2010 Vacation/Travel Supplement
Visit Vancouver!: British Columbia is premier vacation destination in Canada
St. Luke the Evangelist parishioners Gabriella Benko, 12, and Matthias Benko, 8, of Indianapolis navigate one of Lynn Canyon Park’s famous suspension bridges. The swaying bridge hangs 20 stories above Lynn Creek. Children love it. (Photo by Kamilla Benko)
By Kamilla Benko (Special to The Criterion)
BRITISH COLUMBIA—“I’ve never heard anyone just say ‘Vancouver,’ ” a friend once said to me. “They always say, ‘Vancouver!’ with an exclamation point.”
And it’s true.
During the 2010 Winter Olympics, TV viewers from throughout the world may have glimpsed the excitement behind the city, but Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada is an exciting place even without the international Olympics.
It’s a place for hikers, mountain bikers and boaters.
It’s a place for shoppers, fine diners and garden lovers.
It’s a place to lounge on beaches and poke through gelato stands.
It’s a place to love.
It’s also a place you can only reach after a long flight.
If there are no budgetary concerns, I highly recommend flying directly into the Vancouver International Airport.
But, since we visit Vancouver often to see my grandmother, my family of five has perfected the best way to get there.
Well, “perfected” might be an overstatement.
My parents, Zoltan and Marquerite Benko of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis, discovered that if you fly into Seattle, Wash., rent a car then drive three hours to and across the border and into Vancouver, you can cut travel expenses in half.
But your sanity might be sacrificed.
After arriving very late at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport last June, my 12-year-old sister, Gabriella, 8-year-old brother, Matthias, and I played Rock-Paper-Scissors to see who would be exiled to the back of the rental car for the drive at 1 a.m. I was sentenced to sit among the suitcases while my younger siblings snoozed in the bucket seats, but it was worth it.
The great outdoors
The first morning in Vancouver is always my favorite.
The sun creeps into the sky at 4 a.m., and the long, sunlit days do not fade until 11 p.m.
While darkness and rain blanket the city during the winter, the summer months are full of sunshine and blue skies.
The average temperature during the months of June, July and August is 74 degrees with no humidity.
This may seem cool to Hoosiers who are used to 90-degree summer afternoons in Indiana, but don’t worry. It’s still warm enough to wear shorts.
In fact, Vancouverites often complain about the heat—but not on the beaches.
Starved for sun during the cold winter months, when warm weather finally arrives in the summer the locals play, sleep, eat and practically live on any number of popular public beaches, such as Kitsalano Beach and Jericho Beach.
During the first two weeks of August, Vancouver is host to “The Celebration of Light,” the biggest fireworks competition in the world. The best viewing places are on the beach, and many people bring picnic dinners to enjoy there as they watch the fireworks for free.
These are the sand beaches, but my brother’s favorite beaches are the natural, North Pacific beaches teeming with life—especially during low tide when marine life is trapped in tidal pools.
My little brother let out many blood-curdling screams whenever my cousin, Tim Aitken, turned over a tidal rock. Tons of maroon-colored crabs scuttled away from the light to dive under the protection of undisturbed rocks. My brother’s terrified shrieks turned to giggles as he tugged on our cousin’s windbreaker and begged him to turn over more rocks.
These natural beaches are for exploring, not relaxing.
While the beach might be the summertime heart of Vancouver, the mountains cradling this city are its soul.
There are many parks hidden in the mountains that are popular with the hikers and mountain bikers and—in the winter months—the skiers.
A beautiful place to hike is in the temperate rain forest of Lynn Canyon Park, where you can cross over giant ravines on suspension bridges.
The ‘Emerald’ City
For my dad, who is a native of British Columbia, Vancouver is both an inspiration and an eternal source of pain.
In the mild Pacific Ocean climate, plants bloom in an abundance impossible in our Indianapolis backyard—no matter how hard my dad tries to nurture our flowers.
The city is brimming with small parks and gardens. Many of the skyscrapers are topped with green roofs. The very environmentally conscious inhabitants of Vancouver plant trees and gardens on the rooftops, where they can tend to vegetable patches.
The urban neighborhoods are a riot of color, making it seem like every Vancouverite is a professional gardener.
Tourists should take advantage of the many parks and gardens offered to the public. Perhaps the most well-known and well-loved is Stanley Park.
My family has spent many hours there. The park juts into the ocean, separating Burrad Inlet from English Bay. There is a little train ride perfect for young tourists, and a wonderful aquarium for both the young and old. When we last visited, a baby beluga whale was the latest addition to the aquarium.
But the best part of Stanley Park is not inside the park, it’s around it.
The Stanley Park Sea Wall winds about five miles along the coast line. It’s a popular place to walk, but the best way to enjoy it is by bicycle. There are many rental shops, where tourists can choose from a variety of bicycles that include tandems and bikes with baby seats.
From rebel to upscale
And if you don’t like the Great Outdoors?
Well, you can shop.
During the 1960s, Kitsalano was a hotbed of hippie culture. Today, it is an upscale neighborhood filled with sushi restaurants, gelato stands and clothing boutiques—lots of unique boutiques. People from the surrounding suburbs often make day trips to shop on Fourth Avenue, the heart of Kitsalano.
For more eclectic fashion outlets and local stores, I recommend visiting Commercial Drive, which is 10 minutes by Sky Train from downtown Vancouver. The street is often the host of live music and art exhibits throughout the summer.
Or for souvenirs and gift shopping, visit Granville Island or Gastown. Granville Island is a fun place for kids to shop and explore the many kiosks with unusual wares, such as maple syrup products—how typically Canadian—unique beads and an entire store devoted to umbrellas.
But the beauty and fun of British Columbia is not just limited to Vancouver. The ferry ride to Victoria Island, swims in the mountain lakes or hot springs, and walks around Whistler are all good day trip activities.
In only one day, you can see primal forests, oceans, mountains and a sophisticated city.
And one day is all you need to fall in love with Vancouver.
(Kamilla Benko is a member of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis and a junior at Indiana University in Bloomington.) †
