Vancouver With the Family

Over the weekend, my brothers, their friends, and I ventured into downtown Vancouver, BC! We have been wanting to plan a sibling trip, and thanks to Kellen, we arranged a stay at the Samesun Hostel. Even though I have traveled to over 20 countries, I have never stayed in a hostel. Dylan had recommended this accommodation-as he has stayed here before. Update on Dylan: he is half way through his trip in Newfoundland! He has seen such amazing sights and I am so jealous that he saw puffins and icebergs. All of the little cities he has visited look so quaint and colorful, he promised me we would go back one day.

But back to the hostel, I have to admit I was a bit nervous. I was scared of bed bugs mostly. But when we arrived at 9pm, Granville Street was blocked off; making our first experience even more special. We entered the bar/reception area and checked in easily. As we climbed three flights of stairs, we arrived at our room and was pleasantly surprised. There were three sets of bunk beds for the six of us-equipped with personal fans (summer weather can be uncomfortable). The atmosphere of the hostel was so unique. With over 50 rooms, people of all ages, ethnicites, and genders were roaming about. It almost reminded me of freshman year in college in the dorms. The only shocking part is that there were only three stalls of toilets/showers for women/men on each floor. But that too, also worked out easily. Kellen was especially excited to live this life.

We then went to view the nightlife of Vancouver because it is drastically different from daytime. We decided to have a late dinner at an Irish pub called Lennox. I cannot lie, I had the best calamari ever there. I also sipped on a traditional Canadian beer, Molson. After that, my brothers wanted to dance so we stopped in at a club and jammed out to 90s music! It was such a fun night with my family, one that I will remember forever.

The next morning we took advantage of the hostel's complimentary breakfast of bagels and fruit. After that, we decided to walk to Granville Island to see the markets. The thing you must know about us McInerny's, is that we love to eat. So shortly on our way to Granville Island, we spotted a busy French Pastry shop, and had to make a stop. We purchased croissants, tarts, and macaroons. They were all delicious. After about 45 minutes, we arrived at our destination and entertained ourselves with the offerings of this active island. From the arcade, to the shops, to the parks, and the markets, we spent a few hours tasting food and buying souvenirs. I personally purchased a plush Husky toy, to keep me company and compensate for the real thing haha. After exploring Granville Island, we took the water taxi back to the mainland-which costs around $3 a person. This was a fun adventure, and kept us dry from the rain.

Once we arrive back in downtown, we walked mindlessly around the city-but of course we stopped for a formal lunch at Milestones. This classy restaurant offered happy hour Bellinis and gourmet food. I personally got the prime rib sandwich with au jus, while others got ahi tuna tacos, triple stacked sandwiches, and burgers. The service was impeccable and we were completely satisfied. After our late lunch, we headed back to the hostel, which was only an 8 minute walk and we relaxed until our next adventure.

After we took a rest, we took the sky train to Richmond to visit the River Rock Casino and China Town. I must say, China town is one of a kind, with so much authenticity, it is a must see in Vancouver. As my brothers played blackjack against our dealer, Kelly, we were all thrilled with the excitement. After we spent some time there, we found a traditional Chinese restaurant and ordered jellyfish, shark fin, and many other delicacies such as fried tofu, short ribs, and noodles. By the time dinner was complete, we got back on the train into Vancouver. Once we got to the city, we stopped at my favorite pizza place, Freshslice and then to Cafe Crepe for some dessert crepes. Like I said, we love to eat!! After some delicious meals, we went back to hostel, slept remarkably, and then woke up around 9am to check out and get breakfast. We decided to go back to the famous Cafe Crepe to get bacon, crepes, and eggs. From french toast crepes to salmon crepes, we were all satisfied and ready to wait in the 40 minute border crossing. It was a splendid weekend that went too quickly, I can't wait for more great times with my family.