It was so nice to be on the plane again after being grounded in Toronto for the past 3 years. Our good friends Liz and Ken planned a beautiful wedding in Victoria, BC this year and we made sure to make the most of the trip. Being 3 years older, wiser and more tired, I tried not to be too ambitious in our plans and stuck to the basics. I mean, I scheduled naps in between our plans and it was worth it lol.
4 Days in Vancouver
While we didn’t spend all 4 consecutive days in Vancouver, this is where we started. We’re seriously so spoiled in the key cities of Canada, we get to enjoy so much good food from around the world. I couldn’t get enough of their sushi.
Here is our activity list in Vancouver:
- Granville Island
- Granville Island is a mixture of public markets, food stalls and art exhibits, where you can easily spend a full day. It’s a short water taxi ride from the mainland. My favourite snack I got from the market is the candied salmon that I still think about often.
- Gastown
- Gastown is Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood known for it’s Steam Clock, Victorian buildings, cobblestone roads and vintage lampposts. It’s a great area to find a good restaurant to enjoy lunch or dinner.
- Canada Place
- A short after dinner stroll takes you to Canada Place by Vancouver’s waterfront. Canada Place is an iconic landmark and venue featuring The Drop structure.
- Stanley Park
- Stanley Park is Vancouver’s first, largest urban park. Another place you can spend a full day just walking along the harbour and watching the seaplanes come and go.
- Vancouver Aquarium
- Within Stanley Park is the Vancouver Aquarium dedicated to marine research, ocean literacy education, climate activism, conservation and marine animal rehabilitation. Of course, I had to visit my spirit animal, the sea otters.
4 Days in Whistler
Our plan in Whistler was super chill, so much so that after our scheduled nap, we had time to make a spontaneous trip to the spa before heading over to Vallea Lumina later that night. It was perfect.
- Whistler Scandinave Spa
- The Scandinave is a health spa with hot and cold water pools and massage therapists available. I will be honest though and say the Collingwood location in Ontario is newer and nicer. We expected to get views of the mountains while in Whistler but they were no where in sight. At some point, one of the pools had a lot of debris and grease floating around – no thanks!!
- Whistler Village
- Whistler Village is located at the base of Blackcomb, one of the largest ski resorts in North America. In the summer, you can hike the mountain trails and visit the local shops and restaurants.
- Peak to Peak
- Peak-to-Peak accessed through Whistler Village offers stunning 360-degree views of Whistler Village, mountain peaks, lakes, glaciers and forests.
- Vallea Lumina
- To be honest, I thought Vallea Lumina was going to be a cash grab but I wanted something to fill time. It turned out to be a worthwhile experience. It’s a multimedia night walk the tells a story throughout the experience. Definitely worth a visit.
4 Days in Victoria
We spent most of our time in Victoria scheduled around the rehearsal dinner and the wedding but we also got to spend time with our friends after years apart!
- Bastion Square
- Located in downtown Victoria, Bastion Square looks out on the Inner Harbour and hosts numerous restaurants, cafes and local shops.
- Pickle Boat tour
- The cute little ferries in Victoria harbour offers short scenic coastal tours. This was especially helpful since our friend Katie and Carl both had ankle injuries and needed a break from all the walking lol.
- Legislative Assembly of BC
- The British Columbia Parliament Buildings are located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and offers tours of the building with more insight and history.
- Fisherman’s Wharf
- This quaint floating pier, accessible by drive or the pickle boats, offers food kiosks to enjoy local seafood – oysters and clam chowder are a must-try!
- Rent a speed boat
- This was one of my favourite activity in Victoria, we rented a speedboat for half the day and explored the harbour!
Life Outside the Inbox 