As a first time visitor of the West Coast of Canada, I was excited to experience Vancouver for the first time. My partner and I spent an intense three days in the iconic city. Here’s how we best made use of our time and our favourite experiences.
Prince of Whales whale watching was a unique experience. With many companies offering whale watching, we loved that Price of Whales offered sunset whale watching. While there is no guarantee of seeing whales or orcas we saw four humpback whales within 30 minutes of our excursion. While we never saw orcas, the team brought us to see seals, various birds including two eagles and of course the amazing views of the mountains. The staff was extremely knowledgeable, funny and friendly sharing the names of the whales, how they interact with each other, where they migrate to and what relationships they’ve had previously. While we took our own photos and videos, there was also a professional on site to share photos before the next morning.
Eva Schnitzlehaus in Victoria was a food experience I did not expect in British Columbia. The quaint German restaurant was absolutely delicious and extremely filling with various schnitzel and side variations to choose from. With scenic Victoria as the background and jarred fiddleheads on the back of the booths, the restaurant was a nice surprise compared to possibly more typical food options.
Our second food recommendation is Ask for Luigi, just east of Gas Town. The restaurant is quite small and because we didn’t have a reservation, we did wait 45 minutes to be seated but it was well worth it. Not only did they have my favourite Oddbird non-alcoholic sparkling wine, they also had absolutely delicious vodka-rosé ravioli and a pistachio-saffron tiramisu to die for.
For art and museum lovers the Royal BC Museum in Victoria offered awesome exhibits on fashion, the history of Vancouver Island, nature and changing ecosystems, as well as the impact of music during times of civil unrest. The museum spans three floors, without including their IMAX theatre. When we visited they also had an Indigenous market inside and outdoors with items for purchase.
The Granville Island and Public Market are a gorgeous market with a food hall and quaint shops all along the water. It is beautiful on a summers day with international foods, ice cream, jewellery shops, clothing shops and lots of cute trinkets for purchase. The space is several large halls spread across one half of Granville Island.
I highly recommend any of these experiences while in Vancouver to ensure a wonderful, delectable and nature filled vacation!
Hillary LeBlanc
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