My New Happy: Vancouver, B.C. & Olympics Success

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Vancouver, B.C. & Olympics Success


Vancouver B.C. is one of our favorite places to visit, and luckily it's only a two hour drive from our house.  The city is very European, easy to walk around, has delicious cuisine, and lots of fun activities.

On our last trip we stayed at the Pan Pacific Hotel, which is attached to Canada Place, right on the water where the cruise ships dock.


This was the view from our room, which was reasonably priced, even for Vancouver (thank you Groupon)!


Our favorite activity is walking along the Seawall to Stanley Park, where the aquarium is located.  They have beluga whales there - I could watch them all day.


We stopped to take a picture in front of the Olympic Cauldron, built for the Winter Olympics in 2010.


It looked a little different than it did during the games, when the flame was burning and there was a gate surrounding the cauldron.


We were fortunate enough to visit Vancouver during the Olympics in 2010.  I tried for over a year to get tickets to an event - I didn't care which one.  I put my name in a lottery, but had no success.  Tickets in the re-sale market were way too expensive.


We finally decided to get up very early and drive to Vancouver for the day.  Even if we couldn't see a sporting event, we wanted to experience the atmosphere, and knew that it would probably be a once in a lifetime experience.


The city was buzzing, the architecture was beautiful, and we were so happy to be there, taking it all in.  In passing, a young man told us we could probably get tickets for a hockey game if we were willing to wait in line at the ice arena.  WHAT?!?!

Success!!  The Olympic gods were smiling on us that day, and we were able to score tickets to the USA/Norway hockey game - for much cheaper than anything I had been trying to purchase from home.  Obviously, the men in my life were very excited - not only is my husband Norwegian, C is a huge hockey fan.


USA won the game, we had a fantastic time, and returned home exhausted at 1am.



It was our most exciting trip to Vancouver, but definitely not our last!

22 comments:

  1. Vancouver is a great city. My parents live just in Langley, just outside of Van.

    So glad you had a good time and scored tickets.

    This is the first time I've heard Vancouver described as European. Have you ever been east in Canada? Quebec? There you will find it very European.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. Yes, I love Quebec too! Maybe a better word would have been cosmopolitan. I love Canada in general!

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  2. I love these photos! Clearly some very happy times! What fun to be able to be a spectator at an olympic event! It looks like you had beautiful weather the times you were there, as well!

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    1. We got very lucky with the weather during the Olympics - since it was February, when it's usually cold and rainy! It was a great day!

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  3. I have never been to Vancouver but your pictures are enticing!

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  4. I love Vancouver! We stop there regularly on our way to visit our son out on the Island! Lovely, elegant old city!

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  5. How awesome. I would love to visit there someday.

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  6. Hi Lana, I would love to visit Canada some day, it's looks like you had a nice time. Thanks for sharing the photos!

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  7. I went to Vancouver in 2003, so some of that stuff wasn't there then.
    I loved Stanley Park. I could always swear they had orca whales there but my ex who went with me said I'm remembering just belugas.
    All I know is that I saw two otters there holding paws and I nearly cried.

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    1. Awww...the otters are pretty cute. The only whales I've seen there are belugas. Stanley Park is beautiful!

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  8. I would love to see an Olympic event and even in South Carolina we love hockey! I bet it was an amazing day!

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  9. How exciting! I'm sure that's a memory you'll treasure. I'd love to see the Olympics!

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  10. I love watching hockey - how exciting to see an Olympic event! I've been to Vancouver once when I was youngerfor a weekend. Would love to go back sometime.

    Jill
    dousedinpink.blogspot.com

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    1. We've been to a few NHL games as well, but this one seemed more special!

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