Vancouver, BC
Hotel When I found out I would be visiting Vancouver for the Inside Quantum Technology conference, I knew I had to bring Rita too! We had a smooth travel procedure with Air Canada, albeit with delays, and Rita was happy to see me at baggage claim in Vancouver International Airport.
My conference took place at the Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, which is dog-friendly, so this is where we stayed for the entire trip. Rita spent a couple of days with Rover pet-sitters Paul and James (who happened to be from Donegal and London, respectively!) while I was engaged in my business activities.
Our view of the harbour
The hotel provided a bed and bowls. Rita was not to be left unattended but the receptionist told me as long as she didn’t howl, I could leave her to go to breakfast etc. We had a wonderful view of the harbourfront and were able to admire the snow-capped peaks and watch the seaplanes take off. As I type this, the daily 9pm cannon is being fired at the naval base. It’s just a couple of minutes from the hotel to the Seawall walk, which became the location of our morning and evening excursions.
Downtown It’s about a 15 minute walk from the Pinnacle to Downtown and Gastown. We spent a couple of hours wandering around here, visiting a few dog-friendly gift shops like Hudson House Trading Company, Gifts and Things, and Shop Makers. I tied Rita outside Monaco Café and was able to keep an eye on her while I ordered an iced matcha latte. Further south on Homer St is barking babies pet boutique. It seemed to be aimed at “handbag dogs” rather than adventure dogs like Rita, but we did pick up some local handmade treats. We also checked out Bones Pet Store on Thurlow St and purchased a Vancouver Canucks bandana.
The Gastown Steam Clock, which “choo-choos” every quarter hour
Granville Island Firstly, this is technically not an island! But its shape gives the illusion of one, and from downtown it makes sense to take a ferry. So that’s what Rita and I did. The False Creek Ferry dock is right next to Sunset Beach Dog area, so I took Rita for her first ever dip in Pacific Ocean waters. She enjoyed playing fetch, having a swim and playing with other dogs. The ferry was just CAD $7 for a return (dogs are free!) and takes only a few minutes. Rita was glad it wasn’t any longer!
Granville Public Market is a key attraction, but dogs aren’t allowed inside as it’s a fresh produce market. Instead, we wandered around the village-style island, marvelled over the fancy yachts, and browsed those stores that did allow dogs. Those that didn’t had signage on the door; the others I asked said yes. These included native arts stores and souvenirs. There was a Shop Makers here too, where Rita was able to have a drink of water. However, the must-visit shop is Granville Island Pet Treatery, situated in a refurbished caboose! They make all their own treats at their nearby kitchen and stock multiple ranges, available in different flavours and catering to a diversity of diets and temperaments. I chose Vegan Pumpkin (more my taste than Rita’s!) and “why did the dog cross the road” chicken treats.
We won a $20 gift voucher for this photo!
Wining and Dining I spent some time with my Northern Irish friend Sharon who lives in Vancouver, and naturally we wanted to go out to eat together. Although the health regulations are a little stricter than Ontario, we did manage to find a few places where Rita could join us on the patio. For coffee, we visited 49th Parallel and Breka (open 24 hrs, and not at the expense of quality). On Saturday evening, we had a delicious meal at Mount Pleasant Vintage and Provisions, located in a restored heritage house and adjacent warehouse and emitting funky vibes. This was followed by cocktails at Uncle Abe’s, who offer a special dog patio menu. Rita opted for a Barkberry cocktail and Chowcuterie Board! On Sunday night, Rita and I enjoyed live music by Alonzo Wang at Batch, a shipping container pop-up that sits along the sea wall -perfect if you need to quench your thirst during a long walk! I was able to buy Rita some “muddy paws” treats from Bat Dog Bakery and I opted for a Not Too Sweet root beer – both local companies. The atmosphere felt friendly and relaxed and there were lots of other dogs there.
Suspension Bridge Parks Located in North Vancouver are two unique suspension bridge parks. Rita and I visited them in one day, beginning with Capilano. It was very much marketed towards tourists with high entrance fees, but worth visiting. Dogs are permitted everywhere except inside the restaurants, the (impressive) gift shop and the Raptor’s Ridge as the birds are out in the open (this is well signposted). There are several different attractions within the park. The highlight is the 137m suspension bridge itself which transverses 70m above the Capilano River. It was originally constructed from hemp rope and cedar as a means of crossing the river. As years went by, it gradually developed into a tourist attraction, with the first adventurers nicknamed the “Capilano Tramps”. Over 100 years later, Rita walked the bridge…..well, she sprawled herself a bit at the wobbliness, so I carried her across most of the way!
On each side of the river are educational stations. We attended a Totem Talk to learn about the origins of totem poles, a nature walk where we learned about the trees of the rainforest and at the Critter’s Hollow we learned about the banana slugs and their attempts to evade predators. There are a couple of other aerial walkways on either side of the river. The Treetop Adventure is a network of smaller bridges leading through the rainforest canopy. Rita was much happier here. The Cliff Walk is even more sturdy and takes you out along the river.
Not too far away is Lynn Canyon, also known for its (much shorter) suspension bridge. There is no entrance fee here and it feels like more of a hiking area than an over-developed tourist attraction. After crossing the suspension bridge, Rita and I checked out the 30 foot pool, a natural swimming hole which draws many cliff jumpers (despite the warning signs posted by the authorities). We then left the crowds and walked the Baden Powell trail, consisting of boardwalks and steps, running alongside the river. Rita was allowed off-leash after a certain point (South of the Twin Falls) and came alive at the chance to explore and run around. We returned to the visitor area, which includes a café and washroom, via the Twin Falls bridge.
Stanley Park and the Sea Wall If you’re looking for a long walk with a view, Vancouver Sea Wall is the spot to go. We could join this directly from our hotel and ventured up to Canada Place a few times to see the fancy cruise ships and watch the sea planes taking off. In fact, we caught the aftermath of this. In the other direction is the iconic Stanley Park. We walked right round the perimeter, which allowed us a closer look at the industries lining the port, the Lion’s Gate Bridge and out towards the Pacific Ocean. With dedicated lanes for cyclists and walkers, we didn’t have to worry about being in the way. Rita really enjoyed the sea air; it reminded her of home. We also ventured to the interior of the park, to view the famous Totem Poles and the gift shop, where Rita was allowed inside. We walked past the Lost Lagoon on our way to the dog park. This off-leash area was quite small, but a great place to play some fetch with the tennis balls knocked over from the adjacent courts.
