, which always has many people just stood and looking at it…. me included. Then we continued and walked round the impressive Canada Place, which is always a hive of activity, and it was today, as a huge cruise ship was in the port and ready to depart. In fact, as we walked further around towards Coal Harbour, we sat on a bench and watched it gracefully set sail for Alaska. That must be an incredible cruise and one that we are contemplating.

    Sadly, our time in Western Canada was coming to a close. At around 5.15pm we took a cab to Vancouver International airport, which is around 30 minutes or so, and it cost us $55.00 including tip. It was a quiet journey, as we bid a sad farewell to this incredible country, reflecting on the amazing adventure we had been on. Canada is a country that had welcomed, helped, and appreciated us for the duration of our trip. Its sheer beauty and vastness is staggering. I’m already looking into our next Canadian adventure, which the plan is to travel from Nova Scotia to Vancouver not using airplanes!

    I do hope through my brief reflections on our experiences, you can start to plan your Grand Tour of Western Canada too.

    “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

    Mark Twain.

  • Back to Vancouver to catch a train.

    Back to Vancouver to catch a train

    Sadly, our time on Vancouver Island was limited, as we had a train to catch — the iconic Rocky Mountaineer, running from Vancouver to Banff. However, we made the most of our final day exploring Victoria.

    After breakfast, we strolled over to Fisherman’s Wharf, just a few minutes from our hotel. You can easily spend an hour or so here admiring the boardwalks, browsing shops and eateries, and soaking in the atmosphere of the colourful floating homes.

    From there, we headed into town to explore more of Victoria. The city offers a wide variety of shops and restaurants. You could easily spend a few hours at the Royal BC Museum, where you can learn about British Columbia’s natural history and Indigenous cultures. Right next door is Thunderbird Park, home to a striking display of totem poles. Or, if Parliament isn’t in session, consider taking a tour of the Parliament Buildings.

    By lunchtime, we were ready for some nourishment, so we headed to the Jam Café on Herald Street — an excellent choice. Their breakfasts and brunches are exceptional. We’ve also been to the Jam Café in Vancouver (on Beatty Street), which was just as good. We waited in line for a few minutes, but it was absolutely worth it.

    If you’re walking to the Victoria Jam Café from the harbour area, you’ll pass Chinatown, which is the oldest in Canada. It’s well worth a visit, with its unique architecture, vibrant shops, and fantastic restaurants.

    After lunch, we wandered back down toward the harbour and spent some time simply enjoying the buzz and beauty of this picturesque spot. Then, we grabbed a coffee at Macchiato Caffè on Broad Street (they also have a location on Johnson Street), before heading to the bus stop for our return trip.

    We had booked tickets with BC Ferries Connector for a 3:30 p.m. departure, and right on time, they picked us up. About an hour later, we arrived at the terminal for the 5 p.m. sailing from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. The evening was sunny and calm, making for a truly beautiful crossing. We reached Tsawwassen just as the sun was beginning to set.

    By the time we were dropped off at our hotel — the Coast Coal Harbour — it was dark. The hotel had kindly stored our main luggage while we were away on the island. After dropping our bags off in the room, we headed out for dinner and decided to walk to Gastown, a lively area about a 15-minute walk away. It’s also home to the famous Gastown Steam Clock, which is definitely worth a visit.

    Tips:

    • Fishermans Wharf is fantastic and certainly worth exploring.
    • The Jam Café is a must for breakfast or brunch, its excellent.
    • Explore Victoria and maybe take in a tour of the Parliament Buildings if you can.
    • Enjoy the wonderful BC ferries crossing.
    • Gastown is worth a visit, and you get to see the steam clock.

  • 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.