Canada, Oh Canada
Hello, to our brothers and sisters up north in Canada. To the land of maple syrup, Tim Hortons, Canucks, and Drake, we have arrived! My girl friend and I headed up North to Vancouver for an NYE weekend! It was the second visit for both of us, and it did not disappoint. From swanky rooftop bars, global cuisine, beautiful scenery, and easygoing locals, Vancouver is a city that keeps calling me back
Getting there
Flights were getting more and more expensive in the winter, so I decided to take the Amtrak cascade train from Portland to Vancouver. The train ride was anything but a dream. It passed through beautiful rushing rivers, lush mountains, and amazing views of volcanos in the Pacific North West such as Mount Hood. It felt like a fairy tale.
We had a layover in Seattle and had to switch from train to bus. Turns out, the full train service from Portland to Vancouver is paused due to the pandemic. Instead, you have to travel by bus via the border crossing. It hit me that I have never crossed a border on land while traveling in the United States. It reminded me of when I was on my Balkin’s road trip and noticed EVERYONE getting off the buses and back on. At the time, I was shocked that you had to do that along with the hassle of crossing the border in general! I realized quickly, that this was going to be me very soon. Not only do you have to get off the bus to show your documents to border patrol, but you also have to get everything off of the bus, including your luggage, in the freezing cold weather, and get back on the bus. I do not recommend this process. If I were to do this again, I would wait for the Canadian leg of the Cascade trains to open up or fly.
However, we finally arrive in Vancouver, Gastown district. The area was buzzing with youngins running around after the Chainsmokers concert which was happening just outside of our hotel. There was a tangible excitement in the air. We had dinner and called it a night as we prepped for our big day the next day, NYE.
NYE in Vancouver
NYE in Vancouver was amazing! My friend and I had tickets to a casino royal event in the historic lamplighter building. Everyone was dressed to the T, including ourselves I must add. We got our James Bond on and danced the night away to 2000’s hits of Destiny’s Child, Britney Spears, Rihanna, and more. The vibe and the energy was euphoric. As the clock struck midnight, I felt the previous year’s energy just lift out of me. It was a noticeable shift. I felt relieved. As nice as 2022 was, there were definitely intense moments, and it felt great to release it all and reset for the new 2023 magical energy.
After NYE we spent a few days exploring Gastown, Yaletown, meeting friends, eating yummy food, and doing a photography tour! The photo tours on Airbnb experiences are my new favorite thing to do when I travel. There is nothing like the feeling of seeing a stunning picture that brings you back to a memorable time. (You know you get happy from seeing nice pictures too)! If you visit Vancouver, I highly recommend booking Marcus’s photo tour in Gastown.
Visiting Vancouver
There is so much to do in Vancouver, from a nightlight, great food, shows, nature, botanical gardens, islands, markets, and much more.
If it is your first or second time in Vancouver, this is what I recommend you must see!
Capilano Suspension Bridge
This is the icon bridge when you think of Vancouver. The bridge is 140 meters long, 70 meters high sitting in the lush green rainforest above the beautiful Capilano river. It is not for the faint of hearts though. The bridge is 230 ft above the ground and sways sometimes! But for adventure seekers, it is worth it! Did you know you can also see owls and different aviators at the park? Seeing the owls was so cool.
Visit the botanical gardens
If you want to feel like you are walking into a beautiful storybook, visit the botanical gardens in Vancouver. The vibrant colors, lakes, native plants, perfectly placed flowers, and beautiful architecture are like no other garden I have ever seen. I can stroll the gardens for hours. Vandusen Gardens was my favorite and even hosts a festival of light in the Winter.
Stanley Park
As described by Destination Vancouver, Stanley park features: “lovely beaches, miles of well-maintained paved and dirt trails, and an array of can't-miss kid-friendly spots (including a pool, water park, miniature railway and more), this 400-hectare (1,000-acre) haven is recognized as one of the greatest urban parks in the world.” It is a must-see for Vancouver!
Food, Food, Food.
So many different global cuisines from Japanese, Korean, Indian, middle eastern, and Italian to your classic pup fare. There is so much to try, you honestly can’t go wrong. Everywhere we went, the food was great. My favorite areas for the best restaurants were Yaletown and Gastown. Message me if you want the full list :)
Cocktail bars
The cocktails are just superb in Vancouver. The options for alcohol are also much different than in the United States so it’s interesting to see the various cocktails they come up with.
Visit Gastown neighborhood
With its famous steam clock, historic buildings, and cobblestone streets dusted with pretty lamp lights is such a unique place to see.
I highly recommend Vancouver to visit as a city. If you have more time you can add in Whistler, to the list.
Do you need help planning or booking your next trip? I am here to help!
Hope you enjoy it!