Vancouver, Canada

{ wander }

Vancouver Urban Winery - A nice spot for a glass of wine and snack in the afternoon.

Granville Island - A bit touristy but I still thought it was fun to check out. Has a market and shops to wander in and out of. A fun place to grab a bite and you can sit out on the river.

Rent Bikes - such a bike able city and the best way to get around. Ride out to Stanley Park which has a great loop with beautiful views.

For a day trip, take the ferry to Victoria Island. We had a rental car and just took our car on the ferry with us. We drove to the town of Victoria for lunch (feels like you are in England) and spent the afternoon visiting the beautiful and famous Buchart Gardens. There are wineries all over the place and we stopped at a few before we needed to be back at the ferry. This day was a highlight!

{ eat }

Bao Bei - One of my favorite meals ever. A Chinese brasserie with delicious food in a fun setting in Chinatown. I love this place! They don't take reservations so try to go on the early side or be prepared to wait. We snagged seats at the bar which was perfect.

Union - Good, Asian inspired food. We went for lunch and loved it, would also be a good spot for a casual dinner.

The Diamond - A cool spot for drinks in Gastown. Big open windows and a historic feel make this a perfect place for afternoon cocktails or some small bites.

PiDGiN - This Asian French fusion restaurant in the hip Gastown neighborhood is stylish and serves up delicious cocktails.

Vij's - Highly recommended as an amazing Indian restaurant, but unfortunately didn't make it on this trip.

{ july 2014 }