A Day in Downtown Vancouver

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I remember my first visit to downtown Vancouver so clearly. This was back in October 2010, when 20-year old Alyssa came to town to visit the man she had been casually dating for the last 2 months. Flash forward nearly 7 years later, Tor and I spent a day with friends in the city where we fell more and more for each other.

Stripe dress (last seen here; similar here and here), Marissa Webb vest (old, last seen here two years ago; similar version here), Prada flats (similar here, here, and here), Clare V bag, Celine sunglasses

  Despite traveling to my husband's hometown of Vancouver every year, we never really spend much time downtown except to attend a Vancouver Canucks game at Rogers Arena. There's no hockey in July, but we were craving a trip downtown. There's a plethora of outstanding restaurants in downtown Vancouver and lots of activities, such as Stanley Park, the seawall, Granville Island, and the activities at Canada Place. [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="full" ids="12801,12787"] [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="full" ids="12788,12799"] My bestie Addy also happened to be in town the same time as us due to her filming schedule, so we grabbed her and her man, made a reservation for lunch in downtown Vancouver at Miku, and dined on the most divine sushi. I am a HUGE fan of oshi sushi (blow-torched sushi), and there's only one restaurant in the world that's been able to get it right for me - Ja Bistro in Toronto. Since we moved out of Toronto last year, and since I can't seem to find a good oshi sushi restaurant in Los Angeles, I need to get my hands on it wherever I can get it. Miku delivered with that craving and it exceeded my expectations. Addy and Tor watched me pretty much curl up into a ball and cry from happiness in my seat as I bit into my much sought-after ebi oshi sushi. [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="full" ids="12794,12789"] [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="full" ids="12800,12791"] Little did we know, I was about to curl up and cry from happiness again later that day. After lunch, the four of us went for a walk around downtown Vancouver. When Tor and I parked our car before lunch, I had noticed a massive cruise ship docked in the port at Canada Place but didn't see which ship it was. As we got closer to Canada Place on our walk, we quickly realized it was the Disney Cruise Line ship the Disney Wonder. If you don't already know, I am a Disneyland/Disney World fanatic and so seeing the Disney Cruise Line ship definitely put a smile on my face like I was 5 years old all over again. Ebi oshi sushi AND my bestie AND Disney in the same day? Best day ever. [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="full" ids="12792,12796"] [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="full" ids="12803,12797"] As Tor snapped a few pics of my look for the blog, the Disney ship's horn directly across the harbor began to play "When You Wish Upon A Star" and I made the silliest pout. Tor laughed and then reminded me I wouldn't last 5 seconds on a cruise since a.) I couldn't handle whale watching a few days before and b.) I have a massive fear of the open ocean. He's not wrong. Oh well! Also I realized this suddenly reads like it's an ad for Disney Cruise Line - I assure you it's not! I just happened to notice the ship docked at Canada Place and got excited. [gallery link="none" columns="2" size="full" ids="12790,12795"] Downtown Vancouver remains one of my favorite places in the world, and that's not even being biased because my husband is from there. Two, well technically now three, of my closest friends have spent ample time in Vancouver for work and they all agree that Vancouver is one of the best cities they've ever visited. From the coffee spots (we turned our friends Susie and Matt on to 49th Parallel), to the oshi sushi at Miku, to the sports at Rogers Arena, to the restaurants and shopping that line up Gastown, to the massive Stanley Park and the famous seawall, to all the glass buildings along the water that reflect the harbor and mountains in the distance - Vancouver is one of a kind. Tor and I are hoping to take another trip up in the fall and spend even more time downtown.    

Photos by Torrance Coombs.

I remember my first visit to downtown Vancouver so clearly. This was back in October 2010, when 20-year old Alyssa came to town to visit the man she had been casually dating for the last 2 months. Flash forward nearly 7 years later, Tor and I spent a day with friends in the city where we fell more and more for each other.

Stripe dress (last seen here; similar here and here), Marissa Webb vest (old, last seen here two years ago; similar version here), Prada flats (similar here, here, and here), Clare V bag, Celine sunglasses

 

Despite traveling to my husband’s hometown of Vancouver every year, we never really spend much time downtown except to attend a Vancouver Canucks game at Rogers Arena. There’s no hockey in July, but we were craving a trip downtown. There’s a plethora of outstanding restaurants in downtown Vancouver and lots of activities, such as Stanley Park, the seawall, Granville Island, and the activities at Canada Place.

My bestie Addy also happened to be in town the same time as us due to her filming schedule, so we grabbed her and her man, made a reservation for lunch in downtown Vancouver at Miku, and dined on the most divine sushi. I am a HUGE fan of oshi sushi (blow-torched sushi), and there’s only one restaurant in the world that’s been able to get it right for me – Ja Bistro in Toronto. Since we moved out of Toronto last year, and since I can’t seem to find a good oshi sushi restaurant in Los Angeles, I need to get my hands on it wherever I can get it. Miku delivered with that craving and it exceeded my expectations. Addy and Tor watched me pretty much curl up into a ball and cry from happiness in my seat as I bit into my much sought-after ebi oshi sushi.

Little did we know, I was about to curl up and cry from happiness again later that day. After lunch, the four of us went for a walk around downtown Vancouver. When Tor and I parked our car before lunch, I had noticed a massive cruise ship docked in the port at Canada Place but didn’t see which ship it was. As we got closer to Canada Place on our walk, we quickly realized it was the Disney Cruise Line ship the Disney Wonder. If you don’t already know, I am a Disneyland/Disney World fanatic and so seeing the Disney Cruise Line ship definitely put a smile on my face like I was 5 years old all over again. Ebi oshi sushi AND my bestie AND Disney in the same day? Best day ever.

As Tor snapped a few pics of my look for the blog, the Disney ship’s horn directly across the harbor began to play “When You Wish Upon A Star” and I made the silliest pout. Tor laughed and then reminded me I wouldn’t last 5 seconds on a cruise since a.) I couldn’t handle whale watching a few days before and b.) I have a massive fear of the open ocean. He’s not wrong. Oh well! Also I realized this suddenly reads like it’s an ad for Disney Cruise Line – I assure you it’s not! I just happened to notice the ship docked at Canada Place and got excited.

Downtown Vancouver remains one of my favorite places in the world, and that’s not even being biased because my husband is from there. Two, well technically now three, of my closest friends have spent ample time in Vancouver for work and they all agree that Vancouver is one of the best cities they’ve ever visited. From the coffee spots (we turned our friends Susie and Matt on to 49th Parallel), to the oshi sushi at Miku, to the sports at Rogers Arena, to the restaurants and shopping that line up Gastown, to the massive Stanley Park and the famous seawall, to all the glass buildings along the water that reflect the harbor and mountains in the distance – Vancouver is one of a kind. Tor and I are hoping to take another trip up in the fall and spend even more time downtown.

 

 

Photos by Torrance Coombs.

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Comments

  1. Jenn Lake

    So lovely as always, lady!

    • The A List

      Aww thanks beauty!

  2. Christle

    Hey, you might actually be able to handle a cruise! I get horribly seasick as soon as I’m on a boat that’s left the dock, but I went on a cruise up to Alaska and Victoria with Princess Cruises with my grandparents and a group of people who were doing a Bible software seminar, and I was perfectly fine most of the time, I just had one day where I woke up sick…which was weird, because we had an inside cabin, and I couldn’t see any water…so I just ended up at one of the ship’s bars sipping ginger ale for awhile, it wasn’t even that bad like it usually is for me.

    • The A List

      Hi Christle! It’s not just seasickness that has me nervous, I also have a huge fear of the open ocean. It’s why I have to completely knock myself out whenever I fly over the Atlantic, as the thought of the open ocean below sends me into a panic. But maybe someday I will be able to conquer the fear!

      • Christle

        I hope so! I definitely get you about being afraid of the ocean, it’s one of many reasons why I never went in, even when I was living in beach towns. Developed the fear when I was a kid, and I haven’t gone in the ocean since. Also wasn’t a huge fan of actually swimming when I went on houseboat trips with my old church, because I couldn’t see what was around me.

  3. Rebecca schrodder

    Hey Alyssa.. I have always admired you’re style .. can you please do a full post on all your favourite summer sandals with you trying them on .. I think it’s long overdue for you to do a shoe haul hehe

    • The A List

      Hey Rebecca! What a great suggestion 🙂 I will do that! Thanks!

  4. lu

    hi alys! thanks for creating this blog I really like it and it’s very interesting .
    your look is amazing!

    • The A List

      Aww thank you, Lu!

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