Damkier's Travels: Vancouver, B.C.

Art Installation on Beach in Downtown Vancouver

On almost every trip to Seattle, I ponder a trip to Canada. Our friendly neighbor to the north is somewhat close to Seattle, especially if you are staying north of downtown. The drive is only about two hours, but you will have to cross the international border which often backs up with traffic and customs delays. On a summer trip to Seattle, I had enough daylight to take a day trip across the border to visit Vancouver.

First Stop - Tim Hortons

I previously visited Vancouver in 2006, flying into the city and renting a car for a long trip exploring the city and surrounding areas. The border crossing was delayed and traffic was building in Vancouver so my phone directed me towards the eastern side of the city. Fortunately, switching wireless coverage was automatic which allowed me to keep my GPS connectivity for the trip. The back roads took me past a Tim Hortons for a quick snack and cash withdrawal. This prepared me for a hair-raising drive through urban Vancouver heading for the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge.

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

There is a famous suspension bridge near Vancouver that carries bus loads of tourists across a tall and treacherous valley nearby, but I was unwilling to part with so much of that fancy Canadian money. The one at the Lynn Canyon Park is just as thrilling and much cheaper, maybe even more so with the smaller size and unauthorized cliff diving. This was a bit of a thrill dangling so high over the river, but my nerves forced a rather quick pass. Fortunately the surrounding park calms the nerves with lots of tall evergreens and locals escaping an unusual heat wave.

Macaroni & Cheese is Kraft Dinner in Canada - KD!

I always enjoy all the small differences in Canada. They are very much like the United States, but everything is just a little different. A trip to Canadian Tire or Shoppers Drug Mart shows this with many American items and all those great Canadian options like ketchup potato chips, maple flavored everything, and a lot of Asian specialities catering to the large population of immigrants on the west coast of Canada. Customs has becoming much more forgiving, allowing Americans to import a lot of this tasty stuff back across the border.

Traditional Canadian Poutine

Speaking of food, I cannot visit Canada without having my favorite national dish - poutine. This classic dish of French fries topped with fresh cheese curds and brown gravy is as delicious as its simplicity. The best versions are usually the basic options at greasy spoons catering to the locals. I found such a place in downtown and chomped away in the window watching the city of Vancouver pass before me. The owner knew I was American by my accent by the way!

Museum of Anthropology at University of British Columbia

It is not a visit to Vancouver without a stop at the Museum of Anthropology on the campus of the University of British Columbia. My first visit to Vancouver had me staying at the campus in summer dorms which is a great option and allowed me to better explore this vast museum. They have a spectacularly large and diverse collection of native art and artifacts from around the world with a large focus on British Columbia first nations. The collection includes several replica poles and houses typical of native cultures. Modern curators are striking a good balance of educating the public while respecting the wishes of the native cultures. Braver souls can venture just past the museum to the popular nude beach below the museum as well. If only I had more time...

The Canadian Border

Alas, it was time to head back to the border to visit my last stop at the Peach Arch State Park. Interstate 5 ends at the Canadian border and terminates in a small international park best accessed through the United States side. After a relatively easy entry back in the United States, I circled back and entered the park. The actual border is a line in the grass flanked by a massive arch and symbolic gates locked open permanently to show the relationship between the two countries. You can wander around the park crossing the border as you wish, but you must exit on the side in which you entered. In a world of border fences, it is somewhat cool to see the international border as a small ditch at the edge of a park with a Canadian jogging along the street!

International Traveler

It is a rather long and exhausting journey from Seattle to Vancouver. I do not recommend it as a day trip any more due to border delays and poor traffic in Vancouver. However, the destination remains one of the jewels of Canada and the Pacific Northwest. I often recommend visiting Vancouver and Portland instead of Seattle for a better experience. Hopefully we will eventually divert a tiny bit of money away from fighting other countries and build a high speed rail connection to Vancouver from Seattle to better connect such great cities. Please enjoy the rest of my photos below.