Dispatches from the Coast: 48 Hours in Vancouver Before Setting Sail

Dispatches from the Coast: 48 Hours in Vancouver Before Setting Sail

Hello from the Pacific Coast! As a writer on vacation, there is nothing quite like hitting the road to clear the mind and let fresh ideas flow. Since cell service is going to be spotty out at sea—I’ll mainly be posting when we hit port—I wanted to drop a quick recap of our whirlwind start in British Columbia before we head north toward Alaska.

Day 1: The Day That Never Ended

Our journey kicked off with what felt like a 21-hour marathon. We rolled out of bed at a punishing 2:00 AM EST to catch our flights. By the time we finally settled in for the night in Vancouver at 8:00 PM PST, my internal clock was screaming that it was actually 11:00 PM EST.

Despite the lack of sleep, the universe gave us a smooth start: the transit and travel to Vancouver went off without a single hitch. We crashed exhausted, but eager to explore.

Day 2: City Bikes, Giant Blackberries, & Pure Joy

We hit the ground running on our first full day by hopping on the city’s classic Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley. Our driver and tour guide were absolute hoots—engaging, hilarious, and full of local lore.

The iconic 'Laughing Men' statues at Morton Park. Source: Wikipedia / A-maze-ing Laughter - Wikipedia

First Nations Totem Poles in Stanley Park. Source: Stanley Park / Stanley Park Totem Poles in Vancouver, BC, Canada | StanleyParkVan.com

Highlights Around Town

  • The Vibe: Vancouver immediately stands out as an exceptionally clean, safe, and friendly metropolis. The cycling culture here is incredible—I don't think I've ever seen so many people on bicycles in one place!

  • Soccer Mania: The city is buzzing with soccer fever. Statues all across town are wearing soccer jerseys or holding soccer balls in honor of hosting six big FIFA matches.

  • A-maze-ing Laughter: We stopped by Morton Park to see the famous "Laughing Men" bronze sculptures (A-maze-ing Laughter). You physically cannot stand next to these gigantic, jovial statues in their whimsical poses without cracking a giant smile or laughing out loud yourself.

  • Honoring First Nations: We spent meaningful time exploring the First Nations totem pole displays. Each pole features plaques detailing its unique history, symbolism, and traditional craftsmanship—a deeply fascinating look into the rich Heritage of the local indigenous peoples.

  • The Aquarium: The absolute crown jewel of the afternoon was the Vancouver Aquarium. Their Amazon exhibit was stunning—complete with sloths, massive snakes, exotic birds, and marine life gathered from every corner of the globe.

A Culinary Finish

We capped off our day with dinner at the historic Sylvia's Hotel Restaurant. The entire meal was exceptional, but the grand finale took the trophy: a crème brûlée served with a giant fresh blackberry that gave new meaning to "locally grown." Hands down the best crème brûlée I’ve ever eaten.

Writer’s Note & What’s Next: I'm keeping my journal full and writing extensively as we sail through the Inside Passage for a bigger upcoming blog post series. Since service will be limited to when we dock at port, keep an eye on my social media channels for real-time photo drops and quick stories whenever I catch a signal!

Next stop: Alaska's icy fjords! Catch you at the next port!

Kathy

Kathryn Diebold