What a wonderful couple days celebrating us. We slept in just a little this morning and then to Calgary Airport to return our rental and fly to Vancouver. I was quite excited to fly to Van. I had an overnight stopover here on my way to China last Fall and loved that Vancouver Airport and Vancouver has so many Chinese people. The signs in the airport are actually in 3 languages ( English, French and Chinese). I was really looking forward to spending some time exploring. We even saw Gerald in the Airport as we were leaving.
So…Two days to explore Vancouver City, what to do?
TOP of my LIST for Vancouver…Stanley Park
Vancouver’s Stanley Park is larger than New York’s Central Park. with 100 acres in the heart of the city. With beaches and gardens and an 8.8km seawall path circling the park, it’s a great place to come and relax or get a little exercise. It also has some of the most fantastic views of the city.
One of the other cool things at Stanley Park are the Totem Poles. First Nations culture is an important part of the history of both Stanley Park and Vancouver. Parts of the park were the former site of a First Nations village. The totems and gateways at were carved in the late 1880s and replaced with lookalike versions in the 1980s to keep the originals preserved. I just had to see them!
By the time we got done exploring the park, it was time to check in to our hotel and get some dinner.
Tonight we headed to Gas Town, along the north of the downtown Vancouver peninsula. Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood, Gastown grew from a single tavern founded by John ‘Gassy Jack’ Deighton back in 1867. The district retains its historic charm and independent spirit. Victorian architecture, boutiques, one-of-a-kind galleries and some of the best culinary fare in Vancouver. It’s the place to go for dinner. So…we strolled along Water Street, saw the Steam Clock, and vintage lampposts, and at the end of Water Street saw the statue of the man who started it all, Gassy Jack Deighton. Then we had dinner at a great spot on the patio. 131Water Kitchen & Bar.
What a great first night in Vancouver.
PS. We are on the West Coast!!!!
Just An East Coast Girl 