vancouver

inari sushi at Motonobu Udon a place to eat Japanese food in Vancouver BC

Where to eat yummy Japanese food in Vancouver BC

April 6, 2024

My heart still lives in my Bachan and Jichan’s kitchen in Vancouver on Friday nights where I could be content forever devouring heaping bowls of rice, nimono, little plates of fish and pickles, and drinking tea with the grownups until way past other kids’ bedtimes. When I go home to visit now, I’m lucky that […]

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Greenheart TreeWalk at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver

Greenheart TreeWalk at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver BC

March 25, 2024

I recently tried to explain to someone about the Greenheart TreeWalk and realized I never wrote this one up for the blog. If you are visiting Vancouver and you’re in the University of British Columbia (UBC) area around April to October, this is such a great place to visit. And maybe if you miss out […]

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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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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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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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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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Testing out the Whispbar Tesla Ski Rack on a trip to Whistler with kids and stopping to charge at the New Whistler Supercharger at the Fairmont Hotel

Using a Whispbar Tesla Ski Rack and Supercharger from Seattle to Whistler

January 16, 2019

Thank goodness for Craigslist because my husband was able to purchase a barely used Whispbar Tesla ski rack for  less than the heftier price tag it usually comes with which is so nice when you’re dealing with anything Tesla and we wanted to add a ski rack so we can do some winter road trips.  We […]

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10 best Vancouver spots with kids a list of things to see if you're in Vancouver Canada with your family

Next time you head to Vancouver with kids, here’s a list of my 10 best Vancouver spots

November 23, 2018

We are a Seattle family.  My kids’ blood is the requisite blue/green for Sounders, Seahawks, Mariners and our one day Seattle hockey team.  I think when the hockey team finally gets here, I’ll be the one most torn about who to cheer for because I grew up in Vancouver and my childhood self would be […]

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review of Osh Kosh spring clothes style on a trip from Seattle to vancouver with 9 year old boys

Spring Clothes from Osh Kosh that can transition from Park to Party and Bring the Fun

March 27, 2018

This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of OshKosh B’gosh; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.  There are two things we look for in clothes for my family-are they comfortable and can we wear them for multiple events?  It’s even better if the clothing we buy travels well too because […]

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Family Travel is Feeling very VIP at the Parq hotel in Vancouver because of Marriott Rewards

Why we have mad love for Marriott Rewards and how it makes us feel truly VIP

March 20, 2018

**In September 2018 the Marriott Rewards program changed it’s Gold Elite Member Status rewards. We sadly no longer receive lounge privileges or breakfast at Marriott hotels.  Hilton Honors Gold that we receive with our American Express Platinum card however includes continental breakfast with its booking so this is something we now take into consideration when […]

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