Every single time I go to Vancouver I forget how beautiful it is. It’s like I have West Coast amnesia. I am in awe of the city then head back east and completely forget how incredibly gorgeous it is.
I am lucky that I tend to fly a lot in and out of Vancouver. Rarely though do I get to actually spend some time in the city. This week was the exception. I was allotted 6 hours in Vancouver to do whatever I please. And this is what pleases me.
I woke up feeling like P.Diddy (Sorry that was a terrible joke but it had to be done). It was 8 am and the sun was already shining. A rarity, as the Vancouver I know and love is usually overcast and has been known to rain a drop or two. I was later told that this summer has been one of their best and the entire month of July was without rain. I grabbed a coffee and started walking along the sea wall in the direction of Stanley Park. If you ever get to Vancouver this is a must. Day, evening or night walking along the harbour is just phenomenal. The views are stunning and you can almost loose yourself pretending that some of the docked boats are yours. That is one of my favourite walking past times.
Walking my way towards Stanley Park, I veered off the path a little to try a new restaurant my friend YELP recommended to me. It came up when I typed in “diner” and it a was great spot near Robson street. It was called Joe’s Grill and there are 4 locations around Vancouver. The menu was extensive, and for breakfast lovers like myself, an all day selection was available.
Fed and watered, I made my way through Stanley Park and into the Vancouver Aquarium. It is the largest in Canada, and I had heard from many people that it was a must see. I am so glad I went. It took me about 2 hours to go through most of the exhibits and galleries, including the extensive jelly fish section and a very fun beluga whale show. I found myself entering a kid like state, and being impressed by almost everything. The highlight for me was watching the sea otters play together and generally act like the cutest things ever. I would very much recommend a visit to the aquarium if you find yourself in Vancouver. Learn from my mistakes though and don’t stare too hard into the glass. That only leads to headaches you are too embarrassed to explain how you got.
Rushing back with a couple of minutes to spare, I have to say that for half a day in Van, it was pretty spectacular.