Vancouver, BC

Despite travelling over a thousand miles, our journey north had not yet reached its pinnacle. Last year, the big loop we made in our travels went as far north and east as South Dakota before turning back to the west. This year, we'd leave the country, struggling for words to describe our jobs and where we lived to an impatient border security official who seemed a teensy bit confused when we said we were visiting Vancouver just to visit Vancouver.

"Who are you visiting in Vancouver?" she asked.

"No one. We're just going to visit Vancouver and see the city" I replied, a little worried that I might say something idiotic and have to answer more questions in an even more intimidating setting.

After a bit of brow-furrowing, she returned our passports and welcomed us to Canada, our minor bit of anxiety turning into excitement and then back to anxiety as we realized the speed signs used kilometers per hour, not miles per hour. The Prius, unlike many other cars, doesn't have an analog speedometer with both mph and kph, but just digital numbers on their own. After a bit of fidgeting with the controls, Erinn switched it to kph and we were back to being excited.

Canada!

As with Seattle, our visit to Vancouver was much too short to do anything but skim the surface. We made the most of it by eating some bangers and mash at The Irish Heather, wandering around for miles inside beautiful Stanley Park, and trying some unique sushi at The Eatery.

The Irish Heather is a very cool pub on the edge of Gastown that has super tasty British/Irish food and specializes in good whiskey. My flank steak was delicious, but Erinn's bangers and mash was so good we still talk about it. I definitely recommend a stroll around Gastown, a quick hello to Gassy Jack, and some bangers and mash at The Irish Heather.

Gassy Jack

We started our second day with Stanley Park, the 1,000 acre park which sits right next to downtown Vancouver and which you have to drive through to pass over the Lionsgate Bridge to get to North Vancouver. It's a massive park to simply have sitting on such a prime piece of real estate, but it's wonderful that they've kept it like that. It's a beautiful park with cool trails all throughout it. We walked up and down it and went to the Vancouver Aquarium, also inside Stanley Park.

Other highlights from Vancouver were the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Granville Island, which is this tiny little island south of downtown Vancouver and sits, almost hidden, underneath the Granville St. Bridge. It's really this whole market of stuff, with a public market full of food, nice restaurants, a park, a brewery, wine tasting, a comedy club, art studios, and probably lots of other stuff we missed and yet it's all on this small, hidden island tucked away under a bridge.

Well, after a couple of days in beautiful Vancouver, we went back to America. There were a few things I wish we'd been able to do. I wish we'd gone up to Whistler, just to say we'd done it. I wish I'd gotten some french fries and gravy. And I wish we'd been able to stay a couple nights in Victoria.

Guess we'll just have to go north again!

My Seattle Family

I love Seattle for many reasons. It's a beautiful city with lots to do, music is everywhere, and you can't beat Mt. Rainier as a backdrop. Seattle is so much different than my home town of Bakersfield. At home, nature is a few hours away, not part of our every day lives. We travel to nature, whether it's to the beach at Morro Bay or up to the mountains for Yosemite. Seattle is a big city, like many others, but nature seems to be all around. Whether it's heard in casual conversation or experienced as a walk at a nearby lake, nature is part of life here. Yet the best part of Seattle for me is being able to visit my family.

Waffles Caffe

We rarely make it all the way up to that corner of the world, but I am so thankful we made it on this trip. It had been way too long since I'd been to Seattle. Growing up, we'd make the long drive up north for long family vacations. A few times during Christmas break and once or twice during summer. But for Erinn, this was her first visit to Seattle and I was very eager to make a good impression.

After a quick breakfast of gluten-free waffles at the Waffles Caffe in Yakima, we took highway 90 through the cascades, stopping at Snoqualmie Falls for a beautiful view. For travelers driving through the mountains, Snoqualmie Falls is only a few minutes from the highway. For visitors to Seattle, it's only about a half an hour. Well worth the trip.

Snoqualmie Falls

That morning started a bit chilly, with a covering of clouds typical of the Pacific Northwest, but soon after leaving Snoqualmie, we were fortunate enough to have the clouds part and the sun shine through, brightening up the city as we drove in. We took advantage of the clear skies and rode the elevator to the top of the Space Needle, quickly crossing one item off our Seattle to-do list. Not long after, we made it to my Aunt and Uncle's house for a mini family reunion dinner.

That night we caught up around a dinner of salmon, talking about travel, all the cool things there are to do in Seattle, rock climbing, concerts, wine, Bainbridge Island, how badly Portland wishes it was Seattle, and how Erinn and I belong in Washington. We followed dinner with a walk along Green Lake, joining the hundreds of like-minded people who were also enjoying the beautiful weather, taking strolls of their own. Our own walk took us to the southern end of the lake where the bleachers sit, perfectly situated for kicking up your feet and watching the sun set. Everywhere I looked, people were outside, enjoying being outside. Running up the bleachers, jogging along the path, lawn bowling at the park, relaxing by the lake.

The next day we did a little more sightseeing. We rode the Great Wheel, got a crepe at a little shop in the back of Pike Place Market, saw the Fremont Troll, checked out some Daleks and Princess Bride costumes at the EMP, and spent the afternoon with my cousins at Bitterroot BBQ.

The Great Wheel

Fremont Troll

The Iron Throne

You've got red on you.

Exterminate!

We barely scratched the surface in Seattle. More than anything, our two days there made me wish we could just stay. I know we'll go back again soon, but until then, I'll miss the mountains, the music, the clean air, and my Seattle family.


Recommended:


Around Seattle:

• Pike Place Market
• The EMP Museum
• The Space Needle

Outside Seattle:

• Snoqualmie Falls - 1/2 hour drive from Seattle

The Ballard area:

• Ballard Ave and the surrounding area
• Sonic Boom
• Bitterroot BBQ
• The Noble Fir