Vancouver and Whistler - July 2015


Please see the bottom of the post for a day-by-day itinerary.

I think it was around the depressing month of January that I got a call from my dad who told me "hey so how about another hiking trip to the west?" YES YES YES! Suddenly, winter took a turn for the better! Banff scenery flew through my mind! The adrenaline rush began (well, for a few minutes at least). One lovely evening (actually it wasn't that lovely, I don't remember exactly, but it was most likely -25 degrees Celsius outside - without the wind chill!!!) I came upon a great flight offer to Vancouver. YES YES YES! The flights were booked, my lovely sister took care of booking the accommodations (see itinerary) and the planning began (well my family began the planning). I love family vacations, I don't have to plan much, I just enjoy myself and write about them!

Vancouver

It was only natural for me to compare Toronto to Vancouver: both big Canadian cities, both are highly talked about and visited. I felt  as if Toronto had all the same things that make Vancouver great (minus the mountains) and as a result it took time for me to warm up to this city. It only hit me in the end, it is pointless to compare the two places. Vancouver is not Toronto because Vancouver is not about the down-town, the buildings and the skyscrapers. It is not about the busy living (at least that was my impression), but about waterfronts, the parks, the mountains, the active lifestyle, the seafood and most importantly, the views. Now that I think back, Vancouver has left me with an image of a healthy lifestyle, a rich lifestyle (no joke) and a relaxing lifestyle. From the biking to the hiking and skiing, it is impossible to not be active in this gorgeous city.

Waterfronts - that's what Vancouver has engraved in my brain. It is what I picture when someone mentions the name. Vancouver has some of the best waterfronts I have seen. Just imagine a view of a bridge, blue water and towering mountains as a backdrop to anything you look at. The views from Granville Island stood out in particular. The charming shops and restaurants give you a chance to relax and watch fancy yachts and boats. You can simply sit in a coffee shop and observe these glamorous people. Stanley Park didn't disappoint either. The views along the Seawall were definitely some of the most memorable parts of the trip. You don't even feel that you are in a city. Lighthouse and Whytecliff Parks are a must. Only thirty minutes away from down-town, you will feel like you had gone to heaven! We spent hours just taking in the scenery. Vancouver, for me, was like learning to ride a bike. It may have been slow in the beginning, but once I got it, I can now never forget it.












As always, this brings me to a big part of any trip, the food! Being close to the ocean it was only natural for me to go on a seafood craze.






After having been to Vancouver, I can definitely understand why people start ooh-ing and ah-ing when the name comes up. Even if you can't pin-point or explain specifically what it is about this place, you will feel it when you visit.

Whistler

Now, forget everything you've just read, wipe your brain clean and let me paint a picture for you; a warm day, clean, crisp air, 3000 foot elevation, a bird flies somewhere in the distance as you look onto mountains with icy peaks and a piercing turquoise lake. It's quiet. You are standing in your hiking shoes and a smile on your face, watching, listening, peaceful. You have all the time in the world to wonder, to think, to dream. At this moment, anything seems possible. Did you picture it? Now see if it looks anything like this:



It's breathtaking, isn't it?

If you come to Whistler in the summer, you have to do at least one hike. The Joffre Lakes hike is unparalleled to any other I have done. This 400 meter elevation trail takes you through an uphill climb you'll hate but will forget about once you see the three magnificent lakes of colours you didn't think existed. The difficulty of the climb becomes a distant memory as you see the first glimpse of the view. The Matier Glacier is tremendous and completes the scenery at the upper lake. In this one hike, you get to see it all; the glacier, the lakes and the mountains. As you hike this trail, you just can't help but appreciate the beauty surrounding you. Take a moment to reflect on where you are and how you got there. You suddenly find a moment to think about your goals, aspirations, dreams. For some reason it is that exact setting that becomes your motivation.






What a trip. What a break from the insanity of everyday life. What an inspiration. All I know is that I have had a rather difficult time adjusting back to real life and that happens rarely. I am blessed to live in this country and have had the opportunities to have seen the places I have seen.

Stay beautiful, British Columbia!

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Vancouver

Arrival

Tip 1: If you are going with a group of people, I strongly suggest looking at Homeaway or VRBO and other such sites to search for accommodations. Not only will it be more affordable, but more convenient and potentially in a much better location than some of the hotels. You will also have convenience of a kitchen and potentially parking spaces! We booked our accommodations on VRBO with VRBO Listing #584767. It is approximately a 40 minute bus ride from Canada Place and very close by car to the Queen Elizabeth Park.

 Tip 2: If you are planning to use public transit, note that on weekends and holidays there is one fare for all zones. Check all the information here.

 Tip 3: If you are planning to rent a car, make the reservation early. I found that approximately two months in advance, the prices began to increase. We booked through Enterprise at the location close to the airport. There is a shuttle that picks you up and drops you off.

Day 1

  • Start your day at Canada Place. There is an information centre where you can get maps/directions etc.
  • Do a flight simulation ride located in the area called FlyOver Canada. It is a 30 minute ride with wind, scents and mist.
  • Walk around this area, look at the view, the cruise ships and visit the shops.
  • Walk through the Vancouver Convention Centre and see the Olympic Cauldron
  • From here you can either walk towards Stanley Park (along the waterfront and Coal Harbour) or go to Gas Town to see the steam clock. You'll be walking along a cobblestone street with shops and restaurants. After you reach the clock, I suggest avoiding Gas Town from that point forward.
  • The steam clock is powered by the steam engine and actually steams and whistles every 15 minutes.
  • However, if you get a chance, definitely walk along the waterfront as well. Vancouver is all about the water and the views.
  • From the clock, walk to Robson Street and start making your way along Robson Street towards Stanley Park.
  • Pass by the Vancouver Public Library. The building looks like Colosseum.
  • Stop for lunch at JAPADOG, a hot dog place with Asian style toppings.
  • Keep walking along Robson Street towards the Bike Rental Shop. Robson street is home to many restaurants, bars and shopping. We rented our bikes from Spokes Bicycle Rental because it is very close to the park and you wouldn't need to ride the bicycle on any streets but can go directly into the park.
  • Rent the bikes at the address indicated above. This place offers 6 hour rentals for approximately $30 dollars.
  • Ride along the perimeter of Stanley Park all the way to English Bay Beach where you'll see an Inukshuk. Don't miss the view onto the Deadman's Island, the lighthouse, Lions Gate Bridge and the Siwash Rock along the way. There is a teahouse and a fish house (very fancy) as well and several beaches.
Tip 4: Stanley park is huge and renting bikes is the best way to see it (at least the perimeter of the park). There is also an aquarium in the park as well as the rose garden. Check out what else you can do in this park here.

 Tip 5: You can either return your bikes after reaching English Bay Beach as we did, or you can continue along the path as indicated in the map.
  • After you return the bikes, go to Guu Garden Sushi at 888 Nelson Street. This restaurant has a great patio and amazing food.
  • After dinner walk along Hornby Street to Beach Avenue and to Sunset Beach Park for a sunset. Along the way you will see beautiful restaurants on the water with a view.
  • After the sunset, check out Mainland Street in Yaletown for a drink. We didn't get to explore Yaletown too much, but definitely try to see this area if you have time.

Day 2

  • Start your day with Queen Elizabeth Park. This is the highest point in Vancouver and offers a great view. There is free parking along the street leading up to the peak. There is also paid parking at the top.
  • Go to the Bloedel Conservatory to see the collection of different tropical birds and plants.
  • Explore everything else this park has to offer.
  • There is a restaurant called Seasons in the Park that offers a great view. This is where we had dinner to end the day.
  • After the park you can drive to see the UBC campus. This campus has the famous Anthropology Museum with totem poles. You will see other totem poles further in the itinerary, so if you are tight on time, you can skip this point.
  • Drive along the NW Marine Drive towards Granville Island. If you would like you can stop for a swim at Kitsilano Beach Park.
  • For lunch, go to a tiny place called Go Fish Ocean Emporium. This place has amazing fish sandwiches, fish and chips and other seafood items.
  • Once you get to Granville Island, get a map from the information desk to see everything in this area. We did a tour at the Granville Island Brewery that offered a tasting at the end. Explore the rest of the island. There are many galleries, shops, stores, restaurants. Make sure to see the public market and walk along the waterfront looking over the Granville Street Bridge and False Creek.
  • Dinner at Seasons restaurant in the Queen Elizabeth Park

Day 3

  • Spend the morning at the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Drive through Stanley Park and the Lions Gate Bridge
  • Go to the Lighthouse Park (make sure to drive via Marine Drive to see the houses on this street). Take the trail (10 minute hike) to the rocks, which will offer gorgeous views of the ocean and the lighthouse from the side.
  • After finishing your photo-shoot at the Lighthouse Park (it's bound to happen), drive to the Whytecliff Park. Pack a lunch as this place has great spots for a picnic. You can either climb the rocks and have a view from above or relax on the beach and enjoy the view of the seals that come up to bathe in the sun.
  • For dinner drive to Hitoe Sushi. This is a small place that I would not have gone into had it not been suggested to me and had great reviews. This is one of the best sushi places I have been to. The prices are amazing and the sushi is simply divine!
  • After dinner we went hunting for a good location to take some pictures of the city. We stumbled upon Point Grey Park, which has a small wooden platform with a view. You can walk through this neighbourhood as well as the houses in this area are incredible.
  • Finally we made our way to Kitsilano Beach to take some pictures of the city.

Other Vancouver Restaurant Suggestions 

(we did not try all of these)

Other Vancouver Sites

  • The Grouse Grind - best way to see Vancouver, from the top.
  • Lynn Valley Trail - very scenic, has a waterfall/oasis area, a cool cable bridge and lots of ravines and good hiking. Some will say Grouse is better because it's more challenging.
  • As mentioned before, explore more of Yaletown.
  • Take the ferry to Victoria. Buy tickets to the ferry ahead of time so you get a spot. If you don't book ahead of time, there is a chance you will stand in line to only find out you will not get on the ferry. Make sure to check the prices as well. It is approximately $55 per car plus an additional $17 per person.
  • In North Vancouver, you can kayak at Deep Cove. You can spot seals, jelly fish and sea stars.

Whistler

Day 4

  • We spent this day driving to Whistler. There are a few stops to make along the way, such as Shannon Falls and Brandywine Falls.
  • You can also stop at the lookout areas along the highway. However, most of them are marked and easily accessible on your drive back from Whistler.
  • We stayed at a lodge called Glacier Lodge. It was a great lodge with a shared pool. It is very close to the Fairmont Hotel and a 5 minute walk from the main Village.
  • Take this day to relax, settle in and explore the Whistler Village.
  • We finished the day at a sushi place called Sushi Village.

Day 5

  • Do the Joffre Lakes hike. This hike is located approximately 60 km north of Whistler. It is the most impressive hike I have done to date including the ones I did in Banff/Lake Louise area and Jasper.
  • This will take majority of the day but you can finish up the date at a sushi place called Nagomi Sushi.

Day 6

  • Take two gondolas to the start of the High Note Trail. This trail has impressive views of the mountains, snow covered peaks and a gorgeous lake.
Tip 6: Make sure to do any of the gondola hikes on a sunny, clear day. The gondolas cost $55 dollars and they close at a certain time, so start the hike early. You can use the gondolas on top to cross from one mountain to the other as many times as you want but once you come down back to the village you cannot go up again with the same pass. Make sure to check the times of closure before you start your trip so you can make it down on time.
  • Finish of the day with a glass of wine or a pint of beer at Tapley's Bar and sit outside by the fire. The bar is located on a quieter street of the village giving you a perfect relaxing end to the day.

Day 7

  • We had originally planned another hike, Garibaldi Lake hike but it was a rainy day and we decided to take it easy. Two gruelling hikes in a row your legs will scream for a break. For more options on trails please see below. However, Whistler has so many activities for you to do even in the rain. Check out those options below as well.
  • We decided to do the Mountain Explorer ATV tour.
  • We had a snack at Avalanche Pizza and followed up with oysters. There was an oyster special at a restaurant called Araxi - 10 oysters for $15 dollars from 3 pm. - 5 pm.
  • If you would like to properly eat, you can go to the Longhorn Bar that has a great atmosphere and mountain views.
  • After an afternoon of food, go to the spa or the jacuzzi, if your chalet offers one, to relax. Even in the summer, Whistler can get chilly.
  • For dinner you can start at El Furniture Warehouse, a place that offers all food under $5 dollars, stop by for a few songs at Garfinkel and finish the night with live music at the Irish Pub.

Day 8

  • Pack up and start driving back to Vancouver. After a few days in the mountains it is doubtful you will want to walk through the busy streets of Vancouver. Our flight was in the evening so we had the whole day to spend. You can either do a short hike in Whistler after checking out or go back and relax at Whytecliff Park on the beach. Once again, take Marine Drive.
  • Stop at the lookout areas along the way back
  • In the evening go to Kishimoto for sushi. While slightly out of the way, it is absolutely, 100% worth the trip. It opens for dinner at 5pm. It is open in the morning as well, but make sure to check the times because they do close for the afternoon. Make sure to arrive early as this place is small and there is a lineup that starts before the place opens. This place was incredible and the design blew me away. Absolutely a must.

Other Hikes

Other Activities in Whistler and Surrounding Areas

  • Whistler is full of activities such as bungee jumping, ziplines, mountain bikes, golfing and so much more.
  • For all other activities, see this site.
  • Friends of mine did a water plane glacier tour of Garibaldi Park that left from Green Lake. You can see the dormant volcanoes at the top, glaciers and the lakes. 
  • Squamish
    • Take the sea to sky gondola and do some of the hikes. There is also a suspension bridge and beautiful lookout points
    • Shannon Falls

Restaurants/Bars

  • For all other restaurants/bars, see this site.