Go West! Our Spring 2026 Coastal Adventure
Part 4
This week, we’ll wrap up the trip with the final stops on the cruise, Astoria, Oregon, and Victoria, BC, and then I’ll tell you about our 2 days each in Vancouver and Calgary.
One of the reasons I chose this cruise itinerary was the stop at Astoria, Oregon – because I’d heard that the Oregon Coast is beautiful (which it is) and because it’s not too far from Portland, where one of my oldest friends lives. (meaning, we’ve been friends for about 35 years) So she came to the port, picked me up, and took me to lunch at a really cute café right on the water. This was after a scenic drive through Astoria which is really cute. So that was a highlight to the week! Here we are!
The next day, we stopped at the port of Victoria, where we were picked up by our friend Anne (with whom I’ve been friends for almost 50 years) and we went to the Fairmont Empress Hotel for a walk through the gardens, a drink in one lounge, and then we met our “son” Aaron (one of our 8 rental children) and the 4 of us had high tea. It was very fun – food was served on 3-tiered platters, each of us had our choice of teas. Very elegant and so fun. Great conversation and lots of laughter, and Anne and Aaron now have a new local friend.
The final morning of the cruise, we docked at the Port of Vancouver, which boasts the best organized taxi stand ever. (or at least it should) Off we went to the Sylvia Hotel on English Bay, where we stayed 2 years ago after our cruise to Vancouver from Hawaii. It has a very interesting history, is not part of a chain, and is just charming. The staff is lovely and we stored our bags while waiting for our room to be ready. Brunch in the lounge is a treat and we got a big table so we could work. That evening, we went to dinner with my cousin Peter, his husband Thomas, my cousin Ben, and his wife Kori at Nook in their Olympic Village location. Great food and fun. The next day we rested and then had dinner at Peter and Thomas’, a 5-minute walk from the Sylvia.
Now we’re at Monday, April 13th and we grabbed a cab to Vancouver Airport and took off for Calgary. After another WestJet flight right on time, and we checked in early at the Homewood Suites Downtown. Room was lovely as usual – later in the afternoon, my cousin Russ picked us up and we had a family dinner with even more cousins at the Calgary Golf and Country Club.
Tuesday, we met Russ at Studio Bell, Canada’s National Music Centre – picture a cross between the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a music museum, with all Canadian content. Had never been there and it was really interesting. Following our usual stop for martinis and snacks at the Derrick Gin Bar, we had dinner at the hotel with my social media Guru, Brooke, of Socially Brooke, who puts this blog together! It was really fun to hear about her travels-the young are much more adventurous than we are!
https://thederrickyyc.com/calgary-downtown-the-derrick-gin-mill-and-kitchen-food-menu
https://www.sociallybrooke.ca/
The next very chilly Calgary morning, we cabbed to the airport and took off for home. It was wonderful to be out West again and to see so many friends and family. We did make a decision on this trip, that Steve’s limit is 2 weeks away from home at a time, so our planning is changing a little.
Next week, we’ll talk about our wonderful May Long Weekend in New York City! (and this time, we brought friends!)
Where do you plan to go in 2026 and 2027? (I’m looking at 2028-2029 bookings too!)
May I help you?
Happy Travels!
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/yycdwhw-homewood-suites-calgary-downtown/