As it was coming to the end of the year, we decided to embrace the cold and take a trip to Canada! We flew to Vancouver where we stayed most of the time, with a few days away in Whistler. The weather was very British, with drizzly days and grey skies, but it didn’t bother us when we were exploring a new place.
Vancouver is what you would expect from a big city – lots of hustle and bustle, people going about their daily lives whilst you spend most of your time working out Google Maps. What made Vancouver different though, was the surrounding water which gives the city breathing space and fantastic views.
Day 1
Our first stop was Stanley Park – the city’s green space that is almost an island. You can do the Seawall Walk which runs around the edge of the park, as well as trails that run through the middle. There are lots of people walking their dogs or going for a jog, and I can imagine that during summertime it’s busy on the small pockets of beach. You can grab a coffee at Teahouse or a warming meal at Stanley’s Bar and Grill. Just outside of the park is Coal Harbour, where you can see yachts, seaplanes taking off and if you’re lucky, seals! It’s also a great place to grab food.
Day 2
Further afield, we visited Grouse Mountain, taking a gondola up to the top (didn’t fancy the hike!). It was a very misty day, so no views for us, but you can walk through the forest at the top, and visit the bears in their sanctuary. Afterwards, we went to Lynn Canyon, a free place to visit with a suspension bridge and walk alongside the flowing water.
In the evening, we went to the Christmas market, which was decorated beautifully with lights and a massive tree. We had to pay to go in, but it was worth it to see all the stalls, most with independent vendors. After trying (many) samples, I came away with tubs of maple butter and bottles of maple syrup, as well as cute Christmas decorations.
TOP TIP – Throughout Canada, restaurants and bars run Happy Hour usually around 2-5pm and after 9pm, but not just for drinks, they also have discounted food! So we had a lot of great lunches, especially at Cactus Club and Earls.
Days 3 – 5
On our third day, we repacked our bags and took a 2 hour coach to Whistler – it’s known for its skiing but we went just outside of season to avoid the crowds (plus we can’t ski!). Whistler village has everything you need, great bars and restaurants, supermarkets and shops, and a free shuttle that you can hop on that drives around all the hotels on the site.
Whistler felt like the Canada you see in the photos – cold and fresh, surrounded by snow topped mountains. We did the Train Wreck trail, a walk that brings you to a site in the forest where a train derailed in the 1950s. The carriages are all painted up with street art, and the site is used for biking and has featured across movies and photography. If you keep walking through the forest, you will also come across a waterfall.
Our favourite walk was Lost Lake, on the only sunny day we had! We took a bus from the village a few stops up, and walked back towards the village, stopping by Lost Lake. There is a jetty that you can walk down so it feels like you are on the water. It was so still and the sun made it sparkle. The views were incredible as you can see the miles of trees that line the mountains.
TOP TIP – Make sure you have some cash, as most buses only take cash or a bus travel card – there is no payment systems for paying by card.
Day 6
We waved Whistler goodbye and returned to Vancouver, where we watched our first ice hockey game! The Canucks were playing at Rogers Arena, and being in the crowd was so much fun. The fans are excited (but much more polite than back home!) and every time there is a break, the big screen shows interviews, merch giveaways and messages from celeb fans – including Ryan Reynolds. I also couldn’t resist getting a foam finger!
Day 7
After the walks and exploring, I felt it was time for some proper shopping, so on our last day we visited Granville Island, which is an area of the city near docks. It’s full of independent shops and makers, such as silk painting, carpentry, glass blowing and jewellery, as well as book shops and gift shops. There is a huge public market with fresh fruit and veg, bakeries, chocolate shops and food outlets.
TOP TIP – We ended up mainly using Uber to get around rather than public transport as it was quicker and easier to get to our specific destinations.
Canada was an incredible experience, and I’m so happy I had the chance to visit. The landscape did not disappoint, and even though I took my big coat (practically a sleeping bag) it wasn’t quite as cold as I had imagined! Maybe next time we will visit in summer, and experience the country in a different way – plus I’ll probably need a top up of maple syrup by then…
