For our early 10 year anniversary, Eric and I took a trip up to Vancouver B.C. We left the kids with his family and drove to Seattle. We spent the night in the van before heading into downtown for a quick breakfast and then to find parking before going to the train station. Our round trip tickets cost about $150 for both of us and it took about four hours one way. It was a fun way to travel a see the different parts of Washington. When we got to Vancouver it was raining,which made standing in line for a taxi a bit damp but not too bad. We stayed at the Sheraton at the Wall Center. Our room was on the 23rd floor in the north tower.
The location of the hotel was perfect! It was a block away for a grocery store, movie theater, 15 minute walk from the mall. It was great since we didn't want to spend money on taxis. Our first afternoon/evening there we got a light dinner at the mall and went to a movie. We enjoyed the fact that there was fast food restaurants inside the movie theater as well as a Starbucks and frozen yogurt store. Oh yeah there were Starbucks stores nearly every block in the area!!
The next morning we headed out for a tour of the city. We bought tickets for the Hop On, Hop Off bus that took us around the tourist places in Vancouver. We enjoyed our driver, Heather and the tour so much that we didn't get off until we got to Chinatown. :) We went to see the Sun Yat Sen Gardens. It was nice to see the different plants and landscaping. It wasn't as big as we thought it would be but not bad.
Hunger drove us to find a place to eat and get some much craved for Chinese food. We found Jade Dynasty that served dim sum and pigged out! It was so good!! Vancouver has the second largest Chinatown in North America, second to San Francisco. We really enjoyed some great food and not having to deal with kids as we ate.
We enjoyed ourselves so much that we went back two more times during our stay! We don't get decent Chinese food in Spokane so we really took advantage of this rare treat.We also did some shopping for us and the kids. Eric and I each got a new Chinese shirt and scrolls and we got the kids a coin necklace with their Chinese animal on it.
We caught the bus back and finished our tour. Funny enough after a few stops and a transfer we got the same guide, Heather. While driving around, this "art piece" was pointed out. It's a replica of the artist head and you're suppose to stick your chewed gum on it. Once it's covered they're going to cast it and make it permanent. Gross!
We got home early evening and rested before dressing up and going out for dinner at Red Robin. For dessert we got a dozen small cupcakes of different flavors. They were good! That night we stayed in an watched the new X-Men movie on pay per view.
Our "splurge" outing was going to the
Capilano Suspension Bridge. We caught a free bus across from our hotel and headed north to see it. We went in the morning and wandered through the area before seeing the main attraction. The bridge is 450 feet across and 230 feet high. It was amazing and breathtaking and scary (for me), Eric really enjoyed bouncing and making it move.
Red squirrels
Different birds and their wing span.
Bottom of the bridge.
Once you got across there were paths to wander as well as a Treeetop Adventure. It looks a little like an Ewok village with bridges between trees. They didn't sway which I was grateful for.
Selfie on the bridge. Going back across wasn't as nerve racking as the first time but still I was glad to have made it. There was also a bridge that went over the cliff but none of pictures came out that great.
As we left I saw this paper on the counter and thought "I need to get that!" It turned out to be free and I proudly carried that home!! I made it! It was definitely out of my comfort zone but a fun thing to do with Eric.
When we came back we hit up Chinatown again, this time taking the train. The station was only four blocks from our hotel (again great location) and tickets were cheap. We also browsed a mall in the area and just relaxed.
Our last morning in Vancouver, we got up early to get one last meal at Jade Dynasty before heading back to pack and check out. We enjoyed having the time together and seeing the sights of Vancouver.
Due to international rates, we didn't get to talk to the kids while we were gone. Dee sent us this photo on Ipad of Matthew sleeping on Samuel. It was so cute! They were well taken care of and were excited for us to be home. We sure missed them, for me especially Rebecca since this was the first time we were away from her. But they we're fine and happy and that made our trip all the better.
