February 11, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Whistler, Skiing & Snowboarding
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It’s been open for more than a year now, but I finally made it on the Peak 2 Peak Gondola last week.
I’ve been excited about the Peak 2 Peak since I first heard about it. I didn’t pay much attention to all of the records it was breaking and didn’t really care how high or fast it was, I was just happy that there was finally going to be a way to ski Whistler and Blackcomb in the same day with little effort.
For years most drives to the mountain would begin with a debate with which side we’d ski (usually snowboarders voting for Blackcomb and skiers voting for Whistler): now we could do both with ease.
So when we got off at the Roundhouse and made the short walk to the Peak 2 Peak, I wasn’t that excited about the ride. I’ve been on numerous gondolas over the years and they have all been more or less the same…that is until now.
I was actually a little shocked about how much I enjoyed the Peak 2 Peak. While I had read about how high it was and how long it was, I didn’t appreciate the enormity of it until we left the station. The views are incredible and having such a long unsupported span almost made it feel like a bit of an adventure. As for the logistics and other parts of the Peak 2 Peak, it was perfect. We only had to wait a minute or so to get on, the gondola held about 15 or so people comfortably and the entire ride was really smooth.
I’m not sure if or when the novelty of the “ride” aspect will eventually wear off, but for now I love it and even if it does wear off I’ll still love the fact I can ride Blackcomb and Whistler in the same morning.
February 11, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Attractions
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If you spend any amount of time in Vancouver it won’t be long before you are on a bridge. Vancouverites love their bridges and if you ask five people which one is their favourite, you might get five different answers. Here is my quick guide to Vancouver’s bridges:
Granville St. Bridge: Connects Vancouver’s west side to downtown. When the current Granville St. Bridge opened in 1954 it was the widest bridge in the world (by 1 cm). This is a great place to watch fireworks or Olympic Vectorial Elevation lights.
Burrard Bridge: As a cyclist, this bridge became a dream come true for me last July when the City of Vancouver temporarily eliminated a car lane and turned it into a protected bike-only lane.
Cambie Bridge: Connects the east side to downtown. This bridge has my favourite view of the city. Heading north into the city you have a great view of downtown against the backdrop of the North Shore mountains.
Lions Gate Bridge: An iconic landmark and the bridge most people have seen even before they arrive in Vancouver. Lanes have been widened for traffic and they have made it easier / safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Second Narrows Bridge: The second bridge that connects Vancouver and the North Shore. I almost always use this bridge when I drive to the North Shore, even if I am on the west side. Even though the drive is longer, you save time because you rarely get stuck in the traffic you would have to face by going through downtown and across the Lions Gate.
Lions Gate bridge photo above by Jonathan Sparks.
February 11, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Dining
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When I first moved to Vancouver 12 years ago, one of the first thing I noticed was the coffee culture. Vancouver has been called Canada’s coffee capital for good reason.
For Vancouverites, coffee isn’t just something you have when you wake up in the morning, it’s almost celebrated and can be consumed into the evening (you will notice some cafes stay open until after dinner).
Not only are there more coffee shops than anywhere I’ve been, if you get invited into a Vancouverite’s home it isn’t that uncommon to see an espresso maker on the counter. To help keep you caffeinated, the following is my guide to where to find the best coffee in Vancouver.
The Wired Monk (2610 4th Ave.): This bistro in the heart of Kitsilano is a favourite with locals. Features homemade soup and stews and provides live music on Saturdays and Sundays.
Medina (555 Beatty St.): A stylish little café opened by (and beside) the owners of the award winning Belgium restaurant Chambar. The baristas here work with a pastry chef to create some very unique coffees such as their white chocolate pistachio mocha.
Mink, a Chocolate Cafe (863 W. Hastings): Brewed coffee is made one cup at a time and their mochas are the best in the city. Each coffee comes with a free chocolate. If you need more to satisfy your sweet tooth craving, they offer 30 varieties of hand crafted chocolate bars (Key Lime is my favourite).
WaaZubee Cafe (1622 Commercial Drive): It is really hard to pick just one place for coffee on Commercial Drive, since there are options on every block. Their americanos are perfect. Incredibly strong and served on a little silver tray with milk and water on the side. This is a restaurant, so unfortunately you can’t get a coffee to go (though you can just go in and order coffee).
February 11, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries
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BC’s award winning wines and wineries are well known, but if you wine isn’t your thing, the province offers a great selection of beer, ciders and spirits.
Beer: There are over 50 breweries across the province and together they make hundreds of different types of beer. About six months ago I decided I was going to eventually try every beer brewed in BC (to which my wife sarcastically replied “I love it when you have goals, honey.”)
So far the two best places I have found for selection are the Alibi Room (147 Alexander St. in Vancouver), a restaurant with over 25 beers on tap many more bottled.
If you just want to grab an assortment of beers and to take home, try Brewery Creek Beer and Wine Store at 3045 Main Street in Vancouver. There staff is super friendly and knowledgeable and they have an amazing selection of local and international beers.
Another great thing I’ve found with BC breweries is that many of them offer tours where you can go behind the scenes and find out about the art / science of brewing. All of the tours I have been on have ended with a sampling.
If you don’t care how it is made and just want a drink or a bite to eat visit a brew pub. Many also offer beer samplers where you can try numerous small (usually 3 or 4 oz) beers. Many brew pubs are starting to hold cask nights, where one (or many) beers that have never been made available to the public are opened. This is an opportunity to try some really unique flavours and to meet fellow beer enthusiasts.
Cider: I might not be ambitious enough to try every cider made in BC, I do enjoy having a cider on a hot summer day. The suggestion I listed above for large beer selection (Alibi Room and Brewery Creek Beer and Wine Store) also have the best selection of ciders I have seen. Like breweries, many of the cideries offer tours and many offer dinners or lunches with meals paired with their ciders.
Spirits: If you are looking for something with a bit more alcohol, BC has that as well. Recently a couple of “boutique” distilleries where spirits are hand-crafted in small batches have opened.
Pemberton is home to Schramm Distillery who makes the only certified organic potato vodka in the world. Island Spirits Distillery on Hornby Island take their time making high quality gin and vodka: the distillery produces a maximum of 60 bottles per day.
Photo above by Jonathan Sparks
February 08, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Sightseeing Tours
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Yes, it rains here. Not as much as some people would have you believe (we’re not the number one rainiest city in North America), but enough to formulate a game plan for embracing the elements. Hiding inside when it rains is a waste of a perfectly good day in Vancouver.
First thing, be prepared. The Umbrella Shop will have you literally covered. This local company has been making umbrellas in Vancouver since 1935! I finally shelled out for a decent umbrella here, because they’re well made and there’s an incredible selection of colours and patterns. Forget basic black! (Although they have that, too.)
For your feet, head to Gumdrops, which I’m sure does its best business in puddle season. They have lots of practical yet cute soggy weather footwear.
Once you’re geared up, you can tackle pretty much any activity. But, if you’re unprepared (or just like staying very dry), here are some of my favorite Vancouver specific rainy day activities:
Vancouver Aquarium: Some like the belugas, but I like “sea” creatures – sea otters, sea stars, and especially the room of sea jellies (like my leggy buddy in the photo above).
Museum of Vancouver: Awesome exhibits lately! Bikes, taxidermy, crafts – what’s next?
Yoga: I love being in a cozy studio when it’s raining.
Stanley Park: The canopy of giant trees does a surprisingly good job of keeping the trails dry(ish). There are less people in the forest when it rains; watch for woodpeckers, owls and Douglas squirrels.
Public Market on Granville Island: Mangosteens, espresso, butternut squash ravioli, birch syrup... the list goes on. Yum.
The Umbrella Shop: Granville Island, 526 Pender St, and 1106 W Broadway; Gumdrops: 2029 West 4th Ave
February 07, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Shopping
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Like most Vancouverites, I’m a big fan of exploring the local mountains. I’m also a fan of staying warm, dry, well-fed and not-lost. So, before I gallivant into the forest, I head to the stretch of outdoor supply stores clustered around the intersection of Broadway and Manitoba Street.
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) tops my list, as it has everything from bird identification books and dehydrated food to bicycle lights and wool socks. In addition to the oodles of stuff they have for sale, they also have rental gear, such as snowshoes, kayaks and ice axes.
If MEC doesn’t have what I’m looking for, I venture into one of many other outdoor shops in the area. This is often the case when I’m shopping for a specific item (such as hiking boots or bike gloves) or are looking for popular rentals (such as snowshoes on a powder day). Tip: 3 Vets, just a few blocks from MEC (at Yukon St. and 6th Ave), is jam-packed with inexpensive outdoor goods.
If you're an outdoor gear geek, you could spend many hours and dollars in this part of town. Don't say I didn't warn you. :)
February 07, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Dining
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How does a city get a “new” neighbourhood? I’m not too sure, but it appears to have happened in Vancouver with the creation of the Crosstown neighbourhood.
Is this a marketing gimmick? Maybe. But Crosstown is certainly developing its own personality and is worth a visit. Here’s where to find it and three of my Crosstown highlights:
Where is Crosstown?South of Gastown, East of Chinatown; bounded by Expo Blvd, Pender, Main and Cambie.
HighlightsT&T Supermarket: A fantastic Asian supermarket with walls of baked goods, fresh seafood, produce, and imported goodies (they have an entire aisle of Pocky). I love the egg tarts and the frozen shrimp har gow (shrimp dumplings) from Hon's.
Medina Café: Pros: Best Belgian waffles in town; best waffle toppings in town (raspberry caramel and fig orange marmalade are my picks, as seen above); and the silkiest, milkiest lattes with yummy flavours (try the raspberry caramel).
Cons: Everyone else knows this too, which means the early-bird gets the table on weekends. Aim to be there at 9am, when they open, and you're golden. Or be the really-lazy-bird and show up 2pm and it may have cleared out by then.
Chambar: Your search for the tastiest mussels in the city ends here. The mussels at this Belgian restaurant are whoppers; I like mine in their white wine butter broth, which is extra tasty when generously applied to pommes frites. A good selection of beer, as well, including lambics, tripels (my fav), and trappiste.
T&t Supermarket at 179 Keefer; Medina Cafe at 556 Beatty St; Chambar at 562 Beatty St
February 04, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Dining
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Because writing about Granville Street’s nightlife seems wrong without covering the best post-bar snack places. And let’s face it: nobody (unless those with great will power) is going home without something to dig into after a night out.
The DogFather: I love The Dogfather. Not only for its name, but for the humungous chili cheese dogs that warm my tummy at 2 in the morning.
Fritz European Fry House: More Quebecois than European, the poutine here is an indulgent and positively delicious snack before bed. With variations like Italian Poutine and Chicken Poutine and endless dip options (mango curry chutney, anyone?) you can’t go wrong. I like to think of it as a reward for dancing away all those calories!
Megabite Pizza/Romano’s Pizza/Numero Uno: Or any other dollar-slice pizza joint for that matter. There are plenty of places around here that serve this staple (and cost-friendly) post-bar snack.
Other places: Tsui Hang’s – sweet and sour pork and chicken chow mein at 5 am? Yes please. Then there’s Babylon Cafe for delicious Middle Eastern falafels (which I like to think of as a healthy alternative) and Kuroshio Sushi where you can get late-night sushi (including a sushi burrito I have yet to try) at cheap prices.
Locations: The DogFather, 700 Nelson St; Fritz European Fry House, 718 Davie St; Tsui Hang's, 1193 Granville St; Babylon Café, 716 Robson St; Kuroshio Sushi, 1011 Granville St.
February 04, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Dining
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The Granville Entertainment District, a five block stretch of Granville St. (between Drake St and Robson St), is crammed with bars and pubs that attract partyers pretty much every night of the week.
How do I know this? Well, not only have I had my fair share of night outs here but I also happen to live close by so I can hear (far too often) the sounds of these late-night partyers.
Reasons to go:1. The choice: there are bars, lounges, clubs, concert venues and restaurants for almost everyone. And since they’re sandwiched close together, you can easily bar-hop.
2. The streets are closed to vehicle traffic after 7pm (on weekends and during summers) ensuring it’s pedestrian-friendly.
3. There are numerous post-bar snack places that offer a greasy piece of pizza or a hotdog. A must.
My favorites:The Roxy: It’s been around for awhile and still it’s a Vancouver favourite. This includes our beloved Canucks who often enjoy a post-hockey game celebration here. What’s good? Live music and theme nights. What’s not? Long line-ups.
El Furniture Warehouse: No, it’s not a furniture store. This hole-in-the-wall kinda of bar is endearingly laid back. My favorite part though? Nothing on the menus is over $4.95. Seriously.
Other notables: Doolin’s Irish Pub for pints of Guinness; Whineo’s for a great selection of wine and appies; The Yale Hotel for live jazz music; and Sip Lounge where every food item incorporates alcohol.
Locations: The Roxy, 932 Granville St; El Furniture Warehouse, 989 Granville St; Doolins, 654 Nelson St; Whineo’s, 1017 Granville St; The Yale, 1300 Granville St; Sip Lounge, 1117 Granville St.
February 04, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Hiking
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I found myself in Victoria recently, and with a bit of time to explore I headed out with a friend to East Sooke Regional Park.
Our hike started from Aylard Farm, a 40-minute drive from downtown Victoria. After a short walk through open fields, we merged onto the Interior Trail and had an uphill slog for about 30 minutes. The uphill section was a bit of work, but the absolute silence, dense forest and moss-draped trees provided a very calming, Zen-like vibe. After a short downhill section we merged into the Coast Trail, which is where the real beauty of the hike lies.
The trail meanders along the shore; the scenery is classic west coast: wind, waves, ocean, mossy rainforest and gnarled arbutus trees growing out of the rocky shoreline. There is even an old trapper’s cabin at the aptly-named Cabin Point. The cabin is just walls, floor and a roof, but is in good shape and provides an excellent spot for a picnic lunch – or to just relax and admire the view.
From Cabin Point the Coast Trail follows the shoreline north-west (towards Sooke) and south-east (back towards Aylard Farm and the parking lot). If you travel west, you would need to have transportation at the other end – hiking the entire Coast Trail from end to end (10km) typically requires a car at each end of the trailhead.
There are some interesting petroglyphs in the rocks at Alldridge Point, a reminder of the Coast Salish people who inhabited the area. Sea life abounds – seals are commonly spotted bobbing among the kelp beds and eagles and seabirds are everywhere. Our round trip hike took about four hours at a fairly easy pace.
Practical Points: The Coast Trail may be a “walk in the park”, but it is not a hike for beginners. There are some rocky scrambles and moderately-challenging sections, so a decent pair of hiking shoes is recommended. The trail is generally well-marked, but it can be easy to lose at certain points. If your path runs out just backtrack, look around and chances are you’ll spot the yellow trail markers.
East Sooke Regional Park is a must-visit area for any outdoor enthusiast. There are trails for every skill level, including wheelchair-accessible picnic areas and easy walking (but very scenic) trails.