We heard that it would take as long as two hours to cross the Washington border into Canada but we only waited about 20 minutes. Surrey is the first town as we entered British Columbia and then drove about a half hour to Vancouver. What an amazing city, I really had no idea what to expect but everything was so clean and green, flowers blooming everywhere right in the middle of downtown. Our room on the 23rd floor of the Marriott Pinnacle Waterfront Hotel had a view of the water taxis landing and taking off. It rained pretty hard our first day.

Rode the Off-On Trolley for a tour of the city, then got off at Granville Island to see the Public Market and have lunch. Took lots of photos  in Stanley Park. Dinner at Bishops where I tasted my first bottle of wine that cost over $100 – and yes, there IS a difference.

Ferry to Vancouver Island took 1-1/2 hours then we drove 30 miles to Victoria.. Stayed at The Empress Hotel with a room on the Fairmont Gold Floor – ritzy!! Gold Floor guests have a sitting room on the 2nd floor and patios with fire-pits overlooking the harbor. Of course we had high tea with beautiful tea service and sandwiches, scones and desserts so plentiful that there was no dinner that night.

One of the highlights of this trip was Butchart Gardens. These photos tell the story. It was too early for the roses but it was hardly noticeable. With hundreds of thousands of tulips and so many other flowers blooming, it really was a wonder to behold!!

Across the border back into Washington and Oregon along the coast when it wasn’t overcast. Through the redwoods and our last night – in Mendocino at the MacCallum House and a lovely 5-course wine tasting dinner. What a way to end our trip.

It was a wonderful trip with a great traveling companion, but it’s always good to get home.