I’ve been to Vancouver countless times, it’s the world’s most beautiful city according to me (second most beautiful in North America according to the ICCA) but I’ve never seen it like this before.
The sun shone hot our entire visit, my favorite way to see Vancouver. People normally line every patch of grassy hill in the city, soaking up the coveted sun.
Patios are full, streets are lively, live music fills the air, creating that feeling of joviality and culture, but there’s a shift. I can feel it as tangibly as the air is salty.
Photo Credit: Contributed
The vibe is excitement that things are opening up again, but an underlying timidity also hangs in the air.
There are way less people than I have ever seen. Some streets we walk down in Olympic Village have literally no one around.
People proceed to parks, shops, and activities calmly, heeding rules to wear masks, follow arrows, and sanitize frequently.
I feel safe seeing the precautions being taken by businesses and patrons alike.
We stand across from Stanley Park, on this particular day, it has been closed to vehicle and bike traffic.
Only walkers and keen joggers are enjoying its splendour today.
I see movement in the water and the sun sparkles off two, curious seal heads.
They scan their surroundings before disappearing again.
I am drawn to the water and so we decide it’s time to do something we’ve never done before in Vancouver.
Tomorrow we are going whale watching.
We’ve seen whales from Florida to the Maldives, in Oman, and Blue Whales in Sri Lanka.
Several times we’ve had the pleasure of seeing the slapping pectoral fin of a humpback in Hawaii, and yet never have we ever seen our own local whales in our BC backyard. It is time.
Prince of Whales picks us up from Granville Island where we spend the day eating and window shopping. Ben spends his birthday money at the Kid’s Market. I remember it being my favourite store as a kid too.
The staff welcome us onto the vessel and we are briefed in safety protocols.
Everyone is given a whale buff to wear as a mask on deck.
We get our own table to sit inside and wait for whale sightings.
The knowledgeable crew knows exactly where to go, to the place where the Fraser River empties its nutrient-rich, murky water.
The line between the dark blue ocean and the greenish Fraser River is a stark contrast.
Photo Credit: Contributed
Our first sighting is a pack of BC sea lions basking on a buoy.
They bark at us and growl at each other, territorial grunts keep each young male in line.
One of the crew is an avid birdwatcher and points out shorebirds of interest. Out on the water it feels like nothing can touch me, no stress, or fear, or virus.
Finally, we arrive at the White Islands off the coast of Sechelt on the Southern Sunshine Coast.
Seal heads pop out of the water, eyeing us suspiciously.
Birds have coated these rocks in poop, giving them their name, ‘White Islands’.
Photo Credit: Contributed
Finally, we see the exciting spray of water droplets shooting into the air from a humpback whale, eating as much as it can before fasting its way to the breeding grounds in Mexico and Hawaii.
The humpbacks here have limited time to get as fat as possible to survive without food for months.
The blowhole helps us find the whale and we stay at a respectable distance, watching her roll her back through the water.
Her tiny dorsal fin cuts through the water until we see the strong tail hail us and slice down as she goes for a dive.
Surfacing every ten minutes or so, we hang out with this beauty until it’s time to head for shore.
Our tour lasted five hours but felt like the blink of an eye. We feel like we’ve made a friend and hope that the orcas come to play next time we visit!
We’ve been taking our time to explore West Vancouver on our trips to the coast lately and head for John Lawson Park on our second day.
With three playgrounds, a waterpark, fields, a dog park, gardens, and several beaches, there’s plenty of room to spread out.
Photo Credit: Contributed
Here you’ll find places to picnic, swim, splash, and read.
With a view of Stanley Park and Lion’s Gate Bridge, you’ll have many photo opportunities.
Photo Credit: Contributed
Another place we love in West Van is Whytecliff Park near Horseshoe Bay.
With beaches, cliffs and forest trails, there is so much to do and see.
Scuba divers love the shelf located here where fish lay their eggs in the cloud sponges below 30 m.
Photo Credit: Contributed
Another successful Vancouver trip, enjoying wildlife as we’ve never seen it before.
Thank you to all the businesses providing masks and sanitizer and taking COVID-19 precautions seriously.
Please remember not to travel if you feel unwell, respect the rules and new regulations. We’ll get through this together!
Follow us on our next adventures to Summerland, BC and the Kootenays @loewenlifestyle on Instagram!
