I just got back from a fabulous trip out towards the Western part of Canada with my mom and sister. We spent three days in Vancouver, BC and then two days in Calgary, AB.
This was such a dream come true for me. It has always been a dream of mine to go Vancouver and it did not disappoint.
Here is a breakdown of the short-trip.
Vancouver
- Day one: Shopping and dining Downtown Vancouver
- Day two: Touring Grouse Mountain
- includes a gondola ride to the top, Hike to the summit, some entertainment shows
- Day three: Exploring Whistler
- Includes some hiking, exploration of Whistler Village, ATVing up the mountain and dinner.
Thoughts:
Vancouver was definitely AWESOME. Just walking around the city is beautiful in and of itself. It reminds me of a fusion between San Francisco, LA with the All-Canadian flare. There is definitely a lot of wonderful places to shop. I eventually got overwhelmed– but I am not a huge shopper anyways. But I enjoyed walking around the city and highly suggest it.
Grouse mountain was also REALLY beautiful. When you go to the top you can overlook Vancouver and it is a really special sight. However, Grouse mountain is a skiing destination for the winter and therefore the mountain is pretty well-groomed and full of civilization. My sister and I joked that it had been “colonized.” Therefore, if you want a really relaxing quiet hike I would not suggest Grouse mountain. However, if you are looking for the hiking experience without the wilderness commitment it is great. It has some entertainment shows (informational show on Wild Birds and a comedic Lumberjack competition) for entertainment. I would also suggest riding to the mountain top in the Gondola. The view of the city is breathtaking.
And finally, we spent the last day in Whistler. I LOVE WHISTLER and one day was NOT enough. We ended up ATVing up the mountain as part of one of the standard tours the visit center has, but this place is so gorgeous and worth more attention. My sister, cousin and I planned coming back to snowboard in the winter or perhaps kayak, hike and bike in the summer. I cannot suggest Whistler enough, if you’re an outdoorsy person you will enjoy it. Obviously it is a bit pricier then other places, however, a person can really be thrifty if they are strategic with their finances.
All in all the trip was great. My biggest recommendation is Whistler. I have to throw out a huge shout out to Komi (my cousin) and Gugga Mama Ji (my Uncle) and the rest of their family. They hosted us and honestly, travelling becomes so enjoyable when people open their doors and hearts to show you the place they call home. Their company made the whole trip memorable and I could not be more thankful.
Pictures below.
