Munch

Rated this place:

143 – 1233 Lynn Valley Rd, North Vancouver, BC, V7J 2A1

Munched: This is the best play area I've ever seen in a restaurant. Wooden toys and furniture. From a design perspective, this place is very eye-pleasing as well. Love the safety gate and the fact that the restaurant opens onto a courtyard and not a busy street. Big space so it's not crazy and crowded (at least it wasn't when I was there). The server listed multiple things listed on the menu that they didn't actually have, and the food we did get wasn't outstanding, but the chocolate carrot cake meant all was forgiven. Service was also very good.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• coffee
• play area
• safety gate

Marcello Pizzeria

Rated this place:

1404 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC, V5L3X9

Easter Island Head Pizza?: I've always wanted to try this restaurant and just recently did - I'm so glad I finally went in. Big tables for family dining, high ceilings, friendly staff, and the pizza oven is a big head (the pizza goes into the mouth). It was about $130 for 4 adults and 1 toddler (included 4 beers and one appetizer) - everyone was happy with their meals, very busy place.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Atmosphere
• staff
• pizza oven

Apple Deli

Rated this place:

849 Davie St, Vancouver, BC, V6Z1B7

Sandwiches So Tall You Need a Chainsaw: Okay, not a chainsaw - but they do use an electric knife thing to cut through their fat sandwiches. I've been going to this location for over a decade and I'm never dissapointed. Spongy fresh bread, lots of fixiings and a cozy interior. My favorites are the shrimp or the egg salad. Yum!

Burnaby Mountain Park

Rated this place:

100 Centennial Way, Burnaby, BC

Eat Dinner at the Top of a Natural Skyscraper: On a sunny day, drive up to Burnaby Mountain Park and have a picnic - try to time it so you're there for the sunset - it's amazing!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• View
• picnic
• sunset
• car drive destination

Picnic Area Near Miniature Trains

Rated this place:

Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC

Picnic in the Park: You can reserve the picnic tables in Stanley Park near the Miniature Railway - small to big parties (up to 150 people) - close to the railway, petting zoo, aquarium, playground, and waterpark. With a shared kitchen, 2 electrical outlets and cold water this is deluxe picnic site! Just watch out for uninvited guests - raccoons are cute but they can be ill-tempered... My only complaint about this site is that it is always in the shade but then again that is probably better for us all anyways!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• picnic area

Cafe Artigiano

Rated this place:

853 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC

Delicious Italian Style Coffee Bar : A true coffee bar: this place is long, narrow and dimly lit with nice tables. It adds some style to an otherwise style-bereft section of Broadway. Customers ranged from singletons to dads with strollers to nurses from nearby labs/medical buildings. My coffee was perfect and I had a real crisis deciding which treat to have: all of the choices looks so good.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• coffee
• pastries
• champion baristas

Gaia Garden Herbal Dispensary

Rated this place:

2672 Broadway W, Vancouver, BC, V6K2G3

Natural Childbirth: If you have things like arnica, witch hazel, and raspberry leaf tea on your pre-baby shopping list - this is the place to go shopping! You will feel all 'mother earth' helping yourself to the dried herbs from big glass jars.

Greig Assoc X-Ray & Ultrasound

Rated this place:

5732 Victoria Dr, Vancouver, BC, V5P3W6

Baby Sneak Preview: My appreciation of this ultrasound office expanded after I recently used the services of another office on the other side of town. The waiting room is always packed but the staff are very friendly and know what they are doing and the building is clean and comfortable- I've always had a great experience here.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• ultrasound

VanDusen Botanical Gardens

Rated this place:

5251 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6M4H1

Garden Goodness: I can't believe I've never been here before - we just went here for the first time this weekend. Admission wasn't as expensive as I was imagining and it was just lovely inside. I was in pure heaven... I just walked along sniffing the whole way: so many wonderful scents! A real vacation for this pregnant lady with an over-sensitive nose - who has become accustomed to the daily onslaught of cigarette smoke, body odor, the seafood section of the grocery store, and poopy diapers. The maze was a fun surprise too! And afterwards we enjoyed ice cream at a little table by a pond. The only let-down was the children's garden - not much there unless we read the map wrong! So many paths all over the place, you can have a different visit every time.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• ponds
• maze

Burnaby Mountain

Rated this place:

Simon Fraser University, 888 University Dr., Burnaby, V5A1S6

Go Mountain Climbing... On Your Bike: It's a 330 meter climb up Burnaby Mountain to the main campus of Simon Fraser University. Getting tired? Just think how much fun it will be on the way down! The buses that go up the hill have bike racks, too, just in case you decide to only do half of the hill the first time...

Vancouver Night Market

Rated this place:

Vancouver, BC

It's that time again!: The night market in Chinatown is starting up again tomorrow night (May 15 2009). A fun date night in the city - go shopping, snack a little and then it's a short stroll to pubs in pretty much any direction: South to the Brickhouse, East-ish to Pat's Pub, North-ish to Gastown, or West to the Railway. Good times and an opportunity to once again prove my motto that nothing tastes better than food that you buy outside on the street... Market is open 6:30pm-11pm until September 6 2009 - this is it's 14th year...

Moule

Rated this place:

1994 4th avenue West, Vancouver, BC

Fun and Funky: Moule has great gift ideas for that special kidlet in your world. I love the raincoats and boots, pirate dolls, and book selection (example: 'where farts come from'). Upstairs they offer a diverse array of items: clothing, dishes, backgammon games and Chanukah party decorations... Fun to browse, great place to get a unique wedding or housewarming gift.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• housewares
• Toys
• Clothing
• gifts
• childrens clothing

Acubalance Wellness Centre

Rated this place:

Suite 250 - 828 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

Prenatal Acupuncture: Literally waiting on pins and needles for your due date to approach? Acubalance provides acupuncture treatments to ripen your cervix and encourage that baby to arrive on time. Very nice offices and friendly people. They also have treatment programs related to IVF, preconception, male fertility, and breech presentation.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Acupuncture

Lower Mainland Childbearing Society

Rated this place:

800 E Broadway, Vancouver, BC

Prenatal Classes: I attended the prenatal weekend workshop and the nursing clinic. The classes were very informative and comfortable. They made me feel more confident about my ability to give birth and care for a newborn. One of the teachers was also my doula and there's no way I'm having my second baby without her there!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• postpartum classes
• breastfeeding clinics
• healthy pregnancy course
• prenatal classes
• doula services

North Vancouver Maplewood Farm

Rated this place:

405 Seymour River Pl, North Vancouver, BC, V7H1S6

Somewhere to take your city mouse: Here's your chance to take your city kids to a real working farm - you can even get there on the bus! Their website says you can bring your gas bbq and birthday cake and have a party there! You can also book pony rides. We went here today for my daughter's 2nd birthday and it was fun. April means baby lambs and apparently May is baby goats, so we will have to go back soon! Cute gift shop too -

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• animals
• birthday parties
• pony rides

Arriva Ristorante Ltd

Rated this place:

1537 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC, V5L3Y1

Old Time Italian Restaurant: It looks like most of the staff have worked here since Commercial Drive's Little Italy was really all Italian. Old time service - servers that anticipate your needs rather than avoiding eye contact. Perfect for a romantic date - in fact most of the tables were couples when we went. Delicious food. Family run and operating for 25 years...

Heritage Hall

Rated this place:

3102 Main St, Vancouver, BC, V5T3G7

Elegance at a Reasonable Price: I've attended craft fairs, political activist meetings, dances, and plays at this venue. I also had my wedding and reception here and dressed it up as a hollywood nightclub from the 50's... See Full Post

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Venue
• hall rental
• historical landmark

Rocca Ristorante Italiano

Rated this place:

1565 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC, V5L3Y1

Wine-0 Wednesdays: Excellent friendly service and nice atmosphere - food was okay but they have a lot of competition considering their location. I'd recommend going on Wednesday if you like wine - I think the server said each bottle was $10 cheaper on Wednesdays. Try the seafood appetizers - lots of choices. There are also a few seats at a bar where you can watch sports.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• great service
• wine special

Carson Books & Records

Rated this place:

3425 Broadway W, Vancouver, BC, V6R2B4

Shop While You Wait For A Table @ The Eatery: 1. Mystery Books 2. Mystery Secret Door in Shelves 3. Records 4. Kids Books Last time I was here I was in and out with 2 rarish books and an Ellery Queen pulp. All for about $20. See Full Post

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Books
• pulp fiction
• records
• paperbacks

Wreck Beach

Rated this place:

University Boulevard and South West Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z2

Be a Social Climber: Try to race a friend up the 400 or so stairs that climb up the cliff from Wreck Beach. I used to do this when I lived on campus. It's a nude beach so if you're not into naked strangers it gives you all the more reason to run up those stairs as fast as possible (a better workout!).

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Stairs

Kitsilano Pool

Rated this place:

2305 Cornwall Avenue, Vancouver

Swim Canada's Longest Laps: An outdoor saltwater pool and Canada's longest -the laps run lengthwise so you can really get a work out! I guess if you really wanted an outdoor swimming challenge you could try to swim to Vancouver Island instead, but I wouldn't recommend it. At least they have life guards here (and no pesky ferries to get in your way).

Grouse Grind

Rated this place:

6400 Nancy Greene Way (Grouse Mountain), North Vancouver, BC, V7R 4K9

Nose to the Grindstone?: After a hard work week of your nose to the grindstone, it's time to haul your butt up the Grouse grind! It's a hike up the mountain side for almost 3km. It's access depends on the weather (usually open May long weekend but check website). See Full Post

Whistler Mountain Bike Park

Rated this place:

Whistler, BC

Bike 101: Go Mountain Biking: The bike park on Whistler Mountain is world famous. It's the largest and longest running lift-access bike park around and many other bike parks in the world have used Whistler as a model for their own. According to whistlermountainbike.com, Bike 101 is a "daily clinic that offers the “never-ever” mountain biker a chance to learn about downhill techniques while exploring the bike park with a qualified guide." Don't own a bike? No problem - they even rent them (park opens May 16 this year, 2009). See Full Post

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• mountain biking
• outdoor fun
• attractive men

Cleveland Dam

Rated this place:

North Vancouver, BC

Run Through The Woods: I find trail running appealing because you don't need a lot of equipment to get started. Want to take the leap? Join in on a training run for the Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run most Wednesdays (more info at kneeknacker.com). The website says that "anyone who wants to experience North Shore trail running is welcome" but the site also shares route maps for various runs if you're shy... See Full Post

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• hiking
• dam
• scenery
• baden-powell trail
• trail running

Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Centre

Rated this place:

2156 Banbury Road, North Vancouver, BC

Water You Waiting For?: Here's a chance to get paddling without big commitments of time or money... The introduction to dragonboat paddling is 90 minutes and only costs $15. Their 3 hour introduction to ocean kayaking is $70 and includes the kayak rental and safety gear. While you're there, have a meal in the village or stroll into Deep Cove Park or Panorama Park - you'll forget you are only 20 minutes away from downtown Vancouver.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• location
• kayak rentals