Reunited After Twelve Years
My husband Tristan, our 13-year-old son Sammy, and I travelled to Canada to visit our friends Paul and Danielle, who moved there twelve years ago. We had not seen them in person since, so it was a long-overdue reunion. Their children, Jessica (21) and Luca (18), have grown up so much, and it was lovely to see them again. Paul was a witness at our wedding, which made it extra special to be back together.
When we arrived in Vancouver, Paul and Danielle completely surprised us at the airport. They had told us they were working and that Jessica’s boyfriend, Cam, would be picking us up, so seeing them was such a wonderful start to our trip.
A Warm Welcome in Vancouver
Our first stop was The Patch, a local brewery, where we enjoyed beer and pizza in the sunshine. After dropping our bags off at their house, we headed out for a dog walk to help stay awake and went looking for bears. Sadly, we missed one that had been washing in the river just ten minutes earlier.
Jessica (or Lil’s, as she’s known) and Cam later took us up to Whistler. On the way, we stopped at Lynn Canyon Park to walk the trail and cross the suspension bridge to see the beautiful waterfall. Whistler itself was lovely, relaxed and full of live music. It had a charming, almost European feel. We wandered around the shops, stopped for lunch, and later went swimming in the lake where we spotted our first eagle soaring above us.
That evening, we went out for Wings Wednesday. It was packed, but because Jess and Cam friend was the server, we were really well looked after.
Exploring the City
The next day, we went shopping downtown and caught the SkyTrain, which is similar to our Tube. We managed to find some great bargains, including two pairs of trainers, a jumper and a new school bag for Sammy.
We passed a fire station where one of the firemen invited us in for a tour. He even sent his rookie to slide down the pole for us to film. It was fascinating and everyone was so friendly.
From there, we took the AquaBus over to Granville Island, where we watched an English street performer. The Public Market there was incredible, with so many food stalls offering every kind of cuisine you could imagine. We bought fresh stuffed olives, horseradish-flavoured giant pickles.
After lunch, we took the ferry back to the mainland, hired a couple of electric bikes (and a tandem), and cycled around Stanley Park. It was such fun. We stopped halfway for an ice cream and a walk through the splash park to cool off. That evening, we had a barbecue and celebrated Luca’s 18th birthday.
Wine Country Adventures
Next, we drove four hours to Osoyoos, in the wine region of British Columbia. It was absolutely brilliant. Every winery had its own style, from high-end elegance to casual, pub-garden vibes.
We stayed two nights at Spirit Lodge in a lovely two-bedroom apartment, which had a pool and jacuzzi. Our first wine stop was Burrowing Owl, where we enjoyed a tasting at the bar. Mike, who led the session, was so knowledgeable and entertaining. He really made the experience.
Then we visited Black Hills Winery, which had stunning views (though amusingly, you could not actually use their pool). We finished at Brothers Vineyard, a relaxed spot where we played boules in the garden. That evening, we ordered pizza and the kids went into town for go-karting.
The next morning was more relaxed. After a slow start, we visited Phantom Creek, my favourite winery of the trip. The staff were so friendly and passionate about their wines. I found my new favourite bottle, which I bought but sadly forgot to pack and left behind in Canada. Another perfect excuse to go back soon.
That afternoon, Danielle surprised us by hiring a pontoon boat for a few hours on the lake. We had an amazing time, playing music, dancing, tubing and laughing the whole way through. Afterwards, we cooled off in the pool, enjoyed a steak barbecue on the balcony, and took another evening stroll into town for more go-karting. The following day we stopped at See Ya Later Ranch for lunch, smoothies, and a well-deserved glass of wine.
Paddleboards, Waterfalls and Wild Beauty
A few days later, we hired canoes and a paddleboard and set off across Pitt Lake. After about an hour of canoeing and a 30-minute uphill hike (in flip-flops, no less), we reached Widgeon Falls. It was one of the most breathtaking places I have ever seen.
In true irony, I slipped on some wet moss and nearly fell in, but luckily there was a ridge below that saved me from taking a dip in the fast-flowing water.
Island Life
We left early the next morning to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island, where we spent a couple of nights at a lodge on the beach in Ucluelet. The journey took around five hours. I had been hoping to spot whales on the crossing, as they had been seen in the area, but no luck this time.
I did, however, try my first ever Tim Hortons. The coffee, breakfast muffins and especially the egg bites were lovely.
On the way, we stopped at a quirky place called Goats on the Roof, an old country market where goats actually live on the roof. It has been a landmark for over 50 years and had lovely gifts, groceries, and amazing ice cream. Naturally, I bought plenty of souvenirs to take home.
Tofino was another highlight. It had such a cool, laid-back, surfer vibe with art everywhere, from murals to galleries you could wander into for free. I loved its creative feel and small harbour, where we sat with coffee watching the boats come and go.
We visited Long Beach next, which was stunning and almost completely empty. We stopped at Tofino Brewery for a local beer, then had dinner at Tacofino, a brilliant taco truck. I had fish tacos, and they were amazing. We finished the day walking along the Wild Pacific Trail and stopped by the 1906 Amphitrite Point lighthouse.
Camping in the Wilderness
The journey back was another early start. We had a five-hour drive and a quick stop at Walmart to stock up, as we had only an hour to unpack and re-pack for camping.
Due to wildfires, we could not camp at Harrison as planned, but our friends, who are absolute pros at camping, found a new spot across the mountain at Chehalis. It turned out to be perfect. The views were stunning, and waking up there each morning was pure bliss.
The only challenge was the lack of a toilet, but we soon got used to it.
Making the Most of Every Moment
We packed so much into our trip, spending time with our friends, their family, and even their wider circle. It was full-on and a bit exhausting at times, but totally worth it. We saw so many sides of British Columbia, from city life to wilderness, and everything in between.
I loved having barely any phone signal while camping. It felt amazing to switch off completely. I thought Sammy might struggle without Wi-Fi, but he did not say “I’m bored” once.
I loved the country music, the food, and above all, the people. Even Sammy commented on how kind and helpful everyone was wherever we went.
We will definitely be back, perhaps in winter next time, staying in a log cabin to go skiing and see a different side of BC. The jet lag hit me harder than I thought it would but I now have some tips for next time. It took almost a week to feel normal again, but Sammy bounced back straight away.
If you’re feeling inspired for your very own Canadian adventure drop me an email or give me a call on 01252415036.