Where we stayed: We stayed at the Sheraton Wall Centre,
downtown Vancouver. With the exception of the location, it was the opposite of
the Maquinna Hotel – plushy carpet, pristine furniture, a king sized bed with
fluffy pillows, fast internet, and working AC. It also had a pool – which Ash
was super excited about – until she tried to go there at 9 pm. Warning: hotel
pools at 9 pm are what parent’s use to entertain their kids at the end of a
long travel day. She swam with the kiddos for 10 minutes (with several near
miss kicks to the head) and the two spent the rest of their at-hotel time
enjoying the room with a view.
What we ate: We did an Asian food tour enjoying Japanese,
Chinese, Malaysian, and Thai. The food tour was facilitated by multiple
recommendations, sushi by Jenna and Denis, new Vancouver locals, Chinese with
Alice’s parents and brother, who not only took us to a great place but filled
our plates and stomachs over and over, Malaysian as recommended by our bus tour
guide, and Thai recommended by our hairstylist. When we wanted to give our
stomachs a break we ate pizza at Pacifico. We had a delicious picnic in Stanley
Park (also compliments of Jenna and Denis), a beautiful dinner in the UBC
botanical gardens (compliments of Kenny and Grace at their wedding), and brunch
in a trendy restaurant (amazing suggestion and company from Scott). We even
managed breakfast in bed one day (vacation is hard)! We tried as many craft
beers as we could, also checking out a local brewery called Bomber Brewing.
What we did: All the things Vancouver has to offer: an
awesome city tour compliments of Alice’s family (the Zhao’s), to Granville
Island, Chinatown, Gastown, and Canada Place, an outside city tour compliments
of Land Sea Sky Tours to the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain. We
didn’t do the Grouse Grind (a 2000+ climb), but had our own adventure up the
chair lift to the peak of Grouse. We also visited two co-habitating grizzly
bears named Cool and Grinder. Even though they were downright cute, we both
decided we wouldn’t want to come into contact with a grizzly in the forest. We
attended a gorgeous intimate wedding under the Arbor and on the lawn of the UBC
botanical garden. We did have a wild night, reminiscent of Britt and Grace's Queen's Days, but we all managed to get up the next day and continue on our adventure. We biked (yes, us! yes, biked!) around Stanley Park with
Jenna while Denis jogged, and Ashley went into the Pacific one last time on the
second beach. We explored the Davie Village, checking out the local LGBTQ life,
and Ashley even squeezed in a school work meeting on Commercial Drive.
Most ridiculous food seen in a restaurant: A whole
roasted chicken topped with a burger topped with a pulled pork slider, with
chicken wings, onion rings, a hot dog, and a piece of cake with whipped cream,
all stuck together perched on top of a Caesar. This can be yours for only $60
and a double bypass!
Our next adventure is… well… we don’t quite know yet! But
we’re already craving the next adventure.
Stay tuned!
