Starting Our Canadian Adventure
For our second trip of 2024 with Dave’s wheelchair, we set off on a family road trip with Megan’s parents across the Canadian Rockies, starting in Vancouver with stops in Whistler, Kamloops, Jasper, and Banff (note that this trip took place shortly before the wildfires in Jasper in 2024 so some things may have changed). Like Dave, Megan’s mom, Peggy, has limited mobility due to arthritis in her feet, a previous foot fusion, and artificial hips and knees. We like to say that Peggy is bionic below the waist. At the time of this trip, Peggy did not have a mobility device, but she has difficulty walking long distances. The entirety of this spectacular Canadian road trip will be covered via multiple posts, so this first post focuses only on our first stop – Vancouver, BC.
Vancouver was a great city for all four of us for a short visit. I wish we had more time
here! Due in part to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, it is a highly accessible city with good sidewalks, curb cutouts, and friendly helpful people.
Accessible Budget Minded Hotel that Gives Back
Megan’s parents are budget minded travelers, and the most reasonably priced hotel we could find in the heart of downtown Vancouver was the YWCA hotel. The price was extraordinarily lower than any other comparable hotel we could find, with clean, spacious, accessible rooms, full kitchen availability for cooking your own meals, and friendly, accommodating staff. We can’t recommend the YWCA highly enough – a perfect location with easy access to numerous city attractions. In fact, if you are catching an MLS game, a CFL game, or a concert, BC Place Stadium is right next door. Our hometown MLS team was actually playing there on the night we arrived, but our long travel day left us too wiped out to add the game to our itinerary. One last note about the hotel before we get to the fun stuff: The YWCA hotel is a social enterprise hotel and primarily serves as a fundraiser for the YMCA. All of the revenue generated by the hotel supports YWCA community programs and services for single moms and families.
GuideAlong and Stanley Park
Now, onto the road trip fun!
Before hitting the road, we downloaded the Canadian Rockies + Vancouver bundle from GuideAlong, which was the best money we spent on the entire trip. GuideAlong
(formerly known as GyPSy Guide) uses GPS tracking via your cell phone and provides audio narration for nearby landmarks, attractions, or even just local history. This is especially useful given how often national parks are devoid of cell or Wi-Fi service. Just download the app and tour content before you hit the road, and you can access the tour even offline. Your GuideAlong “virtual guide” also provides helpful, specific suggested routes to maximize your fun, and minimize your traffic jams while on the road.
Our first stop in Vancouver was Stanley Park. The GuideAlong tour gives you step by
step instructions on where to drive, down to which lane you want to be in to make stops and turns, along with useful commentary on what you will see and instructions on where to stop. You will need to pay for parking in Stanley Park, and you can do so in a parking app.
We drove the loop around Stanley Park, stopping at the Totem Pole Park, Siwash Rock, and Prospect Point. The walk from the parking lot to the Totem Pole Park is short and easy to navigate for both people with limited walking stamina and for those in a wheelchair. While Peggy had to take a seat upon arrival at the Totem Pole Park, she was able to enjoy the Totem Poles and hear about some of the history. This is definitely worth a stop.
We also really enjoyed the stop at Prospect Point. Prospect Point is the highest point in Stanley Park and has great views out to the Pacific Ocean, Lions Gate Bridge, as well as a peek at the cruise ships in the harbor if that’s something you enjoy. The upper part of the lookout is a short walk from the parking lot, which was challenging for Peggy, but no problem for Dave’s wheelchair. Prospect Point has a café and ice cream shop as well as accessible public restrooms.
There’s a ton to do in Stanley Park, and you can easily spend a day or more just
exploring all it has to offer. For those who enjoy an outdoor adventure, there is a paved bike path that runs all the way around the park’s seawall, roughly 10 KM. It is a concrete surface that can be traveled one way, counterclockwise, around the park and is wheelchair accessible. We didn’t have time to do the seawall path, but it’s a great option if you have more time than we did.
Another stop that we didn’t have time for is the Vancouver Aquarium, Canada’s largest aquarium. For those with physical disabilities, the Vancouver Aquarium offers
wheelchairs, noise cancelling headphones, strollers, and walker rentals, and the
Aquarium allows accredited service dogs with proof of certification except in the free
flight Amazon gallery. For people with sensory disabilities, the Aquarium offers comfort kits, weighted blankets, and sensory friendly hours. Disabled guests who purchase a full price ticket can invite an attendant to join them for free.
There are so many fun things to do in Stanley Park, and it is very accessible for those with limited mobility!
Lunch Time!
For lunch, we had reservations at the nearby Little Bird Dim Sum. Little Bird is listed in the Michelin Guide as a Bib Gourmand restaurant. This was Ken and Peggy’s first time trying Dim Sum, and everyone really enjoyed the food. We tried so many things, and we all were stuffed when we left for a really reasonable price. I believe there is one step required to get into the restaurant so it may not work for those who are primary wheelchair users, but it was easy for Dave and Peggy to navigate.
Whale Watching – Orcas, Seals, Sea Lions, and More
The boats are open, which is better for viewing the wildlife, but it was cold out on the water so bring warm layers with and be prepared for rain. Our boat was the Explorathor II, which is not wheelchair accessible. Getting on and off the boat was near the limit of Peggy and Dave’s mobility, and Dave had to be extra careful stepping off the boat as he feared falling. This is not a stop for someone who is
a primary wheelchair user who cannot ambulate at all. There is no ramp for entering
and exiting the boat so you will need to be able to walk up a few steps to board this
boat.
Best Breakfast in Town!
The next morning, we walked/rolled to Jam Café on Beatty Street. I am not
exaggerating when I say that this was the best breakfast my dad had ever had, and he is a breakfast connoisseur. Get there before they open. We arrived shortly before they opened, and we managed to snag the last table inside the restaurant once they opened.
There are a couple of steps to enter the restaurant, but I believe they told me that they had an accessible entrance in the back. Call to confirm if you are not at all ambulatory. The restaurant is tight and would be hard to navigate while in a wheelchair. They graciously stored Dave’s wheelchair for us out of the way while we were dining. If you have a sweet tooth, you absolutely HAVE TO try the Cinnamon Bun pancakes, which we shared for the table.
