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BC, BC Ferry, Canada, Horseshoe Bay, Nanaimo, Photographay, travel, Vancouver, Vancouver Island
Horseshoe Bay looks like a picture on a postcard with its park, the bay, the beautiful mountains, and the ferry boat waiting to leave. It is a small community at the western end of the North shore of Vancouver, a favourite place to spend time for both locals and visitors and is home to the BC ferries terminal.
My friend Cristina drove me to Horseshoe Bay, in West Vancouver where we enjoyed a great lunch and a glass of the local wine at one of the restaurants overlooking this picturesque port before I left on the afternoon ferry to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island.
Cristina is a fellow blogger who lives in Vancouver. I have been following Cristina’s blog Un po’ di pepe for a few years and finally we met when she was in Brisbane a couple of years ago.
When I told her that I would be visiting Vancouver she invited me to visit with her. After a terrific time with Cristina in her city, I was then meeting up with my 5W friend Linda on Vancouver Island.
What a way to travel. I loved my ferry trip across to Vancouver Island. There were some truly spectacular scenes along the way.
The speed they loaded and unloaded two levels at a time made the ease of getting on and off so fast, the comforts of the ferry and amount of seating was amazing and the service was fabulous.
There is so much on offer to do on the ferry. I started off with a short explore to get my bearings and then I stopped for afternoon tea. They have great food with affordable snacks. There was a kid’s play area and there was a gift shop with pretty good value and I thought a great selection of gifts and clothing. I purchased a really nice hand bag.
Less than 2 hours after departing Horseshoe Bay I arrived in Nanaimo where my friend Linda was waiting at the pier for me.
The city of Nanaimo is a classic West Coast community, offering natural beauty at every turn. Nanaimo has one of the longest shorelines in Canada, and a forested mountain backdrop just outside downtown. I was soon to learn that Nanaimo is the place to find natural wonders, festivals, culinary joys, and so much more.
Your never going to come home are you Lyn 😀
Happily lost so that the adventures never stop 😀
Great post, thank you for sharing ‘lost’ 😀
Always come home Mark. Love to travel but love my home more. Thanks Lyn
That place looks really lovely, Lyn. And it’s always great to meet face-to-face with a blogger friend, right?
It really is and I have been fortunate enough to meet several blogger friends. Vancouver Island is wonderful. Thanks Lyn
Lovely photos of a special spot.
Thanks Sheree. I really enjoy sharing these special places. Lyn
Beautiful!!
Great photos! I love those ferry rides too and I love Vancouver Island.
Isn’t it just the best way to travel. Vancouver Island has it all and yet it is so easy to get away from the hustle and bustle. Thanks Cindy, Lyn
That was such a gorgeous day at Hirseshoe Bay-I felt like I was on vacation too. Glad you enjoyed the ferry-it is a fun ride, and so much to do. Anytime you buy a borsetta, you are winning😎. Hope you can come back to Vancouver some time soon. Ciao, Cristina
Thanks Cristina. It was a wonderful day commencing with coffee at your favourite Italian deli. Lyn 💕
Blogging is really amazing – what a great way to meet people from other countries. :)
It sure is Lynette and when you do meet face to face you already feel that you are friends. Thanks Lyn
Absolutely one of my favourite ways to travel home! Sometimes I purposely book flights out of Vancouver just to be able to take the ferry from Swartz Bay.
I would do it every chance I could. It was fab Thanks Lyn
Hi Lyn. Enjoyed this post. Glad you enjoyed our BC Ferries and Vancouver Island. Did you know that BC Ferries is the largest passenger ferry service in the world and the second largest ferry fleet. Just sayin!
Thanks Linda. I did not know but it doesn’t surprise me. It is the best ferry I have been on for many reasons. It would be fabulous to use for a day out on the water as well as the commute between the island and the mainland
I remember making that trip many moons ago. Such beautiful scenery in that part of the world.
It sure is. I enjoyed everything about the trip. The comfort of the ferry, the facilities and the scenery. Thanks Lyn
Did you get a chance to try Nanaimo Bars while in Nanaimo? Or at least somewhere in Canada. It’s a unique Canadian dessert – and delicious!
Yes I did. My friend Linda made sure of that in the first couple of days. They are so good. I ended up having them many times. Thanks Lyn
Australians don’t have graham crackers and Americans don’t have vanilla custard powder, but if you can source the missing ingredient homemade ones are just as delicious.
Thanks for the tip, Lyn
The last time that I was in Vancouver was 1992, seems like a lifetime ago. What a beautiful city and the scenery that you have captured is wonderful.
Thanks Richard. It is a very easy and liveable city and yes a very beautiful city. Lyn
Welcome to Vancouver Island! Hope your stay is wonderful! 😘
Thank you and my stay was wonderful. You living in a fabulous place. I loved everything about Vancouver Island. Lyn.
We are vaguely thinking about Vancouver and the surroundings for next year. Your blog posts make it look wonderful and may help us to make a decision!
Thanks. I cannot speak highly enough of Vancouver. I especially loved Vancouver Island and was so very fortunate to spend 8 days there which included 4 days on the west coast of the island. Living on the edge. It was sensational. More stories to come of V I. Lyn
You were in my back yard! I’m glad you enjoyed the island, and that you got out to the west coast; it’s a truly magical place. And thanks for reminding me that a ferry trip can be fun as well as practical.
Thanks Audrey. You live in a gorgeous part of the world. I especially enjoyed the west coast for 4 days. Stories coming soon. I just wish I had longer there, like at least 6 months. Lyn
It’s fun to read about my neighbourhood. I’m glad you liked Horseshoe Bay and it’s so cool that you met up with Cristina. I share your enthusiasm about the gift shop on the ferry. I’ve made many great clothing purchases there.
You live in a beautiful part of the world Caroline, VI has so much to offer and yet still has a lovely country feel to it. The ferry trip was the best. Thanks, Lyn