Tag: nature

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.