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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 2009)
WWW JU STOUT COM VOICES A Queer Family Vacation B y JONELLE TORISEVA My partner, Reilly, and I decided to spend our first real vacation in years in Vancouver, British Columbia, child in tow. The desti nation proved family-friendly in all .senses o f the term, a bounty o f fun and relaxation. Once we found the amazing and enormous Second Beach pool, off the sea wall, we stayed and swam— for three days. For three days we splashed in the fifty-me ter pool, looking out at the ships on English Bay, and the sun on the western mountains. Second Beach is gorgeous. We lay in the wa ter, my seven-year-old daughter happy that it was no deeper than three feet for all but the deeper southwestern edge, where swimmers practiced their butterflies. We’d get out every so often and walk the tidal pools at the adjacent ocean beach. Second Beach, located in Stanley Park’s southeastern corner, is a heated fresh-water pool. Entry is $2.60 per family member (www.Vancouver. ca/Parks/rec/beaches/second.htm). Sometimes our child would dodge the dancing rollerbladers and bikers and rush out to swing on the playground or pretend to drive the toy truck. If that wasn’t enough, there was also the Variety Kids Water Park nearby (at Lumberman’s Arch on the Seawall). The Fish House at the entrance to Stanley Park has good food but was a little tony for us, as we were kitted out in our T Y R swim suits. Pricey, but well located, the eatery is a Vancouver institution (www.fishhousestan- leypark.com). For those looking for more swimming op tions, there’s an even larger pool farther down the seawall: the 137-meter Kitsilano pool (www.vancouver.ca/ parks/rec/beaches/kitsb. htm), which features heated salt water. The three o f us followed the seawall from our hostel off o f Davie Street, passing by the beautiful A ID S memorial. One can easily bike, bus or walk, and for drivers, there is pay parking near the pool. Our child loved the wonton soup at Hon’s Wun-Tun. The eight-page menu offers Can tonese food in abundance and some Cana dian Chinese specialties (www.hons.ca). The spit and sizzle from the open kitchens in the back kept us entertained. Dessert was a lovely mango jelly. From the beluga whales and the pint-sized traffic site, the Miniature Railway to the lla mas: Stanley Park provided us with recreation, fun and food (www.seestanleypark.com). At the Traffic School, designed with kids ages 5-8 in mind, our daughter navigated a small motor course complete with stoplights and traffic signs. Traffic School runs 10:30 a.m .-l:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, July through Au gust. Each session is 30 minutes, free and first-come, first-served. Groups (maximum 15) can book in advance by calling the West End Community Centre at 604-718-5859. We rode on a steam train and petted animals at the Children’s Farmyard (www. kidsvancouver.com/Childrens%20Farmyard_ critters.htm). The Farmyard, part o f Rare Breeds Canada, hosts several endangered species o f waterfowl, sheep and cattle. Close to both the railway and the farm yard, The Vancouver Aquarium has a free observation platform, and you can also visit inside (www.vanaqua.org). Back under the rainbow flags running up and down Davie Street, we waited to get into Stepho’s Souvlaki Greek Taverna (604-683- 2555). The line, though long, went quickly. Once inside, we feasted on pita bread and hum mus, then passed by Hamburger Mary’s Diner. Also worth a visit is the historic Little Sister’s Book and Art Emporium (1238 Davie Street), whose March 2000 Canadian Supreme Court case bucked the national Customs and Revenue Agency’s right to cen sor books and magazines at the border. The next morning called for dim sum. When we saw the bridal changing room and wedding banquet menus at Sun Sui Wah’s Sea food Restaurant, we knew we were in the right place (604-872-8822 or www.sunsuiwah.com). Later, we’d saved up for sushi and were glad we did: Toshi Sushi at 181 SE 16th Avenue on South Main had lovely toro wait ing for us (604-874-5173). We found the toro pricier at Lime Japanese Cuisine (www. limerestaurant.ca), but fresh and good; the hamachi was sublime. Stocking up on licorice and watching the milk chocolate river at Dutch Girl Choco lates (1002 Commercial Drive, 604-251- 3221) kept us enthralled until we got to the miniature beach at Trout Lake, where we took a sunny walk around the water. Commercial Drive is the lesbian epicenter o f Vancouver and features lots o f great coffeehouses, res taurants and funky shopping. Had we stayed longer, the family would have gone to the new Izakaya restaurants and at tended the No Hate! Youth Gala Films + Party coming up at 8 p.m. August 14 at Roundhouse Community Center (181 Roundhouse Mews, Yaletown). The event is part o f the Out in Schools and NO H A TE Bootcamp program (www.outinschools.com). *W3 GET YOUR PRIDE ON ALL SUMMER WITH KIMPTON HOTELS! BOOK 2 NIGHTS & GET A 3RD NIGHT FREE ON WEEKENDS, PLUS A $50 DINING CREDIT Kim pton's Sum m er of Pride: with twenty gay- friendly cities to choose from, it's a perfect time to plan a w eekend getaway. All summer long, use rate code 'P R ID E' and book two nights and enjoy a third night free on w eekends. And we're spicing it up by adding a $50 dining credit per stay to enjoy at Kim pton Restaurants. Based on availability and som e restrictions apply. To book, go to kimptonhotels.com/lgbt hotels & restaurants 800.KIMPTON • KIMPTONHOTELS.COM
