Tag: vancouver

  • 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.

  • The Rocky Mountaineer – The Grand Départ

    The Rocky Mountaineer – The Grand Départ

    The day had finally arrived for us to experience the iconic Rocky Mountaineer train. Our entire Western Canada adventure had been planned around the specific dates the train runs from Vancouver in September.

    Originally, we had booked the Journey Through the Clouds route, taking us from Vancouver to Jasper. However, due to the devastating wildfires that caused significant damage to Jasper and the surrounding area, our itinerary was changed to the First Passage to the West, which instead took us from Vancouver to Banff.

    The day before departure, we checked in at the Rocky Mountaineer guest centre desk at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, where we collected our boarding passes and luggage tags — we were all set. It was an early start the next morning, as the bus picked us up just down the road from our hotel on West Hastings Street at around 7 a.m.

    At the station, we found ourselves among a crowd of equally excited passengers. We grabbed a coffee and listened to the warm welcome address. Then, after the sound of the train whistle and the stirring notes of a bagpiper, it was time to board. As the train slowly pulled away from Vancouver station, the entire Rocky Mountaineer staff lined the platform to wave us off — it was a fabulous and moving sight. I have to admit, I felt quite emotional as we departed Vancouver. This journey on the Rocky Mountaineer was the pinnacle of our Canadian adventure, and the sense of excitement and anticipation was almost overwhelming.

    We had booked seats in SilverLeaf Service, which turned out to be fantastic. Meals were served at our seats in the carriage, which was ideal, as the seats were spacious, with ample legroom, and could recline without impacting the person behind you. The food was excellent and generously portioned. The team of three onboard our carriage were exceptional — friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely attentive. The panoramic views from the large domed windows, which extended into the roof of the carriage, were simply breathtaking.

    Our journey on the first day took us to Kamloops for an overnight stay. We opted for a budget hotel, as the stop was short — we were there for little more than nine hours, just enough time for a shower and a sleep. The train runs only during daylight hours so that you don’t miss a moment of the incredible scenery.

    I can’t recall exactly how many carriages our train had, we were close to the middle,   but it was somewhere in the 20s. With the full crew, including hosts, managers, chefs, maintenance staff, and of course, the drivers, there must have been close to 90 staff onboard. The level of service provided by the Rocky Mountaineer team is truly world-class and easily the best I’ve ever experienced.

    On arrival in Kamloops, coaches took us to our hotel, and as we were already checked in by Rocky Mountaineer, we were handed our room keys and straight off to our room, where our luggage was already waiting in the room. The next morning, we simply left our luggage in the room, and when we arrived in Banff, there they were again- neatly placed outside our door. It is a very slick operation, and I just cannot fault a single part of the experience. The entire Rocky Mountaineer team was wonderful, and the journey itself was everything we had hoped for, and more.

    Tips

    • The Rocky Mountaineer experience was exceptional; you won’t be disappointed- book it.
    • For the short time you will spend at your stopover hotel, go budget. Ours was clean and warm and had all we needed.
    • Check out the various videos on the Rocky Mountaineer website for more info and to get a feel of this wonderful experience.

  • 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.