On the island

After settling in we headed straight to the harbour. It is a spectacular view with the BC Government buildings on one side, the Empress Hotel facing the harbour and the lovely old buildings that make up the downtown area on the other side.

BC Parliament Buildings

The Empress Hotel

After a walk we settled on Sam's deli for supper - another great seafood chowder!!



Cute snail in the Butchart Gardens

The next day we set off for the Butchart Gardens. They were set out in the 1920s by Mrs Butchart to cover used quarries that had been the Butcharts' business. There are about five huge manicured gardens with a range of themes. They were absolutely spectacular, and we enjoyed strolling around and enjoying them over a number of hours.

Rose Garden

Sunken Garden



Japanese Garden

Arty shot of our group




Phoebe and Liam on Annabelle

On the way back to our apartment we stopped in at Craigdarroch Castle, a mansion built by a coal magnate in the late 1800s. It is castle-like in design and has an interesting history.




Staircase in Craigdarroch Castle

Exterior of the castle













That night Dad and I set out for some real fish and chips, and ended up at a little outfit working out of a container called Red Fish Blue Fish. It was great fish and chips!

The following day we continued our search for Emily Carr. We spent the morning at the Royal BC Museum. The exhibition on Carr that was on was not really what we were after, and contained only a handful of her paintings. The museum, though, was excellent, and we really enjoyed their First Nations and local history displays.


This caught Mum's eye in the Royal BC Museum

Still on the trail, we walked to Emily Carr's house in the afternoon. It had a lovely collection of memorabilia about her and her family, and one of her paintings. They directed us to the Art Gallery of Greater Victoira. We were starting to think that we were never going to see these paintings!!



Emily Carr's House

On our way to Kamloops the next day we stopped off at the gallery and were able to see about 30 of her works in a very nice exhibition. The gallery had a number of interesting displays and we spent a nice morning there before heading back to the ferry and then embarking on the long drive back to Kamloops.

Vancouver with Mum and Dad

Would you believe that the first thing my parents wanted to do was the Capilano Suspension Bridge?? (See below) I couldn't believe it!!!!!

We set out the following morning on a walking tour. We visited Gastown, and enjoyed the great weather, lovely hanging baskets and ambiance as we walked around the area where Vancouver was born and then headed over to Canada Place.

At the steam clock in Gastown

The flatiron in Gastown

At the Gassy Jack statue

Liam on the Orca at Canada Place

After a car pick up, we drove to Stanley Park. We found a good parking spot and set off on our horse drawn carriage tour. We followed this up with a lovely walk up to the miniature train and a good play at the excellent playground there.

Giddy up!

Nice squirrel

In Stanley Park

Lion's Gate Bridge from Stanley Park

Liam and Grandpa

Inukshuk at English Bay

Another great meal at the local Japanese!

The next day we made a beeline for the Vancouver Art Gallery to see some works of Emily Carr, an important BC artist from the early 20th century. After paying the generous entrance fee, we asked where they were to be told that her works have not been hung in the gallery for years as they are always on tour!! The place to see them at the moment was Victoria, on Vancouver Island, we were told. That was good, as we were heading there in a couple of days! We really enjoyed the gallery with its varied works and Surrealism exhibition. Liam really enjoyed the kids activity centre, which we hastily departed after Phoebe sprayed green paint everywhere!!!!

Vancouver Art Gallery

After introducing Mum and Dad to A&W we headed to Granville Island. We enjoyed looking around the shops and galleries and the markets.
 

Liam entering the Kid's Market on Granville Island

At the Granville Island Brewery

 The following day...... to the Capilano Suspension Bridge, AGAIN! I never would have thought it!

On the cliffwalk

Here we go!

You don't see that kind of totem everyday!!

But it was spectacular, and I enjoyed it. (But don't need to go again!) It was not as crowded as the last time we were there. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing on that bridge!

We then drove to Tsawassen Port to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island. We had enough time to grab some lunch before setting sail. It was a lovely trip through narrow straights between gulf islands, and after only an hour and a half we were there. We drove the short drive to Victoria and settled ourselves in.

On the ferry to Vancouver Island

Check out, check in!

We spent a couple of R&R days in Kamloops shopping and dined with our weekly dinner buddies, Joel, Leslie, Cameron and Ally.

You can't beat a Costco hotdog!!
We take our guests to all the best places!

We headed to Vancouver on Thursday afternoon via the beautiful Fraser Canyon. We checked into our hotel and then headed out to the Japanese restaurant we discovered way back in March when we visited Vancouver. What a fantastic meal we had. And then, on the way back to the car, I spotted a skunk crossing the road...in downtown Vancouver!!

Frog in action in Stanley Park

Riding the miniature train in Stanley Park

The next day we visited Stanley Park and rode on the miniature train in the indigenous village before heading back to the hotel to collect Peter, Cheryl and Amelia's luggage to take them to Vancouver airport to exchange them for Mum and Dad!

Out with the old and in with the new....

We arrived in time to meet Mum and Dad and had lunch before farewelling Peter, Cheryl and Amelia.
We had such a great time with them here and are so glad they were able to come!!

So long, farewell.....

The moose is elus......ive!

We were able to beat the weather and fitted in a cruise on the beautiful Lake Maligne before the rain set in. We saw numerous deer and elk on the drive to the lake.

Lake Maligne

Elk

Spirit Island

On the 90 minute boat ride we saw lots of glaciers that drain into Lake Maligne. We went as far as Spirit Island. It is not really an island, but if there is enough water it becomes one. The scene is iconic in Canada and when I got home I realized it was on the cover of my Eyewitness Guide!!

Liam at the helm

Liam and Amelia find something of interest

The rain started falling and we spent the afternoon in Jasper township shopping and wandering around.

Liam, Phoebe and Amelia

The following day we headed off in rain for Kamloops. We passed a number of signs warning for moose, but did not spot one. We stopped at Mt Robson, which is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, but the peak was obscured. The drive from Jasper to Kamloops is so luscious and green, and even in the rain it was enjoyable!

We stopped in Clearwater at a bakery we like for lunch before heading home.

I am left wondering, "Is this as close to a moose as I am going to get?"

THIS is how many people you can fit into a Dodge Caravan!!

The Icefields Parkway

Our day driving from Banff to Jasper was amazing. The weather was perfect, and we enjoyed the spectacular scenery that was all around us. We took the opportunity to stop at various roadside viewpoints as well as some that were off the road.

A view along the way

Liam in the wilderness

A glacier

On the road again

and again

Peyto Lake was a short walk from the road. I was almost speechless when I saw this fantastic turquoise lake. Frank and I both consider this one of our picks of all we have seen this year! It was gorgeous.

Peyto Lake

The Athabasca Glacier

We drove on to the Columbia Icefields, where we were able to drive out onto the Athabasca glacier on a special snow coach. We had about 20 minutes out on the ice. It was surprisingly warm, but the water we scooped up to drink was icy cold!!

Al and Liam on the glacier in front of the snow coach

The glacier up close

We had a late lunch before heading to Jasper via the Athabasca Falls, fed from the glacier we had been standing on 100 kilometers earlier!

The Athabasca Falls

We stayed outside Jasper at Pyramid Lake, which was another beautiful spot and we came across a herd of elk on the way there! We enjoyed a stroll to Pyramid Island to view the reflections in the lake.

Pyramid Mountain
reflected in Pyramid Lake