Vancouver
Our trip to Vancouver was short but definitely did not lack in activities. We stopped in Vancouver for 2 days prior to heading up to Whistler for a ski trip! Ski trips are one kind of trips we check bags for as we like to bring our own skis. Be sure to check different airlines baggage policy before booking your flights. Some airlines classify skis as oversize baggage where others classify it as sporting equipment and may not charge as much.
We stayed that the Pan Pacific Vancouver hotel which we booked through Amex travel in order to utilize our annual $200 dollar hotel statement credit and $100 dollar hotel resort credit from our Amex Platinum card, and yes the hotel did convert the credit to Canadian dollars which came out to about $120 CAD hotel credit. The hotel had a great view over the harbor and hotel pool with windows that could open to let in a fresh breeze. When planning this trip we didn’t realize Taylor’s birthday was later in the week but the hotel welcomed us with a slice of chocolate cake to celebrate (we did list his birthday in reservation notes after realizing his birthday was that week). That night we had a reservation at Burdock & Co. We got their tasting menu with the wine pairing for each course. Each course used various earthy ingredients, introducing us to some new and delicious roots our favorite being the sunchoke. We look forward to trying another one of their seasonal menus.
The next day we started our day off at Fufu Cafe that specializes in Japanese souffle pancakes. We didn’t have a reservation so we made sure to show up right as they opened and good thing we did cause there was already a line in front and they did not have very many tables inside. Make sure you have the expectation of having to wait a little bit once you order as they make each pancake from scratch and it takes approximately 20 minutes. They had sweet and savory options which were equally delicious.
We then proceeded to Granville Island Public Market where we purchased some local snacks to bring with us on our ski trip (meats and cheeses). There are plenty of vendors in the public market ranging from crafts, teas, produce, meats, and more.
After the market we got ice cream at a local shop called Rain or Shine Ice Cream and is known for using local, natural, and fresh ingredients. They have a variety of flavors and my favorite was the malted milk chocolate honeycomb!
That evening we drove up to whistler and stayed at the Four Seasons Resort. If you ever get the chance I highly recommend staying at the Four Seasons for your ski trip – the ski valet made the trip 100%
Whistler
Whistler Blackcomb is a well known ski resort just north of Vancouver. As epic pass holders, this is one of our favorite mountains on the epic pass. The epic pass is a ski pass that covers the lift ticket cost for multiple different resorts throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia. If you are an avid skier it is highly recommended to get the Epic Pass.
While in Whistler we skied, ate, and relaxed. We saw the Vallea Lumina show which was a very neat light show where you walked through the woods and it told a story with the lights. It was chilly so if you choose to do this activity it is highly recommended to bundle up! There is a shuttle service that takes you from Whistler Village to the light show. If you are visiting Whistler in the summer there is also a Vallea Lumina show then as well.
We ate at a few restaurants in Whistler that I would highly recommend to anyone who needs suggestions! The first was Brickworks Public House which is a gin bar. It is a really cool concept and they have a large variety of gin and they even offer a gin tasting flight that came with different tonic options. The food was also delicious! The other recommendations we have are Ohyama ramen for authentic Japanese ramen and Indian Masala Bistro for yummy Indian curries. The number one breakfast spot was Portabello which can be found in the Fairmont Chateau Whistler lobby level. They had amazingly delicious breakfast bowls and coffee.
This was a quick trip for us but we made sure to pack in the food and the fun! If you have any questions about visiting Vancouver and Whistler, let us know!
