This was an experience that everybody should have in their lifetime. A day trip to see the wild whales and orca in the Canada Straight, leaving from Granville Island is undoubtably the best whale watching experience from Vancouver. The tour encompasses natural whale watching with total respect for the natural habitat of the whales and their co-habitants, harbour seals, sea lions and bald eagles in their natural scenic environment cruising through the gulf islands.

The tour was guided by a naturalist, very knowledgeable about marine life and the area, using underwater hydrophones to capture the noise of the whales in their pods communicating with each other. There were also related books and articles from the National Geographic on board. You get plenty of time to walk around and stand in the back part of the un-enclosed boat and watch the whales and the otherwise unreachable parts of Canada's coastline.

I recommend this tour wholeheartedly. There are many whale watching tours advertised in Vancouver, most of them picturing speedboats with tourists in wetsuit outfits! If your thing is more laid back, to walk about the boat and photograph what you see, appreciate the stunning environment and relax (in your own clothes!) then this is the tour for you.

We were lucky enough to see three pods of whales travelling close to each other, killer whales and sea lions (respecting the regulations of distance of boats by law) and part of the money you pay for the tour goes to the research and protection of these amazing creatures.

My top tips: hats, gloves, a bottle of water and a snack bar for your pocket (you travel a long way out and are gone a few hours), leave the digital camera at home in favour of your old APS film camera (I had much better pictures on that than my mum on her digital camera- the shutter speeds are too slow on digital to capture the best of shots). And on that note, as our guide poignantly pointed out - don't miss what you are seeing because you are watching it through the camera lens. You can download brilliant pictures from the website!

I did this trip with my mum. I am planning to return to Vancouver and would happily do this excursion alone as a single traveller so don't be put off...

1806 Mast Tower Road, Vancouver BC
Tel: 604-699-2011 Fax: 604-699-2014
Email: info@whalesvancouver.com
Location: across from the Lobster Man, Granville Island
www.whalesvancouver.ca (see for map)

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Grouse mountain has stupendous views over Vancouver but its real attraction for us were the bears in the Refuge for Endangered wildlife. Cute.

www.grousemountain.com/adv_wilref.cfm

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If you are from outside Canada and are keen on wildlife, a couple of points:

1. Don't point out the raccoons scuffling outside the restaurant window to your waitress and excitedly ask "have you seen the raccoons?!" She has, every evening since she started working there.

2. In Stanley Park, if you are confronted by black squirrels and think "aw, how cute" and aim your point and shoot camera at them from 30 feet hoping that a four-by-four pixel image of them will satisfy you later, desist. Instead, wait a while - they are so human-habituated they will come over to you and may even, as they did to me, climb up your leg - result: better pictures.

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This non-profit store sells some of the most stunning greetings cards and posters you will ever find in BC.

During the last months of the year, make sure to pick up their Wildland or Wildlife calendar. All proceeds of sales go to the Wilderness Committee.

For over 25 years this organisation continues to go strong in its efforts to protect wilderness and wildlife in Western Canada.

Store is located in old Gastown. It is just of Water street on 227 Abbott street. A 5 minutes walk from Waterfront station. www.wildernesscommittee.org
Tel. 604-683-8220 (Check for opening days and hours before you go.)

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