This vegetarian restaurant was on my bucket list and I got to eat there multiple times while in Victoria. I have the cookbook and have made several recipes over the past few years, now I have tried some in the restaurant and it was soooo good!
I had these wild salmon tacos twice.
wild salmon tacos
yam falafel
Bergamot ginger cheesecake
This cheesecake was delicious, you could really taste the bergamot.
Evie’s favourite was the rebar chocolate cake.
I definitely recommend Rebar restaurant.
One of the experiences that we had planned for vacation was tea at the Empress. It was pricey but did not disappoint. pinky out
Evie loved the scone with cream the best.
the princess tea
We arrived in Victoria on a sunny afternoon. We just had to walk a short ways across the street to check into our hotel. The Empress is a beautiful hotel my husband and I had stayed here once before. Evie was looking forward to staying at the legendary Empress.
My husband had a room upgrade coupon from his previous travels so we used hat to get a bigger room. Holy Cow, were we surprised when we walked into our room!
The room was large, but opened into an entire other massive room overlooking the harbour.
This is about 4 times the size of our living room at home!
Along with a coupon for cookies and milk to be delivered…bedtime snack.
We went out for a walk and when we came back they had left this welcome snack in our room! 
This is the life, cookies and milk delivered to her in bed by a maid! Never going to happen again, so I took photo evidence to make sure she remembers this. Though I am sure this will be a childhood memory she will not forget!
After a few days in Vancouver we are heading to Victoria. I love Victoria and this part of the trip is what I am really looking forward to. We took the bus to the ferry and then the ferry ride to Victoria. This was Evie’s first time on a travel bus and a ferry so there were a lot of questions about the whole process and she could not understand how the bus was going on the ferry. One we were on the ferry we went upstairs and got some food and then out to take in the beautiful view. We even saw a submarine that had surfaced! The trip from Vancouver to Victoria by bus and ferry is under 2 hours. Probably 30 mins to the ferry terminal, an hour ferry ride and then 20 mins into Victoria. The bus dropped us off downtown right behind our hotel, The Empress.
All photos taken with iPhone 6s.
The Art Gallery, Evie loves this room and we have multiple pictures of her in it. That screen in the background is a film of Picasso painting on a window.
Went to the beach
This art installation (at the seawall)was really cool. The wind would blow the sails and it made the heron’s wing go up and down
the totem poles in Stanley Park
How cute is this creperie, I love it!
The Olympic cauldron from Vancover 2010 Olympic Games
Granville island is a must stop for any trip to Vancouver
reading after a trip to a bookstore
To an old diner for supper (Moderne Burger) 
Cherry Lime Soda
An Eiffel Tower made of macarons!
We are leaving Vancouver and going to Victoria to spend a week. I love Victoria and am looking forward to the next part of the trip.
After a couple of days to settle into being in Vancouver we went for a hike. We have been waiting to do this hike for awhile, but were a little unsure how Evie would do with it.
I will admit that it was harder and steeper than I had anticipated. The incline started as soon as we got to the base and there were a lot of stairs….like about 2800. It was all up no flat parts at all. It isn’t called the grouse grind for nothing.
This is the sign at the start.
We estimated at the beginning that it would take about 2.5 hours to get to the top. We kept reminding Evie to slow down as it was a long way to go and it was hot. We paced ourselves, rationed our water, snacked on banana and almonds and stopped for a little rest when needed.
There was a sigh at the top that said “Legs are you mad?” I don’t know if they were mad, but they were a little quivery.
The reward at the top was a cookie
A ginger bear. The bear shape is significant because there are two grizzly bears at the top. They were orphaned cubs that could not be released into the wild. We did see one of them pretty close up. That was amazing and I will have pictures to post later when I am back home with a computer. We also watched a lumberjack show that Evie loved, she really enjoyed it.
And from the top you get an amazing view.
Our finish time was 2 hours! Better that I thought we would do.
The gondola ride down was prettying cool too.
If you like to hike and are up for a challenge I would recommend that you do the Grouse Grind if you visit Vancover. However, keep in mind it is physically strenuous, a lot of climbing stairs and heights. I am physically active and I found it very difficult at times, definitely felt the burn.
As for taking small children I would say don’t, some places were very steep with a huge drop off. Evie is 8, very active, regularly does strenuous activity and has good balance so I wasn’t too concerned that she could handle it. Though I was holding her hand at times and keeping her close to me on the inside edge.
If you don’t have the time or physical ability you can take the gondola up as well.
I will post more about the lumberjack show and the Grizzlies once I download the pictures from my camera.
We arrived very late and very tired. I am attempting to do a post from my phone, not sure how that will work. We shall see.
Yesterday when we got up, very early as we were will on Ottawa time, we walked along the sea wall to stretch our legs.
Evie was thrilled to be so close to a heron. She will write it down in her birding book.
After walking for a bit since nothing was open we made our way to Save On Meats for breakfast. It wasn’t busy except for us and a few police officers having breakfast.
I needed coffee, and it was strong and wonderful, along with a Benny.
Then we made our was to the aquarium. Evie just wanted too see the otters, she is mad about otters. After a short interaction with a whale she beelined to them and was not disappointed. There was one older otter who must have sensed her excitement because she floated around cleaning herself and then floated straight to Evie bumped her head to the glass then went under to swim and swam back to her smiling and clapping her little front paws! Evie was beaming!
I didn’t get pictures on my phone of the otters but I have lots with me regular camera. I will have to post some later.
We went for a snack where we were very happy to see this sign.
Evie promptly said “mom look they don’t use straws”. She wasn’t as happy later, at the market, when Dad gave her a smoothing with a straw in it.
Very happy with a little otter and otter PJs!
cookswithevie 
