Some of the most beautiful memories are made when we step away from our everyday routines and explore somewhere new together... In the summer of 2026, our family set off on an adventure through British Columbia, Canada, discovering vibrant cities, breathtaking gardens, charming coastal towns, and spectacular mountain landscapes.
We had a great itinerary set up by ChatGPT and Claude. One of the highlights of our family trip to Vancouver was riding our bikes along the Stanley Park Seawall with the Pacific Ocean beside us and the mountains in the distance. We also visited the Vancouver Aquarium, which made the day extra special.
Another memorable stop on our family adventure was Morton Park, where we discovered A-maze-ing Laughter, a collection of giant bronze statues frozen in laughter. Their playful expressions made the whole place feel joyful, with English Bay in the background. These statues were created by Chinese artist Sue Minjun and installed in 2009. Each figure is about 10 feet tall.
Another memorable stop on our family adventure was Lynn Canyon Park, in North Vancouver, where we were surrounded by lush rainforest and crossed the suspension bridge high above the canyon, taking in the beauty of Canada's West coast. We also discovered the natural swimming areas. The water was cold when we first got in, but it felt wonderful and refreshing.
We also explored Gastown, home of the famous steam clock, and walked along the waterfront near Canada Place, with its iconic white sails overlooking the harbor.
I took the boys to explore the Vancouver Art Gallery near the Fairmont Hotel Downtown. We admired paintings by Canadian artist Emily Carr, known for her beautiful forest scenes, and it was a memorable cultural stop for us. Jared stayed at the hotel because he was feeling sick.
We spent the day at Whistler, surrounded by mountains, and took the peak 2 peak gondola which felt like floating above the mountains.
While we were staying in the mountains of British Columbia, Milo and Jared went downhill mountain biking. Of course, Jared couldn't resist trying to keep up with Milo, and he ended up scraping his arms. During our time there, we also spotted black bears in the wild. It turned into a mix of adventure and funny family moments we still laugh about.
Taking the ferry to Victoria, as we sailed across the water, we enjoyed the coastal scenery and fresh ocean air. The ferry ride was part of the adventure, not just transportation.
One of the most beautiful experiences of our trips was visiting Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia. We wandered peaceful paths, surrounded by vibrant flowers and breathtaking landscapes. We even stopped for gelato, making it a lovely memory to share with my children.
One of the most beautiful moments of our family trip was exploring downtown Victoria. We took photos in front of the parliament buildings glowing against the evening sky, then strolled along the inner Harbor near the Fairmont Empress, soaking in the harbour views and mountain backdrops. For dinner, we enjoyed tapas in town, ending the day with good food and warm conversations.
One of the most unusual stops on our Vancouver Island adventure was the old Country Market in Coombs, famously known as "Goats on the Roof". We were delighted to see goats grazing on top of the building. It was such a quirky and fun stop that made our family road trip even more memorable.
Part 2 in the next post.
