Vancouver 2022
My husband and I made two trips to Vancouver this Fall. I have been living in Alberta for 11 years and have never been! So, when we spotted some cheap flights this past spring, we jumped on the opportunity to head out. I wanted to share about my time there and combine the trips into one post. What I share may not be an exhaustive list of everything I experienced, but I will touch on the highlights and favourites from the two trips.
The first trip was three days in early September, just as a small getaway to explore and relax. The second trip was in November for the Lizzo concert, but we added an extra day to spend a little time in the city.
I’ll start by saying that I am always thrilled to be back by the water. I grew up by the Atlantic Ocean, a different beast from the Pacific. But either way, spending time just being near water is incredibly grounding.
Sights
Granville Island. It was so much fun to explore the market, enjoy some music and take in the energy of the little island. Seeing local shops and vendors is always a wonderful way to enjoy a new city.
Stanley Park. We took our time to walk the sea wall around Stanley Park. It was a gorgeous day, and lovely to enjoy the walk leisurely. We stopped to see the incredible totem poles. I loved being by the water, with no place to be.
Vancouver Aquarium. I loved the aquarium so much more than I had expected! The variety of fish and other sea creatures was phenomenal. But the highlight for me was the jellyfish; I could have watched them for hours. I love that experiences like the aquarium allow me to feel like a child again.
Sunset Beach. We spent a couple of evenings here, watching the sunset and loving every moment of being by the water. I loved being surrounded by people who were all there to be in awe of one of the most incredible phenomena nature has to offer.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. We stumbled upon this garden in the late afternoon, it was after opening hours, so some sections were closed. But that also meant we were the only people there. We got to experience golden hour there amongst the trees and perfectly still ponds. I love chance encounters with sites when we travel; they often end up being my top highlights.
Lizzo Concert. It's not technically a site, and I've written about it earlier, but I can't write about my trips to Vancouver without acknowledging what a phenomenal experience this concert was. Lizzo and her Big Grrrls gave a mind-blowing performance.
Granville Island; Stanley Park Totem Poles; Vancouver Aquarium; Sunset Beach; Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden; Lizzo
Food
Meat & Bread. It was SO yummy. They do very simply what their name says - meat and bread. Everything was incredibly fresh, the best ciabatta bun I've ever had. We ordered what they are known for, the crackling porchetta with salsa verde sandwich. But we were tempted by the meatball sandwich, so we got a side of meatballs. It was super delicious. We couldn’t resist returning for round two on our second trip.
The Pawn Shop. Another 500 Secrets suggestion that was actually on the same street as our Air BnB. We had some delicious tacos, and I also ordered a jalapeño mango margarita.
Lee's Donuts: Located on Granville Island and included in our 500 Secrets book, Lee's was listed as a "must have," and boy, was it. These donuts were phenomenal. We ordered four; the Dutch Crumb x 2 (dusted in our homemade cake crumb & cinnamon sugar topping), Chocolate Crunch (vanilla cake donut with crunchy chocolate topping,) and Coconut (vanilla cake donut with fine, sweetened coconut). These donuts melted in your mouth; they were so soft and fresh.
Lucky's Donuts. Oh. My. God. We got these from 49th Parallel Coffee. We shared the French Crueller, and it was divine. I am realizing that I am a donut person more than I ever thought I was.
Meat & Bread; Lee’s Donuts
Drinks
Granville Brewing. We snagged a rare patio seat and shared a flight. We had the Juicebox IPA, Kitsilano Juicy IPA, Beermosa Hazy IPA and Sunshine Coast Hefeweizen. The Jukebox was probably my favourite and being able to sit on the patio and enjoying people watching in the bustling island was really fun.
Steamworks Brewhouse. Gastown was our favourite area, and we headed back there to try out the Steamworks beers. I had a flight with the Saison, Cold IPA, Hazy Pale Ale and Wheat-Hefeweizen.
The Morrisey. This bar was about ten steps from our Air BnB, so we ended up there out of convenience on the first night. But we loved the live music and easygoing atmosphere. We returned on our last night for a final vacation drink.
Granville Island Brewing; Steamworks Brewhouse
Coffee
Timbertrain Coffee. We hung out here while making some plans for the day. We both had pour-overs; I had the Gore Dako, an Ethiopian coffee with notes of Black Tea, Honey, and Red Fruits. It was a cute little place and a lovely start to the day.
49th Parallel. We went to two locations, one downtown and the other in Kitsilano. I loved the outdoor seating area in Kitsilano. The hot and iced coffee were both great, and we bought some beans to take home, our usual tradition when we travel.
Matchstick. After checking out of our Air BnB, we had a few hours to kill before heading to the airport. Matchstick had great coffee, and I loved how bright and spacious it was.
Nelson the Seagull. This was the coziest of cozy spots. The combination of baking with the cooler November weather steamed up the windows, making for a very Hygge atmosphere. The background music added just enough background noise and the whole place smelled delicious.
Timbertrain Coffee; Nelson the Seagull
Shopping
Muji. We stumbled upon this store that we affectionately dubbed "Japanese IKEA." The internet informs me that it is "a global Japanese retail company selling a wide variety of household consumer items, furniture, clothing, and food products." I am a sucker for stationary, organization and simple home accessories, and MUJI had it all. Fortunately or unfortunately, I flew into Vancouver with only a carry-on, so a lot of shopping was out of the question. But I did grab a few items that were well-priced and beautifully simple.
Old Faithful Shop. This stunning little store made me feel calm and warm as soon as I walked in. While it was definitely on the higher end price-wise, the quality also appeared top-notch. I purchased some Hakami Porcelain mugs and Hibi incense matches. Both were intentionally purchased to add to having items in my home that create an environment I love.
Muji
Both trips to Vancouver were fun and relaxing. They were mini vacations with no major agendas, allowing us to explore, enjoy coffee, food and sites without a lot of rush. I adored being in a city with all the amenities that I love but also so close to water.