Vancouver, BC
In the summer of 2019, I switched jobs and took that time in between to get some much needed R&R - roaming and relaxation. I didn't have enough time off before starting my next job to go all the way to Ireland and Scotland, which were in my top 3 places to see, so I had to choose something relatively close by where I had never been. I decided on Banff because a friend of mine had mentioned in the past wanting to see it. That led me to a Google search to see what it was all about, and I decided I liked what I saw and I'd hoof it there.
This led first to a flight to Vancouver, where I stayed for a few days to get some city time before I hopped aboard another flight to Calgary for the nature. Since I was traveling solo, I knew I would like a balance of the two so that I didn't feel too isolated on the trip.
While the flight to Vancouver was not too bad, I was pretty surprised when booking lodging at the prices in Vancouver, which are quite high. Initially, I thought to myself I would get my own AirBnb, but after some debate I decided to take a time machine to my college years and stay at a hostel, where I might meet some fellow travelers.
I stayed at the Samesun hostel in Vancouver, which was pretty centrally located. When flying into Vancouver International Airport, all you have to do is hop on their SkyTrain and you'll arrive in about 30 minutes to downtown. I am a huge fan of finding ways to get around economically, and I derive some small satisfaction doing this rather than spending a ton more money on an Uber ride.
I have to say that staying in a hostel in your 30s isn't quite as exciting as your 20s. First, all the female only hostel rooms were full, so I had to stay in a mixed-dorm hostel, which resulted in me plus 3 random guys in one room. Everyone in my room was nice though, and I got to meet people from many different walks of life - which is exactly why I chose the hostel experience in the first place. But boy oh boy, sleeping on one of those twin sized bunk beds and using a locker to store your things is just no fun.
After walking around downtown, I have to say that it reminded a lot of Los Angeles - except maybe a little cleaner. I rented a car one of the days and drove up to Whistler, which is usually a happening winter ski resort. Since I was there in the summer, it was pretty empty. However, the drive itself was AMAZING. The drive from Vancouver to Whistler is called the "Sea to Sky Highway", and there are numerous stop points along the way.
Sea to Sky Gondola
Located just about 1 hour north of Vancouver, this is a great stop to make along the way. I highly recommend it. The only downside is the lift ticket, which was a whopping $50ish (I can't quite recall the price I paid since I'm writing this post quite a bit later). Anyway, despite the price, the views were worth it. Here, you take a cable car up to Summit Lodge for those gorgeous panoramic views of the mountains and coast. There's a big restaurant and gift shop at the top so you can fuel up your energy supply. There are also quite a few trails up top (maybe 8 or so), so you could easily spend half a day here or more. I think I stayed a few hours for a bite to eat, to enjoy the sights, take some photos, and go on two side hikes.
The dual cable glass gondola ride. I am afraid of heights so thankfully this was fully enclosed. I was also lucky to be there on a beautiful day with unobstructed views.
Just look at these views! Worth the price of the ticket? You decide for yourself. For me, it's a definite yes, since I am not going to be here every day.
The 10 minute gondola ride takes visitors up to Summit Lodge, where you'll get the panoramic views of Howe Sound, the mountains of the Coast Range, the Squamish Chief, and a bird's eye view of the town of Squamish.
The Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge is right next to Summit Lodge. This is a bouncy bridge so be prepared to be rocked around a bit! It's about 328 feet long (100 meters) and 213 feet high (65 meters), and nestled right amongst the tree tops.
This was one of the lookout points. You had to queue up in a small line just to take an unobstructed photo.
Ahhh serenity. If I could dream big, I would dream that this was the patio right outside my bedroom door, and I could wake up each morning and enjoy a cup of coffee here, feel the fresh air upon my face, and listen to the sound of birds.
A video of the ride back down to reality, where problems, deadlines, bills and things like that dwell.
Brandywine Falls
Along this Sea to Sky Highway, I stopped by this little tucked away gem called Brandywine Falls, which is a 70 meter clean drop waterfall. It's about 10 minutes from the parking area to the falls, on a wooden boardwalk.
Whistler's Iconic Train Wreck Hike
Upon arriving at Whistler, and realizing it was a bit of a ghost town in the summer, I proceeded to look up what I could do there, and discovered something called a train wreck trail.
The path to the actual "train wreck" was beautiful.
The train wreck, which consists of various mangled railway cars. The site used to be off-limits. After a while it became a tourist spot and apparently it is now celebrated for its juxtaposition of metal and nature, history and culture. It seems that a train derailed in 1956 here.
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is one of the most popular attractions in Vancouver. If you come during good weather, be prepared for crowding - which takes away from some of the enjoyment. Imagine being packed like sardines on the bridges. However, once you make it across the long bridge, you will get to explore the rest of the park, where many mini bridges were built connecting the different trees throughout.
The Cliffwalk, pictured above, is one of the newer additions to the park. The platform is built around a granite precipice and is anchored in 16 points to the cliff.
More to come - stay tuned.
