West Canada Road Trip — Part 2 of 2
Saturday, August 6, 2022
In the summer of 2022, we took a 23-day road trip to Canada. This is part 2 of our highlights.
In the summer of 2022, we took a 23-day road trip to Canada. This is part 2 of our highlights.
Whistler
The following day, we traveled to Whistler, an exclusive ski village that is also a lively center for outdoor sports during the summer. After a 5-hour drive, we arrived at the Olympic Village and checked into the Blackcomb Lodge, which is conveniently located in the heart of Whistler and within walking distance of restaurants, shops, and the gondola. For dinner, we went to La Cantina for delicious tacos, and for dessert, we tried The Original Blizzard at Dairy Queen.
Tacos from La Cantina
The following day, we took a relaxed stroll to Lost Lake, a beautiful lake with a sandy beach and tadpoles swimming in the water. In the evening, we enjoyed delicious pizza and pasta at Pizzeria Antico.
Group photo with Inukshuk on Whistler Mountain
The day after, we rode the gondola up Whistler Mountain for a long hike and crossed the Cloudraker Skybridge. We met a Dutch family and spent some time with them. Later, we took the Peak 2 Peak Gondola to Blackcomb Mountain and went on a nice hike. The views were amazing!
Cloudraker Skybridge
Me pointing at things
After taking the gondola back down, we visited the Airbnb of our new friends. While there, Juul enjoyed swimming with their kids. For dinner, we opted for a quick and affordable meal at McDonald’s, although the burger and fries were not particularly good.
Sunshine Coast
We drove to Horseshoe Bay to catch the ferry to Langdale, located on the Sunshine Coast. The car navigation became confused during the crossing, leaving us unsure of where to go. Fortunately, we were able to switch to the iPhone’s navigation. After a second ferry crossing and a long drive, we arrived at Desolation Sound Resort in Lund. The resort is secluded and surrounded by tall pine trees, with a pier that overlooks Desolation Sound. Our apartment is spacious and includes a terrace with great views.
Desolation Sound
The view from our balcony at Desolation Sound Resort
The following day, we went on a guided sea kayak trip. During the trip, we saw many starfish, a couple of minks, a bald eagle in a tree, and a seal sniffing above the waterline next to our kayak. Juul goes swimming with the twin girls of the resort owners. For dinner, we went to Wildwood Public House in the nearby town of Powell River for pizza. On the way back, we had an unforgettable experience: seeing a black bear crossing the street we were driving on.
Karen in our kayak
Starfish!
Desolation Sound Resort
The next day, we have breakfast at Nancy’s Bakery, a popular spot near the dock. The rest of the day is spent relaxing at the lake. In the evening, we returned to Powell River to dine at Genki Sushi & Korean Fried Chicken.
Ucluelet and Tofino
Today, we are taking the ferry across the strait to Vancouver Island. We stopped at “Goats on Roof,” known for its grass-topped roof with resident goats, and enjoyed ice cream at the nearby Billy Gruff Creamery. We also visited The Dutch Store, where we sang along with Guus Meeuwis and bought a bag of paprika-flavored chips (which are very rare in Canada). Then we visited Cathedral Grove, where we strolled among the stunning Douglas fir trees.
Cathedral Grove
Cathedral Grove
Cathedral Grove
Afterwards we made our way to Ucluelet where we stayed at Water’s Edge. After settling in we headed over to a cute little restaurant, Heartwood Kitchen, and had a delicious meal.
Heartwood Kitchen Food Outfitter, Ucluelet
Heartwood Kitchen Food Outfitter, Ucluelet
Heartwood Kitchen Food Outfitter, Ucluelet
The following day, we hiked the Rainforest Trail (2km) in Pacific Rim National Park, the largest national park on Vancouver Island. I loved walking between the giant trees, soft hanging moss and so many ferns. Later, we visited Tofino and ate delicious Neapolitan pizza at Basic Goodness Pizzeria.
After satisfying our hunger, we stroll through the town and purchase some books from Mermaids Tales Bookshop. Following that, we head to the misty Mackenzie Beach to search for pink and orange starfish during low tide.
Ferns on the Rainforest Trail
The walkway of the Rainforest Trail
Ferns on the Rainforest Trail
Me on the Rainforest Trail
The Rainforest Trail
Margarita from Basic Goodness Pizzeria
Basic Goodness Pizzeria
Mermaid Tales Bookshop, Tofino
MacKensie Beach
Juliet on MacKensie Beach
Upon returning to our apartment, we step out onto the balcony to observe a family of Bald Eagles feeding on fish, which was quite a thrill.
A family of Bald Eagles
The following day, we drive to Hotel Zed, where we come across a VW bus constructed from driftwood. Behind the hotel, we explore the Mud Flats in search of more bears, but unfortunately, we have no luck. Then we went to Tacofino, a popular food truck, where a long line of people was already waiting before opening time. We joined them and were not disappointed; the tacos were delicious.
Custom-made driftwood VW bus at Hotel Zed
TacoFino Food Truck
Juliet is happy that the tacos are coming
Tacos from Tacofino
Next, we drove to Cox Bay Beach, where I hiked up a steep hill for a beautiful view. After that, we drove back to Ucluelet to walk on the Pacific Rim Trail to the lighthouse and look out over the rocks where the waves crash. All that activity worked up our appetite, so we went to Cedar Grill for dinner.
Green anemone on the beach
Cox Bay Beach, Alberni-Clayoquot
Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet
Amphitrite Point Lighthouse, Ucluelet
Vancouver
The following day, we headed to Nanaimo to take the ferry back to Horseshoe Bay. After returning our rental car at the airport, we took a taxi to Vancouver for the final leg of our trip. Our hotel, Sunset Inn & Suites, is conveniently located just behind Davie St., which boasts numerous shops and restaurants.
Vanilla Milkshake from Mary’s on Davie
The next morning, we rented bicycles to ride through Stanley Park. We passed by the totem poles and other sights before ending up at Canada Place. The remainder of the day consists of indulging in ice cream, a bit of shopping, and enjoying authentic tacos at Los Amigos Taqueria.
Totem Poles, Stanley Park
Shore to Shore, Stanley Park
Seawall, Stanley Park
Digital Orca
The following morning, our Lyft driver takes us to the Museum of Anthropology, where we participate in two guided tours. We appreciate the numerous sculptures, totem poles, and artifacts, primarily from the First Nations of Western Canada.
We have lunch across the street at Koerner’s Pub on the UBC campus and then take a Lyft back to the hotel. We took some time to relax before heading to Robson Street to dine at Rice and Noodle. Afterward, we strolled by Sunset Beach to watch the roller skaters.
Bill Reid Rotunda, Vancouver Museum of Anthropology
Vancouver Museum of Anthropology
Kurent Costume from Slovenia, Vancouver Museum of Anthropology
Imperial Tower, Vancouver
Juliet in front of Inukshuk at Sunset Beach, Vancouver
Sunset Beach, Vancouver
Roller skaters near Sunset Beach
On our final day, we made a brief trip to Gastown to see the historic Steam Clock. During our walk back, we discovered a charming bookstore, Massy Books, with a hidden room for children’s books.
Finally, we returned to Canada Place to admire the seaplanes before heading to the airport to return home.
Gastown Steam Clock
Whistler
The following day, we traveled to Whistler, an exclusive ski village that is also a lively center for outdoor sports during the summer. After a 5-hour drive, we arrived at the Olympic Village and checked into the Blackcomb Lodge, which is conveniently located in the heart of Whistler and within walking distance of restaurants, shops, and the gondola. For dinner, we went to La Cantina for delicious tacos, and for dessert, we tried The Original Blizzard at Dairy Queen.
Tacos from La Cantina
The following day, we took a relaxed stroll to Lost Lake, a beautiful lake with a sandy beach and tadpoles swimming in the water. In the evening, we enjoyed delicious pizza and pasta at Pizzeria Antico.
Group photo with Inukshuk on Whistler Mountain
The day after, we rode the gondola up Whistler Mountain for a long hike and crossed the Cloudraker Skybridge. We met a Dutch family and spent some time with them. Later, we took the Peak 2 Peak Gondola to Blackcomb Mountain and went on a nice hike. The views were amazing!
Cloudraker Skybridge
Me pointing at things
After taking the gondola back down, we visited the Airbnb of our new friends. While there, Juul enjoyed swimming with their kids. For dinner, we opted for a quick and affordable meal at McDonald’s, although the burger and fries were not particularly good.
Sunshine Coast
We drove to Horseshoe Bay to catch the ferry to Langdale, located on the Sunshine Coast. The car navigation became confused during the crossing, leaving us unsure of where to go. Fortunately, we were able to switch to the iPhone’s navigation. After a second ferry crossing and a long drive, we arrived at Desolation Sound Resort in Lund. The resort is secluded and surrounded by tall pine trees, with a pier that overlooks Desolation Sound. Our apartment is spacious and includes a terrace with great views.
Desolation Sound
The view from our balcony at Desolation Sound Resort
The following day, we went on a guided sea kayak trip. During the trip, we saw many starfish, a couple of minks, a bald eagle in a tree, and a seal sniffing above the waterline next to our kayak. Juul goes swimming with the twin girls of the resort owners. For dinner, we went to Wildwood Public House in the nearby town of Powell River for pizza. On the way back, we had an unforgettable experience: seeing a black bear crossing the street we were driving on.
Karen in our kayak
Starfish!
Desolation Sound Resort
The next day, we have breakfast at Nancy’s Bakery, a popular spot near the dock. The rest of the day is spent relaxing at the lake. In the evening, we returned to Powell River to dine at Genki Sushi & Korean Fried Chicken.
Ucluelet and Tofino
Today, we are taking the ferry across the strait to Vancouver Island. We stopped at “Goats on Roof,” known for its grass-topped roof with resident goats, and enjoyed ice cream at the nearby Billy Gruff Creamery. We also visited The Dutch Store, where we sang along with Guus Meeuwis and bought a bag of paprika-flavored chips (which are very rare in Canada). Then we visited Cathedral Grove, where we strolled among the stunning Douglas fir trees.
Cathedral Grove
Cathedral Grove
Cathedral Grove
Afterwards we made our way to Ucluelet where we stayed at Water’s Edge. After settling in we headed over to a cute little restaurant, Heartwood Kitchen, and had a delicious meal.
Heartwood Kitchen Food Outfitter, Ucluelet
Heartwood Kitchen Food Outfitter, Ucluelet
Heartwood Kitchen Food Outfitter, Ucluelet
The following day, we hiked the Rainforest Trail (2km) in Pacific Rim National Park, the largest national park on Vancouver Island. I loved walking between the giant trees, soft hanging moss and so many ferns. Later, we visited Tofino and ate delicious Neapolitan pizza at Basic Goodness Pizzeria.
After satisfying our hunger, we stroll through the town and purchase some books from Mermaids Tales Bookshop. Following that, we head to the misty Mackenzie Beach to search for pink and orange starfish during low tide.
Ferns on the Rainforest Trail
The walkway of the Rainforest Trail
Ferns on the Rainforest Trail
Me on the Rainforest Trail
The Rainforest Trail
Margarita from Basic Goodness Pizzeria
Basic Goodness Pizzeria
Mermaid Tales Bookshop, Tofino
MacKensie Beach
Juliet on MacKensie Beach
Upon returning to our apartment, we step out onto the balcony to observe a family of Bald Eagles feeding on fish, which was quite a thrill.
A family of Bald Eagles
The following day, we drive to Hotel Zed, where we come across a VW bus constructed from driftwood. Behind the hotel, we explore the Mud Flats in search of more bears, but unfortunately, we have no luck. Then we went to Tacofino, a popular food truck, where a long line of people was already waiting before opening time. We joined them and were not disappointed; the tacos were delicious.
Custom-made driftwood VW bus at Hotel Zed
TacoFino Food Truck
Juliet is happy that the tacos are coming
Tacos from Tacofino
Next, we drove to Cox Bay Beach, where I hiked up a steep hill for a beautiful view. After that, we drove back to Ucluelet to walk on the Pacific Rim Trail to the lighthouse and look out over the rocks where the waves crash. All that activity worked up our appetite, so we went to Cedar Grill for dinner.
Green anemone on the beach
Cox Bay Beach, Alberni-Clayoquot
Wild Pacific Trail, Ucluelet
Amphitrite Point Lighthouse, Ucluelet
Vancouver
The following day, we headed to Nanaimo to take the ferry back to Horseshoe Bay. After returning our rental car at the airport, we took a taxi to Vancouver for the final leg of our trip. Our hotel, Sunset Inn & Suites, is conveniently located just behind Davie St., which boasts numerous shops and restaurants.
Vanilla Milkshake from Mary’s on Davie
The next morning, we rented bicycles to ride through Stanley Park. We passed by the totem poles and other sights before ending up at Canada Place. The remainder of the day consists of indulging in ice cream, a bit of shopping, and enjoying authentic tacos at Los Amigos Taqueria.
Totem Poles, Stanley Park
Shore to Shore, Stanley Park
Seawall, Stanley Park
Digital Orca
The following morning, our Lyft driver takes us to the Museum of Anthropology, where we participate in two guided tours. We appreciate the numerous sculptures, totem poles, and artifacts, primarily from the First Nations of Western Canada.
We have lunch across the street at Koerner’s Pub on the UBC campus and then take a Lyft back to the hotel. We took some time to relax before heading to Robson Street to dine at Rice and Noodle. Afterward, we strolled by Sunset Beach to watch the roller skaters.
Bill Reid Rotunda, Vancouver Museum of Anthropology
Vancouver Museum of Anthropology
Kurent Costume from Slovenia, Vancouver Museum of Anthropology
Imperial Tower, Vancouver
Juliet in front of Inukshuk at Sunset Beach, Vancouver
Sunset Beach, Vancouver
Roller skaters near Sunset Beach
On our final day, we made a brief trip to Gastown to see the historic Steam Clock. During our walk back, we discovered a charming bookstore, Massy Books, with a hidden room for children’s books.
Finally, we returned to Canada Place to admire the seaplanes before heading to the airport to return home.