Whistler, BC - a Sunrise and More

I booked a photo session for our family this summer in Whistler. 

I love my camera and all of the lenses. 

I've loved being my girls 'professional photographer'. 

I've done all of the important events and even Anna's senior photos. 

I even bring my 'big' camera and lenses on vacations but I wanted our whole family captured, and I found the best photographer in my search. 

She spent a lot of time with us before through email and on the phone. 

Usually I learn a LOT about a place we are visiting from the photographer -- there are places we never would have seen and tips we never would have known about with their insight. 

This was no exception. 

I learned from Justa that the parks in Whistler, BC fill up as early as mid morning and they are like that until after dusk. No longer is she able to do that 'golden hour' evening photoshoot. 

So instead she recommended we do a SUNRISE photo session. 

We met her at Rainbow Park at 6:15 AM as she has clocked the sunrise to be at 6:34 and the magical AM 'golden' moments only lasting about 3 minutes. Click HERE to check out this park. 

Yup! 3 minutes! 

With two teenagers. 

What surprised me was that they were totally into it. 

I got up at 5 am (same as a school day during the year but travel had really gotten me feeling tired, all of us so it was hard) and woke the girls up at 5:30. 

Breakfast, showers, hair, make up, dressed up and into the rental car by 5:50 AM ... we did it! 

It was so worth it! 

Of course I didn't bring my big camera and I took these well after those sunrise moments but I just wanted to enjoy that park because we loved it so much.

After the photo session was done (about an hour or so) we went for a long walk and were so glad we got up to see a part of Whistler so early. 

While we were up so early we drove to another park (had to maximize our up early time with no crowds) called Green Lake. Click HERE to read more about it. 

Tiny little beach - surrounded by vast, tree filled and snow caped mountains... all out ourselves! 

Later that afternoon (after recovering from out dawn session) we headed out for lunch and to sign up for ziplining. 

This is the back entrance to our hotel (so we can remember walking into the village) 

This is what Whistler Village looks like. So Much Fun! Click HERE to check it out. 

I was 'on the fence' should I/shouldn't I do the ziplining?! 

I've been ziplining before and loved it so much. 

But this was different. 

This is the fastest, longest zip lining in the US and Canada. 

Not quite what I was used to. 

So just Scott and Abigail got all signed up for that afternoon. 

(Anna had foot/toe minor surgery before we left home and couldn't - although I don't think she would have :) ) 

Click HERE to check out the zip lining. 

It was four hours of zip lining. 

After the first run, Scott texted me, "I think you made the right decision" Phew! 

They rented a go pro camera and captured these cool videos.

 

Four hours later: 

They were so happy when Anna and I walked to pick them up. 

After we went into the village  ice cream and candy apples! 

Anna and I had such a fun day together while they were on the zip line! We went out to dinner and just hung out together! So fun being with my girl. 

 

The Way to Whistler, BC

The drive from the city of Vancouver to Whistler, BC is the most picturesque I've been on in my life. I wish I had more photos of the look outs and mountains we were seeing on our way. 

I read about it but didn't really expect that a drive from one place to another would be one of my favorite parts of this trip. But golly it was! 

This drive is called the Sea to Sky Highway. You can read HERE to see more about it. 

Just off the road, a pull into a parking lot and THIS waterfall! I mean, can you stand all that beauty?! 

We walked up a path (it's wasn't a hike at all -- it was literally just off the road) and this is what we saw: 

I feel like thought blogging this trip I have been saying over and over, "there is no way to capture this", and it's true! 

I can hardly pick my favorite! 

This is Shannon Falls. HERE is a website on it. 

This is the quaint town of Squamish. It is about halfway between Vancouver and Whistler. 

Cute shops, cafes, just what we needed! 

The best iced tea from the entire trip! 

And before Whistler, BC, one more enormous waterfall! 

Whistler is an awesome place to visit. We checked into our hotel. We stayed HERE. I look at those pictures and even though I don't sky, I sure wish I could go back and visit when it's covered in snow. 

This first day filled with the drive between two destinations, two waterfalls, lots more eating and shopping... was the perfect in between day! 

Our Last Full Day in Vancouver - and Real Life Traveling

I don't talk about it too much - or write about it much on this blog but when my family 'hits the road' we do it despite some real challenges. 

Some when I write them don't sound like much at all. And no one will ever really know that it is like for Scott and I - but we feel so strongly in giving our family these experiences that we do it anyway - even though it is hard. 

Only one issue we have to navigate through on trips are Abigail's allergies. She is amazing, courageous, positive. She never complains. - never has. 

When we are at a restaurant she can't pick anything off the menu. She hands the staff a personal business card with her picture on it and a list of her allergies - and a thank you for helping me. 

And she literally says when it's time to order, as she hands the staff her allergy card,  "anything you can make me would be great, thank you so much." 

Sometimes there is an amazing chief who will work hard to make something special for her. 

Sometimes there is just boiled chicken on a plate. 

It's not easy for her. But she does better than Scott and I who crumble at the 'boiled chicken' type of restaurant food. 

Well this was one day that was spectacular for our little girl -- a totally vegan donut shop. {Abigail is not vegan - but a restaurant that is vegan will be dairy free, and since that is one of her severe allergies is it one place we can take her} 

Just take a look at these donuts. 

And know...

This is the FIRST EVER donut Abigail has ever had that was not made my me at home. {and homemade donuts are not the same!} 

Yup, these were all safe for her to eat. We wanted to buy her all of them! 

She chose a chocolate one with chocolate frosting. 

And a sprinkles one for later that day. 

Best morning ever! 

Then we went to Mass at the Holy Rosary Cathedral. HERE is the website. 

It was stunning and was the most lovely homily. We talked about it throughout the rest of our day. 

I love going to church in different places -- I love that feeling of connectedness with the larger Church. 

We spent the rest of the day in Stanley Park. And even took a private carriage ride through the park. HERE you can read more about that beautiful park. 

 

We meandered along the water and just enjoyed our last full day in Vancouver. 

The next day we would check out and move on to our second destination!