Category: Vancouver

Located in Canada Place, if you are fond of Van Gogh’s work, you may well find it interesting. It runs until September 7, 2021. The presentation uses a copyrighted technique called Image Totale. We purchased tickets in advance. There was good signage and at 11:30 AM we were behind too other small groups. The COVID-19 protocols were in place and masks were required. The staff were all masked. The set up was that if you needed the bathroom, do it first. The first things you see are large screens that are suspended from the ceiling. Light shining around the screens […]

Read more

The PNE Winter Lights display in 2020 was an unexpected surprise for us as a friend suddenly had tickets she could not use. I had originally not considered this as an option because of the huge popularity and the idling of cars. (I really don’t like drive through anything.) However, it was after Christmas and my family bubble was happy to spend some time seeing some Christmas lights. Do we headed out to the Vancouver PNE grounds and drove through. As you can tell from the photos, the lights were wonderful. It was odd when I realized we were driving […]

Read more

Honestly, I didn’t think I’d be writing a travel article on this last day of Autumn 2020. In downtown Vancouver, where the day time population of office workers dramatically dropped, there was a need to keep the lights on – in more meanings that one! Fleurs de Villes Noël Vancouver ran from December 4-13 with very inventive arrangement of not just flowers, but all types of plant life. My wife and I walked about and enjoyed the route, which covered parts of the streets of Robson, Burrard, Alberni and Hornby. Given that so much else was shuttered (e.g. Stanley Park […]

Read more

One of the more popular easy trails with stunning views is Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver. When I asked Google Maps for a driving route, it suggested taking the Upper Levels Highway, which is a horrible route for a tourist. If you are coming from Vancouver stay on Marine Drive and head west. This will take you through the Ambleside and Dundarave sections of West Van, but then lead you to twisty roads with wonderful views. Be careful because the locals like to take these fast. It’s a left turn onto Beacon Lane where you can head down to the […]

Read more

Heading to a gun range is not a normal tourist event in Canada, but you can do it in Langley BC. My goal was to conduct research for some fiction writing I’m doing. The Range is on 201 Street, Langley, not far from Highway 1. It’s important to note that if you just want to fire guns at their range, you either need a completed Canadian Firearms Safety Course or at least one other person in your group. I brought a friend with me. Prior to this trip, the only firearm I had fired was a 22-calibre rifle at a […]

Read more

There’s a really long walk you can take from Vancouver‘s Canada Place, which will take your around Stanley Park. It’s an easy walk, in that it’s flat and well kept. But it’s long. It’s also much longer if you are a nincompoop. Never change your orthotics into newer shoes before embarking; it will feel like you just put the orthotics in for the first time. However, let’s not focus on the pain; let’s focus on the scenery. When you start from Canada Place it’s a more industrial place. Seaplanes, ships, cafés and so forth. The good news is that there […]

Read more

If you are visiting Vancouver, you should not miss Granville Island. Food, shopping, boats, artisans, entertainment and more. Food and shopping is what you’ve likely heard, but when I last walked onto the island, I noticed the first thing you see looking forward is the Theatresports venue, where you can enjoy improv. If you look behind you, you will see the Kids Market, which is a collection of toy stores and other fun things. Adults do not need children to enjoy that section. On the road heading to Granville Island Market, you will find unusual (i.e. not so branded) shops […]

Read more

It’s nutty that I never went on a Harbour Cruise in Vancouver. Luckily someone at work decided this would be a good way to celebrate for our department. The cruise company provided food and a bar and even though it was a social event I had time to ponder how highly changeable the harbour becomes. It’s pretty industrial at first and is particularly eerie to see the structures for the Burnaby Terminal for the Trans Mountain Pipeline System. There’s so much debate about the expansion and to see the oil infrastructure with the creepy exhaust pipes that you think you […]

Read more

It has been over two years since I last went to Nero Belgian Waffle Bar in Vancouver. Too long in my view, but other obligations put my wife and I right beside the Seymour Street location. We were able to get a seat for two and could enjoy the light waffles. I had the opportunity to try a savoury salmon eggs benny from the brunch section and my wife had a fruit laden waffle from the breakfast menu. Perhaps the best part was the waffle itself, which was light. A lot of waffles leave you feeling heavy. Enjoy the unedited […]

Read more

Kits Beach Park Pool opens every Victoria Day weekend and for the first time in years, I managed to catch it when it was the long weekend and it was warm enough. The trick with opening weekend is to stay in the water once you are in the water and, when out of the water, return yourself to the sun to heat up. Shade is not a thermally suitable place. Kits Pool has this wonderful combination of very long lane lengths so that the people wanting a workout can get one, but also with nice shallow areas for kids to […]

Read more