This is the view we woke up to in Vancouver, B.C. – not a cloud in the sky. While Vancouver is often the end of an amazing vacation, we had one more adventure in store. One of my best friends lives in a suburb of Vancouver and was able to meet us for breakfast and give us a quick tour of the city before we headed to the airport to catch our flight.
We chose the self-carry option for our luggage and were able to debark the ship in one of the first groups of the morning. Since we debarked so early, there was no build up of other travelers, and it was a very quick process. From ship to taxi took only a couple of minutes.
We were able to quickly grab a taxi and head to a nearby restaurant to meet my friend for breakfast. We grabbed a light breakfast and went on a quick tour of the city.
My friend took us to Queen Elizabeth Park to get a view of the city and nearby mountains. We were able to spend about 45 minutes at the park and see the Bloedel Conservatory, Dancing Waters Fountain, take in some great views of Vancouver and the Quarry Gardens, and visit the Rose Garden.
The Quarry Gardens had beautiful views from every angle. There were ponds, bridges, and a wide variety of plants. It was a lovely, relaxing end to a packed trip.
We really enjoyed our time at the Rose Garden. There were several roses in bloom, but we also enjoyed the other flowers in the garden and surrounding area.
After our quick Vancouver tour, we headed to the airport to begin our journey home.
Pro-Tip: Allot three hours for the airport. There are so many cruise ship passengers from several cruise lines all headed to the same airport at the same time. We waited in lines for over two hours hours and had to run to our gate with the three minute warning until takeoff announcement coming across the loudspeaker. We were so late that our bags didn’t make the flight with us. You do not want to end an incredible vacation with a mad rush at the airport. Be sure to leave more time than you think you will need.
Gabi's Getaway Guides 