Vancouver Granville Island Market Food Tour Review
This is part of a series of interviews with inspiring travelers. Today I’m interviewing Gigi Griffis about her Vancouver Granville Island Market food tour. See more about traveling with tours here. All photos provided by Gigi.
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Tell us about yourself and your travel experience.
Hey there! My name is Gigi. I’ve been traveling internationally since I was 14. My first trip was to Australia and the main goal was to see a kangaroo (check).
I’ve been hooked ever since, so it makes sense that four years ago (May 2012), I decided to ditch my permanent address and take to the road full-time with my backpack, freelance writing business, and small dog.
I’ve been mostly traveling in Europe since then (Belgium, Scotland, Switzerland, Italy, France, Croatia, Slovenia…etc.), but am currently spending four months in Vancouver, Canada.
For a living, I write books, blog posts, websites, and magazine articles. And for fun, I’m a reader, hiker, dancer, cook/foodie, and adventurer. I love trying new things, especially when it comes to food or the outdoors.
Where did you go on your tour and how long was it? How many food stops were there?
This particular tour had nine stops, mostly at stalls throughout the market, over the course of several hours.
What tour company did you use and why?
This tour was with Vancouver Foodie Tours. I reached out to them because they get great ratings online and they invited me on the Granville Island Market Tour.
Why did you choose a tour instead of traveling independently?
We will definitely be doing lots more independent exploring at the market, but without this tour I never would have discovered some of my favorite things. Like the doughnut from Lee’s Doughnuts. I’m not a doughnut person, so I wouldn’t have bought one on my own.
Turns out it was one of my favorite things at the market. Which is one of the reasons I love food tours; they get me outside my normal food mode and trying new things.
What did you like about the Vancouver Granville Island Market tour? What was your favorite part?
Everything! This is one of my all-time favorite tours I’ve been on. The tour guide was great. The market is amazing. And the doughnuts were really amazing.
What did you learn about Vancouver’s Granville Island from the food tour?
I had no idea that Granville Island was the second most popular Canadian destination!
Was there anything you didn’t like about the tour?
I didn’t love the first dish—a veggie bowl that felt a bit bland to me.
What was your favorite food on the Vancouver Granville Island food tour?
It was a three-way tie between the doughnut, which was honey-glazed and just made, the rosemary sourdough bread, and the charcuteries.
What inspired you to take the Vancouver Granville Island Market tour or travel to Vancouver?
We’re staying in Vancouver for four months because it’s my partner’s favorite city in North America and because I’d never been and have been wanting to go. We chose this tour company because they got great reviews and ended up on this specific tour because that’s the one they recommended and invited us on.
Would you recommend this tour? Would you change anything about it?
Absolutely! Best tour we’ve been on yet. It’s a great way to see the market without finding it overwhelming. Plan on spending some time there afterward, too. You’ll want to go pick up more after you get that first taste.
Do you think this tour would be good for a new traveler? Why or why not?
Food tours are always a good option for newbies. They’ll get you oriented to the place and help you figure out what you like and where to go back for more.
Bio: Gigi Griffis is a world-traveling entrepreneur and writer with a special love for inspiring stories, new places, and living in the moment. In May 2012, she sold her stuff and took to the road with a growing business and a pint-sized pooch. She’s blogs at gigigriffis.com and has authored 10 unconventional travel guides in the last two years. Check them out on Amazon here.
Gigi received a complementary tour but all opinions are her own.
You might also enjoy:
- Washington, DC Food Tour Review
- Atlanta Food Walks Review
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- Why Group Size Matters on a Food Tour
- When is it Worth Booking a Tour?
Ali is an expert at packing and loves to travel. On Travel Made Simple, she shares her best tips for packing less, dealing with layovers, planning travel itineraries, and more tips that will help you have the best vacation. Originally from the US, she now lives in Berlin, Germany with her husband and their adorable Yorkie.