ECONOGAL

The heat dome is in place over the High Plains so a five-day trip visiting Vancouver revived my spirit. The occasion, attending the Zonta International biennial convention. The organization with the tagline of “Building a Better World for Women and Girls” boasts clubs in sixty-five countries across the globe.

While much of the time was spent in the convention space at the beautiful Hyatt Regency, time permitted side trips to North Vancouver, the aquarium and several outstanding restaurants in the area.

My only other sojourn to this gem in Western Canada took place in January of 2011. I found the winter comparable to where I live. The trip centered on CONCACAF matches. I found the food fantastic, if a bit expensive comparatively. And the city leaned toward a younger demographic.

But the summer temperature is a welcome and drastic change. Instead of triple digit temperatures, Vancouver was temperate. High temperatures were in the low to mid 70s, cooling off to a low of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Only one night threatened rain, and to be honest I would have welcomed the moisture. July is the driest month in Vancouver.

The cool temperature was perfect for the Zonta Says Now walk advocating for gender-equal climate action. The walk was along the harbor and the morning glorious. Hundreds of Zontians drew the attention of residents, soccer fans and other visitors as we wore teal shirts on the 3km trek.

The Pacific Coast is synonymous with great seafood. Halibut and salmon were highlights. The best deal of the stay occurred at Riley’s Fish and Steak just a few blocks from my hotel. The first meal was halibut fish and chips for Canadian $32.00 a bargain compared to halibut dishes on the Front Range.

The restaurant offers weekday lunch specials and a Sunday Brunch menu. The food and service are outstanding. I enjoyed two meals there and would probably be a regular if a resident and not just visiting Vancouver.

Other places nearby include De Dutch on Burrards Landing, known for the pancakes. Cactus Club Café sports two locations nearby and draws large lunch crowds. For terrific views try the Top of Vancouver. The restaurant was closed to the public the night the conventioneers took over. Online ratings do not do the place justice. The buffet offered to our group was excellent. From huge shrimp to succulent salmon and for the non=seafood eaters, beef and chicken. A wide range of desserts were also provided. This restaurant was great except for the glass elevator to the top-my fear of heights had me closing my eyes both up and down.

Visiting Vancouver included a trip to the aquarium. The Stanley Park location requires transportation from the Hyatt Regency. One could easily spend the better part of a day exploring the exhibits. In addition to the indoor glass cases housing everything from jellyfish to sharks, outdoor habitats showcase the larger sea creatures. The sea lions were my favorites. I would love to take my grandkids back.

If you are looking for a cool spot to visit summer or winter, consider Vancouver.