Our first morning in Vancouver and we walked round the corner to hire some bikes to explore Stanley Park. We got a trailer for the kids, Ava loved it but Tom wasn’t so keen although he fell asleep very quickly once we started moving.

   
  Stanley park is beautiful, there’s cycle paths (as well as skater paths) all around the park so it felt very safe and easy to cycle. Our first stop was the totem poles and we got a few photos there. We stopped at a couple of play areas and a lighthouse to read about a shipwreck that happened years ago. Ava was very interested to watch the next boat pass to see if it hit the rocks! Stopped for a drink and a snack then took the bikes back as I’m not sure Tom was the biggest fan. 

   
 We left the bike shop and headed to Granville Island via a tiny little boat called the Aquabus which took a few minutes. There was a lovely public market selling food and local crafts. We bought some delicious fruit and a cake and a little Christmas tree decoration in the shape of a maple leaf. Had a little look round some shops there then went to a bar/restaurant to get some dinner for the kids, and a cheeky beer for us. 

 

  

 There’s loads of craft beers in the city including one on Granville Island so it would be rude not to. We got the Aquabus back to the mainland and then walked along the sea wall to English beach. Much to Ava’s delight there was a man there making giant bubbles using fishing rods and string. She kept running after the bubbles shouting “this is amazing!”. So lovely to see such joy in her face over something as simple as soap and water. We stayed there until bubble man left then headed back towards our apartment. We stopped for Korean food on our street which was delicious.