Early Start, Rough Flight
Our day began well before sunrise — the kind of travel where sleep feels as unattainable as last year’s happiness. We had a 7:55 a.m. flight from Toronto to Vancouver and two lessons waiting for us by noon.
Lesson #1: Airport lounge is a godsend for weary travellers.
It was our first time using one, and Plaza Premium Lounge in Toronto felt like stepping into a quiet bubble of comfort amid the airport chaos. Fresh breakfast, soft chairs, gentle music — I’m not sure we can ever go back to gate benches again.
Lesson #2: Never again, Flair Airlines.
We’ve flown them before, but this time was the definition of budget pain. One of our personal items failed to fit their tiny measuring box (by what felt like millimetres), and we paid a shocking $114 to check it at the gate. Then came five hours in upright, unpadded, non-reclining seats that made wooden benches feel luxurious. Lesson learned: sometimes “cheap” costs more than you think.
Rain, Geese, and Little Surprises
By the time we landed in Vancouver, we were sleep-deprived but determined to make the most of our trip — and to do it the unhurried way. Taking public transport is part of the slow-travel experience, so we boarded the SkyTrain from the airport. The train gliding above the rainy city felt like a breath of fresh air after the cramped flight.
Practical tip:
It’s easy to find the SkyTrain station at Vancouver Airport — just follow the signs. Ticket machines show a zone map, but they only offer Zone 1 tickets. Don’t get confused if your destination is in Zone 2 or beyond (as we did); just grab a Zone 1 ticket, it works for other zones too. More info and schedules are available on the TransLink SkyTrain website.
Unfortunately, the rain didn’t stop when we transferred to the bus. We stood at the stop, pelted by the unrelenting drizzle, finally understanding why locals call their city Raincouver. Also part of the experience — just a wetter one.
We arrived at our accommodation damp and hungry, but our spirits lifted as soon as we saw the quiet residential street and the beautiful house we’d rented a room in.
Even better, Fraser Street was only a short walk away — a medley of multicultural eats that became our lunch adventure. The Indian spot missed the mark, but the Filipino place more than made up for it — our first taste of Vancouver’s culinary diversity.
Later that evening, we discovered that Vancouver’s parks are full of surprises.
In one, a flock of Canada geese was feasting on acorns. I laughed watching Valery crush acorns with his shoes to feed them more easily.
Another park, with beautiful mountain views, turned out to be an old Mountain View Cemetery. Locals jogged and walked their dogs past weathered tombstones as the light faded behind the peaks. It was a strangely peaceful way to end our first day — quiet, unexpected, and perfectly Vancouver.
After a day of flight woes, rain, and geese, we realized that slow travel isn’t always smooth — but it’s never dull.
The Garden That Came from China
The next day we set out to explore Vancouver in earnest — and in the best way possible: on foot.
We wandered through older residential neighbourhoods still dressed in Halloween decorations. The day was grey and overcast, but not dreary; stately trees glowed with scarlet and gold autumn foliage.
Fallen leaves crunched underfoot, and that unmistakable autumn scent hung in the air. We were thankful it wasn’t raining, and every time the sun broke through the clouds, it felt like a small gift.
We eventually reached the waterfront and continued toward Chinatown. Valery wanted to visit the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden — the first Chinese garden built outside China, crafted by Chinese artisans using traditional methods and materials.
It was a beautiful, tranquil place, even more so in its cloak of fall colours. The garden felt like a pocket of stillness in the middle of the city: ponds reflecting red maples, carved pavilions, and the calm geometry of stone and water, while glass and steel skyscrapers rose behind like sentinels of another world.
In one corner, an elderly man sat quietly by the pond, a large seagull perched in front of him, as if they were sharing a private conversation. Moments like this made the garden feel alive and full of stories.
Practical tip:
The garden is walled, with its main entrance on Carrall Street. The first gate leads to the Classical Chinese Garden (general admission $16), while the path just beyond it takes you to the free public park. Both are lovely, but the Classical Garden has pavilions and exhibits that make it feel more like a living museum.
Lunch and Gastown
All those serene garden moments made us very hungry. Luckily, in Chinatown, good food is never far away. Following a local’s tip, we went to a Chinese BBQ place — the kind of spot where the window display alone tells you you’re in the right place. Rows of roasted ducks and chickens hung glistening, dripping fat and making our mouths water. Half a duck later, we were ready to discover more of Vancouver.
Practical tip:
Hungry in Chinatown? This BBQ spot is a must. Half a duck with braised Chinese broccoli ran about $55 for two including tip — crispy, juicy, and worth every bite.
From the sizzling duck of Chinatown to the whirring steam clock of Gastown, the day unfolded like a collage of old and new Vancouver.
Around Canada Place, with its signature billowing sails, we spotted a small but amusing scene: a tiny tugboat pushing a massive container ship out of the harbour — a real-life David and Goliath on water.
Peace and Laughter
From there, we walked along the harbour and marina to Stanley Park, a vast and beautiful oasis of towering trees and sweeping sea views.
We reached the beach around sunset, though the sky never cleared. Even without a sunset, the soft grey light smoothed the edges of everything — sea, evergreens, and a flock of Mandarin ducks playing in the shallows. It felt like a quintessential West Coast moment.
Walking home, we stumbled upon A-maze-ing Laughter — a joyful sculpture by Beijing-based artist Yue Minjun, depicting 14 bronze figures of the artist laughing with wild abandon. What a cheerful way to end the day! It reminded us not to take life or travel too seriously — sometimes, the best memories come when you least expect them.
75,000 Steps Later
More walking on our third day through quiet residential neighbourhoods helped us notice what felt different from Ontario. Houses not only don’t have garages — they don’t even have driveways!
We visited two beautiful parks: Queen Elizabeth Park, with its Conservatory and quarry gardens, and VanDusen Botanical Garden.
After that, we walked the Arbutus Greenway almost all the way to Kitsilano Beach. It’s a lovely pedestrian and bike path that runs across the city away from busy roads, with mountain views along the way. We reached the beach just in time for sunset.
By sheer luck, the day that started gloomy and overcast turned bright and sunny — giving us our Vancouver sunset after all. It felt like a perfect farewell gift, as we were flying out that very night.
Budget Snapshot
Here’s a quick snapshot of our three days in Vancouver – for those of you who likes the numbers. We are using TravelSpend mobile app to track our expenses.
The breakdown shows individual categories, and our total spend for the trip was $937.99. Quite expensive, but hopefully the rest of our Southeast Asia travel will offset this cost.
- Flight: included an unexpected $114 fee to check a bag at the gate.
- Transportation: 2 SkyTrain tickets ($17) and 3 Lyft rides.
- Restaurants: 3 lunches — breakfasts and dinners were at our Airbnb.
- Accommodation: Airbnb room with a private bathroom and shared kitchen.
- Sightseeing: Chinese Garden ($32), Conservatory ($18.90), and Botanical Garden ($22.40).
Final Thoughts
We only had three days in Vancouver, but it felt like a city made for slow exploration — even if our legs were begging for mercy after 75,000 steps through its streets.
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75,000 steps! Wow, what a way to kick off your slow travel journey. You both might need new shoes before you make it back home. Keep the blog posts and photos coming please. They make us feel like we are traveling with you and Valery. In our reality we expect 30 cm of snow tonight :’)