As an avid fruit lover, I remember reading, many years ago, about how fruit trees were specifically not planted in many cities because of the mess they produce. Far too many people would rather purchase that same type of fruit from a grocery store than harvest them from public land. The result—tons of food waste rotting and squashed on sidewalks…
When people think about traveling to Canada, many often think about the Banff’s or Montreal’s of North America. After being shown around the city by locals, Vancouver shouldn’t be overlooked though. Vancouver is a large city with things to do as vibrant and varied as the people living here. I’ll go through some of my top things to do in…
Before traveling anywhere, one question that always looms is “how am I going to get around?” At around the same size as San Francisco (49 square miles), Vancouver (44 square miles) is pretty easy to get around (if not more easy). By Car Like most developed areas, Vancouver has a system of roads and highways that make vehicular traffic fairly…
The last time I was in Canada was when I was a kid. I have vague memories of catching a ferry to go to Victoria and Butchart Gardens. Being an LA boy, my focus was on just how much greenery there was around me. One thing I definitely didn’t fully appreciate, at the time, was Canada’s diversity. One thing contributing…
Visiting Vancouver, one big thing I wanted to try—in addition to poutine, candied salmon, and everything maple syrup—was Canadian breakfast. To satiate my craving, my friends took me to De Dutch Pannekoek House (a.k.a. De Dutch). The interior was adorned with mildly Dutch decor. Nothing really special. What was more interesting was the menu with an array of breakfast burritos,…
It’s been said that our neighbors to the north are nicer and more tolerant. After experiencing Pride in Vancouver, I can believe it. I got a chance to watch the parade and wander around the city after. Here’s a visual walkthrough of the things I saw and noticed: The parade started with flags from all the provinces and territories of…
Living in a city whose average temperature is 57.3 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s not often that I crave frozen desserts. With the temperature being in the upper 80’s to low 90’s in Vancouver though, any reprieve from the heat was a nice one. While walking around Coal Harbor, my friends and I stumbled upon a Korean dessert shop called, Sulmida Dessert…
Located in False Creek, just a short walk or ferry boat ride from Sunset Beach Park is an amazing little center of art and foodie culture, Granville Island. Granville Island, at the turn of the century, was originally an array of factories and sawmills. With the area eventually falling into depression, local authorities turned the site into a public market…
I have heard horror stories about people converting their money into Canadian currency (CAD)—though really any currency. Oftentimes, people are told to use exchanges at the airport either before or after departing. Because these businesses exist through fees charged, the amount of money you get back will be much less, relative to what is taken out of the bank. In…
Traveling to a new place, one thing that I’m going to want to try—of course—are the local milk tea drink offerings. Somewhere, ranked second or third, would be donuts. On my recent latest trip, I wanted to try one of the best doughnut shops in Vancouver, Cartems Donuts. Sadly, on both of the occasions I dropped by, the shop was…
