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July 4, 2008 | Tips from Us > Kimberley, Dining
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Kimberley is one of those lovely mountain towns that you want to return to time and time again. Each trip I make there I discover something new that strengthens my afinity for small towns in the Kootenays. On a recent trip I was fortunate to dine at the Old Bauernhaus Restaurant which is located a few minutes from Kimberley's popular Platzl, on the road to the Kimberley Alpine ski resort. The building itself is fascinating. Built in 1640 in Bavaria, it was dismantled, shipped to Kimberley in 1987 and rebuilt as a warm, inviting restaurant. We had "the feast" which pretty much sums it up. Course upon course of slowcooked food arrived at the table. It just kept coming and I just kept eating it all because it was absolutely delicious. The food is German, which has never been a favourite of mine....but I am now a convert and will be back on my next visit to this lovely town.
July 4, 2008 | Tips from Us > Sooke, Dining
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Just got back from the foodie haven (and romantic getaway) in Sooke at the acclaimed Sooke Harbour House and restaurant. Not only is the inn and its rooms stunning (hallways and unique, spacious rooms decorated with amazing local art, fab little patios that overlook Whiffen Spit - which makes a great walk - and the mountains with great views of the otters playing in the bay. One otter even visited us in the garden!), and the service absolutely top-flight, but we had a chance to dine at their fantastic restaurant, which I can't recommend enough. For real foodies, this place is truly remarkable. Chef Tuson and his team fully subscribe to the 100-mile diet and EVERYTHING on the menu (with the exception of chocolate, coffee and orange juice for drinks) is sourced from local suppliers, grown on Vancouver Island or in the Harbour House's stunning and remarkable organic gardens. Your food will likely have been picked or delivered fresh that morning.
We had a four-course meal (about $75 not including wine/service) that we rate as among the best we've ever had. You've never had salads like the salads here - filled with unusual and delicious herbs, leaves and flower petals! The lamb melted in our mouths and the desserts - a rhubarb souffle that was astounding and a white chocolae mousse with edible rose petals and crazy sorbets - were remarkable. Plus, SHH also offers its visitors a free Garden tour in the mornings, where you can learn about what the gardens grow, and how they're used in your meals. You'll be eating fronds and herbs left right and centre and discovering all sorts of joyous combinations. Sooke is an easy drive from Victoria too (while in Victoria, be sure to have fish & chips or grilled fish from the little take-away joint "Red Fish Blue Fish" right on the wharf), but you can also take the #61 bus from Downtown Victoria and then a quick cab from downtown Sooke. SHH isn't cheap but it is stunning on all accounts.
July 2, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Vancouver, Cycling
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The Stanley Park seawall loops 8.8 km around the park and is must-do for Vancouver locals and visitors alike. It’s paved, which makes it a great place for a bike ride – especially if you’re looking to avoid hills.
You can also walk or rollerblade around the seawall; the pedestrian path is separate from the “wheel” path (bikes, rollerblades, skateboards) to keep things safe.
As I’m biking I like to keep my eyes on the sky and the water to look for wildlife that’s out and about. Today I saw six herons fishing, a bald eagle sitting on a rock by Third Beach, and loads of crows cracking mussels.
No seals spotted on this particular ride, but I do notice their glossy heads peeking out of the water quite often. If it’s low tide, I like to pull over to look for bright purple sea stars hanging onto the rocks (or hanging halfway out of a greedy seagull’s gaping mouth).
Some tips for first-time seawall users:
- There are lots of bike and rollerblade rental places near Denman and Georgia Street.
- If you’re on wheels, ride the seawall in a counterclockwise direction. That means starting from Denman and Georgia and working your way towards English Bay. There is a large one-way section in the middle and you don’t want to be going the wrong way.
- If you’re walking, stay off the “wheel” path and watch for oncoming traffic when crossing that path. Pedestrians can walk around the seawall in either direction.
- Bring your camera! There are great views of the mountains, water, beaches and the city along the way.
- Head out in the morning when it’s least busy – it makes for a very relaxing ride.
- When you’ve finished and have worked up an appetite, grab a bite to eat on Denman Street. There is a huge variety of food here, including sushi, pizza, falafel – even a shop that sells nothing but cupcakes. My personal favourite is to order pizza to go from Nat’s New York Pizzeria and eat on the beach or grass in English Bay.
For a map of the seawall, as well as some of the landmarks and nature you’d see along the way, visit: http://vancouver.ca/parks/parks/stanley/
July 1, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Chetwynd, Activity Zones
In chetwynd there are alot of attractions! including the july drag races at the airport. Fishing and a shooting range also bring fun to this small town!
June 30, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Nanaimo, Kayaking (Ocean)
So often living here on the island we forget to stop and take the time to really enjoy all the benefits of living in paradise. Well the other week through a series of events I was 'forced' to take a paddle from the dock of the Dinghy Dock pub back down the Newcastle Channel. As I paddled (and towed!) the rental kayaks back I hugged the shoreline of Newcastle Island. I had a great little converstation with two raccoons digging in the sand. The waters of the channel were calm and the a brillant green. Passing boaters waved, and float planes passed overhead. Here I was right in front of the second largest city on the island I truly felt a million miles away.
There is really only one kayak rental outlet in town, they offer great tours of all levels too. So you can enjoy a slice of paradise too.
June 28, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Courtenay, Artists & Art Galleries
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In Courtenay, on Vancouver Island, I discovered Spirits of the West Coast Gallery. They show Native American jewelry and native art including Haida art, Haida prints and Kwakiutl masks. Beautiful carvings and sculptures made of yellow and red cedar, yew wood, box
wood, alder and argillite. Original Native
Indian Jewelry made of gold, silver, argillite. Stunning painting and prints. Friendly people who have personal contact with the
artists and masters from the Haida and Kwakiutl Nations. I highly recommend this gallery.
June 26, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Vancouver, Air
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I'm not much of a flyer, but recently took my first floatplane return trip Vancouver-Victoria and am a total convert! What can be better than hopping aboard a plane right in Vancouver's downtown, and flying over sandflats, houses, the Lion's Gate Bridge, beautiful islands, vast expanses of water and golf courses, before touching down in Victoria's central harbour a mere 35-minutes later? I love the ferry ride, certainly, but you can't beat the speed and fun of bundling aboard a little plane and peering into the blue below (I even spotted an eagle and what I think was a dolphin or a small grey whale - yes, I'm certain it wasn't a rock or a log)! We flew over with
Harbour Air, and I heartily recommend the journey. Next time you need to nip over to the island, it's the only way to go. It's quick, and while not cheap, makes it easier to get to where you want to be. Plus, the views are incredible!
June 26, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Wildlife Viewing - Marine & Land
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Luckily for me, though, this bear was also behind a fence. And he seemed too preoccupied with a peanut to notice me standing fifteen feet away.
I never thought I’d see a grizzly bear use the back of his plate-sized paw as a platter while he delicately crunched a peanut shell to get to the nuts inside. But, I saw this – and much more – on a Grizzly Refuge Tour at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.
The Grizzly Refuge at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is home to Boo, a grizzly that was orphaned as a cub. Boo's refuge, located right on the ski hill, is approximately twenty acres – the largest protected and enclosed grizzly habitat in the world.
Our small tour group rode the chairlift to reach the refuge and to meet Jubilee, an expert on Boo and all things grizzly. Jubilee gave us a run-down of how the refuge tour works; basically, Boo does whatever he wants to do.
On this particular day, Boo decided that he wanted hang out near the perimeter of the fence, which meant I could see a grizzly doing grizzly things: rubbing up against a favourite tree, splashing in a large pool of water, and foraging for food.
Boo forages for naturally occurring food in the refuge, but his diet is also supplemented to make sure he gets all the nutrients he needs. So, in addition to roots and grasses, he looks for nuts, fruits, veggies and meat that the bear experts toss over the fence or drop from the gondola (which stretches over his enclosure).
Throughout the Grizzly Refuge Tour, we wandered alongside the fence while Jubilee gave a running commentary on Boo and bears in general. She was very open to answering all of our bear questions, and taught us some neat bear facts. For example, did you know that female bears give birth during hibernation?
I also checked out the interpretive hut at the refuge. My favourite part of the hut was seeing how my hand dwarfed in comparison to a big male grizzly paw (made from a mold of a paw imprint).
If you’re interested in bears, this is an incredible opportunity to learn about grizzlies... and maybe even see Boo himself.
For lots more details on Boo and the Grizzly Refuge, visit: http://www.kickinghorseresort.com/activities/bear/bio.asp
June 25, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Naramata, Wineries & Vineyards
Just back from the Okanagan. We had a great time touring around and had one of those idyllic lunches by the lake. The weather which had not been that great, warmed up and we found the patio at Lake Breeze winery (Naramata) just at the right time.
The lunch was excellent and the suggested wine pairings went very well. Our server was able to tell us about the food when we asked if it was local. Sadly not everything was!
Highly recommend a visit.
Warmly,
Frank
June 25, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Vancouver, Dining
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I had great seafood on Granville Island during my last trip to Vancouver. I don't remember the name of the restaurant, but the miso seared black cod was fabulous, and the fresh oysters were great too.
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