The Hotel Alimandi Vaticano is ideally located for people wanting to visit the Vatican, as it is located across the street from the entrance to the Vatican Museums.   It takes a bit longer to get into the heart of Rome though.

Rooms were modern and comfortable, and a decent size by European standards.  The bathroom had a bit of an odd smell upon arrival, but that dissipated fairly quickly.  Their breakfast buffet is one of the best I've seen, with scrambled eggs, sausages, cheeses, etc...  Much better than the typical breakfast you get in European hotels.

A top notch French/Latin fusion restaurant that I found while doing searches on food websites.  It's a bit out of the way from downtown Montreal (a neighbourhood favourite that's good enough to be a destination restaurant).  There are some cool toys as decorations, and the food is outstanding.  I've had amazing ceviche, lamb, and foie gras with fig dishes and would definitely go anytime I'm in Montreal.

I've generally only gone to the Vancouver Art Gallery for special exhibitions since I've been more interested in the collections they bring in during that time (such as the Rijksmuseum collection or the Monet to Dali exhibition).   Though those exhibitions can be a bit expensive, they are well presented and are an opportunity to see art that would usually require a trip to Europe (or at least New York).

Excellent place to get bagels.  I bought some sesame seed bagels and they had a nice slightly sweet taste to them.  They're good with cream cheese too, and you can buy day old bagels at a discount.

The statue of David is very impressive up close and definitely merits some time sitting around and admiring it.  There are also some decent paintings and some other Michelangelo sculptures to look at, but certainly nothing that would compare to the Uffizi or Bargello for paintings and sculptures respectively.

The Palazzo Davanzati is worth a look if you're in the area.  It's free and you can see the inside of a medieval noble tower house.  There's not too much else to see here (other than some furniture), although there are some very nice frescoes in The Parrot Room and the life scenes of the Lady of Vergi in the bedroom.

This Montreal restaurant is noted for incorporating foie gras into many dishes and in many inventive ways.  The food is very rich, but oh so tasty.  The foie gras poutine was very delicious, if probably overkill in terms of richness, but the highlight for me was the "duck in a can".  Basically duck stuffed and sealed in a can with carrots and foie gras.  They open the can at the table for you, and it all comes plopping out on a plate of mashed potatoes.  Not very elegant, but extremely good.  I even bought a couple cans to take home with me as takeout!

The Baptistry is an impressive sight next to the Duomo in Florence.  Your attention is first caught by the exquisitely carved doors (albeit copies now) by Ghiberti.  They look like they recede in distance despite being carved on a mostly flat surface.  The east doors are known as the Gates of Paradise, from Michelangelo's comment about  how "They are so magnificent they could adorn the gates of Paradise."

Inside is a vaulted ceiling covered in golden mosaics detailing scenes from the Bible.  The mosaics date from the 13th century and are an impressive sight, although you may get a crink in your neck from looking up.  I ended up lying on a bench to admire the mosaics.

The Capilano Watershed area around the Cleveland Dam is pleasant to look at and take a stroll around, but there isn't too much in particular to see here out of the ordinary.

I went to Nuba last week and shared the appetizer platter and a chicken dish with a couple friends.  Food was tasty and the atmosphere was quite pleasant.  Portion sizes are smaller than some other Middle Eastern restaurants that I've been to, but the hummus and baba ganoush was still enough to fill me.  Nuba is also more upscale than those hole-in-the-wall places.

Went to Tojo's with friends and had the 5 course Omakase menu ($80).  Omakase means "It's up to you" and leaves the dishes up to the chef (although you can mention allergies and particularly strong dislikes).   Highlights of our Omakase meal included the deep fried tuna roll, the sashimi salad, and the sushi sampler, which was a collection of Tojo's greatest hits. Hidekazu Tojo is a legend, and the quality of the dishes (both ingredients and execution) lives up to that reputation.  Very delicious!

Was it worth it?  That's a bit harder to to say.  The food was definitely outstanding - the best Japanese food that I've had.  Vancouver is pretty noted for inexpensive food though, so the gap in price between Tojo's and an average Japanese restaurant is probably much greater to Vancouverites than to visitors who may be more accustomed to paying large amounts for Japanese food back home.  I'd go again, but would probably reserve it for special occasions for sure.  Omakase would be a memorable experience for visitors though.

As a side note, Tojo's is a good place to go celebrity spotting.  We saw an Olympic short-track speed-skating medalist (Jordan Malone) when we went, and it's reportedly a favourite spot for many celebrities while in town.

I've gone to the Lions Pub a couple times to watch hockey games.  Had the Linden appetizer platter as well as some nachos and chicken fingers as part of a group.  Food was pretty tasty - above average by pub standards, and the service was good.   Prices were quite reasonable. 

Lynn Canyon is an excellent place to go hiking near Vancouver.  The park contains a number of trails as well as the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge.  This bridge is a good free alternative to the Capilano Suspension Bridge.  It is shorter (155 feet long) and not as high (150 feet above the water) than the Capilano Suspension Bridge, but still provides strong thrills.  The bridge can get quite bouncy if there's a lot of people on it, and there are some good views of the waterfalls and other natural scenery in the area.

Ambleside Park is a pleasant place to take a walk in West Vancouver if you're in the area.  It has a sandy beach area and a shoreline walk that you could probably cover in 15 minutes.  There are also a bunch of recreational facilities and a nesting pond for Green Herons.  

It's probably not worth taking a trip out to West Vancouver just to see Ambleside Park, but it is a nice place to relax or get some exercise if you're in the area, and the views and breeze add to the pleasant atmosphere.

The Capilano Salmon Hatchery is located in North Vancouver and allows you to take a close up look at a salmon hatchery that is very important to the Pacific salmon runs.  Hatcheries differ from fish farms in that their goal is to release fish into the wild as opposed to raising them for food.

It's pretty cool to see the salmon trying to make it back via the fish ladders, and also see the salmon being raised through the various stages of their lifecycle before being released into the wild.  The hatchery is an important contributor to keeping the wild salmon numbers up, as they release nearly 100,000 salmon each year into the wild. 

Excellent aquarium that includes Beluga Whales and Dolphins.   The different region sections have quite different feels/climates to them and add to the atmosphere.

The Musee National du Moyen Age (Musee de Cluny) contains a number of medieval artifacts including some impressive stained glass windows and well preserved tapestries (including the famous set - The Lady and the Unicorn.)

The Neue Pinakothek contains a nice array of 18th to early 20th century European art and sculpture.  A significant part of the collection is from German artists who I wasn't as interested in (still of a high quality), but there is a good balance from other areas of Europe too.  My favourites were the Van Goghs and Monet's Bridge at Argenteuil.

Makoto Japanese Restaurant is run by Japanese people and has some interesting rolls such as the Volcano Roll (spicy tuna and deep fried scallops) and the Paradise Roll (crab, avocado, cucumber, mango, and salmon).  Those were quite tasty as were their regular rolls.  The Crispy California Roll (deep fried) was only okay though since it got a bit mushy with takeout.  Had a bit of trouble communicating with the staff about some spicy salmon sauce due to some language barriers.

Guu offers high quality izakaya dishes in a friendly and energetic environment.  The staff shouts out greetings in Japanese as you enter and leave.  I've been here quite a few times, and it has always been a good experience.

I usually ask for the party menu ($20 per person), and they bring out an assortment of dishes of their choice that is usually enough to leave one quite stuffed.  The specific dishes you get  varies each time.  The party menu doesn't seem to be advertised, so you may need to ask about it.

Personal favourites include the Salmon Carpaccio, the Ebi Mayo (Deep Fried Prawns),  the Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pancakes) and the Tako-yaki (fried Octopus dumplings).

Stayed at the Royal Solaris for 6 nights.  The rooms were comfortable and a good value, although probably slightly dated.  Location is towards the south end of the hotel zone, so it's a bit away from the main action, although easy enough to get to if you want. Service was very friendly and the food (both buffet and a la carte) was better than I expected.  Certainly worth the price we paid.

The beach area is definitely nice to lie around (although the waters may be too rough for swimming), while the waters are an amazing shade of blue.

Diva at the Met is a great place for a memorable meal.  The atmosphere is very classy and the food and service is excellent.  Went here for an anniversary dinner before and had the duck breast as my main.  You can also do a tasting menu.

Probably the best place in Vancouver for good cheap Chinese food.  In addition to the congee, the noodle dishes and rice rolls are excellent too.  We usually do takeout, but there's a large amount of seating in the restaurant.

Went to Kreation with a friend and picked out a few of their small desserts to try.   The look of the desserts are very appealing and mouthwatering and the tastes turned out to be quite balanced and flavourful.  My personal favourite was the earl grey chocolate mousse, which had a nice earl grey flavour imparted in the chocolate.  The green tea chestnut was also very tasty.  Looking forward to trying some of the pear desserts next time as the selection of the smaller desserts varies from day to day.

Japa Dog is a bit of a Vancouver phenomenon, providing hot dog options different from the typical hot dog cart.  They've expanded to two carts and are opening a storefront restaurant soon, and typically have lineups of hungry customers.

I've had the Spicy Cheese Terimayo before, but that may not be available temporarily due to changes in regulations.  That's my favourite hot dog, with spicy cheese, japanese mayo, seaweed, and teriyaki sauce.  The sauces make the Terimayo line quite flavourful and unique.  Terimayo hot dog prices are around $5-6.

Samurai Sushi is an excellent place for large (and cheap) sushi portions of good quality.  The House Roll is just over $8 and could easily feed one person, maybe two people with smaller appetites.  Over two inches in diameter, this roll is filled with ingredients such as tuna, salmon, tamago, and imitation crab, without having much rice.  Other good rolls include the Alaska Roll (salmon and imitation crab) and the Negitoro Roll.  Pretty much every item is a good value though.  We spent $37 for a party of 4 for dinner and had extra left over. 

Kintaro Ramen has received lots of raves for its ramen, including the Forest Fire Ramen (apparently only available on Saturdays).  This was my first time going here, and I had the BBQ Pork Ramen with fatty BBQ pork and the medium miso broth.  The broth was flavourful and the noodles were quite good, although I think I made a mistake with the fatty pork.  I find that fat adds flavour to food, but the amount of fat on the pork made me somewhat quesy.   I'd recommend getting the lean pork and perhaps the lean broth too, since seeing the amount of fat that gets scooped out of the broths is a little unappetizing.   All in all, pretty good food though, and quick service.

I finally made it to Vij's after hearing a lot about it over the years.  It is set in a nicely decorated space that includes elephant-patterned lanterns (notice the lighting on the walls as a result) and is usually buzzing with activity. 

We ordered five dishes for six people, plus two desserts.  That was a pretty reasonable amount to make us quite full.  Standout dishes included the extremely tender beef shortrib dish and the marinated lamb popsicles.   The kulfi (Indian ice cream) was also outstanding, although I'd say that all the dishes were at least good.

Ask for the free chai as well (which is delicious).
Vij's doesn't take reservations and is very popular, so be prepared to show up, put your name down, and wait in the lounge or wander around the area.  Another option is to show up before opening time (probably 30 mins plus before) and line up.

The Thai food at Sawasdee is quite good.  We had four dishes for a party of four, plus two coconut rices and two Thai iced teas, and it came out to around $80 including tax and tip.  That was enough food to fill us up and have some leftovers remaining.  I can't actually spell the dishes we had properly, except for the Penang Fish Curry, but the dishes appeared to be of a consistently good quality, so you can probably just decide based on your own tastes.

We're not very spice tolerant, so we found that medium hotness was actually fairly hot for our tastes.  If you don't like spicy foods, ask for mild.

The Parliament Building in Victoria is pretty interesting looking, with beautiful looking grounds, and a nice setting near the Inner Harbour.  Guided tours are available in the summer, and you can see the impressive looking interior as well as get a taste of BC's history.

Santa Monica Beach is a good place to go for a bike ride. There's a path that stretches for 22 miles from Malibu to Torrance, and it offers excellent scenery and atmosphere as it winds its way along the beach.

There isn't too much special to see along the walk - just a bunch of stars set into the sidewalk bearing the names of celebrities of various levels of fame. The most interesting parts are the street performers and the handprints and footprints in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater. There's some interesting history there.

The Uffizi Gallery has a great collection of Italian Renaissance works, including Botticellis, Raphaels, and Da Vincis. The museum itself is small compared to others such as the Louvre, although this just means that the scale is manageable and you can see everything in under a day.

Waits can be very long (2 hours for me in February), so reserving tickets in advance may be prudent.

An interesting place to learn about Irish history and the fight for independence. Well worth it if you like history and want to understand the country better.

The Guinness Factory offers an interesting look at the world of Guinness. You get a plastic souvenir encasing a few drops of Guinness, plus a free pint at the bar area at the top poured by experts.

This urban forest offers great views and well as excellent opportunities for walks, bike rides, and rollerblading around the seawall.

The CN Tower offers an excellent view of Toronto as well as some thrills from standing on the glass floor and looking down.

La Cabanita serves some excellent Mexican food.  I don't have much to compare it to (Mexican foodwise) in the past, but I can definitely say that their food stands up well compared to good meals in other cuisines.

The chips and salsa were outstanding.  I particularly liked the green salsa, and you could easily get full on that while waiting for your main dishes.  That's not to say that the service is slow, but that you could easily scarf down bowl after bowl of these chips.

Main dish consisted of an array of tacos (crispy pork skin, chicken & avocado, and carne asada).  All were excellent, although I was seriously stuffed by the end.

 

The British Museum has a massive collection of historical items from around the world.  Some of the highlights include the mummies and the Rosetta Stone.

This is a good place to go for a stroll or to pick up some supplies for a picnic.  An excellent array of breads, cheeses, meats, and other goodies.

Excellent vegetarian food at a very affordable price.  Some highlights include the Satay Salad and the Tight Spin (Goat cheese, pears, and vegetables).  There can be a significant wait for a table and service is often slow.

Wandering the streets through here can be very interesting.  One highlight was listening to a classical music performance by the cathedral.  The acoustics were very nice and the setting quite picturesque.

I like it.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is a very haunting place to visit.  It shows the destruction of Hiroshima and has many artifacts and exhibits about when the city stopped.  The ruined building in the middle of the modern city is a great reminder of the destruction of war, and gives one pause and reflection.