Canada
Our Canadian Anniversary Adventures
Our first trip to Canada was for our honeymoon in 2013, a year after we got married. We had always dreamed of going, but it was something we had to save for—so it became a truly special occasion. After that amazing experience, we decided we’d return for our 5- and 10-year anniversaries, if possible, simply because we had fallen in love with the place.
5-Year Anniversary: Whistler with Kids
For our 5-year wedding anniversary, we returned to Whistler, around the same dates we had gone on our honeymoon. The first two weeks in January—right after the Christmas/New Year rush—are the cheapest time to travel, and that allowed us to go before Felicity turned two (avoiding the extra cost of a seat). This time, however, we were funding a trip for four people with very different needs and expectations from our carefree, child-free honeymoon.
One unexpected bonus? We often had the pool to ourselves thanks to our two early risers—awake long before anyone else due to the time difference.
Elliott, now old enough to snowboard with his dad, spent hours on the mountain. Felicity, still quite attached to me (and my anxiety around taking Elliott on a chairlift), stayed with me. She absolutely loved trying out the Burton Riglet board. I was amazed at how naturally she took to it! It was a great way to pass the time while the boys were up on the slopes.
We also visited the Bubly Tube Park. Elliott was old enough to join in, but Felicity wasn’t quite tall enough—much to her disappointment. So once again, we sat out and watched the boys have their fun.
10-Year Anniversary: Back to Vancouver & Whistler
For our 10-year anniversary, we decided to retrace our honeymoon steps by visiting Vancouver and Whistler—this time with two school-aged kids in tow, sharing some of the places we’d fallen in love with a decade earlier.
Due to work and school schedules, we had to travel during the peak Christmas holiday season. Nowadays, instead of giving each other presents, we opt for holidays or shared experiences—and this trip was one of the best gifts we’ve ever given ourselves.
In Vancouver, we revisited Stanley Park, the Harbour, and Granville Island Market. We had planned to stop at the suspension bridge on our way to Whistler, but bad weather changed our plans. Thankfully, we left earlier than expected—just in time to avoid major road closures due to multiple accidents. On our way, we stopped in Squamish and found a lovely spot: Sunflower Bakery Cafe, which had fantastic gluten-free options. It was Christmas Eve, and the chef kindly gave the kids a gingerbread house kit. We had so much fun putting it together later that day.
In Whistler, all of us snowboarded and made sure not to miss the Peak2Peak Gondola. We also kept our promise to return to the Bubly Tube Park. This time, everyone was old enough—and tall enough! Although it was extremely busy and our session was delayed (even with pre-booking), the staff were kind and offered refunds after one run due to the wait. In hindsight, we should have booked the earliest session of the day, given how busy peak season gets.
We also did a Ziptrek tour as a family—something none of us had tried before. We were a little unsure if Felicity would enjoy it, but of course, she loved it! Another adrenaline junkie in the family. On one of the lines, she had to go with an instructor because of her weight—she wouldn't have made it all the way across otherwise—but she had a great time.
Despite the many highlights, something felt different on this trip. The hospitality that once made the Fairmont hotels feel so special seemed to be missing. It felt like you had to be dressed a certain way just to get the staff’s attention—except for one lovely Australian staff member who chatted with us in the games room. In general, there were a lot of unsupervised kids taking over common areas, which impacted the atmosphere.
In Vancouver, our hotel room had no heating, and the spa and pool areas were nothing like what was advertised—they were in need of a serious facelift. In Whistler, our first room had a strong smell of vomit. The staff claimed it was just the cleaning products, but we pushed for a new room because we knew better.
That said, we still made incredible memories—early morning swims, snowboarding, and the unforgettable Fire & Ice Show. On the way back down the mountain, we stopped at the Sea to Sky Gondola, which offered breathtaking views, beautiful hiking trails, and a suspension bridge.
We have such fond memories of this trip and can’t wait for more Canadian adventures in the future.
One of our absolute favourite experiences to date—was Vallea Lumina in Whistler. It was an incredibly immersive, magical nighttime experience. Pictures truly don’t do it justice—you have to see it with your own eyes. I’m so glad I stumbled across it by accident.
We’ve all declared that we’d live in Canada one day. (You may notice we say that about a few places!) But there’s something about Canada—the beauty, the people, the pace of life—that keeps calling us back.
