One of the really great things about Vancouver is it’s proximity to other great cities. Within a couple of hundred miles radius, there are Seattle and Portland. Both cities are different from Vancouver and different from each other. A weekend excursion to each is worth the time spent driving.

Seattle, our closest American neighbour to the south, is no stranger to Vancouver-ites. How often have you asked what someone was doing the next weekend and the response…..”going to Seattle to shop”. On my last “shopping trip” to Seattle, I popped into Ba Bar on 12th between Capitol Hill and the International district. This place is a Vietnamese gem! Owned by proprietor Eric Banh, who also owns with his sister, the Vietnamese “Queen Bee” Monsoon. Ba Bar focuses more on street foods of Vietnam. It is heavy on noodle dishes and I ordered my Sunday morning main stay of Beef Pho. The Pho was perfectly balanced and used locally raised, organic beef. The interior of Ba Bar is enchanting and, on this warm summer day, took me back to trips to HCMC and Hanoi. This place is definitely worth a little break from shopping the next time you are in Seattle.