Travel: Vancouver & Whistler

I landed in Vancouver and eased into the city quickly.

The morning I woke up I started with coffee at Café Mira before a walk along the water.

I rented a bike to ride the Stanley Park Seawall—fresh air, ocean views, instant reset. Lunch at Prospect Point came with cider and a front-row seat to the Lions Gate Bridge.

The lake in the park was covered in water lilies. I hit it at the perfect time. A friend from college, Katie arrived mid-afternoon. We dropped her bags off, and we regrouped over coffee at Bahar Coffee before walking to dinner at Via Tevere Pizzeria. The night ended quietly with an outdoor moving showing of The Devil Wears Prada—a perfect low-key welcome to the city.

Breakfast was toast and a latte at Pallet Coffee Roasters, followed by wandering the stalls and shops of Granville Island Public Market. Lunch at Maenam absolutely delivered—grilled Thai sausage with crispy rice salad and a purple eggplant stir-fry that stole the show.

Dessert came from Purebread before Katie headed out. Then I spent the afternoon at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, walking the iconic bridge, exploring the Treetops Adventure, and braving the Cliffwalk. Cocktails at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Lobby Lounge (rhubarb Bee’s Knees and a rhubarb 75) wrapped the day before leftovers and a book in bed.

The morning started strong with coffee at Revolver Coffee, then a stop at the Gastown Steam Clock and an almond croissant from Beaucoup Bakery.

I hopped on the ferry and circled back to shop around Granville, then made my way to Liberty Distillery. Lunch was a sun-dried tomato pasta salad in South Granville, followed by a tasting flight at Brassneck Brewery and beers at R&B Ale & Pizza House. I looped past Olympic Village, grabbed a Hundy Burger at The Stock Room, and finished the night at Bartholomew.

Coffee came from Delany’s Coffee House, followed by comfort food at Peaked Pies (butter chicken pie). I spent the morning at the Vancouver Art Gallery, grabbed another coffee at Elysian Coffee, and slowed down with some reading.

My family arrived in the afternoon and we hit the road—stopping for poke at Hula Poke, admiring Shannon Falls and Brandywine Falls. Once in Whistler, dinner at Pizza Antica (mezcal gose included) and dessert at Cows Ice Cream sealed the transition from city to mountains.

We eased into Whistler with coffee and a lemon-filled pastry from Purebread, then wandered Rainbow Park and Alta Lake.

Dinner at Caramba! Restaurant turned into a highlight: ricotta with bread and honey, burrata and peach salad, and tagliatelle pesto finished with goat cheese and roasted pine nuts.

We headed up the mountain, riding the Peak 2 Peak Gondola and stopping—of course—for another scoop at Cows Ice Cream. An afternoon hike to Rainbow Falls brought us back to earth before celebrating a baby shower in true mountain-town style.

The day kicked off with a via ferrata adventure at Whistler Blackcomb. Post-climb, chips and beers at the Umbrella Bar felt well earned. We rode the Peak 2 Peak Gondola again—and even spotted a bear.

That night’s food tour covered serious ground: sabering wine at the Bearfoot Bistro Wine Cellar, mini prime rib sandwiches at Hy’s Steakhouse Whistler, steelhead trout at Quattro at Whistler, and Rocky Mountain cheese with ice wine at the Four Seasons Braidwood Tavern Lounge.

Fuel came from a latte at Mount Currie Coffee Company before tackling an intro to downhill mountain biking class at Whistler Blackcomb Bike Park. A picnic turkey sandwich and a quiet puzzle break balanced the adrenaline.

Later, we visited Whistler Distillery and Whistler Brewing Company, hiked the Train Wreck Trail, and returned to Caramba! Restaurant for ricotta, honey, and lamb pizza.

The day ended under the Vallea Lumina lights.

Another latte from Mount Currie Coffee Company kicked off a slower day. We wandered Lost Lake before sitting down to dinner at 21 Steps Kitchen & Bar—fried goat cheese, bacon-wrapped filet, and salmon with vegetables and potatoes.

We drove early to the airport, navigating flight changes and squeezing in one last latte from Purebread. Sadly, my flight was the only one cancelled and I had to panic find an AirBnB that night.

I took myself to a final brewery stop at Steam Works where I met some new friends. We headed to a rave and ate a late dinner at Sing Sing.

In the morning I sat quietly at Kits beach recovering from the night before and hoping my plane would take off that day. This trip somehow balanced solo time, friendship, family, and full-throttle adventure.