Every once in a while, you might have the opportunity to savor a really fine, skillfully prepared, exquisitely tasteful meal. I had that incredible experience at a hotel restaurant named Zin in Vancouver, British Columbia.With an advertised “$2 Bites” and some coupons handed to us for wine sampling, we ventured into Zin, not knowing what we’d discover. What we encountered was incredible.
Every piece of travel material on Vancouver mentions Granville Island as a great place to go. We agree. Even on a rainy day, we found Granville Island with its Public Market a great opportunity to eat, see and experience.
The Public Market has several large buildings where the same vendors have been for years. The variety of products sold range from gorgeous produce to cheese to flowers to pastries to tea to – well, you name it!
Gorgeous produce arrayed at Granville Island's Public Market
There are also food stands where you can purchase burgers and other food, ready made, even from buffalo. Almost every ethnic food variety is represented. Bagels, pizza, teriyaki, fish (fresh and cooked) and almost too many choices! (more…)
We were staying in the downtown area on Robson Street – the center of commerce…
In our downtown hotel location on Robson Street, there are shops (like Guess, Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger) with upscale names and glamorous window displays. The prices were glamorous, too, except for a modest Chinese Restaurant, Hon’s Wun-Tun House, which whipped out our food very quickly for takeout. The menu was enormous and we had a hard time choosing, but the prices were generally under the $10 (Canadian) price range for each entrée.
In contrast, we spent considerably more – $40-plus with tip – at O’Doul’s (Listel Hotel) for a corned beef hash and Eggs Benedict breakfast.
Sculpture on Robson Street
A sculpture, appearing to be a whimsical orange twisted wire, was in front of O’Doul’s. We saw other interesting art around Vancouver. (more…)
Vancouver, a major city in British Columbia with a population of over 2 million, has an amazingly diverse group of neighborhoods. We never saw any rundown homes, but we did see many panhandlers, especially in downtown areas. (more…)
Wander into the funky, eccentric, artfully scattered and humorous décor of Cranky Sue’s in Cannon Beach and you’ll find some chuckles and great food.
Why is Sue cranky? After all, she has a successful restaurant in its third year and is going national with her clam chowder, Caesar dressing and crab cakes. (more…)
If Cannon Beach is like Scottsdale without water, then Seaside, Oregon is like an upscale Coney Island with all of its family amusements.
Lewis and Clark statue at "Prom" turnaround
Think of Scottsdale on the ocean, less heat and no malls — You’ve got Cannon Beach on Oregon’s Pacific Coast.
An upscale beach community, Cannon Beach was the second resort town on Oregon’s coast. (Seaside was the first.) Art galleries, boutique shops, unique toy stores, candy makers and specialty restaurants abound.
Shops on Hemlock Street
We all have to eat. That’s a basic need, but we don’t always eat the best food. In Eugene, Oregon, anyone who eats at Adam’s Sustainable Table in the downtown area can truly say they have had a choice of some of the best food available.
Cozy, inviting Adam's Sustainable Table
Soapy Smith's Restaurant - Fairbanks, Alaska
To step into Soapy Smith’s Restaurant in Fairbanks , Alaska is to step back in time, yet it is a modern, up-to-date restaurant with good food and good service. (more…)
After a hard day hiking at Walnut Canyon (see August 20) we headed back to Flagstaff, Arizona, the nearest city, to eat. Since it was only 4:00 PM, not every dinner place was open. We were pleasantly surprised to find Buster’s Restaurant & Bar open and thronging. (more…)
