USA Today Features Vancouver Food Tour

In July travel writer Susan Barnes from Travlin Girl joined us on a Gastown Tasting Tour along with some of our friends from the Vancouver Fairmont Hotel . We took a cruise through Gastown and chatted about the history of Vancouver and the area and stopped in at Blacktail, Secret Location and Milano Coffee.

Thanks to Ms. Barnes for the mention in The USA today. Her tips for Vancouver are below!

Vancouver

A quick 30-minute Helijet ride from Victoria – keep an eye out for migrating whales below as you fly over the San Juan Islands – lands in the midst of the electric vibes of downtown Vancouver. There’s so much to do in this city flanked by water and forests, it’s hard to decide which to do first.

A terrific way to spend any part of the day is in Stanley Park, on the northwest edge of downtown Vancouver. A five-and-a-half mile seawall encircles the park, perfect for biking and taking in the various sights that surround the city. More enthusiastic fans of the outdoors will find more than 40 miles of forested trails to bike, walk and hike throughout the park. Be sure and stop to see the First Nations art and totem poles found within the park, too.

Vancouver’s dining scene is as vibrant as other big cities, and seemingly becomes even more so by the day. A terrific way to find out the greatest of the latest is by going on some tastings withVancouver Food Tour. Food enthusiasts lead others of their ilk to try the best of the newest spots in the hot and trendy Gastown neighborhood, or modern Chinatown. If you’re more into lifting a pint, opt for the Craft Beer ‘n Bites outing, showcasing the area’s growing beer scene.

After a day exploring Vancouver, unwind with a luxurious treatment at Willow Stream Spa within the Fairmont Pacific Rim. Take some extra time to enjoy the skyline views from the spa’s fifth-floor lounge deck, before or after finding your Zen. And when it comes time to stay in for the night, dine at the brand new Notch8 Restaurant + Bar on the ground floor of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver – don’t miss out on the bread basket! – and then retreat to your room upstairs to rest and recharge for the following day of exploration. Be forewarned, though – your dreams may be filled with Dior… the fashion house recently opened its only Canadian standalone store in the hotel’s lobby.