McKelvie begins by writing that he’s well-versed in travel to North America, having visited over 50 cities in this continent, but that if he had to choose just one spot to return to over and over, it wouldn’t be New York or Chicago or L.A., but Vancouver, “the USA’s cooler Canadian cousin.”
Considering the state of U.S. tourism, it’s another blow to a country already ravaged by a crippling public perception.
McKelvie also mentioned some local spots, including Published on Main, where he went on his first night. His visit to Published also enabled him to take another shot at the USA, stating that Okanagan Valley wine is better than the stuff you can get from the Napa Valley in California.
We often write stories about Vancouver being the coolest city in the world or the best place to live for a myriad of reasons. McKelvie writes that there’s substance in this city, too.
“Vancouver is bedrocked on spectacular foundations, with a harbour to rival Boston or New York, but also epic sky-scraping mountains that conjure up a vast natural amphitheatre. It’s a city that looks and feels big. Vancouver Island fringes the city just across the water, a bucolic escape bigger than Belgium,” he wrote.
McKelvie also shared his love of Stanley Park in his story, as well as Granville Island, saying he’d rather hang out there than in other hipster districts, such as Williamsburg in Brooklyn or Boston’s “revamped core.”
Another local spot that received tremendous praise from McKelvie was Miku, “the best Japanese lunch” he had outside of Japan. Como Taperia also got some love thanks to the creativity on its menu.
While olives stuffed with anchovies might not be everyone’s cup of fishy tea, you can’t deny the creativity.
Even though locals might not be the biggest fans of prices in some top Vancouver restaurants, McKelvie suggests that our options are cheaper than in America and offer better value. He also claimed that drinks have been more affordable in his experience.
This isn’t the first time Vancouver has received recognition from global publications. The New York Times once featured Vancouver in a story about how to experience it in just 36 hours.
In 2023, Time magazine also wrote about Vancouver, giving some attractions a significant boost. Time Out has also featured Vancouver in many articles.
Do you agree with McKelvie’s take on Vancouver and where he considers some of the best spots?