Stairway to Heaven: Family Travel

I love to travel, especially with my family. There is a special dynamic to sharing adventure and beauty with the ones you love. There are, however, always some challenges involved with travel, often with the transportation piece. When there is a long ticketing/baggage line, followed by a long security line, resulting in a wait at the gate or, my least favorite, a delayed takeoff, everyone can get a little edgy. This can result in a large group dealing with various levels of crankiness, making their way through customs, rental car pick-up and map reading before arriving at the hotel. At this point, some may be raring to hit the streets and some may be ready to put their feet up and rest with a cup of tea (me!) Thankfully, our family has embraced the “sometimes we do everything together and sometimes we split up” mode of travel.

We are all enjoying our much-anticipated family trip to Vancouver and Whistler. It has been several years since our last trip to Canada but it was like returning home to places we had visited every year. We always stay at the same hotel in Vancouver, The Sutton Place. We love the neighborhood and know our way around. We can walk to our favorite restaurants, Joe Forte’s and Al Porto (both still serving yummy food) so there’s no having to wait for everyone to come or go together. We can walk in smaller groups that accommodate sightseers, shoppers, stragglers and speed walkers. Around the corner on Robson (a great shopping street) there is a multi level bookstore where you have to split up because it’s so big you’d never find each other, and across the street from the hotel there’s a movie theater where some of us caught a late night showing of the new Captain America movie.

This family dynamic of traveling together, but allowing for separate outings, serves us well. Being flexible is essential for maximum enjoyment of any trip, but most certainly when traveling with a large group ranging in age from six to seventy. This means sometimes being disappointed that everyone can’t be there for the whole trip. Lauren and Dave had to miss the Vancouver portion because of a last minute work crisis, and Max had to cut his snowboarding short to return home for a Rough City performance. We wish they could have been with us for everything, but as with all of life, you can either focus on what’s missing or enjoy what you have.

Fortunately we all share the love of the same traditions, many centered on favorite restaurants. In Vancouver the most important tradition is brunch at the Teahouse in Stanley Park. Now, this is no mere brunch. It involves arriving an hour or so early so we can walk along the seawall at Ferguson Point and go down on the rocks to look for crabs. This year Owen got within a few feet of a Blue Heron by slowly inching closer. His patience and calm demeanor reflect his interest and love of animals. We only wish we had put Max’s GoPro on his head so we all could have seen a close up of this gorgeous bird. After brunch there is usually a trip to the petting zoo, a ride on the miniature train or a stop at the playground with the old style swings.

The Teahouse is situated with a magnificent view of the bay, perfectly appointed tables and amazing food, where each dish vies for the best! A long time friend who happened to be in Vancouver joined us for brunch. It was fun catching up with him but when I asked about his lovely family his reply was a little vague. He said the family was somewhat fractured at the moment. On further conversation it turn out that it was over a friend of his - something about a grudge held by some family members from years ago. They pronounced that this friendship was breaking up the family. I couldn’t help but be struck by how much unhappiness people create in their own lives. I know that he’s sad at this breach and feels torn, and I’m sure that his family is upset. Something as simple as a perceived insult or injustice can have a devastating effect on relationships. And it is literally, all in the power of a person’s perception. The only way to get beyond this is to let go. It can be as easy as taking a “live and let live” approach. You don’t even have to agree, forgive or like each other, just let it go. Even if this only happens on one side, it can make a difference. When the person being judged decides not to take it personally, the other side may soften. Or at least you won’t be caught in an endless cycle of hurt and resentment.

With several days left in this heavenly setting, I thank God that I am surrounded by a family that can go with the flow. We have returned to our Whistler “home,” Club Intrawest, in the beautiful Upper Village. It’s in the quiet part of town, across from the Chateau and next to the Four Seasons. Perfect for families, the units have multiple bedrooms, baths and full kitchens, with great adult features, lots to do for kids and a great on-site market. As with Vancouver, it is in our preferred location. We are across from our favorite breakfast restaurant, Ciao Thyme Bistro (the Bob Loaded breakfast sandwich is a must) and minutes from the Blackcomb Mountain lodge and ski lift. This location allows everyone to come and go with ease, and meet up within minutes for end of the day sustenance. There is a park across the road with great paths through the woods and along a creek. It’s a lovely walk to the pedestrian-only village full of restaurants and shops, so the car only leaves the garage to go to the big market in town. A week with out driving is a vacation in itself!