We celebrated Ubaid’s birthday in Vancouver this year. We always try to do something special for this wonderful guy. In previous years we celebrated with a butterfly launch, cake by the ocean at One Ocean Resort, and an adventure in Morocco and sunrise at the Taj Mahal in India.
We always wanted to go to Vancouver, British Columbia and this seemed like the perfect time. All the cherry blossoms were in full bloom as well as the tulip festivals, it is such a beautiful country.
There are so many things to see and do in Vancouver. We shared everything on our Instagram stories named Vancouver. Check there for all the fun and places we visited: Queen Elizabeth Park, Bloedel Conservatory, Catalonia Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain, Granville Island, Deep Cove, and a scenic drive on the Sea to Sky Highway 99 and dining in Whistler.
Experience the colors, scenery and scents of the tropics year-round!
First stop was Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver’s horticultural jewel, is a major draw for floral display enthusiasts and people who love nature. At 152 feet above sea level, it’s the highest point in Vancouver and makes for spectacular views of the park, city, and mountains on the North Shore.
The 52 acre park is home to the stunning Bloedel Conservatory. There is also a gorgeously landscaped quarry garden, the arboretum with its collection of exotic and native trees, sculptures including one by internationally renowned artist Henry Moore. The park is also the perfect setting for fine dining at Seasons in the Park, a picnic or even staying late into the night and stargazing.
Bloedel Conservatory is a domed lush paradise located in Queen Elizabeth Park atop the City of Vancouver’s highest point. There were more than 120 free-flying exotic birds, 500 exotic plants and flowers thrive within its temperature-controlled environment.
We truly enjoyed strolling through Queen Elizabeth Botanical Gardens with 140 acres of flowers, waterfalls and walkways. Interacting with over 200 exotic birds in Bloedel Conservatory and dining at Seasons in the Park restaurant atop a cliff with views of tropical paradise! The birthday boy was very happy!
Vancouver, a bustling west coast seaport in British Columbia, is among Canada’s densest, most ethnically diverse cities. A popular filming location, it’s surrounded by mountains, water, and also has thriving art, theatre and vegan scenes.
Granville Island’s highlight is the covered Public Market, a multisensory smorgasbord of fresh produce, fruit and bakery treats. Pick up some treats for a picnic at nearby Vanier Park or go to Chinatown for the international food. You can also go to the farmers market outside where, depending on the harvest, you’ll find BC cherries, peaches and blueberries.
At the Grouse Mountain Skyride, hop on the tram and travel to a 3,937-foot (1,200-meter) viewpoint above the city and enjoy nature’s spectacular view. In the summertime, you can see Mount Baker and Vancouver Island off British Columbia’s coast. You can also get up-close views of grizzly bears at the Refuge for Endangered Wildlife.
The drive up the Sea to Sky Highway 99 is one of the most spectacular drives in the world. British Columbia’s Sea to Sky Highway runs from Vancouver to Whistler and is brimming with scenic ocean views, gushing waterfalls, spectacular mountains, and stops for photos on suspension bridges!
Had this delicious vegan meal at Acorn Vancouver. They have the best & most creative meals made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
We took a walk on the wild side, crossed one of the most amazing & longest Capilano Suspension Bridge and hiked through the trails. The waterfalls, bridges, and emerald green waters were just mesmerizing. The sounds of the water was so soothing that we sat on the rocks to meditate.
Instead of staying at fancy hotels we booked private cottages in the small towns and really enjoyed interacting with the locals. The town of Deep Cove was just spectacular, lakes, parks, fine vegan dining and the highlight was spotting Kate Winslet.
Our time in Seattle wouldn’t be the same without visiting our favorite indian vegan restaurant called Rajdhani Seattle. Experienced a night of creative and tantalizing dining at Rajdhani in Seattle. We had the vegan thali which they serve on weekdays. There were so many scrumptious dishes including: Daal Lokhi, Aloo Tikki Chaat, Cabbage, Aloo Mattar, Puri, Rajasthani Curry, Khichdi and Besan Halwa for dessert and Mango Lassi! If you are local to the Seattle area or visit @rajdhaniseattle is definitely the place to go eat!
Loved our trip and everything we covered in just a few days. Even going through the border into Canada wasn’t too bad. We had read that it would be long delays. It’s a beautiful 3 hour drive from Seattle. All in all perfect getaway feeling rested, rejuvenated and relaxed. Comment below and let us know if you have been to Vancouver and if you plant to go after reading our blog post.