We have been in Vancouver for 5 months now and I was beginning to feel that I hadn't really made the most of being here, as so much of our time had been taken up with job hunting and we were so short on cash. However, more recently, I have been able to make the most of weekends and enjoy what Vancouver has to offer.
At the beginning of June my mum came for a 2 week holiday and I took a week off work to spend time with her. Not only was it fantastic getting to spend some quality time with her but it was also an excuse to be a tourist and explore the surrounding area a bit more.
So on the first weekend we went out to White Rock, which a pretty seaside resort with a long promenade following the coast, and a wooden pier. It's only a 40 minute drive out of Vancouver and is worth a visit, for the gelato and fish and chips alone!
Next we had a long day exploring the Sea to Sky Highway between Vancouver and Whistler. It's a beautiful drive, however most of the viewpoints cannot be accessed on the way to Whistler only on the way back. We were lucky to have a mostly clear day so the views were exhilarating.
It was also my first trip to Whistler and we paid to go on the Peak2Peak Gondola which I would definitely recommend, it is well worth the money. Again stunning views from Blackcomb mountain across the valley, where the village sits, and the lakes behind. On the way back we stopped off in Squamish to try and find somehwere to eat. First of all it took a while of driving around to find Squamish itself. Happily though we found a picturesque river walk. Squamish itself is not worth a visit, unless you are in to outdoor pursuits like hiking, kayaking and rock climbing - in which case it is a must. Before you reach Squamish there is the Chief. It is famous for challenging rock climbing and the 3 summit hike.
A few weeks earlier I had done the 1st summit of this hike. It is a really exciting hike, as to reach the summit you have to climb ladders and chains in order to scramble up the rock face and reach the breath-taking views at the top. If it is best to go during the week and avoid public holidays as it gets very busy and this can ruin the 'edge of the world' ambience when you reach the top!Over the weekend I finally got myself over to Vancouver island and I'm really looking forward to exploring more of the island. We drove around Sooke which was very pretty. We enjoyed a picnic on the beach at Ed MacGregor Park, where John managed to spot a seal. It has a long boardwalk that follows the coast over the water. It was secluded and beautiful. We spent the afternoon driving back to Victoria along the coast road, exploring the many beaches and beach side parks, dotted with the exotic looking Arbutus tree, with it's vivid rusty, cellophane like bark.
Of course there are other sights that are a must around the city and I made sure mum hit them all! A really fun day out starts with a walk down Davie Street towards English Bay, you can then walk along the coast path around Stanley Park. if you have time you can venture in to the forest and find your way to Beaver Lake and the aquarium, I am told it a must see - although I haven't been yet.
Another pleasant evening is spent at the public markets on Granville Island and enjoying fish and chips or a salmon burger while listening to one of the many buskers. WE also went along to Bistro 101 which is the restaurant and cafe operated by the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. It offers 3 course meals MOn-Thurs for under $25 a head. The food was fantastic, I was very impressed. We were even offered a selection of breads and different flavoured butters.
http://www.bistro101.com/
I would also recommend visiting Lighthouse Park on the north shore. It has lots of little low-key trails that wind in and out of the forest, over logs and bolders with windy views over small rocky coves.
Lighthouse Park hike
The cite itself is great but if you want to get out and around BC it's definitely easier if you have a car. For example if you want to visit Vancouver island. Then it will take you about an hour and a half to get to the ferry terminal, by bus and sky train, then 1 hour and a half on the ferry. Once you are on the island it will take you about 40 minutes-1 hour on the bus to get in to downtown Victoria. So it can be a bit of a trek!
