New York City Travel Highlights

I am often asked what my favourite travel destination has been, and while I love the sunny south, and have had a wonderful time in many Canadian and American cities, my heart always goes back to NYC.

My husband and I spent a fantastic few days there (we traveled one August) and I have incredibly fond memories. Please check out the links to highlights of our three days in New York City, including a thisclose Julia Roberts sighting and a photo op with Regis and Kelly (yes, that says Regis - it was not a recent trip!)

New York City Day 1 (Central Park, Sex and the City Tour, Movie Premiere/Julia Roberts Sighting)

New York City Day 2 (Regis and Kelly, Top of the Rock, NYC Public Library, Empire State Building, Wicked)

New York City Day 3 (9/11 Memorial, Brooklyn Bridge, Circle Line Cruise)

A random note for my Peterborough area friends: did you know Stewart Tours is running charters from the Peterborough Airport, including a 4-day April trip to NYC (with an air-only price of $399 + taxes, or an air and hotel package for $1199 plus taxes)? This isn't sponsored - just wanted to share a great deal!

Family Fun in Boston, MA

Some of our trips are planned months in advance (Nashville, Vancouver, Las Vegas, New York City, Jamaica), other mere days. Our recent on-a-whim trip to Boston, Massachusetts fits in the latter category...and we had a blast! Here are the highlights.

Porter Airlines

• I'm going to save some of the details for now, as I have my fingers crossed that I will get the opportunity to partner with Porter in the future to bring you a whole bunch more information about how great it is to fly with them, but for now I will just say...it's great to fly with them. When we were mulling over destinations my parents suggested we look for somewhere that Porter flies, based on their positive experience, and I'm glad we listened. We've only ever flown out of Pearson before and using the Billy Bishop Airport on the island was vastly different. More on Porter at a later date, I hope!

Boston Children's Museum

I've been searching my memory going through the many other museums we've visited with the kids over the years, and I truly think this one takes the cake. My husband and I were blown away by the quality and my girls (ages 11 and 8) spent hours exploring. Some things we loved:

• A huge range of hands-on, interactive and kinesthetic experiences
• Lots of posted information, including tips for parents
• A great variety for all ages, from toddler through tween
• Familiar characters and themes (hello, Arthur's city!)
• Science, social studies (I thought the "Black Boston" exhibit was fascinating), language, mathematics and the arts all incorporated
• Spacious and clean with friendly, helpful staff

I loved this "welcome to kindergarten" classroom replica!

Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum

Tickets for this attraction are free with the purchase of the Old Town Trolley Tours Hop-On-Hop-Off Passes during fall and winter, and discounted during spring and summer. I will admit, history is not my passion (my brother knows more than enough historical information for the both of us), but this was a really fun way to learn about the events of the Boston Tea Party, including the lead-up and the aftermath, through a multimedia experience. Visitors are drawn into the story (you're even given a card with your character's name, though there's no pressure to do anything other than take it all in) and have the chance to throw some "tea" off the ship. I'm glad we didn't miss this one.

Old Town Trolley Tours

In every city I visit I try to take advantage of hop-on-hop-off offerings (and even ensure that I book a hotel near one of the stops), and Old Town Trolley Tours in Boston definitely met our needs. Most places we visited were on the route, and staying on for an entire loop gave us a great overview of the city. Plus, the drivers were very informative and entertaining, sharing tidbits that I never would have known otherwise. As a lover of all things celebrity, of course I wanted to see the restaurant where JFK proposed to Jackie, the original "Cheers" exterior, and one of the buildings that was used in the film The Departed. Recognize it?

In spring and summer your ticket includes a free Boston Harbour Cruise; in the off-season you get a second consecutive day free to ride the trolley.

Hilton Boston Back Bay

We got a great deal on our room though the Berklee Performance Center website, as we were seeing a show at Berklee the first night we arrived. It had everything we needed in a hotel, including a spacious corner room, a pool and hot tub, and we even splurged on their room service one night! We also spent our snowed-in afternoon (more on that later) playing cards in the Starbucks lounge.

Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy in Concert

This was probably the highlight of the trip for my daughters, who got to see their friends from home performing on stage (fiddling, stepdancing and singing), and also got to play on the tour bus and enjoy dinner in the green room! Music is such an important part of our everyday lives, and it was great to give the kids this experience while travelling as well.

While I recommend you see this talented family if you get a chance, my broader tip would be that you should look into any concerts or shows that might be taking place in your destination city. You never know what you might find!

Mike's Pastry

Based on several social media recommendations, we got off the trolley at stop 2 and took a short stroll through Little Italy to the famed pastry shop...and weren't disappointed! Note that it's cash only, and the very long lines do move quickly.

Cathedral of the Holy Cross

As I captioned my social media post, everyone goes straight from the airport to Mass...with their luggage. Right? Yes, there was a church we could have attended right beside our hotel, but someone insisted on checking out the cathedral. Personally, I fell in love with the stained glass above the altar, and also got a photo of the window of St. Cecilia, patron saint of musicians.

Because everyone gets off a plane and heads straight to Mass...with their luggage. Right? #familytravel #Boston

A post shared by Kate Winn (@katethismomloves) on Mar 13, 2017 at 5:50pm PDT

Meals

• Harry O's: Right across from the Cathedral, we purchased our first meal in Boston from this little pizza place, with delicious food (I had a fantastic calzone made right in front of me, the girls' slices were huge, and they even have great dessert), and friendly, top-notch service.
• Thornton's: We love our breakfast diners, and Thornton's was our choice for two of the mornings of our trip. The menu is huge (they serve lunch and dinner as well), and I had the eggs/toast/hashbrowns meal one morning, and Nutella crepes the next - great-tasting and reasonably priced. There's no separate kids' menu, but tons of options that worked for my girls, including smaller items like muffins and bagels with cream cheese. 
• Ned Devine's Irish Pub in Quincy Market (trolley stop 1). Coming from the city in Canada with the largest Irish population to the US equivalent, of course we had to check out an Irish pub! This one was just what you'd expect: comfort food (I had the fish and chips), Irish tunes playing over the speakers, and of course Irish beer on tap. With a kids' menu and a convenient location, I'd recommend this spot for sure (and coincidentally, two ladies from Ireland who were riding the trolley with us also chose it for lunch!)
• Cheesecake Factory: Yes, yes, it's a chain, but we don't have it in Canada and we've never been before. The filet mignon was incredible (and bigger than I'm used to being served at a restaurant), and of course we each got a slice of cheesecake to go from their extensive selection (since we were so full from our meals there's no way we could eat it there!) With choices like Reese Peanut Butter Cup, Oreo, Smore and Turtles it was difficult to decide....good thing we were all willing to share!

The Blizzard

Well, that's the end of my list of recommendations...significantly shorter than a usual trip, but there's an explanation for that. I had planned two jam-packed days of sightseeing...and on the second day, a blizzard was expected and the entire city shut down! No school (not that we were affected by that, but we get lots of snow at home and schools are never closed), no hop-on-hop-off, and absolutely no tourist attractions that were open. It was an adventure for us, and we actually enjoyed a day of downtime at the pool, playing cards, watching TV, helping my 11-year-old set up a blog that I may or may not let her share with others someday, and starting my notes for this post!

But because we missed half of the attractions I had planned to visit, I also want to share with you a list of places that are now on my must-see list for my next trip to Boston, most of which had offered us admission that we weren't able to take them up on!

• Museum of Science (they currently have an exhibit all about chocolate, and we missed it)
• Fenway Park Tours (I'm not a baseball fan but even I realize what a cultural landmark this is)
• Skywalk Observatory (always neat to get a view of a new city from as high as possible)
• New England Holocaust Memorial
• JFK Library and Museum
• Boston Harbour Cruise (of course this one isn't even open at all in the winter, but if I went back at another time of year I'd take it in for sure)

One caveat for Canadian friends travelling to the US: be very mindful of the exchange rate. When you convert prices in your head (or on your phone!) it makes you more careful when shopping or making choices about other expenditures.

Now, if you're planning to visit Boston and have any questions, please feel free to ask! Also, if you've visited in the past (or are a local) and have other recommendations that I've missed, I'd love for you to add your thoughts!

Back to planning my next travel adventure...

Disclosure: We were provided free admission to some attractions. Opinions are, as always, my own.

Family Fun in Ottawa, Ontario

Disclosure: This post was generously sponsored by IHG. Opinions are, as always, my own.

I’ve always loved a good road trip, which is not surprising since I started travelling at such an early age. At only a few weeks old, my parents buckled me up (or, probably not – it was 1977!) and took me to Ottawa. 

Only two years later, here I am again in front of the Parliament Buildings with my baby brother, Ed. Do you see a road trip theme here?

Yes, my family has always loved spending time in Ottawa, Canada’s fourth largest city – with a rich history and so much to see and do. For visitors, there’s a huge variety of IHG hotels in Ottawa as well.

Of course as teachers, my parents were always big on educational fun, and the museum selection in Ottawa is fantastic. Here’s an amusing shot from our 1989 visit to the then brand-new Canadian Museum of Civilization (now called the Canadian Museum of History). I say amusing, of course, because of my XXL eyeglasses (yep, those were real.). Hey, this was before I was old enough for contact lenses and well before LASIK!

You can also visit the Canadian War Museum, which tells inspiring wartime anecdotes through exclusive photos, art, tours and presentations, or the Royal Canadian Mint (which is on my list for our next trip to Ottawa).

The outdoor scenery in the city is beautiful, too. Many visitors and residents enjoy walking alongside the Rideau Canal with a cup of cocoa in the colder months. Skating is also very popular when the Canal is frozen.

Of course, there’s a place for sports fans in Ottawa as well. In fact, a few years ago when our beloved Montreal Canadiens were in a playoff series against the Ottawa Senators, my husband, father and I went wild and crazy and got same-day tickets (on a workday, no less – if you know how much I love my sleep you must be totally shocked by this) and hit the highway for Ottawa, driving back straight after the game. Who won the game, you ask? Oh, it doesn’t matter.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the great shopping in Ottawa. The Byward Market is extremely popular, and for mall-lovers, the Rideau Centre is a popular choice with 20 million visitors each year.

Since Ottawa is the capital of our beautiful country, you can also find the Parliament Buildings here of course – a huge tourist attraction for my family, obviously!

Just this past spring, our ten-year-old Olivia made it to the Provincials for Lions’ Club Effective Public Speaking (her topic was “Careers of the Future” – let me know if you need any tips!), which was held in Ottawa. We took advantage of our family time in this beautiful city to introduce the girls to the Parliament Buildings, which they had never seen.

I love these next photos, taken at the same spot where the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament address the media outside the House of Commons. You never know, my girls could be back there someday!

There are seasonal events to consider in Ottawa, too. Thinking of visiting this fall? Note that the Ottawa Food and Wine Festival takes place in October.Who doesn’t love food and/or wine?

While we have done a couple of same-day Ottawa trips (over three hours each way…that seems crazy as I type it!), we usually try to take advantage of all of the great Ottawa hotels. By joining the IHG® Rewards Club, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty program with more than 92 million members worldwide, you can get points for your hotel stay at IHG hotels. IHG is a global organization of hotel brands including Intercontinental® Hotels and Resorts, Kimpton® Hotels and Restaurants, HUALUXE^TM Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels and Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, EVEN® hotels, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®.

Ottawa certainly has something for everyone, and I would highly recommend it for your next family trip.

I started this post with a 1977 Ottawa family photo, so what better way to end than with one from 2016? This time, it’s a selfie!

What to Expect During William and Kate's Canadian Visit

I've taken a recent interest in the Duchess of Cambridge (as my Instagram followers certainly know) and in fact have joined the many women who have fun "RepliKating" her clothing and accessories. I was very interested to hear that the Duke and Duchess would soon be visiting Canada, and curious about a lot of the protocols and details surrounding William and Kate's Canadian Tour. 

For information, I turned to Amanda Effie, editor at What Would Kate Do? (one of my new favourite sites!) who also happens to be a resident of British Columbia, where the royal couple (perhaps entire family) will soon visit.

Amanda graciously answered all of my burning questions about the impending royal tour.

Would Prime Minister Trudeau's invitation have been sent and accepted privately before we heard about it, or were we really getting those details in real time? 

It would have been discussed privately well ahead of time between the offices of the Cambridges at Kensington Palace and the UK in Canada program, unfortunately not by Justin Trudeau calling up the Cambridges and asking them to come over for a visit (although isn’t that more fun to think about?)

When Canadians show up at royal appearances as spectators, is there any special protocol to keep in mind? What about anyone who has the honour of meeting the Duke or Duchess (how to address them, etc.)? 

As Canada is a commonwealth nation, curtsying would be proper protocol if meeting them in a formal capacity. We wrote an article a few years ago about the etiquette of meeting the Queen - and since William and Kate will be here representing Her Majesty, those rules would be very helpful. Since very few Canadians will likely have that honour, it is more likely that they will see Will and Kate as spectators during walkabouts or when they are en route somewhere. Given that distinction, there are several other “rules” which are also extremely helpful when meeting a Royal such as never touching them and always being respectful of both their roles as Ambassadors for the UK as well as the fact that they are human beings. We’ll also throw in a modern situation we see so often with people meeting the Duke and Duchess on walkabouts -  put your phone away! 

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What fashion items do you predict we will see from Kate? 

Kate and her stylist team do significant research before all tours and often pay homage to the host country through fashion choices. The last time Kate was in Canada in 2011, for example, she wore a now iconic Erdem (Canadian designer) lace dress for one event and paired a gorgeous Maple Leaf brooch with several of her ensembles. For this Tour, we absolutely expect to continue to see her wearing Canadian brands or brands with Canadian designers at the helm such as Pink Tartan or Smythe. Also since Canada’s new “First Lady” is such a proponent and fan of Canadian fashion, it’s possible that Kate will step up her Made-In-Canada game for events when she is seen with Sophie Trudeau. Perhaps we will also see her break out the Lululemon we saw her buying in London a few months ago for casual events and I’d put good money on the Smythe blazer (that one of our team members desperately wants to borrow from Kate’s closet) making an appearance!

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I know some critics have questioned the fact that royals often wear traditional clothing items from the cultures of the countries they visit - saying that it's "cultural appropriation". What do you think of this? Do you believe it's insulting or a compliment to the host countries? 

This is a tough question. Like we mentioned before, Kate and her team do extensive research on the country they are visiting and the traditions of the people in that country in order to pay respect to them, definitely not to insult or diminish their cultural values. Think of the cape that Kate wore whilst visiting Bhutan on the last tour - was absolutely a nod to the country’s rich heritage. With Will and Kate spending time on the West Coast on this particular tour, I think it could be very likely to see them spend time with members of Canada’s Aboriginal communities who have such rich and powerful histories and stories, so there could be clothing or items chosen to honour that part of Canadian history. 

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When the royals visit other countries, how much input do you think they have in the itinerary? I know for example that being a "selective" eater would make some such events awkward for me! Do you think personal preferences and comfort levels are taken into account?

In all honesty, it is probably very little - it usually follows in line with their official patronages. To be fair though, the patronages are chosen by the Royals themselves. In Will and Kate's case, this includes wildlife preserves, children’s hospice care, the arts and mental health initiatives. I think we will see engagements entering around those things that the couple are passionate about… But I think there will also be some downtime on the trip given that they are traveling with their children - William was quoted as saying he wanted to take George fishing! 

Photo: Kensington Palace

Knowing they will be visiting British Columbia and Yukon, do you have any predictions for specific destinations? 

My house (just kidding!) It’s hard to guess without seeing their full itinerary, but since we are now hearing that Vancouver will be their first destination, I can imagine that whilst in Vancouver they could visit Stanley Park (perhaps if it can be arranged with security concerns take George and Charlotte to the Aquarium?), spend some time on Granville Island (there is an amazing non-profit community Arts studio there that I could see Kate loving) or perhaps a visit to one of our amazing gardens - perhaps either the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden or Van Duesen Gardens for an event. The couple will absolutely be making a stop in Whistler and I could also see them making a trip out to the Island.

I imagine William and Kate will have to balance the children's privacy with the public's desire to see the little prince and princess. How much should we expect to see the children during the visit? 

Unfortunately for us, it is likely very little. We saw George only a handful of times on the Australia trip. We will probably only see them upon arrivals and maybe 1-2 events which have been specifically designed with them in mind. 

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There are some in Canada who wish to abolish the monarchy. Do you think this visit could have a strategic angle - getting younger Canadians to feel good about the monarchy again?

This is also a tough question seeing as everyone has such different political views on the matter. I think that no matter your view on Canada remaining or ceasing to be a member of the Commonwealth, you can agree that William, Kate, George and Charlotte’s visit will do a couple of things. One, it will direct the international spotlight on our gorgeous country which I think can never be a bad idea. And second, it will allow the media to focus on charitable patronages in Canada which the Cambridge family will shine a light on with their visit. No one can dispute that Kate has emerged as an international celebrity in her own right. What we’ve noticed in writing the blog for the last almost 5 years is that people are often initially attracted to Kate for her style, but then also learn that she supports mental health initiatives, for example. Then those girls and women take more active roles in their communities supporting charities that align with Kate’s patronages. Those two things can’t be all bad, no matter your position on the Royal Family overall!

*****

Thank you so much to Amanda from What Would Kate Do? for sharing her expertise on the Cambridges with us, and we are counting on full coverage of the royal visit from you! (Fingers crossed you get to see the royal couple!)

Family Fun at Casa Loma, Toronto

"North America's only full-sized castle and Toronto's premier historic attraction" - how could we resist the opportunity to take the girls to Casa Loma?

Photo courtesy Casa Loma

We started our self-guided tour on the lower level (full disclosure: because we were hungry and that's where the cafe is!) and worked our way up. The photos really tell the story...

800 feet of underground tunnels connecting two parts of the property - 

so no one back then had to go outside and cross the street!

Downstairs you can also find a display of posters from movies that were shot on location at 

Casa Loma (one of my favourites: Chicago!)

I asked Eva to pick her favourite old car - she went with the Model T!

I wanted to call out, "Rapunzel! Rapunzel!" but I'm on the borderline of becoming an embarrassing mom (because of their ages, not because of anything I've done, of course) so I restrained myself.

Even the gardens are impressive

Of course Liv's favourite place would be the library! This is only a fraction of the books.

A popular event venue - we got a sneak peek at some wedding photography

The fireplace is always my favourite spot in a home - 

and this one has secret passageways on either side! (The kids love that!)

Casa Loma provides a fascinating look at history, and makes a worthwhile class trip destination as well, with school programs running from Kindergarten right through secondary school.

A visit can also spark some interesting discussions about financial decisions. Sir Henry Pellatt had the castle built beginning in 1911 (it took 300 men almost three years to complete) at a cost of $3.5 million. He and his wife Lady Mary only enjoyed Casa Loma for less than ten years before financial misfortune forced them to move. Some of his visions (e.g., the indoor swimming pool) never even reached fruition. (We've decided to be satisfied with our beautiful home - with one percent of the square footage of Casa Loma!)

If you've never visited Casa Loma, it's definitely something to add to your must-see list!

Note: Because there was a wedding taking place, on-site parking was limited when we arrived, but we found a spot just a few minutes away in the George Brown College lot on MacPherson.

Disclosure: We were provided free admission to Casa Loma for review purposes. Opinions are, as always, my own.

Vancouver Travel Guide and Trip Highlights

We've been east and we've been south, but until now my husband and I had never traveled to western Canada. (Yes, I realize I left out a cardinal direction, but unless I get invited to Santa's actual workshop that one isn't high on my list.)

A few months ago, we decided that to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary (and combine business and pleasure with a travel story), we would cash in our Aeroplan points and head to beautiful British Columbia - more specifically the city of Vancouver.

Today I offer you the highlights of our four day trip, and top suggestions for what to see and what to do in Vancouver.

First off, I love technology. Online check-in and digital boarding pass? Yes, please!

If you fly to Vancouver, consider taking the Canada Line train (leaving every 7 minutes) from the airport to Vancouver City Centre (or whatever stop you might need). It was $9 each to get us downtown, and we ended up just blocks from our hotel. As we trekked the short distance with our wheeled suitcases, my husband turned and joked, "Do you think anyone can tell we're tourists?"

Once you're in Vancouver (click on subtitles to take you to websites):

CENTURY PLAZA HOTEL AND SPA

Out hotel was perfectly located on Burrard Street. We walked almost everywhere, and had shuttle buses right at the door. They were kind enough to accommodate our early check-in, and our room had a great kitchenette with a coffee maker, toaster, microwave, kettle and fridge - which made it easy to have a couple of grocery store meals (there's a fantastic IGA down the street) and one of reheated restaurant leftovers! The on-site spa is another great perk - more on that later! The only thing that could make the hotel even better would be a hot tub along with the pool.


HOP-ON, HOP-OFF FROM WESTCOAST SIGHTSEEING*

This bus tour gives you a wonderful overview of the city highlights, and the guides are very informative (e.g., did you know the Lululemon owner has a 63 million dollar home - the most expensive in Vancouver?) Your pass is good for 24 hours, and really hits all the city highlights: Chinatown, Gastown, Granville Island, Stanley Park, Robson Street, Canada Place...the list goes on!


ABSOLUTE SPA

My massage was "absolutely" amazing, with incredible service throughout the spa. The change rooms were beautiful, there was a relaxation area for pre- and post-treatment, and even a mini cafeteria for free snacks after the service. Absolute Spa has several locations throughout the city, and you know, if it's good enough for Emily Blunt (who commented, "Best spa day ever!",) Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Judd and Elle MacPherson then I think it's good enough for me.
P.S. While I can't speak for other extended health coverage, my plan covers treatments (e.g., massage from a Registered Massage Therapist) provided in other provinces.


STANLEY PARK HORSE-DRAWN TOURS*

When you take any sort of tour, the guide makes a big difference, and the young man who toured us around Stanley Park was terrific - knowledgeable and funny. Interesting Hollywood North note: the horses for the hit show Once Upon a Time are the Stanley Park horses - and we got a little glimpse of Prince Charming's carriage too. (If you're an entertainment junkie like me and want to try to see a movie or show being shot while you're in the city, check out http://www.whatsfilming.ca/.)

VANCOUVER AQUARIUM*

If you go to Vancouver with kids, or you have a particular interest in aquatic wildlife, you can't miss a visit to the Vancouver Aquarium (located in Stanley Park). I texted the photo below to my girls (who were back in Ontario with their grandparents) and said "We found Nemo!" My eight-year-old was quick to send back a cropped copy of the shot with the caption, "I found Dory!"

I also texted my Pittsburgh-fan brother a photo of the penguins...in the park that's named after Lord Stanley...just like the coveted cup. Deep, I know.

CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE*

With a free shuttle right at our hotel door, how could we miss out on this huge tourist attraction? We were advised to go early or late to avoid crowds, so we were on the bus at the earliest pick-up time of 9 a.m. The morning was actually a bit misty and drizzly, which also helped with the crowds - we didn't have to wait in any lines at all. Not for the faint-of-heights, the park offers breathtaking experiences like the Cliff Walk, and of course the famous Suspension Bridge (both shown below). My husband says this would be one of his biggest highlights of the trip.

Cliff Walk

Suspension Bridge

HISTORICAL CHINATOWN TOURS*

Not a regular tourist's view of Chinatown, Chinatown Girl Judy Lam Maxwell takes visitors behind closed doors, up staircases and into alleys to get an insider's experience of Chinatown. She offers a thorough historical view and tons of informative tidbits plus customized tours. Ours ended with an interesting behind-the-scenes visit to 94-year-old Bill Wong at Modernize Tailors. Don't just wander Chinatown yourself when you can have Judy as your guide.

VANCOUVER HARBOUR CRUISE*

I love getting out on the water, especially for a view of a new city (which may surprise people, since I'm not exactly the most outdoorsy girl). This tour was both fun and educational, and next time I would consider splurging for one of their dining cruises (the Sunset Dinner one looks great), in order to be out on the water longer and enhance the experience even more.

VANCOUVER ART GALLERY*

While I certainly can't pretend to be a big art connoisseur, I may never again get a chance to see so much of Picasso's work all in one place, so we made time for a trip to the Art Gallery. I learned a lot about Picasso and enjoyed a quick walk through the other exhibits as well.

GASTOWN

This is definitely a "hop off the bus and wander" kind of destination. Cobblestone streets, unique shopping (as well as typical souvenir fare) and so many patios that you'll have a hard time deciding where to stop to eat or drink. Why choose one place? Lunch at one, drinks at another, dinner at a third!


ADELE LIVE 2016

Not that this is helpful to future Vancouver visitors, but one of our trip highlights for sure was seeing Adele live in concert. (I got last-minute tickets through StubHub). The woman is entertaining, funny, beautiful and what a voice!

And now, for the food!

THE WINKING JUDGE PUB

Just a block from our hotel, we had super friendly service (I'm happy to be called "hon" by waitstaff), large portions (I saved half my meal for later) plus it's always nice to get a bit of an Irish feel in every city we visit.

CACTUS CLUB CAFE AT COAL HARBOUR

Recommended by more than one of my Facebook followers, this restaurant - located at Canada Place - has incredible views...and even the bathrooms were some of the most beautiful I've ever seen. I recommend Rob's Crispy Chicken Sandwich - it has a nice little kick to it!

JOE'S GRILL (on Denman St., near our hotel) and DEACON'S CORNER (Gastown area) for those who like a delicious, filling, inexpensive diner breakfast.

CARTEMS DONUTERIE

The Triple Chocolate Threat is hands-down the best donut I've ever eaten.

BLUE WATER CAFE

This is where we had the meal of our lives. I had asked Vancouverite  Lainey Lui (who I know from my work with The Social) to recommend a favourite restaurant and this was her suggestion. I let them know it was our 15th anniversary celebration and from the moment we walked in we were treated with care. Price-wise this is definitely a special occasion restaurant (and while I saw some kids there, I wouldn't take my girls until they're older) but wow. Every course (including our after-dinner sorbet shown below) was delicious ("Have I mentioned how amazing this is?" my husband kept asking me) with a great atmosphere and convenient Yaletown location. This is the place for real seafood, though in a "you-can-take-the-girl-out-of-the-country-but..." kind of move, I ordered the beef tenderloin, which was incredible. Dessert? Of course! I indulged in the Warm Dark Chocolate Cake (come on, doesn't just reading the name make your mouth water?) and I was not disappointed.

A final note: as I mentioned earlier, I'm not a huge outdoorswoman, though I enjoyed spending four days of beautiful weather walking all over the city. Keep in mind though that there's so much more to see and do for nature lovers - including well-marked bike paths on city streets and trails. Be sure to visit Tourism Vancouver for a comprehensive guide to everything the city has to offer.

As always, don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions (leave a comment, email me or message through social media) and please feel free to leave your own Vancouver recos that we may not have had time for!

Disclosure: I was provided with a media Experience Pass through Tourism Vancouver, and received free admission to several attractions. Opinions are, as always, my own.