Flying into Vancouver was a unique experience because we don’t have mountains in the concrete jungle. I’m not accustomed to this view, but it’s beyond beautiful. Vancouver International Airport was one of the nicest airports I’ve been in. Its unique interior design is characterized by abundant natural light, expansive windows offering views of the surrounding mountains, and its British Columbian theme of blues and greens featuring Indigenous art installations. However, Danny was yelled at and bullied by the customs agents. LOL. He gets too flustered and talks too much. With customs agents, it’s best to say as little as possible. I realize I may have to take the reins in future international trips because I am a woman of few words.
We stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront, a downtown Vancouver hotel overlooking the scenic Burrard Inlet and North Shore mountains. I chose this hotel because it is across the street from Canada Place, so I wouldn’t have to stress about traveling on the embarkation day of our Disney Cruise. The room was clean and spacious, with a cute view of downtown Vancouver. We explored Canada Place to get a view of the mountains while we waited for our room to be ready. I saw my first Canadian flag flying in the wind! We stopped at a drugstore to pick up a few things, where I found ketchup chips, which I was so excited about because I am a fiend for ketchup. I also bought a coffee crisp. Even though I wouldn’t say I like coffee much, it’s unique to Canada, so I had to buy one.
Once we were settled into our room, we went to get something to eat for dinner. I was hungry because Air Canada starved us for the 6-hour flight, charging stupid prices for simple snacks. As we were walking, we came across the Gastown Steam Clock. I had read about this because it is an iconic landmark in Vancouver’s historic Gastown district and a popular tourist attraction. It is a Victorian-style steam clock with ornate detailing and is one of the few remaining steam clocks worldwide. It chimes every hour, emitting a melody and steam. We saw it right as it was getting ready to play its tune. An entire crowd gathered around the clock to witness the event. It reminded me of when people anxiously waited with their phones out to catch the fire-breathing Dragon at Diagon Alley in Universal Studios.
We went to Straight Brooklyn Pizza, which claims to make authentic New York-style pizza. It wasn’t bad pizza, but it didn’t remind me of New York pizza. We returned to Canada Place for the immersive flight simulation experience, FlyOver Canada, which gives you visuals of cities across Canada, including Vancouver and Toronto. It’s basically Soarin’ for Canada. LOL. It was a bit costly at around $35 per person, but I was curious because I only ever get to see the Epcot/Disneyland version. We marveled at the view of Canada Place a bit more before returning to the hotel. Seeing the various cruise ships dock daily made me anxious for the Disney Wonder's arrival.
Stanley Park
I decided to spend our Saturday in Stanley Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America. It has scenic walking and biking trails, lush forests, beaches, and the famous seawall, which offers breathtaking views of the city skyline and mountains. We went to the Vancouver Aquarium because I wanted to see sea otters. LOL. The aquarium is small but still has a variety of marine life and animal exhibits. I was happy simply seeing sea lions, seals, sea otters, and penguins. We took a stroll along the Seawall to get stunning views of the city skyline, Burrard Inlet, and the mountains. You can also enjoy great views of the Lions Gate Bridge. Its distinctive green color adds to its visual appeal and makes it a recognizable landmark on the Vancouver skyline. As we walked, I couldn’t help but be angry that it was hot in Vancouver. It is usually in the mid-50s and 60s in May, but this weekend, in particular, was in the 80s. Why does this happen to me? I was so excited to experience the mild and pleasant weather in the city. I guess I should just be thankful it didn’t rain. Also, I found Vancouver has excellent air quality. I never paid attention to air quality when checking the weather until the Canadian wildfire smoke invaded NYC.
I couldn’t get over the waterfront views with the mountains in the background. I was determined to hike to Prospect Point Lookout for the best view of Lions Gate Bridge Bridge. We also found another lookout spot that gives you a great view of cruise ships leaving the inlet. Luckily, we caught a cruise ship leaving for their journey to Alaska. I told Danny their sailaway party was not as fun as ours. I hadn’t even stepped foot on the ship yet, and there I was, being a Disney Cruise snob already. Afterward, Danny searched for black squirrels, playing squirrel sounds from his phone to attract them. It turns out that black squirrels are not as friendly and have no interest in being models for the camera. We ended our visit to Stanley Park with ice cream, of course. For dinner, we ate at The Old Spaghetti Factory in Gastown. I didn’t realize that this was a chain restaurant that also exists in the US; I was just in the mood for Italian food. The restaurant's interior was cute with its antique furnishings, stained glass windows, and a Gastown tram car, which you can eat in. The food was delicious! I ordered the tortellini dish, while Danny ordered chicken parmesan with mozzarella sticks.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
We journeyed to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in North Vancouver on Sunday to cross the iconic Bridge. I’m not sure why I was so excited to walk across this bridge, but it is A LOT scarier in person than I had initially thought. The way the suspension bridge sways and shakes while you’re 230 feet above the rapids of the Capilano River is terrifying. The Capilano Suspension Bridge spans 450 feet across the Capilano River and the Canyon, made of sturdy cables and wooden planks. Once you get acclimated to the bridge, you will have breathtaking views of the lush rainforest canopy, the rushing river below, and the surrounding mountains. We ordered mini pancakes for breakfast when we finished crossing the suspension bridge. We arrived before the park opened to have a less crowded experience while we crossed, so naturally, we were hungry. Funny enough, a squirrel got up close and personal with us because it wanted food. I suspect he's been scavaging or being fed by visitors for a while now. LOL.
We carried on with Treetop adventures, which involved a series of elevated walkways and suspension bridges suspended among the towering trees of the rainforest canopy. We also explored the cliff walk, which features narrow walkways clinging to the granite cliffside high above the canyon floor. However, before journeying through the Cliffwalk, we needed to cross the suspension bridge again. As scary as it is, each creak and sway of the bridge adds a thrill to the experience. Exploring the Capilano Suspension Bridge was my favorite part of visiting Vancouver. I felt at peace taking in the views of the surrounding canyon, river, and rainforest. There is something about this serene atmosphere you can’t experience in NYC. I hope to take more vacations that allow me to experience nature more. We returned to the hotel from our early morning adventures to take a break. Afterward, we walked to Fritz European Fry House because I couldn’t leave Canada without eating poutine, a famous Canadian dish that consists of French fries, cheese curds, and gravy. Despite being skeptical, Danny enjoyed his poutine and even got adventurous by adding pulled pork to his order. I acquired more Canadian flavor chips - All Dressed and Pickle on our walk back to our hotel. Why can I never find pickle chips in NY? We made one last trip to Canada Place so Danny could take photos of the famous Orca Statue.
Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever seen, and it may just be my favorite. I love it for its natural beauty and its abundance of outdoor recreational activities. The city is so photogenic with its breathtaking mountain backdrops and waterfronts that I regret not doing photoshoots in the city to document my time there. I hate being in such a rut back then, but it is what it is. I’d love to revisit the city, perhaps on a joint trip to Seattle. I’m grateful to have finally had an opportunity to visit a Canadian city, and I hope it is not my last time in this beautiful country!
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