I spent a recent weekend in Vancouver for a travel blogging conference. My few days there were busy with conference-y type events, but I did have a chance to enjoy a few things away from the madness of being with 600 travel people.
I had been to Vancouver numerous times before but it’s usually been in the off season – and by that I mean it was raining. This time, the weather cooperated a bit more and I realized just how walkable the city is.
The kickoff party for this travel blogging conference was held at the Vancouver Art Gallery. It was a brilliant location for the event. We occupied nearly the entire main floor. It gave us space to spread out, network and enjoy the open bar and food. It was loud however, and I found myself shouting just to be heard. Just as my voice was giving out, discovered an exhibit that was open, so I made my way out of the crowd and into the Gallery’s featured exhibit (through September 25) called The Colour of My Dreams: The Surrealist Revolution in Art.
While I walked into the exhibit area to get away from the crowds, I found myself stumbling into a dreamy (quiet) world of paintings by Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, Edith Rimmington and Andre Breton. I’m not a huge gallery person (though I did buy a membership this year to the Seattle Art Museum), but I was captivated with the collection (which includes 350 works in all).
I don’t recommend art exhibits lightly because they usually aren’t high on my own list, but see this exhibit if you find yourself in Vancouver!
The other highlight of the weekend was a culinary tour of Granville Island, led by a Executive Chef at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, Julian Bond. We walked the island, learned about Vancouver’s growing Spot Prawn business, how the region is supporting sustainable fisheries and growers, and why “ripe on the vine” tomatoes aren’t. We visited Chef Julian’s favorite fruit and veggie stands and favorite deli, and even sampled cheeses, fig spread (and for some, prosciutto).
Chef Julian is so full of energy and enthusiasm for the culinary arts that I wanted to enroll in the professional program on the spot. (His description of how to best kill a lobster quickly turned me, a vegetarian, off to that idea, however.)
I stayed downtown at the Metropolitan Hotel. Though its website calls it a “luxury hotel,” the rooms are quite affordable, especially given its location. A few searches I did for summer dates resulted in about $230/night Canadian. The hotel is perfectly situated so that you can get to many activities and restaurants downtown without having to rely on taxis or public transportation. A good pair of walking shoes are all you’ll need.
This central location meant that I could walk back and forth to Granville Island with ease, to the convention center (where my conference was held) and also to many other attractions.
Travel Well,
Beth
Photo Credit:
Vancouver Skyline: Tourism Vancouver
Vancouver Art Gallery:Â Atr1992
wandering educators says
lovely!! why are ripe on the vine tomatoes not? Lol!
what a fantastic hotel – thanks for the rec!
we ALWAYS go to art museums. this seems like a great one.
Cathy says
Thanks for writing about our beautiful city! 🙂 Granville Island is one of my favorite spots. Its so artsy & quiet (usually).
Alex Berger says
As a seafood addict let me just say – that looks absolutely deeeelicious!