Vancouver, B.C.

We spent another Thanksgiving in Canada! 

Last year we went to Victoria (post linked here) and this year we visited Vancouver. Evie's first time in Canada😊

To be honest, it wasn't the best trip. We probably shouldn't have gone since we were all sick. Brady and I felt awful the entire time. We were living on coffee and pseudoephedrine. Evie was actually the healthiest out of the three of us after having croup last week.

We cut the trip short by one day. We drove up on Wednesday night and came back Friday night. It's so much better to travel with a baby at night! Evie did great - slept nearly the entire time. 

We visited our favorite brunch spots - Jam Cafe and Twisted Fork. This is what we look forward to most when we visit Vancouver. Is that sad? 

 First things first

 Brunch buddies

 First time in a booster seat

 She's so grown up (she was stalking the ladies next to us)

We lucked out with the weather on Thursday - no rain and even a bit of sunshine! We strolled the downtown area, shopped, walked along the water. Then we went back to the hotel so Evie all three of us could nap😴

 We're in a clapping phase

 Beautiful walk

 Stroll through the marina

The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park was celebrating their Winter Lights Festival. Brady and I visited Capilano in the summer of 2015 (post linked here) so we had an idea of what to expect. This was crazy. I couldn't believe how many lights there were - they covered so much ground and reached the tallest trees. It was impressive. Definitely the highlight of the trip!

 Little bear is ready to see some lights

 Picking out Christmas ornaments

 I loved how the lights reflected off the water

 The suspension bridge

 These cuties

 Family photo

 Canopy walk

 They didn't skimp

 My girl

Vancouver, B.C.

Happy New Year!

We celebrated the holiday weekend in Vancouver and had a lot of fun... despite the weather, which was a rain/snow mixture all of Saturday. The weather was better on Sunday - clear skies, but very cold.

We pretty much spent the entire trip eating and walking. This whole trip was the result of our obsession with Jam Cafe and Twisted Fork - we have been talking about these brunch spots since Thanksgiving when we visited Victoria, B.C. and ate at Jam Cafe for the first time. 

We went to Jam Cafe on Saturday morning. The wait was 90 minutes (and you have to stand in line!) which nearly ruined the experience because the weather was so miserable and my feet were numb by the time we sat down to eat. However, the food (and apple cider) will make you forget about the awful wait time. 

Still smiling... the beginning of the wait

Poor choice of footwear

Bloody for Brado

That apple cider 👌

The Vancouver location is just as good as the Victoria location

We share the charlie bowl and cinnamon swirl pancakes

We went back to the hotel after brunch to warm up. I ended up taking a nap. We ventured outside for a bit of shopping. I forgot my rain boots so we stopped by Nordstrom for a new pair before heading to dinner at The Flying Pig. The food was so good and we really loved the atmosphere. The Gastown area is really cool - lots of trendy spots. We bar hopped around the area before heading downtown for the NYE events - concerts, fireworks, food trucks. Vancouver puts on a good show for NYE!

New boots

The Flying Pig in Gastown. Brady telling me to get out of the street. 

Pork chop with poutine and veal risotto were delicious

Gastown aglow

JT

Don't who this guy is, but everyone was impressed 

Mini donuts and hot chocolate at midnight

Concert time

The fireworks were so good!

A bit hazy

Sunday started with brunch at Twisted Fork. A 30-minute wait was much more reasonable (and they'll text you when you're table is ready). The food and french-press coffee were just as good as I remembered. We spent the afternoon walking around the waterfront and Stanley Park before heading home. 

Still one of my favorites

French press

Banana stuffed french toast and Croque Monsieur 

I'll live here 😊

Wintery views

Symmetrical cityscape

The beginning of sea-to-sky

I love BC

Blustery 

Brady always manages to find the woods...

...then take a wee

Be back soon, Vancouver

Vancouver, B.C.

O Canada! 

Brady and I thoroughly enjoyed our time in Vancouver. We drove up on Friday night, but didn't get to our hotel until after 11 pm. It was only a three hour drive, but the wait to cross the border was over an hour.

Saturday morning started with the most delicious breakfast at The Twisted Fork. The atmosphere, the people, the food were incredible. Afterwards, we went for walk around the city and discussed how much we love Vancouver. You know its love when logistics of moving become the topic of conversation for the entire weekend. 

Eggs Benny for me

French toast for Brady

Strolling 

Cute paintings 

Heavenly 

We had to sit and admire for awhile 

Lifeguard canoe 

Jealous of the lifeguards at work

Took this photo for my dad. Dad, Amanda and I were all lifeguards :)

We spent Saturday afternoon in the great outdoors of Northern Vancouver. We started at the Capilano Suspension Bridge. We drove up to Grouse Mountain with intentions of hiking, but it was way too crowded so we ended the afternoon at Lynn Canyon.

Getting out of the city

Suspension bridge

Walking through the treetops 

Only snap from Lynn Canyon 

We went back to the city for sushi at Miku. A restaurant we knew we had to try after reading Yelp reviews. It certainly didn't disappoint. It was by far the best sushi I've ever had. Dessert was gelato from Bella Gelataria which we happened to stumble across. There was a line out the door so we knew it must be good. 

Brady insists on eating outside whenever possible 

I insist on gin :)

The waiter called it "life changing" sushi... it's true

Lots of awards for this gelato. I got lavender and it was delicious 

We woke up early on Sunday morning for a walk through Stanley Park and breakfast at Catch 122. We explored Gastown and did some shopping on Robson St before heading home. 

Totem poles in Stanley Park

City view

Trees are starting to turn... I love fall!

Breakfast 

Eggs benny twist... again

Shop, shop, shop

All the streets are lined with trees 

This is my Canadian dream!