A Weekend in Vancouver

I’ve come to terms with the fact that I am completely reckless and irresponsible when it comes to compiling travel pieces. (Remember that time I went to Japan and have yet to post ANYTHING about it? It’s coming… I swear.) In my mind, it always seems daunting sifting through the plethora of shots to use for a travel diary. I am one snap happy traveler and editing that down can be pain. A weekend in Vancouver turned out exactly the same way.

BESTIES WEEKEND IN NATURE

Back in October I flew to Vancouver to meet up with my best friend Cecily for her birthday and finally meet her glamorous and lovely grandma. The goal of the trip was to hike, relax, and consume an excessive amount of sushi and lattes as possible. In my opinion, we succeeded in all facets, especially in the hike department. I was barely able to walk once Cecily was done with me.

Read on for a few places we couldn’t get enough of.

stawamus chief provincial park

This was the first serious hike I’ve ever gone on. Any other “hike” I’ve been on was a glorified walk compared to The Chief. As I panted trying to carry my body up the severe incline, dreadlocked men ran past us in converse and shorts, skipping steps, no jackets, no water bottles. This certainly wasn’t their first rodeo, but it sure was mine.

It’s graded as an “intermediate hike” but once you get to the peaks, there are CHAINS to help you climb the rest of the way. Since we went in October, which is considered off-season in Squamish, it was extremely slippery. Plus I was convinced everyone on the trail was there to murder us courtesy of the tails I’ve listened to on the My Favorite Murder podcast.

According to my iPhone health tracker, we walked 14,211 steps, 9.03 km, and climbed 145 floors on that hike.

I can vouch that this is not a trail for a beginner unless you’re overzealous but make sure to stretch A LOT afterwards which I did not do. If this isn’t your bag, you can still experience the area in a much less strenuous way on the Sea to Sky Gondola.

SUSHI MAIN

We ate at Sushi on Main more than once. It was conveniently located up the block from 49th Parallel, the sashimi was incredible, and there was this cute teal car parked around the corner that I fell in love with. I think I’ve made a great case for it.

QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK

There’s a mountain view and a biodome! Like many other park in and around Vancouver, there’s a plethora of luscious trees everywhere! This park truly has it all as well as Cecily looking gazelle-like in her Bree Layne choker. If you want to see a little more of the park, check out my outfit post from there. 

SHOPPING

Cecily and I stumbled into a minimalist’s dream while walking down Main St; the shop was called Umeboshi. [Sadly Umeboshi closed in 2018]

Since I’m addicted to all things related to Japan, we made the trek out to Richmond to visit my favourite Japanese dollar store: Daiso. Are you looking for cute stationery or perhaps some Japanese confections? This is the store for you.

We also checked out the Broom Company on Granville Island which was spectacular. Do you want to see someone construct an old timey broom right before your eyes? Then hoof it on down to the island.

COFFEEEEEEEEEEEEE

The first cafe we hit up on the trip was right before the treacherous hike we went on. The Greenhorn Cafe, located downtown in a maze of one way streets, was open early for breakfast and lattes which we indulged in both.

49th Parallel & Lucky’s Doughnuts – we were repeat offenders here mostly because of their handmade organic almond milk which is Sandy and Cecily’s greatest pleasure of all. Their excellent doughnut selection is second to the almond milk but I’m always glad to pair a baked good with a latte. I’m not a monster after all.

Matchstick – if the minimal decor wasn’t enough to draw you in in the first place, the smell of incredible coffee and the taste of their lattes is enough to keep you returning many times as we did; all weekend.

SCANDINAVE SPA IN WHISTLER

Both Cecily and I had never been to Whistler and we figured this was the perfect opportunity to change this. To be fair, we didn’t see *Whistler* proper because the Scandinave Spa was calling. Nothing prepared me for how good it smelled there. Nestled in an old growth rainforest, the aromatic outdoor spa was scented by dew on the surrounding trees. Positively dreamy.

For those unfamiliar, the Scandinave Spa is a quiet no-phone zone meaning a silent digital detox. They kindly allowed me to snap a few photos as we were there at opening time.

Remaining silent for the duration of the visit, aside from our lunch break, was a lot harder than I imagined. Perhaps more so since I was with my best friend whom I only see sporadically in person. Regardless of that, the atmosphere was soothing because of these restrictions, or rather limitations.

We spent the day hopping from hot saunas to polar dip pools in a circuit around the thermal spa and it nearly killed me. Post our “intermediate” hike, my body wasn’t as mobile as it usually is. With that said, the following day I felt INCREDIBLE, as if a visit to the spa did a total reset on my aching muscles.

AUTUMN WALKS

A trip to Vancouver must always include an abundance of walks, whether specifically planned or impromptu. Walking to a destination or merely for pleasure ALWAYS offers a feast for the eyes. Vancouver in the fall, while rainy, offers sensational foliage as well as inventive Halloween decorations – which I adore.

There are a number of neighbourhoods that are especially lovely to walk around. If you’re specifically looking for Halloween decor, Trinity Street in East Van is stacked with inventive decorations and craftsman houses.

Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood, which borders Trinity Street, also has many older homes as well as the neighbourhoods around Queen Elizabeth Park. 

For the old money houses, check out West Point Grey while they’re still standing! Every time I return, more old houses have been knocked down and replaced with McMansions. It’s heartbreaking.

A WEEKEND IN VANCOUVER

Mini adventures with Cecily are one of my favourite things to do. It was so fortunate we were even able to make that happen twice last year. Hopefully 2017 will magically throw another opportunity our way. I can dare to dream but in the meantime, I’ll rest up for the next perilous hike. [We finally went on another trip and this time it was to Canmore!]

photographs – cc ruth + sandy joe karpetz