December 16, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Pemberton, Car / Truck / Motorcycle
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So there I was at Vancouver's International Airport, waiting to pick up my mum, who was arriving from Toronto, when I heard this come over the tannoy: "Would those people joining the Jamaican Bob Sledding Team event, please make your way over to carousel number 6". I thought, huh? Are you serious, the Jamaican Bob Sled team? They've had a film (Cool Runnings) made out of their story!" In fact, it's a really interesting tale - a bunch of guys in Jamaica decide they're going to form a bob sledding team, get recognized and compete at the 1988 WINTER Olympics. And they did! It's was a ridiulousy feel-good story, so of course, I couldn't pass up a chance to officially welcome the team to BC!
I dispatched my husband to pick up my mum (it was a toss-up, collect my mother or go see athletic Jamaicans who normally wear lycra), while I wandered over to Carousel 6 to investigate. There, a motley crew of reporters, film crews, fans and representatives from Pemberton (a community near Whistler) were gathered. Pemberton and the Copper Dome Lodge there are hosting the team as part of their 2009-2010 North American Training Camp.
Soon enough the athletes arrived - and we waved Jamaican and Canadian flags to welcome them. I've attached one quick mobile-phone pic of one of the team, sorry for the quality. The team were given Pemberton hats and beamed from ear to ear. Fans and team members alike seemd excited. It was a real reminder about the spirit and drive required to make it to the Olympic Winter Games, and I felt pretty excited to have chanced upon their arrival.
So if you're heading up to Pemberton over the next little while, be sure to keep your eye out for the team and cheer them on as they train!
Go Canada, of course, but go Jamaica, too!
November 18, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Shopping
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On my lunch break while waiting for my delicious Greek Chicken Salad Wrap, I picked up a cool brochure I wanted to share. Its called Victoria Modern Urban Guides, and it lists a whole bunch of shops that make Victoria unique and funky and a great map of downtown Victoria and Oak Bay where most of the shops are located. I was especially pleased to find a couple of my favourite haunts, The Papery - awesome cards, and Romanoff Home & Interiors - gorgeous home design. There is a a website,
http://modernurbanguides.com. Turns out there is a brochure and a website for Vancouver too! Check it out!
November 14, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Air / Airports
This is a really fun way to go to
Victoria. The floatplanes land right on the
Inner Harbour so you can walk off the plane and be in the middle of all the action -
shopping,
dining,
entertainment,
whale-watching tours and
sightseeing. Sweet! In this video, I was onboard a
Harbour Air Seaplane.
November 14, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Sightseeing Tours
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My significant other and I felt we should do some research on making your Victoria vacation a memorable one…we thought we’d share a few of our findings.
#5 Mount Douglas Park – Drive or hike to the top and share a view of Victoria – go at sunset and watch the snow-capped Olympic Mountains turn pink – are you melting yet?
#4 Sipping martinis at Vista 18 – Every seat in this rooftop restaurant in the Chateau Victoria Hotel offers unforgettable views - cityscape, the Inner Harbour, ocean, mountains – I know a few people who have asked a very important question here…
#3 Westsong Way – From the west side of the harbour, you’ll get the best views of the Victoria skyline including the Empress Hotel and Parliament Buildings. Pretend you are tired and snuggle up together in one of the Victoria Harbour Ferries on your way back into the city. Oh yes I did.
#2 Dallas Road – Walk along the waterfront from Ogden Point to Clover Point; there are plenty of places off the pathway to take in the scenery – several sets of stairs along the walk lead to quiet pocket beaches. Views of Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Mountains.
And the #1 place to set off some sparks…
Willows Beach – pack a picnic and blanket; watching the moon rise over the ocean on this strip of sand in Oak Bay is a smooth move. Let’s just say you won’t need hot chocolate. 15 minute drive from downtown Victoria and transit buses drop off/pick up here.
I like research…
November 14, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Hiking
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Did you know we have over 76,000 dog owners in the Greater Victoria area? With over 60 parks and amazing hiking trails, there are some pretty great places to go with your pooch on holidays. I’ve asked my two Jack Russells and we agree on these must-dos when in Victoria:
#5 East Sooke Regional Park’s coast trail – so rugged and enough ups and downs to tire even the most manic Jack Russell. Believe me; it works.
#4 Witty’s Lagoon Regional Park's beach trail – start in the rainforest, end up on the beach. When tide is out, compact, flat sand as far as your dog can run. Caution: may have to carry your dog back to the car if severe fatigue sets in.
#3 Matheson Lake Regional Park: does your dog have an in-and-out-of-the-water kind of persona? Do Matheson – water access around the entire lake while hiking through a fern-laden rainforest.
#2 Island View Regional Park: A super long stretch of sand halfway between Victoria and the BC Ferries terminal – great place to poop out the pooch before/after a long travel day.
And the #1 place to go for you and your furry friend(s)….
Galloping Goose Regional Trail: We’ve covered every last metre of this 55km (34mi) multi-user trail many times over. There are places near downtown Victoria where you’ll meet lots of people/dogs/bikes and other spots further towards Sooke where you probably won’t see anyone. Hook up with the Lochside Regional Trail and you have a total of 84km (52mi) to explore. Are your dogs tired yet?
November 13, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Hiking
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Tofino seems to get all the attention when it comes to storm watching and yet Victoria and southern Vancouver Island has some spectacular winter weather too.
I love to head to the beach right after a blast of windy weather – enormous drift logs have been tossed up onto the shore, some as long as 15m (50ft). Hiking trails along the jagged coastline are ideal for watching big waves crash onto the rocks, shooting salt spray high into the air.
Some of my favourite storm watching spots are: the city’s breakwater and Esquimalt Beach in Victoria, East Sooke Regional Park near Sooke and China Beach on the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail.
Have fun and always view from a safe distance.
November 13, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Dining
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I have a favourite Mexican taqueria that I am almost reluctant to share because it is getting so popular. It’s called Hernandez’. This place is well hidden in the lobby of a downtown Victoria office tower and basically runs entirely on word of mouth advertising. Perhaps that is why the food is so reasonably priced: 5 tacos for $5.00.
They offer a lot more than tacos though and I’d highly recommend the San Juan platter which comes out sizzling hot on a cast iron grill – pulled pork, rice, beans, warm tortillas, fresh salsa and lime slices. I tried this on my most recent visit and have been craving more ever since. Everything is fresh, fresh, fresh.
Where is it? Enter Andrew's Square at 730 View Street just up from Douglas Street.
November 11, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Mission, Bird Watching
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It was pouring when we woke up. I questioned whether travelling out to Mission to get on a boat to explore the channels of the Fraser River near Harrison Mills was the best idea for spending the day with my daughter (9). Boy was I glad we did! We took part in a tour offered by
Fraser River Safari, a relatively new player on the tourism scene, to travel with them in their covered, warm and comfortable vessel, to view the wildlife and scenery east of Mission. We saw thousands of bald eagles perched in trees, on logs, flying and swooping. We saw seals lounging on logs and rocks, we saw a black bear forging for food on the shore and, (perhaps the highlight), we witnessed four fishermen struggle to pull in a 6 foot (maybe longer) sturgeon fish. From the very knowledgable guides we learned that sturgeon fishing on the Fraser is a big draw for visitors to our Province and that we have quite a reputation for sturgeon fishing on the world scale. We also learned that the sturgeon is a prehistoric fish and can live out of water for a very long time - in fact, as the story goes, a sturgeon was found alive in the mud banks of what was once the nearby Sumas Lake,
10 years after the lake had been drained. We were impressed to learn more about the "catch and release" laws pertaining to sturgeon fishing too, and felt relieved to know that our 6 foot friend wasn't getting served up for dinner at someone's table. We also learned a great deal about the First Nations of the area, the fur trade, the gold rush and about one of BC's favourite icons, the sasquatch! The trip is 4 hours in total, with a 1 hour stop at the
Kilby Historic Site in Harrison Mills where we enjoyed a fast lunch and a quick tour through the old General Store and Hotel, now a Museum. My daughter fancied the petting zoo and we vowed to return to the Kilby Historic Site when we had more time...in fact, it would be the perfect activity to pair up with a stay in nearby
Harrison Hot Springs. In the end, we were thrilled we ventured out to the Valley despite the weather - sure it rained most of the day but it didn't take away from our adventure at all!
October 28, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Tofino, Surfing & Watersports
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Never thought it would happen but the other day I found myself on one of Sydney, Australia's northern beaches, sitting in the sand and dreaming of the surf in Canada. Sure, it didn't help that my Canuck buddies were texting me pictures of a decent Canadian west coast swell that rolled in up there while down here we were suffering a wave drought down here. But that aside, once in a while no matter how much warmer and more consistent the waves usually are in Australia I find myself longing to be bobbing in the lineup at North Chestermans, practically alone out there, staring off at snow-capped Meares Island while eagles drift and dive around me.
Didn't know BC had a decent surf scene? It's burgeoning to be certain, but it does exist. If you've got even an inkling to see Canada's west coast from the water, it's an awesome way to do it.
If you doubt me, check out Tofino-based photographer Jeremy Koreski's site: www.jeremykoreski.com. His images prove beyond words that not only are there waves to be found in Canada, but the guys who live there and ride them are nothing to be scoffed at either. And ladies, there's plenty of gals in the lineup in Canada so don't be afraid to wax up your sticks either.
Couple things to remember: you will need to rock a thicker wetsuit than you wear down here, with booties, gloves, and a hood. You can rent everything you need at an array of shops in both Tofino and Ucluelet. Don't underestimate the power of the ocean. The rips on the west coast can be pretty strong. Read the beach signs so you are surfing safely. And while you shouldn't be too worried about sharks up there, never, ever stare a sea lion in the eye. Trust me.
October 15, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Hiking
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This weekend my wife and I challenged ourselves to the Mt Finlayson trail in Goldstream Provincial Park. Caution: ditch the runners and don the hiking boots; this trail is not for the unprepared…think steep, think loose gravel, think rock face. What starts as an unforgiving vertical pathway under a rainforest canopy quickly morphs into slabs of rock where you find yourself on all fours trying to navigate your way to the summit. But alas, it’s all worth it as the panoramas of Victoria, the Olympic Mountains and surrounding waters come into view.
About half way down, we were both in desperate need of a reward so we took a side trail to Bear Mountain Resort where we found the new café, Mountain Bean Coffee. Wow, this place is over the top: leather chairs, stone fireplace, post-and-beam construction, naughty specialty coffees like Sticky Bun Latte and home brews like the Griz.
Bonus: it is peak salmon spawning season in Goldstream Creek – viewing from the bridge near the parking lot is excellent.
Goldstream Provincial Park is located approximately 20 minutes outside of downtown Victoria via Hwy 1.