My husband and I decided to go to Canada this winter for a two/three-week research/vacation trip. It will be in the middle of winter, which can be exciting and challenging at the same time, with the harsh climate issues of intense weather conditions, but also the romantic vibes of winter. Overall, the trip is going to be eye-opening and thrilling. Despite being a sister country, it has a different personality from the United States. With this post, I would write some things I plan on trying, things I plan on doing, and things I plan on seeing as a guideline of how I should approach my trip. I might only partially do some things while on this trip, but like I wrote before, this is a general guideline.
Montreal
Restaurants
My husband and I plan on going to Montreal, Vancouver, and Yellowknife. While we do plan on saving money and conserving as much as we have while on this trip (we can’t make this a whole expense vacation), I think exploring what there is to offer makes the trip worth it. If there is something strange, I want to see it. If there is something different, I want to explore it. Food is really magical for me, so trying a good quality restaurant is something I generally care about.
Also, a rule of thumb is that if there is going to be vegan poutine, I will have to try it.
- LOV- I love a gimmick, and any restaurant offering vegan poutine is a win. While the restaurant provides a lot of delicious items that also seem very healthy, the poutine will be the first thing I would order. There are three locations of LOV in Montreal, so I will have to try at least one.
- Conceria- I was not an Italian food fan for the longest time. I enjoy pizza, but pasta was usually the last thing I would order at a restaurant. However, Charlie and I went to San Diego for our previous anniversary. We went to Ciccia Ostera, a delicious Italian restaurant that changed my views on pasta. Once I discovered another vegan Italian restaurant, I thought this had to be a romantic must for both Charlie and me. Conceria would blow my mind.
- Maynard- I noticed they had a meat-like pie on the Maynard Instagram, which Charlie would want instantly. Also, they have poutine, which is a must. This will probably be the poutine place number 2. Their designs for the clothes seem sick (hip), so this would be a safe place to feel like me.
- Cafe Dei Campi- A vegan bakery/pastry shop not only screams romance but also chill vibes from a long day of exploring. I love a nice sweet in the afternoon and a moment to relax after a long day of exploring. There is something about cafes that feels more romantic than anything and helps you settle yourself in moments of intense excitement.
- Cafe Tuyo- Another Montreal vegan cafe that would allow me to judge this with Cafe Dei Campi. I love putting business against business. Let’s have them duke it out and see which one is better.
- Antidote Bouffe Vegane- An eatery allowing the patron to try Montreal stapes like smoked Salmon and meat. While I generally don’t crave smoked meat, the fact that I haven’t had it makes me want it internally. I want to try vegan poutine, I want to try the smoked Salmon, and I want to try the smoked faux meat. If there is a Montreal staple, I want to try it.
- NOTE: I once went to a brunch, and two groups started fighting over a better bagel. One group said New York bagels are better, and another said Montreal bagels are better. Generally, I am not one to declare something is better than the other. I swear I can’t differentiate the two, but I was curious to see if I could tell the difference ever since that fight. I want to see if there is a difference, so I would love to try a bagel in Montreal.
Things to do
Traveling is about exploring, but I generally love exploring the strange and odd. There are famous things to see, but I want to go deep in the nitty-gritty. I want to see things and say out loud, “Hmmmm… okay…” Here is a list of places I want to see in Montreal, Yellowstone, and Vancouver.
- Marché Jean-Talon- I have written before that I love going to a city’s market whenever I travel (LINK HERE). You get introduced more about a person’s culture, and you see people be people in their own environment. Marché Jean-Talon is a market awarded a “foodie’s best friend, especially during winter.” Housing kiosks for crepes, coffee, all the way to maple syrup candies, Marché Jean-Talon would be a great place to explore and see. I want to be around an area where I can get fair-trade coffee and a warm baguette, and I’m pretty stoked to find stuff like that here. From what I researched, there are plenty of things to sample and buy, from mysterious mushrooms to maple syrup taffy. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to a city, so this has to be first on my list.
- Visit Montreal’s St. Patrick’s Basilica- Whenever I travel, I generally love visiting a religious center like a church or a temple because it is a great way to introduce yourself to history and art. I am not religious, but I like seeing other people’s religions. Luckily, Montreal has some beautiful historical churches, one of which is Montreal’s St. Patrick’s Basilica. Completed in 1847, St. Patrick’s Basilica is a Neo-Gothic gem with pillars or columns made from the same white oak tree nearly 200 years ago. Stripping their bark, bounding it together, and encasing it in marble, the columns at St. Patrick’s Basilica were made with care. St. Patrick’s Basilica is usually overlooked because it is off the beaten path on a nondescript side street compared to Basilique Norte Dame and Marie-Reine-de-Monde. It is a free venue, 15 minutes from Basilique Norte Dame.
- Visit the Murals on Saint Laurent Blvd.- I love murals. I love anyone who finds a means to celebrate art regardless of money and class. Murals are the best way for people to connect with art, and from what I researched, Saint Laurent Blvd offers that every year. Saint Laurent changes up their murals every June for an annual mural festival. Montreal invites urban artists to come and create something to be proud of. This would be free, and I think it’ll be something to appreciate.
- Bookstores- One of the most famous things you will hear in a bookstore is how ‘they’re aren’t any bookstores anymore.’ Montreal seems to be a place that doesn’t suffer from that problem. With a series of independent bookstores, Montreal offers an excellent opportunity to look at and explore authors and local artists who are new to me. One of the bookstores I would like to visit is Crossover Comics. I am a huge fan of graphic novels, and I would love to snag one of their bookmarks. They ask local artists to design a bookmark, and I think having that as a souvenir would be unforgettable.
Vancouver
We plan on visiting some friends in Vancouver, which will be fun and informative. Vancouver has a strong connection to their indigenous communities, so I think I’ll learn a lot and appreciate a different culture.
Restaurants
- Nightshade- While also sounding like a dark underbelly of scandal and mystery, the vegan restaurant Nightshade is a highly regarded establishment. Listed as one of the top ten restaurants on Happy Cow and holding onto 4.4 stars on Yelp, Nightshade offers some enjoyable pasta dishes but also provides the opportunity for some small dishes. I tend to want to eat less whenever I travel, so Nightshade will be a must for us.
- Fritz European Fry House- Even though this is a regular poutine restaurant, there are some vegan options. Staying true to my general rule for this trip, I would like to try the vegan poutine option. There may be a regional debate about who makes the best poutine. Still, the only natural way to differentiate who is the king is to get someone from Los Angeles who has never had poutine before and will only eat the vegan one, never truly knowing the difference.
- Po Kong Vegetarian Restaurant- Transitioning to Veganism will always mean leaving something behind because only some things can’t be made vegan. In Los Angeles, vegan dim sum really hasn’t become popular here. People prefer sushi or standardized Chinese food. So, I haven’t had an excellent dim sum experience since I’ve been vegan. When I learned that Po Kong offers vegan food, I knew this must be a must. I am excited to try everything, and knowing that they have a long history with their other restaurant that sadly closed down, Bo Kong, I know I’ll be in good hands.
- MeeT in Gastown- Even though there is vegan comfort food in most of the world, there is something really inviting about eating comfort food in another country. It’s low-key; it’s not trying to overly impress you because it is just proud of what it made. People will go there to relax, and hopefully, you’ll be in the center of the Vancouver relaxation. Plus, they have vegan poutine, so that must be a must.
Things to do
- The Herb Museum- Supposedly, Vancouver was labeled “Vansterdam” for its love of marijuana. Learning about Vancouver’s relationship with previous illegal drugs will be fun, weird, and unique. It is the only museum dedicated to the history of North American drug wars but also discusses the history of herbal medicine. Filled with artifacts debating the history of marijuana, cocaine, and opium, I think this will be kooky and interesting.
- The Shameful Tiki Room- I love a kitsch. It is my favorite thing. I love anything kitschy and strange and weird. The Shameful Tiki Room is a fun restaurant/bar offering fun, flavorful drinks and food. Instead of being a 1960s joint, this restaurant is a modern novelty. It doesn’t have a lot of vegan food options, so I would have to prepare for that.
- Canyon Lights at Caiman Suspension Bridge- Probably one of the biggest attractions blogs brag about, I didn’t think the suspension bridge would be open during winter. However, it is, and it’s covered in pretty little lights. I might be turned off from going because of how cold it will be, but I want to have it on the list.
- Vancouver Christmas Market- Being in Vancouver during Christmas would be super romantic, and even though this seems really gimmicky, I like the idea of how gimmicky it is. I would want to see people having fun, and if it’s boring, we can just leave.
- Vintage shopping in Vancouver- From what blogs talk about, Vintage/consignment shopping in Vancouver is a treat. Despite it being cold, there will be many great stores to explore that will get us warm again. From what I found quickly, Mintage and Bohemia Gallery offer some great character-defining vintage stores in which you can get lost. I love seeing a store full of characters and weirdos being who they are. I love finding items I can proudly exclaim were bought “on a trip to Vancouver,” and meeting people and hearing their stories.
Yellowknife
Yellowknife is a cheat since Charlie and I are only going to Yellowknife to see the Northern Lights. They had recently dealt with the devastation of the Canadian wildfires, and it would be nice to bring some sort of tourism to the community. There don’t seem to be many things to do, maybe a couple of stores to explore, but the main focus for us is to see the northern lights.
There don’t seem to be any explicit vegan restaurants. Still, some restaurants offer vegetarian food that can be made vegan. On Happy Cow, A Taste of Saigon offers vegetarian stir fry that can omit egg and fish sauce. Boston Pizza has some vegan optional pizza, and Birchwood Coffee Ko offers vegan options and muffins. Even if there are some small pickings, the main goal is to see the Northern Lights. Hence, making sacrifices is generally okay for the greater good of seeing the northern lights.
Canada offers so much, and I am thoroughly excited to see it all. While some of these items are reasonable goals for me, I won’t fully abide by them if something better comes along. I think I’ll follow the goal of exploring and accepting. Accept what comes my way and explore the possibility of all the goods Canada offers.
