Grab your girlfriends and head to BC, for any kind of adventure.
5. Eating Vancouver
Foodie friends will think they've died and gone to heaven when they arrive in Vancouver. Between the amazing regional produce and seafood, unique pan-Asian influence, and the overall sophistication of Canada's third-largest city, there's much to make chowhounds drool.
Where to stay: The Wedgewood Hotel & Spa boasts a trendy Robson Square location as well as spacious suites where you can gab all night in comfort. It appears on numerous global top-10 lists for its decadent lodgings, spa and epicurean restaurant. Comp truffles await you when you walk into your suite.
The Listel Hotel is known as "Vancouver's most art-full hotel," owing to its copious collections of original paintings and sculpture. The rooms are colourful and quirky, and the great Robson Street location makes for plenty of dining and shopping options.
What to do: Spend a leisurely morning strolling the stalls of the Granville Island Public Market. Fresh-baked bagels, local and exotic fruit, artisan sausage, pastries and more beg to be scarfed down while you shop. Bring home goodies like locally made small-batch preserves and organic teas, and, the for carnivores, homemade sausage from Oyama Sausage. Oyama's wares start out as wholesome pasture-raised meat, and end up as Chorizo Pamplona, Speck (smoked prosciutto), duck prosciutto, Salame Napolitano and dozens of other European-style delicacies. Don't forget to pop by Roger's Chocolates for a taste from BC's best chocolatiers since 1885.
Head to Chinatown for a guided culinary tour with A Wok Around Chinatown ($90 per person, includes dim sum lunch, wokaround.com). Local expert Bob Sung will show you the ins and outs of this bustling gourmet haven on a walking tour that starts at the peaceful and serene Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, meanders through the best shops and vendors, past historical landmarks and into a Taoist Temple. Once you know where to find the best five-spice barbecued duck and choicest cookware bargains, you'll be back.
Where to eat: Carderos Restaurant sits in the Coal Harbour district, overlooking the marina just off the Stanley Park Seawall path. A casual- upscale vibe and menu faves like wood-oven pizza, cedar planked BC salmon, or wok squid make this the place to be. Check out their Live Bait Yacht Club Marine Pub, which offers live music and a place to kick back in comfy leather club chairs while you gab into the wee hours.
Whether you're staying at the Wedgewood or not, go by their Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge for an extensive wine list and lushly period-romance surroundings. It's a sexy spot to linger at night (after all, you are a gaggle of hot chiquitas, no?) – or recover the next morning.
For more information on traveling to British Columbia, please visit:
Hellobc.com
Vancouverisland.travel
Tourismkelowna.com
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