Lynn Canyon or Capilano Suspension Bridge Park?

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park: $67 per adult, $27 per kid

Lynn Canyon Park: Free

Guess which one the kids liked better?

Lynn Canyon!! (I could have saved myself a LOT of money.) Lynn Canyon is a little like Discovery Park, it's adjacent to a residential neighborhood, it's 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, and it feels like a world apart.

Waterfall, mossy giants, a (maybe unofficial) swimming hole, and a suspension bridge. Restrooms and cafe on site, and a parking lot that is free before March 1 and after Oct. 1.

Brr!

Vancouver, B.C.: Stanley Park, Robson St

Lunch date with these XLB enthusiasts. Dinesty is the real deal —they even have shao bing you tiao 燒餅油條 on their "breakfast" menu (anytime before 2:30 p.m.).

The boys' favorite thing to do in Vancouver is renting bikes and riding the 6-mile Stanley Park loop. The path is flat, paved and impossibly scenic.

For most of the ride, my view was of two dots disappearing into the distance.

At one point I completely lost sight of the kids and I panicked, did someone fall into the water? When I saw them stopped ahead (PHEW) I thanked them for waiting for me.

Paul: "I wasn't waiting for you. I was waiting to tattle! 我沒有在等你。我在等告狀!" (Joseph accidentally swerved into the pedestrian lane, and Paul just HAD to tell on him.)

Richmond, B.C.

I guess B.C. kids didn't have the week off from school, because Steveston Village was a ghost town and we had Terra Nova Adventure Park all to ourselves — except for a bald eagle keeping watch over the zip line!

Some photos out and about in Richmond. First stop, of course, was Yaohan Centre for my fan tuan fix.

This insane slide at Terra Nova adventure park.
Bald eagle!
Had the place to ourselves. Except for the eagle.
Fan tuan is like a Taiwanese burrito. I found out you can get a half and half, black and white rice. Life-changing. (Inexplicably, my children do not like fan tuan!!)
Made-to-order fan tuan bar at T&T Yaohan Centre.
Too cute man tou!
Herons, I think?
Pretty flowers at Garry Point Park.
A juvenile bald eagle?

Lion and dragon dance for Lunar New Year

Quintessential Seattle moment: Mak Fai Kung Fu Dragon & Lion Dance Association at Pike Place. I got there early, staked out a good spot with a long lens, waited... and GOT THE SHOT.

We closed out the 15th day of the Lunar New Year in the ID, which turned into one giant block party. So great to see the crowds and positive energy filling the neighborhood we love.

We found street parking a few blocks outside the neighborhood (and stumbled on our new favorite Vietnamese deli; I've been searching for a replacement ever since Seattle Deli moved to Edmonds). People silly enough to try driving through the ID were thwarted by the dragon who danced around their cars. So much joy in the streets, even the rain held off until the end.

Happy New Year! Ringing in the Year of the Dragon in Seattle

The best lion dance in Seattle: I've seen a lot of lion dances in Seattle and now I can tell you THE VERY BEST one is at Tet in Seattle Center.

Mak Fai Kung Fu performed outdoors, in front of Fisher Pavilion. GREAT sight lines, big enough to accommodate the crowd, the perfect weather didn't hurt. They put on an incredible show, and even set off firecrackers! This event is going on my calendar for next year for sure.

Yikes!

A bookmark in time, taken at Hing Hay Park in the ID. These two are gaining on me fast.

Performers in historical Chinese clothing, Hanfu, at a Mercer Island Lunar New Year celebration.