I've been stalking Adriana's Instagram feed for some time now, in awe of the landscapes that she shares. I was delighted when she agreed to be interviewed for Girl Folk, and I'm thrilled to be sharing her tips for the best hikes in the Vancouver area - I only hope that I can get out to Canada and try her recommendations for myself one day!
Follow Adriana on Instagram: @adrianasinke
GF: What's your name and what do you do?
AS: My name is Adriana. Currently I live in Vancouver, BC with my husband and work as an accounting assistant for a small non-profit organization. We will be making some big life changes in the near future so both where I live and what I do will be changing dramatically within the next year. While I love our current situation, I am really excited for this new season of my life and the next adventure!
GF: Where is your favourite hike in the Vancouver area?
AS: Oh this is a tough one, there are so many wonderful hikes that are just a short drive away. My favorite hikes are the ones that are a bit off the beaten path. I love quiet trails that aren't crowded with people.
If I had to pick a favorite (or two), I would choose Brandywine Meadows and Russet Lake via the Musical Bumps. Brandywine Meadows is just over an hour from Vancouver. The hike can easily be done in a day, however I would recommend staying over night if you can! The meadow is so gorgeous, and we have never encountered more than a couple of people while there. I've done the hike in summer and fall and was surprised by how much the landscape changed with the seasons.
Russet Lake is located in Garibaldi Provincial Park, just outside of Whistler, and can be accessed a number of different ways. Hiking the Musical Bumps trail to Russet Lake was one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever been on. The alpine landscape is truly something else. I really hope to do this hike again this summer, it doesn't disappoint.
GF: What are your essentials to take with you on a day's hike?
AS: For a day hike I always make sure I have plenty of snacks and lots of water. I am always surprised by how much food I can eat while hiking and try to plan accordingly. I try to bring food that is light weight, but will also provide a lot of energy. Things like nuts, dried fruit, trail mix and peanut butter are always staples.
I also make sure to dress appropriately for the hike.I find dressing in lots of layers is best, that way you can take layers off or put them back on depending on your temperature. A good, sturdy pair of hiking boots is another essential. I purchased waterproof hiking boots, and am glad I did as they have saved me from having wet feet on more than one occasion!
Other essentials I always bring on hikes include; a headlamp (because you never know when you are going to be hiking back in the dark), a second pair of socks, a knife, a book and my photography equipment.
GF: Can you share your favourite secret spots with us?
AS: For breakfast/brunch - Le Marche St. George or Nelson the Seagull
For insane scenery - The Chilcotin and anywhere with an alpine landscape
For coffee - Vancouver has plenty of great coffee shops, but my favorites are Matchstick and Revolver.
For getting away from the crowds - It's not easy to avoid the crowds in and around Vancouver. People around here are fairly active and love to get out and do things. Cafes and shops are usually quite busy on the weekends, as are the local trails. Truly getting away from the crowds requires a bit of a drive and a willingness to get off the beaten path.
For getting a bit of culture - Vancouver is a fairly multicultural city so it's not hard to find culture within the city.I love walking around Chinatown and taking in the sights and smells.I also love finding small art shows to go to.
GF: Where would you most like to explore in the world?
AS: Oh this is a really tough one because there are very few places in the world I DON'T want to explore. If I had to narrow it down I would pick either Mongolia or the Faroe Islands for their wide open spaces and lack of crowds.
GF: Where's your favourite place in the world?
AS: I'd have to say Şirince, Turkey.I have such fond memories from the day my husband and I spent there on our honeymoon. Şirince is located near Ephesus, and it's this beautiful little town situated against the hillside. We met some locals who lent us their scooter for the day (the kindness of the people we met in Turkey was like nothing else!). We rode up the hillside and spent the most perfect day there. When I think of one of my happiest days, this one always comes to mind.
GF: What's on your travel bucket list?
AS: It's too long to list! Within the next year we plan to do a bit of travelling around SE Asia and some local travel as well. Some of the countries we will be heading to are Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, India and Turkey (to celebrate our five year wedding anniversary we went to Turkey for our honeymoon). We will also be taking a trip to the Yukon this summer and then driving across Canada at the beginning of fall. I'm pretty excited about a year of travel, and I will definitely be checking some items off my bucket list.
Follow Adriana on Instagram: @adrianasinke
