Saltwater Sounds: Making Memories in Vancouver, B.C.

Welcome to Saltwater Sounds, a collection of ideas, tips, and inspiration. Here, I share everything happening in the world of Shiplap and Shells, what’s to come, and the inspiration I’ve found from other bloggers around the web.

This and That

We are home after five weeks on the boat.

I have mixed emotions, for sure. Our annual summer boating trip was probably the best one yet. There were so many new adventures. I got some amazing sleep on the boat from the peaceful rocking, as I usually don’t sleep very well at home.

But I am so happy to be home again. I missed my sweet little beach cottage, and I look forward to starting to decorate for the fall season.

I’ve missed the garden the most. As you can imagine, it’s completely changed since we left the house on August 10th. I can’t believe sweet peas are still growing!

It will be fun to return to the flowers and get my hands dirty again. I can’t wait to show you around again next week.

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Places We Visited on the 2024 Boat Trip

We changed our itinerary at least four times during the trip. Here’s where we ended up:

Gulf Islands

Desolation Sound

San Juan Islands

Vancouver, B.C. Canada

Today, I’m sharing our first boat visit to Vancouver, which exceeded our expectations.

Our e-bikes allowed us to see many different areas around Vancouver we wouldn’t have been able to walk to because of their location. We’re glad we bought them for this trip. It’s hard to believe, but we put over 85 miles on our bikes during this vacation.

Our Anchoring Spot

Luckily, there was enough room to anchor at the end of False Creek, near the BC Place Stadium and Science World.

I think you’ll agree that this was a gorgeous spot to hang out for a couple of days.

We were in Vancouver through Labor Day weekend, so there was a lot of partying. There were times when my husband and I felt very old.

We didn’t realize that they celebrate Labor Day in Vancouver, too. It was busy!

There were water taxis everywhere we looked as well.

Stanley Park

We enjoyed a long bike ride through Stanley Park one day. What I loved about Vancouver is that they have bike lanes throughout the city, so we felt a lot safer than most of the places we were in.

Granville Island Market

The Granville Island Public Market was another destination we could enjoy because of our bikes. There was a lot to see!

They had great quality fruits and vegetables.

We also bought fresh pasta for the homemade spaghetti sauce I made on the boat during the thunderstorms the week before.

We had dinner at the Mexican Restaurant across the street.

It was a hot day, so we welcomed the shade and a cool margarita.

Above is a lavender store with some great display ideas.

Maiwa Granville Island had the most beautiful textiles. They had sheets and pillowcases.

There were several fabric options here, including beautiful white and natural linens.

Table runners and clothes were available in many patterns and prints.

The Granville Island Broom Co. is one of those stores that was fun to walk through but a bit out of our price range.

All the Flowers in Vancouver

The city of Vancouver has many gorgeous seasonal flowers along its streets and community gardens. The combination of ageratum and impatiens was vibrant.

The zinnias and spider flowers added interest to these gorgeous garden beds along the bike and walking lanes.

Take a look at the other flower containers for fall inspiration.

Next Week’s Share

I’m sharing the rest of the trip next week so we can wrap up the boating and start diving into fall home decor and gardening ideas and inspiration. Here’s what you can look forward to:

From the Blog

Fall Perennials That Will Give Your Cottage Garden the Wow Factor

Are you looking for fall perennials to give your cottage garden the “wow factor”? Follow along as I share some of my favorite autumn perennial plants to grow in your flower garden beds this season… CONTINUE READING.

Add Warmth for Fall With Vintage Copper Kitchen Accessories

Embrace the cozy fall season by mixing warm vintage copper kitchen accessories with your fall home decor. In this post, I’ll share the timeless charm of copper and how these accessories can elevate your autumnal ambiance… CONTINUE READING.

My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week

I’ll be making this four-ingredient tomato sauce with my tomatoes from the garden.

Here’s a Sag Harbor home you’ll love.

This pumpkin vase is a creative way to show off your fall flowers.

I’m trying this slow cooker chicken and creamy orzo recipe this month.

How pretty is this Minnesota classic cottage?

Thinking of painting furniture this fall? Here’s the perfect painting guide for you.

This charming historic home with a lake view.

Nothing says fall quite like some apple cider doughnut bread with cinnamon sugar topping!

You’ll love this easy DIY fall leaf garland from old book pages.

I’d love to hear from you! Please leave a comment and let me know what you’d like to see on the blog. Thank you for being here.

Until next time,

Wishing a wonderful week ahead,

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