The saying goes, “Travel is the only thing that makes you richer”, a motto I have lived by for a lot of my life. At the moment, I am travelling around North America, visiting eight cities in four countries. I am pretty familiar with North America, having spent some time in the US and Canada over my life, but this time, I am looking to cover new ground and visit some cities and countries I’ve never been to.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to be writing about my experiences in my series “the travel diaries”, talking about where I’ve stayed, what I’ve got up to, and most importantly, what I’ve eaten.

To start with, I will be writing about my time in the Great White North, Canada. In the past, I have only ever spent time on the East Coast of Canada, so I was excited to explore the Wild West.

vancouver

After 24 hours of travelling from Sydney, I finally landed in Vancouver. Vancouver has consistently been voted one of the most liveable cities in the world. It’s known for being very walkable, as well as embracing its natural beauty of mountains, forests and seas. And this was instantly my experience. I simply took a train from the airport into Yaletown-Roundhouse station, and within an hour of my plane landing, I was at my hotel.

Over the time I spent in Vancouver, I fell in love. The neighbourhoods are very charming, the city seems to love their dogs, and people are very friendly. The weather even behaved itself and gave me a whole stay of dry, warm conditions. I could see myself living here.

It was hard to pinpoint just a couple of highlights, so I’ve written about everything that I’ve done in this amazing city.

hotel blu vancouver

I stayed at the Hotel Blu Vancouver, which is situated in the Yaletown neighbourhood. Hotel Blu is a 4-star boutique hotel with a mix of residential and hotel accommodation. It’s beautifully appointed, with a modern, yet homey feel. The hotel felt very safe, and the staff were very friendly. They offer daily breakfasts, have an onsite pool and gym, and offer the hire of e-bikes, which I took advantage of.

The best thing about this hotel was the location. Yaletown quickly became my favourite neighbourhood, due to its close proximity to bars and restaurants, amazing shopping, and walkability to everything in the city. While I was there, there were two big events just down the road at BC Place, Vancouver’s stadium, and at no point did I feel unsafe or bothered by the noise.

granville public market

This one had been on my hit list for as long as I knew I was coming to Vancouver. The Granville Public Market is a collection of shops, restaurants, bars, artisans and pop-ups, showcasing the best of Western Canada’s produce and textiles. This place is an absolute gold mine for tasty treats, souvenirs, or ingredients for a spectacular home cooked meal. You could wander around this place all day, trying samples of everything from hand crafted desserts, lovingly grown fruits and veggies, meticulously brewed IPAs, and the trendiest of food inventions.

Granville Public Market is just south of the city and is easy to get to. You could drive, take a cab or Uber, or a water taxi from any number of stops along the harbour (my personal favourite). It is open from 9am to 6pm most days, rain, hail or shine. This market is the best example of how proud Vancouver is of what it produces, and it is a must-visit if you find yourself in Vancouver.

There is so much to choose from here, but this was what I went with –

I sat in the external seating of the market and enjoyed the views of the harbour. I was joined by the biggest seagulls I have ever seen. Out of all of my choices, while most were amazing, the caneles were my favourite. They were a little burnt on the outside (just what you want), and rich and custardy on the inside.

per se social corner

Nestled in the heart of the trendy neighbourhood of Yaletown, Per Se Social Corner could be the trendiest of all the establishments here. I had seen a video of a couple visiting Per Se after umming and ahhing about whether they were cool enough to come here, and I absolutely understood what they meant. This crowd consists of the ultra-stylish high-end realtor stopping in for a quick drink after work, the cool girls who are meeting to discuss the exploits of the weekend, the food influencer discussing his newest mixology triumph.

Per Se Social Corner serves up a Mediterranean inspired menu that covers everything from a seafood paella to classic cheeseburgers, bolognese and pizzas, and a hell of a drink’s menu. I wish I was hungrier when I came here, so I could have experienced a little bit more, but it will be one of my first stops if I return to Vancouver.

Despite feeling jetlagged and in need of a good shower, the staff made me feel very welcome, not only to the restaurant, but also to Vancouver. I was perched at the bar, and not feeling very hungry, I went with a glass of white Sangria, and a chorizo and yoghurt flat bread, which hit the spot. If I was spending more time in Vancouver, I would definitely have come back here. If nothing more than to get more recommendations from the wonderful bar staff (thanks Ian).

stanley park

Stanley Park is a must-visit when you come to Vancouver. This place is huge. At 400 hectares, it is Canada’s biggest urban park, showcasing a mix of West Coast rainforest, manicured gardens, and views of Burrard Inlet and the surrounding mountains. There is also significant cultural value in Stanley Park, being a place that tells the stories of Canada’s First Nation’s people throughout the landscape.

I took an e-bike and followed the Stanley Park Seawall around. I did a second lap and came back to see the Totem Poles, the Hollow Tree, Lost Lagoon, Siwash Rock, to name a few, before making my way back to the hotel. It is also a safe place to walk around, with bikers and walkers segregated for the most part. The bike path is a one-way road for a lot of the journey around, and most areas that would have walker/cyclist interaction are marked as non-cycle zones.

I spent a good part of the day here and didn’t feel like I even scratched the surface. There are several locations for snacks and meals, you could take a horsedrawn carriage ride, you can visit the Vancouver Aquarium, or even take in a round of Pitch and Putt golf. You really could make a day of it.

capilano suspension bridge park

One of the most incredible things about Vancouver is how close the wilderness feels to the city. And the best example of that is Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Originally constructed in 1889 (don’t worry, there have been many restorations since then), the park has a rich history, getting its name, Capilano, from the Squamish people, which means “beautiful river.” The bridge’s story is one of engineering feats, appreciation for the land and an eagerness to share its wondrous beauty with the world. It’s a testament to respect for cultural traditions and commitment to environmental conservation. As you meander through the park, you will discover information about the types of flora and fauna that make this part of the world their home, as well as how you can help to conserve it.

Capilano Suspension Bridge is a 20-minute drive from the middle of the city, and you can take the free shuttle that picks up from three central locations. There are a couple of cafes and restaurants on either side of the bridge, as well as seasonal activities for all ages. When I was there, they were starting to set up for Halloween, which looked to be quite fun.

I will say, this may not be for everyone. The walk across the bridge is not the most stable you’ve experienced, but if you’re not mucking around, it is completely safe. The bridge is suspended 70 metres above the river below, so if you’re not good with heights, you may want to give this one a miss. There is also a Cliff Walk, which is just as high, but is solidly built. This will still give you a decent view of the park.

botanist

I did a bit of research before coming to Vancouver, looking for the city’s best restaurants, and Botanist was mentioned repeatedly. Located within the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel, you immediately knew you were in for a treat. Botanist, in keeping with Vancouver’s spirit, aims to highlight how extraordinary the west is for produce, only sourcing from local, organic suppliers, and using techniques tried and true to the surrounding communities. I would love to say the food is the star of the show here, but the staff shine equally as brightly. And that’s saying a lot because the food was wonderful.

I went with the scallops, the strip loin and the Cactus Kiss cocktail, which is like a pear margarita. All fantastic. And being the fancy establishment that it is, it came with a few little extras, like some locally sourced rye sourdough and flavoured butters, and the chef’s take on Mexican street corn. My waiter felt like the kitchen service was a little too slow for his liking, so I got a free glass of Laughing Stock Pinot Noir, from the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia.

Botanist is a winner. Great food, great service, a little pricey, but when the experience is as lovely as this, you don’t mind paying.

calgary

I then made my way to Canada’s third largest city, Calgary. Calgary is well known for its booming agriculture scene, especially it’s cattle, which is celebrated in the annual Calgary Stampede. I was not there for that, because my trip to Calgary was very much a social visit. A friend of mine, Amy, moved here late last year with her husband, Russell and this was the first time I had seen her since. I would also get to meet her and Russell’s Yorkshire Terrier, Jax. I’m very glad to say we became fast friends.

Like Vancouver, I really liked the vibe of Calgary, instantly. While still a big city, it has a small town feel to it. The outdoors is definitely something to behold here, being in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. And again, I was pretty lucky with the weather. It may have been a little cooler than I was used to, but still enjoyable.

the potion room

Mourning the death of Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith), Amy and I took a trip to the Potion Room. The Potion Room is a magical themed bar that makes references to stories like Harry Potter (of course), Peter Pan, and the Hobbit, and welcomes the spooky and witchy. With Halloween just around the corner, this place was gearing up for a big few weeks. One of the things that makes this place extra cool is the way that your orders are served. Each drink has a story and a different presentation. Guests are encouraged to participate in the presentation in order to obtain their drink (only if they want to, of course), making this place perfect for the start of a big night out.

Amy and I sampled a couple of refreshments, including the butterbeer (available in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic forms), a pumpkin spice concoction (I had to, it’s Autumn), and a Dumblewhore, which a marshmallow flavoured Old Fashioned. But don’t let the cute names fool you, these drinks pack a punch. Lulled into a false sense of security with the funny name, I took a large swig of the Dumblewhore, only to lose the feeling to my tongue, this sucker was strong. And by the end of the drink, I was drunk.

calcutta cricket club

Following our visit to the Potion Room and a few drinks under our belts, we met Russell at the Calcutta Cricket Club, a super stylish Indian restaurant, where they serve your old Indian favourites with a modern twist. Similar to the Botanist, the Calcutta Cricket Club was an establishment that was on many of Calgary’s best restaurant lists. This place did not disappoint.

To start with, the drinks at this restaurant were quite impressive. They have a gorgeous drinks menu, where they have redesigned some of the classics like the negroni and the gin and tonic, and a have a range of imported Indian beers. Not to be outdone, the food was also very good. We started with the good old Chips and Curry, and followed with a selection of curries and naans, including a variation on the classics Butter Chicken, Lamb Curry, and Palak Paneer. Serving sizes are also quite generous, so you could take this home and relive your experience the next day. The staff were also lovely here. We were doing a lot of chatting and the poor waiter had to come back a number of times to get our order, all with a smile and a wink.

Nothing to complain about with this pace. Good food, good company, good times.

banff

Amy, Jax and I set off early to go and take in the beauty of Banff. Banff is just under two hours from the Calgary along the Trans-Canada Highway and is a part of the Canadian Rockies. It is a beautiful drive out there and seeing how enormous the surrounding mountains are really makes you feel very small.

We arrived just before 8am, and I don’t believe it was too much warmer than 0 degrees Celsius. We had wanted to get in early to get some breakfast from Evelyn’s Coffee Bar, but due to the nippy conditions, we quickly got our hot chocolates and croissants and jumped back into the warm car.

After visiting downtown Banff, we headed off the Lake Minnewanka for a hike. Lake Winnewanka, meaning meaning “water of the spirits” in Nakoda, is the Rockies’ second longest lake, and sits in the east of the Banff National Park. Despite the morning warming up, Jax was really not feeling this trail. When one of your fellow hikers, with a strong sense of smell, doesn’t want to take that trail, we took notice. The area is known for Grizzly Bears, and despite having our bear spray handy, we didn’t venture too much further.

We then took a visit to the Fairmont Banff Springs for a quick look around, then back into town for lunch. We settled on the 3 Bears Brewery and Restaurant, and found a nice, sunny spot to enjoy the atmosphere. We sampled the Mac and Cheese and the Nashville Chicken Sandwich, both receiving positive reviews. We met a fellow Aussie working as a waiter at 3 Bears, so we reminisced about our homeland for a while. Again, Jax did not enjoy the waiter.

We continued our way through downtown Banff to try a Beavertail pastry, a local delicacy, then headed home mid-afternoon.

catch a flames game

If there was ever a Canadian experience to enjoy, it is to venture to the ice and catch a hockey match. We made our way downtown to the ScotiaBank Saddledome, where we watched a pre-season clash between the Calgary Flames and the Winnepeg Jets. We were lucky enough to have rink-side tickets for the match, and experienced what it was like to have the players slam up against the windows. Prior to going to the game, Amy and I did our due diligence and discovered that the Flames are very much the underdogs for the 2024/25 NHL season, many predicting that they will finish close to the bottom of the table. But the fellas put up a good fight and only went down 3-2, after a late goal to the Jets.

The hockey was definitely the main reason we went to the Saddledome, but another drawcard to the arena is to try a Caesar cocktail. A Caesar is a lot like a Bloody Mary, with the only difference being the use of Clamato (clam and tomato) juice instead of straight tomato juice. I ordered one straight to my seat, as well as a plate of fries and poutine. The poutine at the arena was also very good. I must also mention that it is a fun experience ordering food to your seat and watching everyone pass it down the line.

That’s all I have for Canada. Come back next week to hear of my adventures across the USA.

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