I've been to Vancouver a dozen times or more, and yet, I've never visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Just across the Lion's Gate Bridge from Downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park, word has it, that the Capilano Suspension Bridge is Vancouver's number one attraction. Everyone else has been going, except for me...
Do you dare to cross the Capilano Suspension Bridge?
I have a fear of heights, and I don't really trust pedestrian bridges. s it any surprise that a 450 bridge suspended 230 feet above the Capilano river isn't my idea of a party? Since I had kids, I've been pushing myself to do more things that I'm afraid of. There's no real danger for them or me here, and I don't want to pass my phobias on to them. Still, activities like this one require real commitment and lots of deep breaths.
I didn't know what to expect at the Capilano Suspension Bridge? Would it just be a bridge across the river? Would the kids be scared to cross? Or perhaps they'd get worried right in the middle? Would this activity be a good "fit" for young kids? We left 2yo Eilan back at the hotel for a nap and made this a big-kids only activity. I definitely didn't want a struggle with a squirmy toddler at midspan.
As we entered the park, there was a small historic area with docents dressed up in the clothing that would have been typical when the bridge was built in 1889. The kids stopped to do a little coloring and get some temporary tattoos. That gave all of us a chance to settle in a little before crossing the bridge.
Everest gets a "tattoo" at the Capilano Suspension Bridge
Then it was time to head across the bridge. The kids were hesitant at first, but by the time we reached the end, Everest and Darya thought the rocking and swaying were fun. I did ok too... I'm always amazed at how much more willing I am to be brave for my kids than for myself.
Everest races to the finish on the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver
Here's the view from the midpoint. Note all those trees - Capilano Suspension bridge is set in a rainforest, making it a great place to escape the heat in mid-summer. The bridge itself was built by George Grant Mackay, a civil engineer who wanted an easy way to cross the river since hunting was better on the other side. It must have also been a fun project for him! Don't worry, the bridge has been rebuilt several times since it was first constructed in the late 1800's.
Midpont on the Capilano Suspension Bridge
Most of the attractions are on the far side of the bridge, and we had a much nicer time here than I would have guessed. The setting is absolutely beautiful, and while the attraction was way to paved, manicured and busy to be considered a "hike" we did have a lovely walk in the woods.
Far from the whining I usually hear when we try to take the kids out on a hike, they absolutely loved the treetops adventure (a network of bridges suspended from treetops and connected by a series of treehouses and lookouts. My kids claim that they're much too old for The Magic Treehouse Books (they're not). Even so, the idea of pretending to be Jack and Annie landing in the treetops, just like in Afternoon on the Amazon was irresistible, and as we traipsed through the treetops, Darya shouted to me "Mom, I can't believe Daddy is missing this. Poor Daddy."
Capilano Treetops Adventure
She's right, and with that one little sentence, my phobia about heights and bridges started to seem a little silly. I'm glad I didn't let a little discomfort make me miss out on this chance to explore something new with the kids.
Notes: Strollers are not permitted on the bridges, and you'll want to be careful about carrying a squirmy child across the bridge. Adult admission is a whopping $32.95CAD, but kids under age 6 are free.
We were invited guests of the Capilano Suspension Bridge on this trip and did not pay admission. Our experience once in the park was no different than any other patron. The hotel did not require that I express a particular point of view, and I always strive to present a fair and balanced review regardless of who is paying the bill.
On our recent trip to Vancouver, we stayed in North Vancouver instead of Downtown. That suited us well since we wanted to focus our sightseeing in the North. Still, I couldn't resist the opportunity to take the kids across Vancouver Harbour on the SeaBus. After all, when you're traveling with small kids, public transit is an attraction in it's own right.
The SeaBus terminal is at the Lonsdale Quay Market, about a two block walk from our hotel, The Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier. It docks just east of the Vancouver Convention Center. The kids were so excited about the idea of a SeaBus, that we had a hard time keeping up with them on the walk over!
Walking to the SeaBus terminal. Check out that excited body language!
Though we did need a quick stop to check out the tugboats.
Tugboats at the Lonsdale Quay Market
And also this fountain. Ok, maybe the walk over wasn't exactly speedy.
Fountain overlooking Vancouver Harbour at the Lonsdale Quay Market
Look at this big sign. If you're under 7, that's better than a movie premiere poster. And Everest was fascinated by the big timers that announced the wait time between SeaBus arrivals.
Entrance to North Vancouver SeaBus Terminal
There was a long walk down a ramp that Eilan thought was super fun. See this? What would be a slog for us adults is absolutely the best thing on this trip as far as the kids are concerned.
Ramp at the North Vancouver SeaBus terminal
And finally, the ride itself. 12 minutes is just the right amount of time to explore the boat, check out your ticket, and make friends with a few passengers before docking.
View from the front of the North Vancouver SeaBus (towards Vancouver)
And after all that, what did we do on the other side? Handmade gelato from the uber-delicious Bella Gelateria of course!
I must have 50 pictures of Everest studying various maps on our travels. It must be so disorienting as a kid to fly to a new place and have no idea where anything is or how things work, and yet our kids are so determined to make sense of it all. I just love that.
Trying to make sense of the London Tube Map
The Disneyland map... in French
Everest studies a map of the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver
What is Photo Friday?
Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated.
The focus of the post should be on your photo.
You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but do showcase your best work, and make it big enough to see well!
It's nice to include a few sentences about the photo, but it is not required.
Link back here so that your readers can see all the other great Photo Friday posts.
Here's your chance to try rambutan and other exotic fruits. Ask a shopkeeper for instructions on how to open and serve each fruit.
Am I the only person who obsesses about exotic fruits that would be hard to find where I live in Seattle? It's hard not to love a display like this one with Rambutan and Mangosteen at very reasonable prices.
About a month ago, we were in a pretty serious car accident. Everest, Darya and I were headed to a birthday party when a driver heading in the opposite direction came around a corner too fast and drove into our lane of traffic. I was able to move over a bit, and we just narrowly avoided a head on collision. Instead, his car scraped along the length of mine, breaking the steering column and causing the side airbags to deploy. I feel many different emotions about this accident, anger, anxiety, sadness, but most of all I feel grateful that even though the car was completely totaled we all walked away.
Ouch. shattered window, side airbag, broken steering column and more...
I was buckled up in my lap and shoulder belt, leaving enough room for movement that my head hit the airbag and broke the side window. The kids? They were emotionally shaken, but physically they are completely fine. Both kids were in carseats that have a 5-point harness. Their bodies didn't move around as much as they might have in a booster with just a lap and shoulder belt. It's impossible for me to know exactly what happened in the back seat, but my best guess is that Everest's head was stopped by the side of his seat instead of hitting the window like mine did. Most kids their age (6 and 4) are already in boosters, but I've always liked the extra security that a 5-point harness gave, and now I'm really grateful that we made that decision.
Here's a video that shows the difference between what happens in an accident when a child is in a booster seat vs. a seat with a 5 point harness.
And here's my full review of the Radian 80 car seats that Everest and Darya were sitting in at the time of the crash. These car seats work until your child weighs 80 pounds, and after this accident, I'll probably try to make my kids use a 5 point harness until they are forty!
Three-across setup with all three kids in 5-point harness seats
When we bought these seats, I assumed we'd never really put them to the test, but the fact is that you just never know.
Darya checks out the koi at the International Market Place in Honolulu
You'd never know that this shot was taken inside the tchotchke filled International Marketplace in Waikiki. If you work your way past the racks of shell lei, pineapple barrettes and refrigerator magnets you'll find a shady center courtyard, a koi pond, and the trunk of the huge banyan tree that embraces the market.
I'll admit it, I have a hard time imagining a world without my iPhone. I've become so dependent upon it for directions, local information, and updates from my family that it makes me a little jittery when I have to turn it of or leave it behind. More importantly, now that I use TripDoc to help me find my way around when I travel, I really miss having data access when we're out and about. When XCom Global contacted about their international mobile broadband rentals, I couldn't wait to try it on my trip to Vancouver.
Using MiFi USB Modem with my Laptop
What is a Wireless Broadband Rental?
An XCom Global MiFi rental gives you unlimited wireless broadband access pretty much anywhere. You can use it in your hotel, in a coffee shop, or on a park bench. When you order, the unit arrives by FedEx configured for you to use on your trip. At the end of the trip, you send it back in a prepaid envelope. You are charged a daily rate for each day of your trip.
Choosing Your Device
MiFi USB modem
There's a lot of technical gobbldey gook on the XCom Global Website, but here's all you'll likely need to know. There are two different types of unit, an ultra compact USB device and a slightly larger (but still smaller than an iPhone) device.
The USB modem rents for $14.95/day and can be used with a single computer. It cannot be used with a smartphone. The USB device plugs into the computer's USB port. Once you've plugged it in, a folder opens up with links to install the software you'll need. Sadly, I hadn't planned ahead and my-ultra full hard drive didn't have room for the software. Freeing up space once I was away from home seemed tricky and time consuming, so I wasn't able to fully test this device.
MiFi Wireless Hotspot & my iPhone
The MiFi Mobile Hotspot is slightly more expensive and rents for $17.95 per day. It doesn't need to be plugged into your computer or smartphone. Just power it up and it's ready to go. No software needs to be installed, you just select the MiFi's network like you would any other wireless network and type in a password. The MiFi Mobile Hotspot can support up to five different devices at one time, making it a great choice if you travel with multiple laptops or laptops and an iPad.
Using the MiFi Mobile Hotspot
Usually when we head up to Vancouver, I print out driving directions to our hotel. Afterall, once we cross the border, data roaming charges cost a fortune. On this trip, I decided to put the MiFi to the test. I powered it up after we passed the Peace Arch, connected to the network using my iPhone, and almost magically I was able to use the iPhone's built in map to show where we were and navigate to the hotel. One challenge, however, was that the MiFi powered off when not in use - with a real time application like mapping, that was tricky. Every time we would drive a long stretch it would shut off. As soon as I realized we were coming close to a decision point, I would have to power it up, wait for it to find the network, and then get the next step in the driving directions.
I continued to use the card as the weekend progressed. It worked great in my hotel room, and in many places the hotel WiFi fee would be as much as the cost of the MiFi. I also used it at the convention center, where hundreds of bloggers in one place had bogged down the convention center WiFi to ultra-slow speeds. I'll bet everyone else wondered how I was managing to get those updates out on Twitter. I even used it as I sat outside on a park bench one day!
As with any battery operated device, I did have to remember to charge the MiFi Mobile Hotspot at night. My rental package included a spare battery, but I would have loved a USB charger so that I could charge the MiFi using my laptop while I was out and about.
Mifi Kit from XCom Global
Recommendation
A XCom Global MiFi Mobile Hotspot Rental would be a great choice if you'll need smartphone internet access when you are traveling, if you're worried about internet access in your hotel, or if (like for me) the idea of blogging in the passenger's seat while your kids sleep in the back seems like a dream come true.
I received a three day MiFi rental from XCom Global for review purposes. The MiFi units have been returned to the company. My opinions are always my own, and I strive to write fair and balanced reviews.
Roram, please send me your mailing address to receive your San Antonio Hotel and Attractions passes!
S.A.V.E. on Your Own Trip to San Antonio
The San Antonio Convention and Visitor's bureau has lined up some great discounts at hotels and attractions around town. You can check out the complete list here: S.A.V.E. San Antonio
Didn't win this time? There are still more great San Antonio Vacation Giveaways going on at the other participating sites.
My heart skipped a beat every time the kids walked up the open, curving stairway to our vacation rental in Istanbul, but somehow we all made it home in one piece.
About Me I'm Debbie, mother of three delicious kids and I write about traveling with little kids. That's my daughter in the backpack and my son in Paris on Halloween.
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work until your child weighs 80 pounds, and after this accident, I'll probably try to make my kids use a 5 point harness until they are forty!
