Today’s post is written by Gwen Morrison, a new friend and social media guru at her company Endurance Marketing. The photos are by her husband Dave Morrison.
And for the record I’d like to say that I really am sorry about the trail bakery experience she mentions at the end. But really, she doesn’t have to sound so bitter about the whole thing. How was I to know??
Go West – By Gwen Morrison
Maybe it was one of those “grass is always greener” kind of things, but growing up on the East coast of Canada, I longed to go West. While I flipped through books that taunted me with beautiful pictures of majestic mountain ranges and endless shorelines, my classmates graduated and headed West, following a promise of bigger and better things.
I was green with envy.
Fast forward nearly 30 years, and here I am, living not in the west – but in Atlanta, Georgia. So when my friend Colleen Friesen invited my husband Dave and I for a visit (or did I invite myself?), I jumped at the opportunity to brush the dust off my cowboy boots and head out.
We didn’t waste any time exploring the sights, sounds, and tastes of Vancouver. First stop: Tim Hortons. If you have ever lived in Canada, and then moved to a city that does NOT sell Tim Hortons coffee, you’ll know why that was our first stop.
Then it was off to Cin Cin. The description on the website reads “…recognized for its contemporary Italian menu and award-winning wine.” I’m a fan of both good Italian food and good wine so I knew we were in the right place.
We were seated outside on the terrace, hidden behind a wall of tall trees. If you didn’t know you were perched high above a bustling city street, you’d never believe it. The atmosphere was so peaceful and romantic that I forgot it had been nearly 17 hours since my last meal. I was ready for my Caprese salad.
We lingered, letting the garlic and pinot grigio cream sauce enter our bloodstream. I was in heaven. Three hours later – after learning the ins and outs of Italian wine from Cin Cin’s wine director, Sarah McCauley – we finally made our way back down the winding staircase that deposited us onto Robson Street.
Day two of our western journey took us to Whistler. What can I say about Whistler except “GO!”
It’s a short drive from Vancouver – if you don’t stop for a gazillion photos along the way (I dare you.) After exploring the village, we enjoyed a light lunch on the patio at Araxi. Located in the heart of Whistler village, Araxi is the perfect place to people watch.
Our Peak 2 Peak Gondola adventure was probably the highlight of our trip. Setting aside my intense fear of heights, I knew I couldn’t leave Whistler without going up the mountain. The 4.4 km journey between Whistler and Blackcomb gives you a 360-degree view that will leave you breathless. I’m not kidding…I had to remind myself to breathe as we dangled miles above the valley.
We completed our journey to the west with a visit to The Sunshine Coast, where, on Colleen’s recommendation, we hiked the Skookumchuck trail. Now, I’m not a hiker. Let’s get that straight to start with. I’m athletically challenged, to say the least. But when Colleen told me there was a bakery at the trail head that served the most incredible cinnamon buns, I knew I would be making the 4 km trek (which by the way is one whole hour each way) in order to claim that reward.
The true “reward” for the scenic hike along the pebbled pathway in the rain forest is the whirlpools. If you make it to one of the viewing points at the change of tide, you’ll witness the power of the nature as the flow of saltwater shifts, reversing direction and creating a powerful whirlpool. Definitely worth the trek.
One word of advice: If you plan on making this hike, and like me, you are motivated by the promise of warm cinnamon buns dripping with cream cheese frosting, be sure to check the hours of operation on the trail head bakery.
Enough said.
