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
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