Not long ago, one of our Canadian writers wrote about keeping kosher, visiting, and finding the Jewish community in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. One of our readers was nice enough to email us with updates to the original post.

Kosher Info (updates):

• Berel’s Bakery is out of business, as is Haifa Deli.
• The Carriage House bakery (only certain items) and Karen’s Cafe are
  still certified kosher, but the orthodox community prefers to prepare
  their own food at home.
• The Safeway at Glenmore Landing has a small selection of kosher food
  (matzo, grape juice, fish sticks, frozen chicken, shabbos candles, etc).
• The Superstore at 10505 Southport Road SW has a somewhat larger
  selection of kosher, and seems to be where most people shop.
• Kalinka currently stocks Calgary’s largest selection of frozen meat
  (including convenient pre-cooked chicken nuggets) and Cholov Yisroel
  cheese, as well as various other items.
• Cholov Yisroel milk is not available in Calgary unless you make
  prior arrangements with Chabad (www.chabadalberta.org).

>> Be sure to refer to the original post on CALGARY, AB here < <

Jewish Info (updated):

• House of Jacob (orthodox) has a world-class Rabbi (Yisroel Miller),
  a mikveh, and offers Shabbat and weekday hospitality. Contact
  hospitality@hojmi.org for info.
• The conservative shul no longer has a cantor.

If you have updates to information we have on this site, please email us.

YeahThatsKosher.com has partnered with KosherCruises.com to offer you …

a 15% discount on two of their upcoming SUMMER 2011 Cruises: ALASKA (August 14-21) & The BALTIC SEA (August 21-28)*

Use the PROMO CODE: KOSHER DIGITALon KosherCruises.com

The Alaska Cruise leaves from Vancouver, British Columbia on Sunday August 14th, and arrives back to Vancouver on Sunday August 21st. See the Itinerary on the right:

If you choose to get off the magnificent Celebrity Century cruise ship, the ports of call include: Juneau, the rugged capital of Alaska; Ketchikan, where we’ll view and experience the Misty Fjords; and the Hubbard Galcier.

—-

The Baltic Sea cruise leaves from Copenhagen, Denmark on Sunday August 21st, and arrives back in Copenhagen on Sunday August 28th. See the Itinerary on the right:

If you choose to get off of the amazing Costa Atlantica cruise ship, ports of call include: The beautiful Stockholm, Sweden, the rustic and medieval Tallinn, Estonia, and the captivating St. Petersburg, Russia.

*This discount is effective today through March 31, 2011.

Use the PROMO CODE: KOSHER DIGITAL
The discount is for cabin only fare based on the published fares on our site. Taxes, gratuities and port charges are additional and not subject to discounts. Additionally, the per person published fares are based on double occupancy, and the discount is valid only for the first 2 people in the room. However, typically cabins hold up to 4 people in a room and the third and fourth person fares are less expensive but are not discountable (this is if peoplewant to pile in to save money). To obtain the discount, passengers must mention the code “kosher digital”.

This is a Sponsored Post

Contributed by: Aviron | Last Date of Travel: June 2005

Kosher Info:

The large supermarket in Whitehorse carried a surprising variety of kosher bread, pies, snacks and a plethora of canned fish with an assortment of US and Canadian kosher supervision symbols. It supplemented the usual kosher provisions that we take on trips out of the Jewish travel-sphere.

Travel Info:

Yukon is one of Canada’s 3 territories located in the northwest corner of the country, bordering Alaska to the west and the Northwest Territories to the east. It is larger than California. The population is small; the land is big, wide, bright (in summer) and startlingly empty. Two thirds of Yukoners live in the capital, named Whitehorse by early settlers because the swirling mists over the wild Yukon River reminded them of the flowing manes of galloping white stallions.

Whitehorse International Airport has 2 daily flights from Vancouver and sporadic flights from some northern Canadian communities. We rented a car and headed west towards Haines Junction, YT. The famed Alaska Highway is a well-paved 2-lane blacktop connecting British Columbia and Alaska. The road was built to protect the area from Japanese invasion during WWII.

Haines Junction is about a 2-hour drive from Whitehorse. Once you leave town, there are no traffic lights. There is no traffic. The only reason to stop is to gape at the scenery, because gaping and driving do not mix. This area is draped with green forests and sweeping snowcapped mountain in all directions. Throw in some emerald lakes and rushing glacier-fed rivers and you get the idea. The Yukon Department of Highways has wisely placed scenic turnoffs along the road to allow everyone to stop and breathe in the beauty.

Haines Junction is the first town west of Whitehorse. Its population is about 800. It is located at the junction of the Alaska and Haines Highways, hence the name. In addition to some houses ranging from shacks to lovely homes, the town has a general store/post office/bank, an upscale café, 3 motels, a school, a sports facility, gas stations and a brand new convention center, all surrounded by those omnipresent snowcapped mountains. There is a traffic signal at the actual intersection to handle all the activity. Our motel, the Alcan, (http://alcanmotorinn.com) faced a ridge of craggy mountains. The room was clean, modern and comfortable, with microwave and fridge. The view was always magnificent, as the colors and clouds and angle of the sun changed during the very very very long days. At 11PM we closed the shades to keep out the sunlight and went to sleep.

Due to its central location, Haines Junction also serves as the headquarters of Kluane (KLOO-AH-NEE) National Park and Reserve which encompasses the entire southwest corner of the Yukon, including Canada’s highest mountain peaks. At the visitors center we were able to get good information on what highlights the park offered. No roads enter the park, but the highway travels along its eastern flank. From the road, there are many trails from a half-kilometer to 7 days in length. We chose a few that led to lakes. We were not warned us about mosquitoes, but now you have been. As a precaution, we always made noise to scare away the bears. And we saw bears. They were just off the road, placidly munching on dandelions. They didn’t seem to mind when we stopped the car and got out to take a closer look.

Our second day in Kluane, we drove north to a different section with different topography. This area is drier, higher and windier. No mosquitoes. We selected the recommended 5km hike called Sheep’s Creek. It was tough going with steep switchbacks, narrow paths and little shade. But the views as we climbed higher and higher were spectacular. Rows upon rows of mountains reflected the sun off their icy slopes in a 360 degree panorama. Glaciers. Waterfalls. Flower-filled valleys. We picnicked alone on the peak until some hikers from Belgium joined us. The walk down was quicker.

Back in the car we headed next for the log cabin ghost town of Silver City. It is hardly mentioned in guide books, and not on any maps, but we managed to find it after a few wrong turns. Secluded in a small forest, near a lake, this “town” was abandoned in 1920 and left to the elements. A few buildings remain in various stages of collapse, but there was still enough left to get an idea of what it must have been like.

Backtracking via Whitehorse – there are no other roads – we drove into the Yukon’s Deep South, and the scenery actually improved. Bigger mountains, larger lakes, grander vistas. We stopped for a self-heating lunch (www.labriutemeals.com) in the small settlement of Carcross, an old town full of souvenir shops and a modern visitor’s center, plus vintage trains and an historical wooden railroad bridge. Driving further south, towards the Alaska panhandle, the terrain took a very bizarre turn. The valley floors became filled with small lakes connected by creeks and little waterfalls. Mossy rock mounds rose and fell. The trees seemed dwarfed, but the panoramas were huge.

Yukon was an amazing and easy outdoors experience.

This list was compiled by our community of Kosher travelers. Thank you to everyone to contributed!
(There is no doubt that this list is incomplete. If there are restaurants that are not listed that have a Sukkah, please comment below.)

To get YeahThatsKosher updates via email, click here.

Find us on Facebook and Twitter for more frequent updates.

New York
Manhattan

• Talia’s Steakhouse
• Colbeh
  32 West 39th Street
• Le Marais
• Wolf & Lamb
• Mike’s Pizzeria and Italian Kitchen
  92nd and Amsterdam
• Circa NY
  22 West 33rd Street
• Jerusalem 2 Marketplace (Pizza)
• Mr. Broadway
• Olympic Pita
• Schnitzel Express
  W39th street & Broadway
• Milk & Honey
• Kosher Deluxe
  10 W46th st
• Noah’s Ark
  399 Grand St.
• Bagels & Co.
• Eighteen Restaurant Deli & Grill
  240 East 81st Street
• Prime Grill
  60 East 49th Street
• Prime Ko
  217 West 85th Street

Brooklyn

• Mendelsohn’s Pizza
• China Glatt
  4413 13th Ave.
• Dougies BBQ
  4310 18th Avenue
• Nosh Express
• Pizza Nosh (Nostrand Ave)
• Pizza Nosh (Ave J)
• Pizza Time
• Estihana (Ave J)
• Jerusalem 2 Pizza (Ave J)
• Jerusalem 2 Pizza (Ave M)
• Kosher Delight (Ave J)
• Pizza World (Coney Is. Ave)
• Bon Appetit
• Subsational (Cony Is. Ave)
• Moshi Moshi
• Amazon Cafe
• Sunflower Cafe
• Cafe Renaissance
• Slices of Brooklyn
• Back to Nature
• Moishes Pizza (Ave P)
• Crawford’s (new location – Coney Is Ave)
• Basil Pizza & Wine Bar (Crown Heights)
• Cafe Venezia
• Carlos & Gabby’s (Coney Is. Ave
• Savor Cafe (Ave P & Nostrand Ave)
• NU Cafe 47
  4709 New Utrecht Avenue
• Orchidea
  4815 12th Avenue
• Sophie’s Bistro
  1904 Coney Island Avenue
• T Fusion Steakhouse
  3223 Quentin Road
• Tea for Two Lite
  2811 Nostrand Avenue
• Tea for Two Sushi & Noodle Bar
  1320 East 19th Street
• Yummy Grill

Long Island (5 Towns & North Shore)

• Carlos & Gabby’s
• Shnitzel Time
• David’s Famous Pizza
• Burger’s Bar
• King David Delicatessen
  550 Central Avenue
• Bistro Grill (Broadway)
• Colbeh (Great Neck)
  75 N. Station Plaza
• Colbeh (Roslyn)

Queens

• Kosher Corner Dairy Cafe
  73-01 Main Street
• Grill Point
• Bennys (Union Tpke)
• L’Bella (Main St)
• Yotveta (Union Tpke)
• Chosen Garden (108th st)
• Bagels & Co (Union Tpke)
• Benjys (Main st)
• Benjys 2 (Union Tpke)
• Kosher Subway
• Shimon’s Pizza
• Grill Palace (108 St)

Riverdale

• Riverdelight
  3534 Johnson Avenue

Monsey

• Grand Bamboo
  106 Route 59
• Bagel D’ Lox
• Kosher Castle

New Jersey

• Blackberry Bistro
  401 Main Street Allenhurst
• Fumio Sushi & Steakhouse
  21 East Northfield Road, Livingston
• Glatt Star Restaurant
  155 Elmora Avenue, Elizabeth
• Jerusalem Glatt Kosher Restaurant
  6410 Ventnor Avenue, Ventnor (Atlantic City)

Teaneck
• Fish of the C’s
  454 Cedar Lane
• Smokey Joe’s BBQ
  494 Cedar Lane
• Etc. Steakhouse
  1409 Palisade Ave
• Burger’s Bar
• Nobo Wine & Grill (formerly The Pasta Factory)
  1400 Palisade Avenue
• Mocha Bleu
• Sababa
• The General Store

Philadelphia, PA

• Mama’s Vegetarian
  18 South 20th Street
• Max & David’s
  8120 Old York Road, Elkins Park, PA

Niagara Falls, ON, Canada

• Niagara Kosher Pizza
  5930 Victoria Ave (Sukkah located at Chabad – corner of Stanley Ave & Dixon St.)

Montreal, QC, Canada

• Exception’s
• Chez Papa Ernie
  5839 Decarie Blvd
• Ernie & Ellie

Atlanta, GA

• Pita Palace
• Broadway Cafe

Washington, DC

• Eli’s
• Sienna’s (Rockville, MD)

Chicago

• Great Chicago
• Kosher Korner
• Mizrahi Grill
• Sandwich Club
• Shallots
• Slice Of Life
• Hy Life
• Ta’boun

Boston

• Cafe Eilat (Brookline)
• Harvard Hillel Dining Hall (Cambridge)

Florida
Miami Beach, FL

• 41 on the Bay
  4101 Pine Tree Drive (Tower 41)
• Rare Steakhouse
  468 41st Street
• Cine Citta Cafe Miami
  9544 Harding Avenue, Surfside
• Cine Citta Grill
  9472 Harding Avenue, Surfside

Boca Raton, FL

• Sagi’s Grill
  22767 State Road 7
• European Corner Cafe
• Asia

Baltimore

• Dunkin’ Donuts
  Reisterstown Road

Los Angeles

• Fish Grill (W. Pico Blvd)
• Fish Grill (Beverly Blvd)
• Fish Grill (Across from Malibu Pier – Malibu, CA)

Oakland, CA

• Amba Falafel

Denver

• East Side Kosher Deli

- – -
SOUTH AFRICA
The following Beth Din licensed establishments in Johannesburg have erected Sukkot which have been inspected and approved as kosher by the Beth Din:

• Burger Box
• Café Genesis
• Café Monroe
• Corner Café
• Michelos
• Mooz
• Nandos
• PK’s

Jerusalem, Israel

• 1868
  10 King David St 02-6222312
• Ahavat Haiam
  Ben-Zvi Ave. 02-6236767
• Alma
  16 Rivlin Street 02-5020069
• Angelica
  7 Shatz St. 02-6230056
• BABA
  31 Emek Refaim 02-5611344
• BABA Talpiot
  22 Yad Haruzim st. Talpiot 02-6784054
• Belinda
  Wolfson Complex 02-5633995
• Ben Ami
  38 Emek Refaim 02-6510070
• Benny’s Fish
  1 Mesilat Yesharim Street 02-6252403
• Beit Hamaayan
  14 Hamaayan St. Ein Karem 02-6448840
• Black Bar N Burger
  18 Shlomtzion Hamalka 02-6246767
• Buffalo Steak House
  54 Emek Refaim 02-5611325
• Cafe Bagina
  74 Derech Beit Lechem 02-6720825
• Cafe Inbal
  25 Ein Karem Rd 02-6446533
• Caffit
  35 Emek Refaim Street 02-5635284
• Canela
  8 Shlomzion Hamalka Street 02-6222293
• CupOJoe
  38 Keren Hayesod St 02-5610555
• Dolce Latte
  45 Jaffa Road 02-6222238
• El Gaucho
  22 Rivlin Street 02-6242227
• Eucalyptus
  14 Hativat Yerushalayim, 02-6244331
• Feelin
  4 Yad Haruzim, Talpiot 02-6502671
• Gabriel
  7 Shimon Ben Shetach 02-6246444
• Gabriela
  5 Shimon Ben Shetach 02-6246261
• Grill Bar
  1 HaSoreg Street 02-6223761
• Hachazer
  7 Derech Beit Lechem 02-6719922
• Hamishpacha
  12 Yoel Solomon 02-6236886
• Hafinjan
  149 Agrippas St., Jerusalem 02-6222241
• HaTagin
  15 Yad Harutzim Street 02-6725255
• Heimishe Essen
  19 Keren Kayemet Street 02-5639845
• Herzl
  13 Mamila 02-5020555
• Jan’s Tea House
  5 Chopin Street, Jerusalem 02-5612054
• Joy Restaurant
  24 Emek Refaim 02-5630033
• Kedma
  Mamilla Shopping mall, 3rd floor 02-5003737
• Keshet Hachurva
  2 Tiferet Israel 02-6287515
• Keyara
  8 Ramban St 02-5663271
• Kohinoor
  Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza 02-6536667
• Korusin
  Malcha Mall/4 Luntz Street 02-6242042
• La Boca 46 Emek Refaim 02-5635577
• La Guta
  34 Derech Beit Lechem 02-6232322
• Little Italy
  38 Keren Hayesod Street 02-5617638
• Little Jm Anna Ticho House
  9 Harav Kook Street 02-6244186
• Luigi
  12 Yoel Salomon Street 02-6232524
• Luigi Katamon
  35 Shai Agnon Street 02-5633338
• Luciana
  27 Emek Refaim 02-5630111
• Marvad Haksamim
  42 Emek Refaim 02-5670007
• Masaryk
  31 Emek Refaim 02-5636418
• Maxin
  30 Beit Hakerem 02-6535666
• Nina’s Bagel Cafe
  7 Paran Street, Ramot Eshkol 02-5815434
• Noya
  3 Shlomtzion Hamalka St. 02-6257311
• Olive
  36 Emek Refaim 02-5611102
• Olive & Fish
  2 Jabotinsly Street 02-5665020
• Osaka Asian
  1 Helene Hamalka 02-6233787
• Parash
  Commercial Center, Kiriyat Yovel 02-6417389
• Papagaio
  3 Yad Harutzim St. 02-6745745
• Pera E Mela
  Safra Square 02-6230280
• Pichonka
  Nes Harim 02-5799904
• Polly
  1 Yehuda St. Baka 02-6714888
• Quarter Cafe
  11 Tiferet Yisrael Street, Old City 02-6287770
• Rachela
  5 Havatzelet Street 02-6245613
• Red Heifer Steakhouse
  38 King George Street 02-6240504
• River Noodle Bar
  6 Rabbi Akiva Street 02-6222083
• RYU
  25 Emek Refaim 02-5611344
• Selina
  24 Emek Refaim 02-5672049
• Sheyan
  8 Ramban Street 02-5612007
• Shmil At The Lab
  28 Derech Hebron 02-6409080
• Simone
  49 Derech Hebron 02-6729950
• Sofia
  Inbal Hotel 02-6756689
• Soya
  1 Rachel Imenu, Jerusalem 02-5666777
• The Spaghettis
  Mamilla Shopping mall, 3rd floor 02-5003636
• Sushi Bar Rehavia
  29 Azza Street 02-5667477
• Sushi Bar Rehavia on the Emek
  48 Emek Refaim 02-5637777
• Spoons
  21 Ha-Oren Ein kerem 02-6235778
• Taiku
  31 Emek Refaim 02-5665262
• Tmol Shilshom
  5 Yoel Salomon 02-6232758
• Vaqueiro
  54 Haneviim Street 02-6247432
• Village Green
  33 Jaffa Road 02-6253065
• Waffle Bar
  41 Derech Bet Lechem

To get YeahThatsKosher updates via email, click here.

Sources:

• Koshertopia
• Great Kosher Restaurants
• eLuna
• Our Facebook fans & Twitter followers – Thanks for helping put this together!

King David’s Pizza on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls has closed due to a fire. It is set to reopen as Bat-Yam Shawarma & Falafel on April 1, 2011.

There is a new place called Niagara Kosher Pizza located at 5930 Victoria Ave, in Niagara Falls, Canada. NiagaraKosherPizza.com

As we know, eating meat is considered festive and therefore forbidden (without a siyum) during the 9 days. Thus, many meat restaurants have created special pareve (non meat or dairy) menus to stay open during the 9 Days. To learn more about why we don’t eat meat (or drink wine) during the Nine Days, click here. (Thank you to Great Kosher Restaurants for compiling this list)

Be aware that most of the links below will open PDF files.

(UPDATE: See the comments section below for more restaurants, please comment if you have restaurants to add)

NEW YORK

MANHATTAN

• Eden Wok- Nine Days Menu
• Eighteen Restaurant- Nine Days Menu
• Le Marais- Nine Days Menu
• Mike’s Bistro- Nine Days Menu
• Mr. Broadway- Nine Days Menu
• Talia’s Steakhouse- Nine Days Menu
• Wolf & Lamb- Nine Days Menu
• Chop Chop- Nine Days Menu

BROOKLYN

• Back to Nature- Nine Days Menu
• Carlos & Gabby’s will be closed during the 9 Days and will reopen on Wed., July 21st at 1pm
• China Glatt- Nine Days Special (Buy one sushi, get one free – Note they will be closed Sun, Mon & Tues of next week)
• Dougie’s BBQ- Open with pareve dishes
• Estihana- Open with a pareve menu
• Glatt A La Carte- Nine Days Menu
• M Restaurant- Nine Days Menu
• Orchedia- lunch buffet for $20 is available during the 9 Days

LONG ISLAND

• Chosen Island- Nine Days Menu

NEW ROCHELLE

• Eden Wok- Nine Days Menu

NEW JERSEY

• Fish of the C’s (Teaneck) – Nine Days Menu
• Fumio Sushi & Steakhouse (Livingston)- Nine Days Menu
• Smokey Joe’s BBQ (Teaneck)- will be open Sunday July 18th with a special 9 days menu. Smokey Joe’s will be closed Mon, July 12 through Thursday July 15.
• The Pasta Factory (Teaneck)(soon to be Nobo Wine & Grill)- Nine Days Menu
• The Reserve (Lakewood)- Nine Days Menu

PHILADELPHIA, PA

• Max & David’s will be open with plenty of fish and vegetarian options

MIAMI BEACH, FL

• Rare Steakhouse will be open for the Nine Days, featuring their full line of sushi as well as several daily fish specials

SKOKIE, IL

• Slice of Life has a Full Dairy, Fish and Vegetarian Menu available, with all Three Dining Rooms will Open for Seating to Accommodate Any Size Group

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA

• The Kitchen Table- Nine Days Lunch Menu | Dinner Menu

MONTREAL, QC

• El Morocco & Morty’s Steakhouse will be open during the Nine Days and feature an extensive Fish and Mock Seafood menu.
• Ernie & Ellie- Nine Days Menu

Enjoying the Vancouver Olympic Games but can’t find what to eat? Thankfully, there is some kosher food in Vancouver to keep you satiated and perhaps titillate your taste buds.

There are at least 5 kosher eateries in the Vancouver area (although none are downtown):

• Sabra Glatt Kosher Restaurant & Bakery (3844 Oak Street) [Meat]
• Pini’s Kosher (729 West 16th Ave.) [Dairy]
• Nava (located in the lobby of the JCC – 950 West 41st Ave) [Dairy]
• Maple Grill (1967 W. Broadway) [Meat]
• Falafel Plus & Catering (446 W 8th Ave)

To read more about these restaurants, check out our “Kosher Travel” post on Vancouver, BC.

Use the BC Kosher website as an additional resource while in Vancouver and the surrounding area.

If you’ve found other places & ways to keep kosher at this year’s games, please let us know and comment below!

Feel free to repost this to your blog, but please include the original link to this post: http://yeahthatskosher.com/2010/02/keeping-kosher-at-the-2010-winter-olympics-in-vancouver

Contributed by: Dani Klein | Last Date of Travel: August 2009

Kosher Info: Vancouver was a city I did not expect to find many kosher options, and was surprised to have a found a few.
One thing to keep in mind: most, if not all of the places I will list, close early – especially if you’re from New York or Toronto. Really early.

I met a few friends and colleagues at Sabra Glatt Kosher Restaurant & Bakery (3844 Oak Street), which has a sit down meat restaurant, and a take out section as well. The food has a mix of Israeli with other Middle Eastern flavors. The soups were good, and the main dishes were pretty tasty as well. This was not a fancy restaurant, but good enough to hit the spot when on vacation. Sabra closes at 8pm or earlier, so check in advance.

Pini’s Kosher (729 West 16th Ave.) is a pizza place and a kosher market combined. The pizza slices were quite small, and the flavor is nothing to write home about. I guess you cant complain about kosher pizza when traveling far from home. The market carried many American and Israeli kosher products.

On our last day in Vancouver, we headed to the JCC for lunch. Nava is a Dairy Restaurant located in the lobby of the JCC (950 West 41st Ave). They had pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salads, and soups. Although it was a fast food sort of cafe, the food was relatively fancy and tasty, and I highly recommend eating there. The cafe also has to abide by the hours of the JCC, so call in advance for their schedule.

Sadly, there were some places I did not get to try when in Vancouver:

• Maple Grill seems to be a meat restaurant that is a fusion of multiple cuisines (1967 W. Broadway).
• Falafel Plus & Catering (446 W 8th Ave)

Please keep in mind that none of the kosher restaurants are in the downtown or West End area of Vancouver, which is really the nicest place to stay. You’ll need a car to access the restaurants, which is relatively close by, all under a 15 minute drive from the West End neighborhood (where we stayed).

For an up to date list, contact the Orthodox Rabbinical Council of British Columbia (BCK) before you travel.

Travel Info: Vancouver is an amazingly beautiful and clean city. There is a hustle and bustle, yet looking at the nearby mountains makes it serene. In fact, many films (portraying large cities) are filmed there.
I loved exploring the streets and parks of Vancouver, especially Stanley Park on the tip of the West End. Stanley Park is an amazing place to walk, jog, roller blade, or ride a bike. We decided to rent bikes nearby and take the path around the seawall of Stanley Park. The views of the city, and the mountains were amazing. The seawall actually extends beyond the limits of the park into the city, allowing all those who stroll along to take in it’s amazing views. Many tour guides and books actually recommend biking the seawall as one their top things to do in Vancouver, and I agree.

Another great place to visit and explore is Granville Island, situated directly across from downtown Vancouver. Granville Island, actually a peninsula, is a former industrial manufacturing area, but is now a major tourist destination, with amenities such as a public market, a large marina, a hotel, and a major shopping area. Granville has shows and a nightlife as well. We had a great time exploring the Granville shops, the fresh food market, and the views of downtown Vancouver.

Directly north of the city is Grouse Mountain, a great place to escape the steel and pavement and experience nature. Driving to the foot of Grouse Mt. takes less than 15 min from downtown Vancouver without traffic. On the way we stopped by the Capilano Fish Hatchery, which produces 3 million salmon each year. Nearby is the Capilano Suspension Bridge (which we did not get to experience) which has breathtaking views and gives you insight into rainforest trails through magnificent evergreens and the unique perspective of a walk high in the trees.

Once you’re at Grouse Mountain, you have a bunch of options, depending on the season. During the summertime, you’ll enjoy the SkyRide to the top of the mountain, giving you amazing views of the entire city of Vancouver. When we arrived to the top, we were greeted by thick morning fog which did not allow us to see more than a few feet ahead of us (that eventually cleared around 12pm). Every hour or so there is a hokie but cute lumberjack show, which the kids will definitely find enjoyable. There are 2 grizzly bears that live at the mountain’s wildlife refuge. A tour guide gives you some background as to how they got there. For extra fees, they offer ziplining between mountains, paragliding, and other outdoor activities. Word of advice to those visiting Grouse (especially in the summer): no matter the time of year, dress warm. It is at least 10-20 degrees colder at the top than the bottom.

In the wintertime, Grouse Mountain is a ski resort. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and skiing / snowboarding the slopes. Grouse is probably the closest ski resort to any major city I can think of. Grouse Mountain is hosting some events for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

An off the beaten place we found in Vancouver was the University of British Columbia (UBC) Museum of Anthropology. It was a very educational and fascinating museum, with many statues and artifacts about the Native Americans / Canadians whom are called “First Peoples” as well as British Columbian anthropological history and culture.

Jewish Info: While we did not spend Shabbat in Vancouver, or stay in the Jewish community there, the Jews we did meet were very friendly and warm. We also saw many Israelis around the city which wasn’t expected. If you are looking to spend Shabbat there, contact the Chabad which has centers Downtown, Vancouver’s residential area, and out in the burbs in Richmond: Chabad of British Columbia.