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April 30, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Nanaimo, Cycling
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Newcastle and Gabriola Islands are small islands less than 5km off east coast Vancouver Island's city of Nanaimo. They're part of a group of islands in the Strait of Georgia locally known as the "southern Gulf Islands". Both are accessible by ferry.
Newcastle Island has been home to Coast Salish First Nations villages, a sandstone quarry, and a resort. It is now a car-free parkland with trails and a campground. Gabriola Island is an island village of 50 square kilometres and 4,500 residents. It has a seaside campground, nearby pubs and cafes, a farmer's market, and small deer.
View a few photos by following this link:
http://www.ulrike.ca/2007/09/cycling-newcastle-and-gabriola-islands.html
April 30, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Vancouver, Trains
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I've travelled by bike and train in Thailand, New Zealand and the U.S.; but it wasn't until a couple of tour-ready folding bikes were put into my hands that I even considered doing it at here in B.C.
Accordingly, I devised a "gonzo" three-week bike and train journey across western Canada and presented an itinerary to my friend Michelle: we would board the "Whistler Mountaineer" from Vancouver to Whistler, pedal around Whistler valley for a couple of days, then board Rocky Mountaineer's "Fraser Discovery Route" to head north and east to Jasper, Alberta via Quesnel. After a few days in Jasper, we could swap trains and step aboard VIA Rail's "Canadian" and head east to Saskatoon (in Saskatchewan), then Winnipeg (Manitoba). We'd spent a couple of days cycling around in each city and then take VIA Rail back to Jasper.
I warned her that in Jasper we'd go hardcore: we would clip panniers onto the Dahons and road-test the bikes on the 300-kilometer stretch of mountainous highway between Jasper to Banff. We'd leave our sleeping bags at home and stay at yet-to-be-confirmed Hostelling International wildernous cabins along the way. Once in Banff we'd get back on track and complete the rail circle almost a month later by climbing on Rocky Mountaineer's "Kicking Horse Route" to return to Vancouver via Kamloops.
What happened? I wrote
35 short stories en route and if f you're interested in a trip like this, I hope the stories provide you with some useful information!
April 21, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Mackenzie, Air
Wished your website was like the BC books. What is the nearest airport to MacKenzie and how far is it from that airport?
Zahia
April 20, 2008 | Tips from Us > Revelstoke, Museums
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On a recent trip to the newly opened Revelstoke Mountain Resort, I had the opportunity to spend an hour at the Revelstoke Nickelodeon Museum in the heart of the town centre. Once you make it past the amazing gift shop packed with unusual musical knick-knacks, antique and modern mechanical music machines, the room opens to reveal hundreds of beautiful mechanical instruments from the 18th Century to the 1950s. This museum is the only mechanical music museum in western Canada and is operated by a charming couple that between the two of them know more about this sort of stuff than one could imagine. Make sure to enjoy their one hour guided tour to learn about the musical instruments, Victorian music boxes, player pianos, pipe organs and colourful juke boxes.
The highlight for me (beyond the cheerful music) was the RCA/Mills Panoram Video Jukebox (circa 1940) which is basically a wooden box that contains what is essentially the first music video, only the films shown were called "soundies". According to the written description on the machine, over 1850 different soundies were produced in the early 1940s with musical styles ranging from Country and Western to Big Band.
So, when the sking day is done, head on downtown to this unique and enjoyable museum. You are sure to learn something, and be grandly entertained along the way.
April 17, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Bella Coola, Festivals & Events
Excepted from the weekly radio segment on "All Points West", a CBC Victoria show heard every Friday from 4:00 - 6:00 PM.
Podcast for April 11, 2008.
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Region Highlights:
- Bella Coola - the Tour De Bella Coola
- Quesnel - Sugaring Off Farm Festival at Moose Meadow Farms
- Tapping Birch workshop in Quesnel on April 19th
- Williams Lake Indoor Rodeo on April 18-20th
- 141st Annual Clinton Ball on May 17th
April 17, 2008 | Tips from Us > Sun Peaks Resort, Skiing (Downhill)
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I’m a rubbish and panicky skier. But I really wanted to be better and knew I needed to practice during my visit to Sun Peaks Resort in late March. So imagine my glee at hearing that the very family- and new-skiier-friendly Sun Peaks Resort offers a green (easy) run at the top of all their major runs. Families or friends of varying ski abilities can trundle up in the lifts together, ski parts together if they wish and meet down the bottom. No need to part ways for the day and meet up only Apres Drinks! Black diamond folks can go one way, and scaredy cats like me can go another! Excellent!
But I did have to put it to the test, of course… We took the Sundance Express lift up to the top of one set of runs, and while I was nervous, I threw myself into the challenge. But rather than make a tough, tentative attempt down an icy and busy route with boarders and skiers hurtling past me, my Sun Peaks ski was such a great experience! A few of us took the nice and easy Homesteader run to start - and what a pleasure it was.
Like many of Sun Peaks’ green runs this was a wide, unpopulated, gorgeous run with great, powdery snow, and held just enough of a challenge for us real beginners as well as some more flat areas to glide on. It was a good long route, too, and for once I was able look up at the gorgeous view of the mountains and take in the whole experience, while also thoroughly enjoying the experience. The other skiers who did pass me were really cheerful as well, not like some resorts where everyone whizzes past you, slicing and dicing.
From what I heard from some of my other colleagues, they also really enjoyed the Sun Peaks’ downhill experience on those more challenging blue and black runs. I’ve skied at Whistler and Big White and while those are also both great resorts, I can honestly say that Sun Peaks offered a truly enjoyable ski experience for the absolute beginner in me. I felt great pride at making it down a big run, when I normally would have been stuck on the really baby hills!
April 16, 2008 | Podcasts > Vancouver, Festivals & Events
Excepted from the weekly radio segment on "All Points West", a CBC Victoria show heard every Friday from 4:00 - 6:00 PM.
Podcast for April 4, 2008.
Vancouver, Coast and Mountains Region Highlights:
- Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival until April 20th
- Tulip Festival in Agassiz: April 12-27
- Burnaby Rodo-fest on May 4th
- Seedy Saturday at the historic Stewart Farm in South Surrey
- Wooden Boat Challenge at the Madeira Park on April 26th
- Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival in Whistler starting April 11th
April 16, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Parksville, Dining
I had a business lunch at the new Parksville Beach Club Resort today in its Pacific Prime Steak & Chop restaurant. The restaurant is fairly intimate, it looks like room for only 30 or so, with amazing unobstructed views of Parksville beach, the Strait, and the Coast Mountains.
The menu was smaller than most other restaurants and offered salads, sandwiches, and a few other lunch entrees. I think small menus are a good thing - makes me think the food will be fresh. I'd say the average lunch was about $12.
I had Pacific Prime's version of fish & chips called "Torpedo Prawns". It was nicely presented with one of the best tartar sauces I've ever had. My colleague had the club stack sandwich that came with a generous portion of greens.
Both of us really enjoyed our first taste of Pacific Prime and it's safe to say we'll be back with friends and family.
April 16, 2008 | Tips from Us > Revelstoke, Ghost Towns
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I’ve never been one for touristy spots, but Three Valley Gap’s Three Valley Lake Chateau and the Heritage Ghost Town, located in Revelstoke, revealed a truly wonderful surprise, when we visited recently. Talk about a labour of love! Gordon and Ethel Bell and their large family have continued to put nearly 50 years of their time and painstaking effort and heart into running this unique heritage spot and they built it, own it and operate it themselves.
The lovely chateau actually started as a tiny motel and coffee shop, and now has more than 200 rooms, with many facing the valleys and beautiful garden. The Bells also recreated a wonderful Heritage Ghost Town village complete with replica (and some real!) historical buildings that Mr. Bell had shipped and rebuilt on his land, including a fire hall, jail, barber, cave, church, school house, hotel shops and many more nooks and crannies filled to overflowing with antiques and historical artifacts dating back more than 100 years.
Most impressive was the train yard and roundhouse – we were told that it was Mr. Bell’s last wish (sadly, he passed away in late 2007) to get this actually working so he could move his impressive collection of historical train cars around the enormous roundhouse. Amazingly, the roundhouse's floor now works, and the collection of trains, railway memorabilia and museum pieces (not to mention the stable of vintage cars, including a restored 1902 Curved Dash Olds!), are remarkable and a sight to behold. I was genuinely touched when listening to the story of Mr. and Mrs. Bell and their family’s devotion to making TVG a truly special place, and would recommend a visit to all comers. That they have really created this on their own and without government funding, it is a truly impressive achievement. TVG is a real BC gem!
April 16, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Sun Peaks Resort, Cross-Country Skiing
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I have been an avid downhill skier for many years and decided this year to challenge myself and try cross country skiing. What an eye opener that was. I have a new found respect for this sport.
A group of us ventured out with our guides on a starry moonlit cold and crisp evening, thinking what a perfect way to learn to cross country ski - no one would see us in the dark if by chance we fell. The experienced skiers strapped on their head lamps while we novices put flashlights around our necks.
What an amazing experience, the trail was so quiet (with the exception of an occasional groan from one of us) and the stars were brilliant. The best part was we all succeeded. With tips from our guides we were able to complete our course and return to the village with triumphant cheers!
My recommendation is to go ahead and have that wonderful cheesecake for dessert then head out for an evening cross country ski. You will have an evening that will raise your heart rate and make you feel like a champion!
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