VANCOUVER:

We start our holiday with two days in Vancouver, where we are collected from the airport by a Star Limo (all part of the Rocky Mountaineer package and something I could get used to) and taken to the Fairmont Hotel. After checking in, we join the city’s many cyclists, hiring bikes to explore the pretty waterfront, where hopping squirrels and a boisterous seal eating a salmon in the sea provide delightful entertainment. The giant market at Granville Island gives us an opportunity to sample local treats, including giant strawberries, pastries, handmade chocolate and craft beer. As evening falls, we stroll the main streets of Vancouver with their bright lights, late-night shopping and humming cuisine scene. On day two we hit the tourist spots – the wobbly Suspension Bridge (not for the height phobic) and a spectacular Skyride to Grouse Mountain, aptly named the peak of Vancouver. On the mountain we encounter our first grizzlies – safely contained, but still magnificent – and then have lunch overlooking Vancouver at The Observatory. To round off the day we see the city by boat, on a Zodiac harbour cruise – a fun and comfortable adventure which gives us another perspective on the city we’ve already fallen in love with. Vancouver, which is aiming to be the world’s most sustainable city by 2020, is unsurprisingly leading the way with its farm-to-table fare. Less anticipated is the incredible Japanese food it has on offer. At Raw, in the Fairmont Hotel, we are served an extraordinary Japanese meal – the ultra-fresh local seafood and the skill of this innovative culinary team make for an unforgettable experience which will change the way I eat sushi and sashimi (hold that soy sauce!). The food is accompanied by custom-made cocktails created to suit your alcoholic preferences and tastes. Mine – white spirits, sparkling, sweet and citrusy – they nail slightly differently every time… I won’t give away how many!