We are addicted to Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest. This will be our 5th trip together to Vancouver and it's surrounding districts. Our first trip together was in November of 2017 and our last one was in July of 2022 where we stayed in Belcarra, a small inlet along Indian Arm, close to the city of Coquitlam. We will be reprising our vacation at Belcarra with the same friendly host this time around.
This map shows our hikes around B.C. over the past 6.5 years; most of which were around the north and west Vancouver. This time around, we will try and cover more areas, or parts of B.C. that we haven't been before, at least not overland.
Day 1- Arrival at Vancouver International
Our flight from Kailua-Kona to Seattle was on the A321neo with one meal served.
Flight time was a quick 5 hours with strong tailwinds. Our connecting flight to Vancouver from SeaTac was completed in less than an hour on WestJet's Embraer E-175.
Descending through thick clouds, we were greeted with snow-capped mountains, vast sprawling green valleys, and the city of Vancouver on the edge of the Pacific Ocean. We could even see Belcarra; our home point for this visit!
Once on the familiar ground, we sped through customs and picked up our rented Jeep. We then made our way directly into Renfrew Heights for some long-awaited Malaysian food!
After lunch it started to rain... so we headed to our vacation rental and quickly settled in as we had stayed here previously. After a quick catch up with Brian, we then decided to go for a hike at the neighboring Belcarra Regional Park. This was a four mile jaunt through the local rain forest to a nice view point looking out over Burrard Inlet towards Vancouver City. Although it was raining, the hike was very pleasant and the views very rewarding. There was no one else on the trail today, which made it even better! Click here to see a video of the hike.
Post hike had us hungry for dinner and ready for bed - as we had not slept on the flight over. So we had some more Malaysian food! The Hainan Chicken Rice and Roti Canai went down well. We were certainly sleeping good tonight!
Day 2 - Rain and More Rain...
The forecast for today called for temperatures in the low sixties with rain all day long. It was a typical northwestern rainy cloudy day. But that didn't stop us from venturing out!
So we started our day early looking for Pho. We found a 24/7 Vietnamese restaurant in Burnaby. It was off Kingsway in a green stand-alone building. Looking from the outside, it was not very enticing... in fact some may give it a pass because of the outside condition. However, it was the only Pho restaurant open this early in the morning and the Google reviews gave it a 4.9 rating - so we were not deterred! As it turned out the inside was quite respectable and the food wasn't too bad either.
Having had our fill we decided to visit Pitt Lake and Meadows. It was a pretty easy drive, even though it was in the rain. There were a few accidents, but nothing serious. When we finally arrived at Pitt Lake, there were folks out and about in the rain. We did see a large party needing a van and car taxi leaving the vicinity probably because of the rain. This is the place to catch a canoe and head into the back country. Although there were some cars and a few boat trailers, no one was in sight.
We also stopped along the Pitt River, where folks in the neighborhood brought their dogs and children for a walk. Surprisingly, although raining, there were quite a few people out and about. The weather made of a soggy yet misty view over the water.
We also visited the Minnekhada Regional Park, but by then it started to pour! This is a bluff and marsh hike, so not something to do in the rain.
We soon made our way back to Coquitlam and found lunch at the Singapore Hawker. The food was good, though not as good as that from Kopitiam.
To work off the heavy lunch we then drove through downtown Vancouver to English Bay. The traffic was generally heavy, but nothing that wasn't expected.
East Hastings was still as bad as ever. It seems to be a place trapped in time with the homeless druggies camped on the side of the road. It seems like there were more zombies this time around. We wondered if it would ever get better...
We couldn't find parking at English Bay so we drove on to Stanley Park where we found parking near the tennis courts. We walked out and along the sea wall to the bay, then looped back into Stanley Park via Denman Street. Surprisingly, there weren't as many tourists around. Perhaps the rain has kept folks away. Good for us as it made for a pretty peaceful walk along the normally crowded walkway. Once in Stanley, we walked past the Lost Lake and returned to the tennis courts where we started out.
One thing we never noticed before was that on top of one of the apartment buildings along the bay had a full sized tree on its roof! Amazing... one truly can see more when one takes a walk instead of just a drive by...
In all, it was a pretty good day filled with variety and rain. Its supposed to clear up a bit tomorrow. So looking forward to some brief sun.
Day 3 - Mount Seymour Revisited
The weather forecast for Vancouver today was cloudy with gradual full sun by the afternoon, and rain again in the evening. Hence, we decided to get a full hike in to take advantage of the limited sun. Even the birds seem to know that it was going to be a good day as they sat perched high singing loudly. It certainly was a good way to wake up!
We have done Mount Seymour back in 2017. At that time, it was November and first snow had already fallen. We climbed to Pump Peak and to Tim Jones Peak as well. It didn't seem that difficult as the snow was fresh and the path pretty easy.
However, this time around it is late June and the snow at the top is in the process of melting. So there was a lot of water and flies. The snow was an icy slush which made it difficult to walk; even with our "chainsens" on. We post-holed several times but still enjoyed the strenuous workout. See a video of our hike here.
Amazingly, there was an artist just below Brockton point looking up towards Mystery Peak gondola. If you look carefully you can see the flies over his head!
This time around, I also managed to capture some interesting features along the trail. This one was on our way back up to Brockton Point. Never noticed this giant rock balanced on the ridge. Do you see it? The picture on the right is a close-up of it!
On our way up it was pretty foggy, with absolutely no views at the top. But by the time we completed the hike, we could see some blue skies and parts of the city on the last leg down.
At the top of Pump Peak, we noticed that the wooden sign was now missing. There was also a pile of charcoal which looked like someone used the sign for a fire! The rock that makes up the summit is also really interesting - with a mix of colors from green, gray, orange and black!
Finally, we could barely see the path to Tim Jones Peak.. Can you see it here? The snow covered gully in the background.
With the hike completed we had to fuel up with some A&W! The Uncle Burger and Whistle Dog looked and tasted really good. Perhaps it was because of the good workout that worked up a good appetite.
Day 4 - Hope Slide & The Wreckage OF A RCAF Grumman CSR-110 Albatross
We decided to take it easy today as we recuperate from our Mount Seymour hike. So we woke late in the morning, planning for a slow drive up past Hope to the Hope Slide area. We had breakfast at Delicious Pho in Coquitlam before heading out on Canada Highway 1 East. The 94 miles from Coquitlam to the Hope Slide rest area took us about 2 hours traversing through Langley, Abbotsford, and Hope. The traffic into Abbotsford was pretty heavy as many folks were on the highway heading out of Vancouver for the long weekend. We made a pitstop at the Costco Gasoline Station; which as usual was jammed packed with cars waiting in line for a fill. Unfortunately, Mount Baker was hidden in the clouds today, so no ice-capped mountains to view over Abbotsford. However, as we headed past Prest Road, we could see the snow capped Cheam and Lady Peaks with Bridal Veil Falls below.
Soon we were heading past Hope and east on Crowsnest Highway. Here the hills shoot straight up close to the highway giving one a feeling of being pretty small. Along this highway there were many landslides on both sides - scarring the mountains with long gashes. As we rounded the corner the huge Hope Slide came into view. It was massive.
At the rest stop, there was a sign that explained the slide (full video here on its history), and a memorial plaque to commemorate the two plane crashes in the area.
The real reason we were visiting this location was not just to see the slide but to also hike out to the Royal Canadian Airforce Grumman CSR-110 Albatross crash site. We could see some debris from the rest area on the far left towards the bottom of the slide. We decided to start our hike from here. Although the path was no more than 2 miles long it took us a good 2.5 hours to complete. This is primarily due to the rock hopping and scrambling all along the way.
Here the rocks can be pretty massive. Hard to imagine what it must have felt like for the few poor souls that were lost under all this rubble. The following picture was taken in the open field just to the left of the rest area. Makes one feel pretty small...
As we approached the crash site, we could see that it was in an indentation in the boulder field. There were two large pieces here, not visible until you make it to the hill before the drop. It looked like a main body fuselage and a part of the wing. For scale, here are the two pieces against the slide. Additionally, here are also the close ups of the many pieces in the area.
From the crash site we decided to make a loop downhill towards the old original road before the slide. The way was arduous and at time dangerous. But what was even more surprising is that fact that we found a green and black frog. We didn't think it was poisonous, but we didn't want to press our luck either - so we left it alone!
It was a relief once we got to the old road. Our knees were definitely complaining. But the views were still incredible; with boulders the size of a bus.
It was somber to think about all who lost their lives in this remote spot of British Columbia. We were glad to have visited and to see for ourselves what tragedy looks like first hand. Its amazing how the land heals itself, as beautiful flowers now bloom here too.
In all it was a good hike though taxing at times. See here for a short video of the hike. On our way back we stopped at Kopitiam Malaysia before heading back to call it a day. We were both pretty knackered and ready for a good shower and rest.
Day 5 - Driving Around Vancouver to Squamish
Since we were still feeling sore from our hike yesterday, we decided to take it easy today by going for a drive around town and up to Squamish. We started late with lunch at our favorite restaurant - Kopitiam Malaysia. It was a good way to start out with a Penang Hokkian Prawn Mee Soup and Hainan Chicken Rice!
We hit the road making our way through Vancouver to UBC. From there we took the scenic drive along the beaches starting from Spanish Banks, through Jericho Beach and down past Kitsilano Beach. There were a lot of folks biking, rowing, playing volley ball, and just hanging out on the beach. The traffic wasn't too bad, as it looked like mostly local Canadians and not many tourists.
We then drove across the Burrard Bridge, past Yale Town and through downtown. We made a circle through Robson Street and then towards Stanley Park to cross Lions Bridge. North Vancouver is still the same, no new buildings or developments. The drive through Ambleside and on to Horseshoe Bay was relaxing. There was construction at the ferry terminal with a detour that made getting back on to Canada Highway 1 a little confusing. But finally we were on the Sea to Sky highway, cruising along enjoying the views of Howe Sound. Traffic was light and the hiking spots were at least not over crowded along the road. Soon, Stawamus Chief came into view, and we knew we had arrived at Squamish. Now this town has certainly seen a lot of change and there was still a lot of construction going on. The main street was fully gentrified and the waterfront edge has since been transformed into a beautiful park, with art installations, a playground, fields and gardens.
The views from the park were magnificent! One can appreciate the chief's massif as the second largest pure granite formation in North America; only second to Yosemite. From here you can also see Shannon Falls, and the Sea to Sky Gondola.
The only thing missing was the white cap peaks of Tantalus and Mount Garibaldi - as these were shrouded in clouds.
Its a good thing that the sun doesn't set till 9 pm. By the time we headed back it was already getting dark. So we made a quick stop at the Green and Oak Malaysian restaurant, just in time to pick up two Hainan Chicken Rice sets before they closed!
In all it was a good day, catching up with the old haunting grounds of where we had previously stayed and revisiting the scenic drive of the Northshore. See our drive video here.
Day 6 - Canada Day
This time around we stayed away from the parks and lakes as they were just teeming with people. Instead we took a relaxing day enjoying our "Carriage House" in Belcarra. It was nice and sunny, and we could see lots of folks across the water at Deep Cove up on the rocky outcropping. Even Sasamat Lake was filled with Canada Day trippers soaking up the sun or fishing by the bridge. So we stayed in till it was time for dinner and fireworks!
This time we made our way to Burnaby, as it is one of only two places in Vancouver that still has fireworks. At first there weren't as many people, but at it approached 10 pm the grounds were full.
Before we knew it, we were then stuck in traffic as there were people everywhere looking for parking and at time walking blocks to get to the grounds.
We couldn't find a good parking spot so we drove around a couple of times till the it was time for the fireworks. It certainly was not as good as the Coquitlam fireworks, but nonetheless all good fun.
It lasted for a good 20 minutes and when it ended the swarm of people was endless. Thankfully, we were able to quickly exit and did not get too stuck. Since we were already up and about, we decided to visit Stanley Park to catch a few night shots. The view of downtown Vancouver is always really nice from here. From the bright colors of Canada Place to the illuminated buildings of downtown. Then there is the always ever present floating Chevron gas station - with the now upgraded bright sign!
It certainly was satisfying taking this shot as it also has the dark silhouette of Harry Jerome, one of the greatest Canadian athletes of all time, on the far left. Made for a good end to Canada Day 2024.
Day 7 - Road Trip!
Today we decided to do a road trip up along Highway 1 to Highway 12 and back south along Highway 99. We'd traverse through Hope, Yale, Lytton, Lillooet, Pemberton, Whistler, Squamish, and back to Vancouver. This is a 616 km / 383 mile road trip that would normally take a full day to complete.
Before we headed out we made a pitstop at the Pho Hong Vietnamese Restaurant in Surrey. Had to get fueled for the day with a nice hot bowl of pho noodles with sliced beef and meat balls! We then headed to Costco for a gas top off and it was crazy as ever!
Soon we were off to Hope. We were hoping to catch a glimpse of the Othello Tunnels, but it was still under repair and therefore, not open to the public. So instead we drove through downtown and stopped to take the customary photos of Rambo and Sheriff Will Teasle in front of what was the police station in Rambo.
From here the drive to Lillooet had interesting sights along the way; with old historical buildings and sites.
Then along the last 25 miles or so on Highway 12 being especially interesting as it traversed through burnt forests, steep avalanche cliffs, and vast farmlands all on the edge of the Fraser River.
Once in Lillooet, we stopped at the former Japanese internment camp to stretch our legs. Previously, there was only the sign for East Lillooet. Now there is a memorial garden, with torii gates and remembrance plaques. Its good that the history of what happened here is preserved.
The drive from Lillooet to Squamish is just beautiful. Here the road winds around high peaks covered in snow. It is truly picturesque.
Our final stop was at Squamish. Here we stopped to pick up dinner at a restaurant called Indian Spice; one of four Indian food restaurants in the area. The food was pretty good. Although the lamb in the Biryani was a little dry.
Although it was sunny in Squamish, there was no one to be seen on its main street. I guess it was because it was already 7:30 pm! The city has truly been revitalized. This space near the restaurant was filled with large murals; making for a hip scene on the main road.
The drive back to Belcarra from Squamish was uneventful. One thing I have to say is that no one on the road followed the speed limits, and when I did comply, I found many drivers impatiently following - looking for the immediate chance to overtake and speed past. The good news was that there weren't that many folks on the road; which made for a very pleasant drive overall.
Day 8 - Hiking Up Mount Strachan
Today was yet another perfect weather day, with temperatures between 68-72 degrees F, light winds and full sun! So what better way than to spend the day hiking...
We of course had to fuel up first with a stop at a Malaysian restaurant called Green & Oak in Burnaby Heights or fondly known as The Heights. We had their specialty - Hainan Chicken Rice, and their Lychee Soda. Yum!
Having had our fill we then made our way to Cypress in West Vancouver. After reviewing the weather conditions we decided to take the route up to Mount Strachan via Collins and T33. We decided not to do the Christmas Gully route as it was said to be pretty icy still. We also wanted to visit the T33 monument, as we couldn't find it the last time we did the alternate old Mount Strachan loop. The start of our hike had us passing the axe throwing booth and seeing deer on the slopes!
As we proceeded up the ski run, looking back afforded us the view of Black Mountain and its ski slopes. Not a soul in view as all were hiking towards St. Marks Summit.
Slow and steady upwards we climbed. The footing was at times loose and very steep. Having the hiking poles were very helpful especially on the way down. In about an hour and 1.5 miles up, we completed Collins and found the junction to T33. Here we also found the memorial, marking the site in which a T33 crashed into Mount Strachan in 1963 due to bad weather. Two souls were lost in this crash. The last time we were here we found pieces of the plane in the snow, but not the memorial. The snow covered it in a very high drift. This time we found it easily as there was hardly any snow along the ski run.
Heading up to the final switch backs to the top, we were greeted with a magnificent view of Bowen Island.
The last few switchbacks seemed to go on forever... Our legs screaming for some relief from the steep incline.
Finally, we make the last turn and are rewarded with the magnificent view of Howe Sound, the Lions and the surrounding mountain peaks.
The views from here were just incredible. We decided to not continue on the the north peak as the saddle was laden with snow. It was all certainly very worth it.
Our way down was just as slow as the way up due to the steep inclines and wobbly knees! Overall we made good time for a total of 4.7 miles, 1,742 feet in elevation gain, and in 3.5 hours... Slow and steady! Now we will really sleep good tonight!
Day 9 - Exploring Richmond and Frasier Delta
We slept in this morning and decided to have a late start. So by the time we got going it was already lunch time. We headed to Richmond, where there are many Asian restaurants as well as Asian descent residents. This is the place of the Vancouver International Airport, the International Buddhist Temple (replica of the Imperial Palace), and of many historic sites (i.e., Britannia Shipyards, London Farm, and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery). It is also home to five Malaysian restaurants. So of course, we had to eat at one that was just outside Richmond on the very north border to Vancouver, called Ipoh Malay Cuisine. When we visited it on a prior trip, it was called Penang Delight (??). Apparently, there was a feud amongst Malaysian restaurants on the name - so now none of them are called this anymore.
Having eaten our fill, we then proceeded to look for the best viewing points at YVR to do some plane spotting. Our first stop was at the South Viewing Platform. This is tucked away near the regional airport terminal. From here one gets to see the smaller propeller jet planes.
We then proceeded to the Larry Berg Flight Path Park. This was a nice setup at the east end of the south runway. Its a fun place to view planes taking off, with nice facilities for a picnic.
We then proceeded to the north end of the airport, where we found the Iona Beach Regional Park. This is a very interesting location with a 4 km / 2.5 mile long jetty out into the Georgia Strait. It also has a long beach spit where many birds come to roost throughout the year. The scenery here is big sky wide with open views to the neighboring islands and mountains. There was also absolutely no shade...
Since it was still early in the afternoon, we then proceeded to visit one of the many historic sites along the south end of Richmond. At the Britannia Shipyards, there are many 18th century buildings that have been preserved, along with boats, and various everyday artifacts of the people that used to live and work here. I was surprised to see that many of the buildings and businesses were owned by both Japanese and Chinese descent. It was nice to see this history being preserved in this way.
Our next stop was to pay a visit to a Malaysian dessert store in the area. So we found Malaysian Street & Dessert, where we enjoyed some cendol, ABC (ais batu kacang) and durian pastry. The store was really half a store as it shared the space with a fried chicken stall.
To burn off the extra calories, we decided to go back to the long jetty at Iona Beach. We decided to take the 8km / 5.11 mile walk along the jetty. There were several people making the scenic walk as well. Some also biked the length of the jetty. It was very sunny and hot.
Along the jetty there were several structures - two for shade, two toilets and three electrical or pumping buildings. These were well spaced along the jetty and provided some gage of the progress along the jetty.
From the jetty, we could see Mount Baker over the airport. We could also see the North Vancouver mountains of Cypress, Grouse, Seymour, Lynn and Golden Ears. Beyond that we could see Tantalus range.
It took us about 1.5 hours to complete the walk; though we did jog part of the way back. By that time even more people had arrived - mostly for the sunset.
In all, it was a good day of adventure in Richmond, and we managed to get a good workout in too!
Day 10 - Sky Helicopters and the Coast Mountains
Today the temperature rose to 82 degrees. Although it was hot in the sun, it was relatively cool in the shade. It feels just like Hawaii! But for some it is a heat wave and a perfect reason to go to the beach. This time we found another Vietnamese restaurant called Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine. Although the Bun Bo Hue was a bit too spicy, the crispy chicken plate was sublime!
Our adventure for the day was to take a helicopter ride into the backcountry of the Coast Mountains. We chartered an Eurocopter AS350 / Airbus H125. Our flight time was approximately 1.5 hours; which included a 15 minute landing next to the Fingers. Our flight path took us deep into the backcountry with views of Garibaldi in the distance.
There were perfect views all along the way, and at our stop on top of a flat mount next to the Fingers.
Here is the link to our flight.
Day 11 - Coquitlam
The weather forecast for Vancouver was right on target with clear skies and lots of sun. It was starting to feel like Hawaii! In fact it was still cooler than Hawaii, except for when there was direct sun the solarium was hot! So out came all the heat stroke warnings and the swarms of folks heading to the beach to cool off. Since we stayed next to Sasamat and Buntzen lakes we got to see first hand the craziness of folks coming in droves to visit.
All along the road there were many no parking signs, but no one cared. Lines of cars parked along the street on both sides as folks were willing to pay the CDN$160 parking ticket fee. Although the “parking police” were out in force, no one seemed to mind. So much so that we even saw the tow truck at work! A few miles out folks also parked along the historical park and caught the bus to the lakes - so there were lots of folks waiting at the bus stop.
To run away from the crowds we decided to exercise along the Coquitlam Crunch. As suspected there were very few folks here as it was hot and sunny. Hot for the locals but not for us! So we started our crunch at the customary fish market. Just happy to see it again!
This time we walked a bit off the beaten path and into the lesser used footpath. Here we saw a rabbit and many wild flowers. The crunch itself was still the same, though many of the signs are starting to wear out, but the stairs itself was in good shape.
Along the crunch there were several clear views of Mount Baker and the surroundings. We could see Burnaby and Simon Fraser in the distance.
The hike itself was very pleasant with many wild flowers all over the place. Despite the high tension wires and the occasional sizzling of electricity it’s a good workout space. Running uphill would convert the easy stroll into a HITT workout.
As we wind down our visit, this was a great alternative to the super busy hiking trails, especially those with lakes.
Day 12 - The Last Day For More Malaysian Goodies
By this time we really needed to make our last few stops for stuff we cannot quite get in Hawaii. This included BKH which actually stands for Bak Kua House! That distinctive Chinese beef or pork jerky. They also had their famous pork fu or floss or fluff (as they call it here). We also had to make a stop at the main location for Malaysian Street & Dessert to pickup their Longan Cool and Kuih Lapis. They also have a variety of Malaysian sweets like ABC, Cendol and Kuih Talam.
Having had our fill, we decided to take a drive around town. This led us to False Creek. Here we found that all the gentrification was pretty much completed. It certainly was looking good with lots of young folks moved in.
Always fun to see the boat taxis and the very distinguishable science center complex. Just being near the water helps feel cooler!
Since this was our last full day in Vancouver, we had to get our last order of Malaysian food. So we made our way to Green & Oak for one of the best Hainan Chicken Rice in the area. Also had to try their Roti Canai with Chicken Curry. Both were very satisfying!
At the end of the day, as we were done packing, I decided to sit out on the Carriage House’s balcony. It was cool with the trees softly moving with the light breeze and the stars shining above. A perfect ending to a great trip.
Day 13 - Long Travel Day
So this is the long travel day from Vancouver back to Kailua-Kona. Its long because we have a 5 hour layover in LAX. Further, to our dismay, we found out that regardless of the fact that we were travelling first class international, we did not have access to the Sky Lounge. Apparently, they don't tell you about the fact that if one of the legs is on WestJet, and if that leg is not Business Class, then there is no access. So sad! Instead, we found a quiet corner in LAX to wait out the layover.
The WestJet flight itself was not too bad. It was a Boeing 737 Max 8. But the flight was packed full. The food was ok - as they served us breakfast.
The flight was pretty smooth over the Cascades. We got to see the Puget Sound with Mount Rainier in the background.
As we flew overhead, we got to see Mount Rainier and Mount Adams up close. Both still with lots of snow and glaciers. These are some of the most prominent volcanic cones along the Cascades.
As we entered Los Angeles, the landscape changes to a dusty, flat and almost desert like environment. As far as the eyes can see, there were blocks after blocks of buildings. It also sports the continuous yellowish haze that the Santa Ana winds maintains in the bowl.
Once in LAX, we had lunch at one of the airport eateries called Native. These were pretty good. Clean tasting and light on the palette. However, heavy on the wallet. This meal cost about USD $70!
Soon we were up in the air again, this time on Delta's A321neo. This flight was full too. Service was pretty good and the meals on board were better than the previous flight. This time with a Chicken Curry and a Spinach Ravioli.
The flight was smooth and on final approach we got to see both Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa peeking above the clouds. It was good to be home.
So what did we learn from this trip about Vancouver?
Many areas in Vancouver are now either fully gentrified or are in the process of being gentrified. Construction continues with new apartment buildings, and the tearing down of old homes to make for new ones.
Broadway is still a mess and it looks like it will still be some time before they complete the subway extension.
Prices of things in Canadian dollars have risen. Our average meal for two was about $50 or more. Having said that we did find some good Vietnamese places that still had meals for under $15 per person.
Canadians are still crazy for lakes and beaches when the sun is out. The crowds are quite incredible at Kitsilano, Sasamat, English Bay, and Buntzen lakes.
Anything above 80 degrees F is considered a heatwave. Many of their homes do not have AC and the heat becomes quite oppressive at times without any breeze.
There are soooo many asians in Vancouver. Which of course leads up to the fact that the food diversity and authenticity is fantastic. Its the competition that drives the quality.
Vancouver core is a haven for young folks, while the outskirts seem to house older folks with families.
There are no fast freeways or highways. What they call highways are really just main streets. So, although traffic is not bad, it takes a while to get from place to place as the fastest speed limit is 80km/hour, while the average is about 50km/hour.
No one follows the speed limits(!) Nor do they seem to care about getting parking tickets.
There are some pretty crazy Canadian drivers, especially the younger ones racing along the suburban roads for fun late at night.
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