Vancouver and Seattle
Seattle is famous for music, coffee and Bill Gates, as well as being close to the Canadian border. It is here that we decided to start our journey, as we had a soccer game to go to. Travelling with two pre-teens, we were trying to ensure that they had things to do and soccer was top of my son’s list. You can travel to Vancouver by train, boat or coach from Vancouver, and for ease we got the coach from Seattle Airport to our hotel in Vancouver. It was a 4-hour journey taking in some lovely scenery and I must say the first view of Vancouver was impressive with the mountains in the background. We had a fantastic bus driver who insisted as we were English that we should sit at the front, so he could point out places of interest on the way.
Vancouver is a city that is easy to get around. Just the right size for a couple of days. We stayed at the Hampton Inn, close to the soccer stadium and the Ice Hockey stadium. It was an ideal location to explore the city, with some great places to eat nearby. We invested in an all-day hop on and hop off ticket which gave us a great opportunity to see the whole of the city. Stanley Park is a day on its own. The amazing totems, relaxing parkland and wonderful aquarium make this a hit with the whole family. If we had more time, we would have hired bikes for a couple of hours. It is also great fun just sitting watching the seaplanes take off and land.
Lots of shopping in Vancouver, with all your usual brands, however for something different I can recommend Granville Island. It has lots of small individual merchants as well as a great market with some lovely food.
The historic side of Vancouver is Gastown. This was where the first settlers called home and was the heart of Vancouver. A great place for people watching and having a lazy lunch.
Just outside of Vancouver is Grouse Mountain and Capiliano suspension bridge. It was lovely shorts weather in Vancouver but still snow on the top of Grouse Mountain. Some amazing views up here and a chance to sledge or ski if you wish. It is accessed by cable car, where as well as the view, you are encouraged to look for the bears on the hillside. Unfortunately, we were unable to spot them. The suspension bridge is over the stunning Capiliano River. It offers awesome views and a great trail for adults and kids alike to learn more about the BC nature and wildlife. For the brave people, try the Cliffwalk. A walkway clinging to the side of a cliff over a sheer drop. Not for the faint hearted.
We decided to travel by car out of Vancouver and took a ferry to Vancouver Island. We wanted to see a bit more of the authentic Canada. We then drove through the mountains to Tofino. Situated on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, the drive takes you through the giant Redwood Trees and pass some stunning scenery, into the Pacific Rim National Park. The area in season is famous for whale watching, surfing and paddle boarding. However, we were not in season and was greeted by a large downfall of rain, that continued for our whole stay! We did not let this stop us and had booked into the Ocean Village Resort with small wooden cabins on the beach. It would be beautiful in the sunshine! There are lots of walks along the coast and through the National Park taking in the wildlife, lots of deer in the streets. We were fortunate to have seen Orcas from the ferry, seals in the water, a Golden Eagle and a Woodpecker. A wonderful meal in Tofino at Sobo finished our time here.
On the way back to the ferry we stopped in Victoria for a night. This is a lovely city, with a very English feel to it. A lovely marina with shops and restaurants a plenty. It was only a quick overnight so no opportunity to visit the numerous gardens in this area.
It was onwards and back down to Seattle for a few days to explore this famous city. We stayed at the Mayflower hotel, right in the heart of Seattle and easy access from there to all areas of the city. The room we had was like a small suite, with a separate living area and two bathrooms. Just what was needed for four of us. Seattle surprised us, we loved it. It had a feel very similar to Manchester, with the attitude of the people and the weather.... rain. It is an easy city to navigate and you can easily spend a couple of hours walking about exploring shops and small bars. Pike Place Market is like a show, watching the fishmongers selling their wares, wandering the stalls and going for a coffee in the first Starbucks. The waterfront was being renovated when we were there, however we could still visit the big wheel and the aquarium. As well as some fab places to eat.
The must in Seattle is the Space Needle, but also try and visit the Science Museum and other activities near it. A really good day out and also do not underestimate the time in the Museum of Pop Culture. This ticked all our boxes as a family. The top floor is full of instruments and recording booths to play in, kept us going for a good hour or so. There is also a chance to vote for your favourite songs of all time, a Nirvana exhibition and whilst we were there a Hello Kitty Expo, a gaming festival and a homage to Jimi Hendrix. On top of this there are film memorabilia and sports memorabilia from the Seahawks and the Sounders. What more can you ask for.
It was a holiday with a difference, with lots to see and do, but also lots of great memories made.