A BIG part of why I love my job (and iStopOver) is the amazing community that comes from sharing your living space. We have some fabulous hosts at iStopOver and we’re totally proud to feature their great accommodations.
This week’s host spotlight falls on Lani & Sharon. This outdoor-loving family of four live right in the heart of Vancouver. Having lived in Vancouver for most of their lives – they know and love all of the great things to do in and around the city!
Lani & Sharon - Our Lovely Hosts!
This private suite is only $65/night for 2 guests with access to WIFI, TV, DVD and the PS2 (so you better brush up on your video game skills!). We barely need to tell you just how fabulous it looks – the comments speak for themselves! For only $65/night, you just can’t beat it!
Sharon and Lani share why Vancouver is such an interesting city:
1. Why is Vancouver such a great place to visit in the summer?
Vancouver is such a great place to visit in the summer due to the variety of activities coupled with the long summer days where the sun doesn’t set until 10:00 or 10:30 pm. There are lots of free festivals taking place all around town that are suitable for families and often include food, art, music and ”green” themes. You can cycle, rollerblade, jog or stroll along the beachfronts continuously for up to 30 kms. The new transit system makes getting around, to and from the airport, shopping centres and to downtown much more accessible. It’s easy to escape into nature via one of our large parks such as Stanley Park, Central Park or UBC Pacific Spirit Park and wander around undisturbed by city sounds. Hiking/mountain biking along the North Shore mountains is another popular summer activity and if you aren’t up to the physical challenge, Grouse Mountain offers a gondola ride and upper Cypress Mt. can be reached by car. Of course there are all the ethnic restaurants around the city to be sampled but also traditional West Coast style food where locally grown or organic fare is the norm.
2. What three places should someone visit when traveling to Vancouver?
Three places someone should vist when traveling to Vancouver would include Granville Island Market including the vast array of galleries run almost exclusively by local artists. English Bay and Denman Street are ideal for a walk on the seawall into Stanely Park to experience the vibrant West End. Lastly, I would recommend Lynn Canyon for a short or longer walk over the suspension bridge, through the forest and maybe dare yourself to swim or at least dip your feet in the rather chilly pools of fresh water.
3. What would make an excellent day trip in Vancouver?
A fun day trip would be catching the ferry over to Bowen Island as a foot passenger. I would recommend stopping at the artist colony, a short walk (uphill) from the ferry terminal to check out the local crafts and enjoy some handmade ice-cream or chocolate. There is an Italian deli there as well where I would buy some picnic fare to take along. From there I would head to Killarney Lake for a scenic 3 km loop around the lake stopping to partake in the picnic and maybe going for a swim on the small, secluded beach there before returning to the ferry terminal for the short 20 minutes ferry ride back to Horseshoe Bay.
Thank you Lani & Sharon for sharing your lovely city with us – and your great accommodation! With the Summer travel season here – what are you waiting for??
Happy travels,
Savannah
