British Columbia

Shops, eats and places to take kids in British Columbia.

Westin Whistler during winter holidays

Westin Whistler vs the Fairmont Whistler for a skiing vacation with kids

January 22, 2024

First of all, I need to clarify that I currently travel with teenagers. We are a family of four and our twin boys are 15. We also often travel with our Yorkie Poo (and our pup was welcome at both hotels but we did not bring him when we went to the Westin Whistler). We […]

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ceiling at Louix Louis at the St Regis in Toronto

The time we stayed at the St Regis in Toronto in summer on an Eastern Canada trip

October 27, 2023

I think I was feeling all the “my babies are in high school-they’re going to be gone forever” desperation feelings in summer when we booked our Toronto trip on what was supposed to be a weekend of visiting friends in Montreal. Somehow I let my 15 year old son take over the trip planning and […]

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hockey puck from a Stanley cup final at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto

If you go to Toronto just to see the Hockey Hall of Fame

September 5, 2023

Maybe it’s because we come from Vancouver and we came *thisclose* to the Stanley Cup when the guys were nearly two years old. Or maybe because Seattle got the Kraken hockey team when our duo was in middle school and the whole city has been hyped up about hockey ever since. But when I told […]

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CN tower from Toronto City Cruises with Toronto CityPASS

How “worth it” is using a Toronto CityPASS for a summer family trip?

August 23, 2023

As usual, we were last-minute in looking up what to do in Toronto for our summer trip (all we had planned was the Hockey Hall of Fame) and discovered online that there is a Toronto CityPASS and instantly knew we didn’t really need to do any more research. We are big CityPASS fans and have […]

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vancouver aquarium among things to do in Vancouver

Vancouver, Canada and the Places we Like to Go to when we visit

May 17, 2023

I keep getting asked for where we like to go in Vancouver Canada, and I have old lists for Vancouver with kids and Vancouver with my dog, but I realized recently that I didn’t have a centralized list, so this is where I’m going to put the places we like to go and things we […]

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bunnies at the bunny cafe in Vancouver BC

A bunny cafe in Vancouver BC worth the drive from Seattle

April 22, 2023

Are you somebunny who loves little rabbits? We actually didn’t try the coffee in this cafe, but I took my niece and nephew to the Bunny Cafe in Vancouver BC and there were bunnies galore. The Bunny Cafe is on Commercial drive, a vibrant street full of shops and cafes and I found it when […]

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Audain Art Museum in Whistler (for free)

How to go to the Whistler Audain Art Museum for free if you are from Seattle

January 24, 2023

I checked Whistler for the kids’ mid-winter break and it looks like all of Seattle must be headed there. The prices are sky high! I think President’s Day now coincides with BC’s family day holiday so this is one reason why it’s getting more difficult to visit the area during that time. But there are […]

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inside Kafka's Coffee on Richards near a playground in Vancouver BC

Kafka’s Coffee in Vancouver BC with a playground next door

January 9, 2023

Kafka’s Coffee has been part of our Vancouver adventures for decades now- my best friend baked for them years ago and they have really delicious coffee and food. But the newest Kafka’s Coffee location is so perfect for Vancouver families (and Seattle families visiting Vancouver) so I needed to talk about it here. It’s next […]

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Club level room at Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre hotel with a family from Seattle

Because I keep getting asked where to stay in Vancouver BC if you’re traveling from Seattle with a dog

October 31, 2022

How many of us added furry family members in the past couple years? Scout, our yorkie poo pup joined our family in May 2020 and our travel life has not been the same since. Thankfully, Vancouver BC where we we grew up is only a 3 hour road trip from Seattle and as of October […]

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Pacific Sands Beach Resort in Tofino the view from 2nd floor three bedroom condo

Finding a fantastic way to multigenerational holiday in Tofino in a 3 bedroom suite at the Pacific Sands Beach Resort

March 14, 2022

If you love all things Pacific Northwest than Tofino is the type of place you probably dream about visiting too. We went ages ago for a family wedding and have been meaning to revisit ever since. So when I kept seeing Pacific Sands Beach Resort featured in contests on Instagram, I got it in my […]

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strawberry souffle pancake from Gram Cafe at the Amazing Brentwood

Souffle Pancakes at the Gram Cafe and other delicious places to eat at the Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby BC

January 30, 2022

The Amazing Brentwood in Burnaby BC is quickly becoming on of my go-to places to eat and shop when we head north from Seattle to see family in Canada. I’ve been eagerly anticipating the opening of the Gram Cafe there-this is a well- known souffle pancake chain in Japan and there are a few other […]

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Fairmont Vancouver Waterfront Pool with family who walked from Terrace Room

What is a Terrace Room at the Fairmont Waterfront Vancouver BC?

January 11, 2022

A little while ago I booked a staycation for my family and my sister’s family so all the cousins could hang out at a heated outdoor pool in the wintertime. Because of covid, I specifically wanted to find an outdoor pool so that we wouldn’t have to breathe indoor air. And we love the outdoor […]

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Four Seasons Whistler Pool with two kids on a road trip from Seattle

Why the Four Seasons Whistler Pool makes it the most perfect place to stay in the area in the summer

September 22, 2021

Whistler is a place we usually end up going to once or twice a year. It’s close to Seattle and my husband and I grew up in the suburbs of Vancouver BC so we know it really well. It’s usually an easy road trip from Seattle and over the years we’ve stayed at many of […]

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Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler with kids, a pup and grandma where we tried the free canoes and we did the Train Wreck hike nearby too

A visit to Nita Lake Lodge and the train wreck hike in Whistler BC with grandma, two kids and a dog

September 10, 2020

Before this year, I would not have thought that going home to visit my family just outside of Vancouver BC from Seattle was really travel. We can get there in 2.5 hours and some months we often visit a couple times for family and friends’ birthdays and events. But this year it suddenly became a […]

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may these gates never be closed at peace arch park

Beginning to travel again with a bit more thoughtfulness and responsibility from now on and a first trip to Peace Arch Park

May 27, 2020

***AS OF 8pm June 18th 2020 Peace Arch Park on the Canadian side will be closed until further notice*** We have always lived a life with our suitcases packed. My husband and I are the only people in our immediate families who don’t live in Vancouver BC, and we chose to live in Seattle WA […]

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Funko Headquarters in Everett is a great stop between Vancouver BC and Seattle on a road trip with kids

If the Funko Headquarters in Everett is on your Seattle Bucketlist with kids

July 7, 2019

I had no idea what a “Funko Pop” was when I heard that Funko Headquarters opened up to the public in Everett about a year and a half ago.  I still don’t totally understand them but they seem to be vinyl collectibles of pop culture icons like Jurassic Park and Marvel characters, movies stars and […]

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Driving a Porsche Cayenne through water on a Porsche Off Road Experience in Whistler with Canadian Wilderness Adventures

The Porsche Off Road Driving Experience in Whistler-an experience gift for dad or maybe for yourself

June 14, 2019

Believe it or not, getting the chance to try a Porsche Off Road Driving Experience was not what first drew me to a “wings and wheels” media trip to Richmond and Whistler BC. I was actually fairly terrified by the whole idea of it but was blinded by the fact that I would get to […]

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club lounge access at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre hotel is great for families visiting vancouver bc

The Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre hotel: another fabulous place to stay if you’re in Vancouver BC with kids

February 6, 2019

I can’t figure out if I call Vancouver my hometown or my home away from home nowadays but it’s where we spend a lot of time and it’s where the hubby and I grew up.  We usually hang out with family in Coquitlam or Richmond BC when we’re not at Granville Island, or reminiscing at […]

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Richmond BC is a great place for families to stay near Vancouver BC

Why Richmond might be a great home base for families traveling to Vancouver BC

January 27, 2019

Is Vancouver BC on your travel bucket list?  As someone who grew up in the city I can’t believe how much it has changed and grown over the years.  We now live in Seattle, about a three hour drive away, and we head back to Vancouver often to see family and it’s still one of […]

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