Scene by Laurie

Today’s post is by guest writer Pam MacNaughtan, native Canadian, travel lover and amazing photographer. She recently quit her job and is days away from embarking on a round the world adventure, a dream long in the making, which you’ll be able to experience with her as she shares her stories on Spunky Girl Monologues.

She took time out from her hectic last few days preparing for Thailand to share in this post her favorite spots and recent discoveries in Vancouver.

Vancouver. I love visiting a city that has luscious green mountains and an ocean full of sea lions, otters and the occasional pods of killer whales. Not to mention a city with great nightlife and amazing food. Where Toronto is more multicultural and densely populated, Vancouver is cozy and offers a wide array of adventures and sights.

Throughout the years, I’ve traveled all around Vancouver. I’ve stayed downtown and enjoyed the clubs, shopping and restaurants. I’ve traveled up to North Vancouver and climbed Grouse Mountain, spent way too much money getting into Capilano Park and rode the ferry from Lonsdale Quay to downtown. I’ve walked along Commercial Drive, browsed through the shops in Chinatown, spent countless hours at Granville Island and strolled through Stanley Park.

However, my favorite place in Vancouver is Kitslano.

I used to avoid Kits. It’s outside of the downtown core, closer to UBC (University of British Columbia) and not all that close to Granville Island. It’s yuppie-ville. I’m a backpacker, not some yuppie urbanite.

In June 2009 my opinions changed. I was driving from Calgary to Vancouver and needed to stay somewhere with parking. That cancelled out HI Vancouver Central where I normally stayed. I looked online and found HI Jericho Beach and booked it.

HI Jericho Beach is located in Kits and you guessed it, the beach. I’m not a beach girl, but within 24 hours I found myself sitting on a log in the sand, starring at the water. That night I walked along the beach to the pier and watched locals bring in crab pods. I felt at peace and relaxed for the first time in months. After my first day, I spent every morning at the beach. Not soaking up the sun, but enjoying the solitude.

Each morning the tide goes out and leaves behind a mile or more of mud flats. I couldn’t believe how far one could walk before reaching the water. I was captivated. School children were running around, collecting sea shells and picking up seaweed, people were walking their dogs and I was trying to keep my camera from getting wet as it started to rain. I’ve spent hours since then, walking the mudflats. It’s one of my favorite things to do in Vancouver in the summertime.

If you’re not up for a few hours on the beach, then a walk along 4th Avenue might be the solution. 4th Ave is home to my favorite bakery (Terra Breads), organic grocery store (Capers) and a wide array of shops. It’s a fun way to satisfy the shop-a-holic in you!

One of the most famous activities in Kitslano is a visit to the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. It houses a vast collection of Native American artifacts and offers free guided tours. If you have a couple of hours to spare, I highly recommend a visit.

At night there is plenty to keep you busy, no matter what your budget is. If you’re looking for a gourmet experience that caters to celebs, then make a dinner reservation at Cin Cin. If you’re just looking for some beer and yummy pub fare, visit Nevermind on 4th Ave. It’s not a busy place, but the staff are friendly and the food is pretty good.

No matter what your tastes are, Vancouver has something to offer. If I’m in the mood to party, I stay downtown. If I’m in the mood to relax, I stay in Kits. Either way there are a lot of ways to get around and enjoy all that Vancouver has to offer.

Follow Pam around the world on Spunky Girl Monologues and on twitter @spunkygirllogue.

The amazing photography in the article was shot by Pam.