Vancouver for NYE: Days 1 & 2

Monday, December 30-Tuesday, December 31: Cocktails, Lookout, NYE Dinner

Mr. E and I headed back to Vancouver, British Columbia for another New Year's Eve visit. We had a late afternoon departure on Air Canada and were pleased that the weather cooperated with no rain so that we could take the train from the airport into downtown Vancouver and then walk to our favorite hotel, Westin Bayshore (our fourth time staying here!). We checked into our awesome corner lanai suite with the great view over the pool, Coal Harbour, and Stanley Park and then grabbed cocktails and food at H Tasting Lounge.

On Tuesday morning, I enjoyed a spectacular sunrise over the water but didn't get any photos of it. Drat! We thought about getting breakfast at the hotel restaurant, but the wait was too long, so instead we grabbed some items from Tea & Co coffee shop and ate in our room looking out at the water and mountains and skyline of North Vancouver. 

The weather was beautiful, so it was a perfect day to stroll to the Vancouver Lookout for a panoramic view over the city. We were also in search of a replacement for my maple leaf earmuffs that had lost a part, but we didn't find them in the same souvenir store at the Lookout as where we bought them originally. Drat!

We meandered back to the hotel along Robson Street, making a few stops for browsing and picking up provisions for the week at Safeway and the BC Liquor Store near the hotel. We went back to the Lounge for Happy Hour but struck out on the oysters due to some challenges in the supply chain for West Coast oysters. Drat! (for the third time)

In the evening, we returned to one of our favorite eateries, Showcase Restaurant at the Marriott Downtown, for NYE dinner. I had included my dietary restrictions in the reservation on Open Table, and the restaurant staff had called to follow up on the possible options. I ended up talking directly with Chef Arie about what sort of menu could be created to accommodate my restrictions, and he was absolutely AWESOME about crafting something special just for me. Such great service and outstanding food! We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner, and I made sure to send thank-you notes to Chef Arie and the hotel General Manager once we got home. That sort of exceptional service truly deserves recognition!

We walked back to our hotel along the waterfront and enjoyed the animal holiday lights right by our hotel. Very festive!

We had a bit of engine and generator noise from the boat docked nearby that was hosting an NYE dinner cruise, but not too bad once they left the dock. And I didn't hear anything when they returned, so the partygoers must have been pretty well behaved. Ha, ha. 

Happy New Year 2025!