August 29, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Kelowna, Dining
Find more information about Kelowna - Dining
View a larger image on flickr.com
My friend is a foodie and raved about this tiny little restaurant in the Mission area of Kelowna called The Fixx. Wow! Small place - as in seating for maybe 40, amazing service - relaxed, knowledgable and kind of quirky; open kitchen with lots of activity to keep you entertained while you munch away on an insane amount of delicious bread while waiting for your food. We devoured a duck salad and then shared a HUGE portion of rich, flavourful pasta. The owner came out and said hello, which is always a nice touch and made me feel like I was one of the locals...which I would imagine make up the majority of the clientele. Still, if you are in Kelowna, don't miss getting your FIXX.
August 29, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Williams Lake, Hiking
Find more information about Williams Lake - Hiking
View a larger image on flickr.com
When I think of Williams Lake, I think of the famous annual Williams Lake Stampede which takes place every July long weekend. Now I can add sore legs and fantastic scenery to the list. One of the most beautiful trail runs I have done in awhile...ok, one of the only trail runs I have done in awhile...was along the Williams Lake Valley Trail system in the Cariboo Chilcotin region. Located minutes from the centre of town, this extensive and well-maintained trail system is popular for hiking, mountain biking and running. As you run alongside the Williams Lake River towards its merge with the Fraser River, you are surrounded by towering cliffs of what looks like golden sand. The topography was very unusual, kind of eerie but beautiful. Despite the sore legs, I would definitely recommend the trail system to anyone wanting to escape into some of BC's spectacular wilderness.
July 04, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Kimberley, Dining
Find more information about Kimberley - Dining
View a larger image on flickr.com
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.
June 07, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Sandspit, Wildlife Tours
View a larger image on flickr.com
4 days on a boat with 14 strangers....hmmm. I had my doubts that I could do it. How soon I changed my mind. A week later and I am still daydreaming about my trip.
We were boating through the Gwaii Haanas National Park in the Queen Charlottes watching whales, sea lions, birds of every sort, sea urchins, krill, starfish, trees blowing, waves crashing...we were sleeping well thanks to the gentle rocking of the boat, named the Island Roamer; we were eating incredibly well - wholesome, fresh food, thanks to the amazing on-board cook; we were learning lots thanks to our superb naturalist, and the Skipper and the Mate...and we were bonding, the 14 of us...thanks to, well, all the above.
And then there were the trips ashore to see ancient, precious remains of Haida villages, long abandoned, not forgotten. The remaining totem poles and village sites are holding on precariously to the final years of their life, threatened by an eager rainforest reaching out to engulf them. The Haida watchmen that oversee the village remains and interpret what it all means to the visitor are compelling storytellers and genuine in their love for their culture and history. It was spiritual, moving, sad, hopeful and too many other emotions to keep track of. Everyone should see these sites.
Some of my 'new friends' went onto visit the Haida Heritage Centre in Skidegate after the trip ended. I understand their museum visit provided great historical context for what we saw in the Park. I will be heading back to the Queen Charlottes for more, that is for sure.
There are a number of tourism operators that take groups into Gwaii Haanas, or you can do it yourself, but you have to register with Parks Canada. I was with Bluewater Adventures, who have been creating Gwaii Haanas memories for people for 30 years.
June 07, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Art Galleries & Artists
Find more information about Vancouver - Art Galleries & Artists
I had the fortune of visiting the newly opened Bill Reid Gallery on Hornby Street the other night. (Its in the building that once housed the Canadian Craft Museum, next to Hy's Restaurant...its a bit tricky to find as it is located just up the stairs from the street ). Anyhow, I was really impressed with the incredible collection they had- prints, jewellery, boxes, huge carvings - I mean he did it all! I was also very impressed with what I learned about Bill Reid, the man, and about Haida culture in general. Its definitely worth checking out, especially if you are interested in First Nations art or the Haida culture, or if you are planning a trip to the Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii.
May 22, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Burnaby, Sightseeing Tours
Find more information about Burnaby - Sightseeing Tours
View a larger image on flickr.com
What better way to learn about the history, architecture, culture and secrets of a city than by going on a walking tour? And, even though I am a "local", I am a big fan of walking tours in the Vancouver area too. So, with that in mind, I ventured to the first of four "SkyTrain Explorer" walking tours that will take place over the summer months in Burnaby. The guide, well-known historican and author, John Atkin tells intriguing stories and helps his 'subjects' appreciate how communities, their homes and buildings, streetscapes and even social behaviours are shaped and influenced by urban developments such as the SkyTrain, (or its precursor, the Interurban). The tours are about 2 hours in length, the walk is manageable by most and the cost is $10.50.
May 03, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Golden, Wildlife Tours
Find more information about Golden - Wildlife Tours
View a larger image on flickr.com
Boy was I glad we made the 15 minute trip west of Golden to the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre. With 6 resident wolves and very enthusiastic, passionate and knowledgeable staff, this Centre's mission is to promote wolf and bear conservation throughout the natural environment. A reasonable $10 admission gets you past the unique gift shop/resource centre that one enters upon arrival. From there, a staff member provides interactive commentary on the wolves including explanations of why wolves are so vital and integral to our environment. The highlight of the visit was when all 6 wolves began to howl in response to a barking dog. It was a hauntingly beautiful sound and I was sad when it ended after about 10 minutes.
If you are in Golden enjoying the town's summer or winter activities - and there are many, you really should make the short trip to see the wolves.
May 03, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Golden, Dining
Find more information about Golden - Dining
Who says you have to be in a big city to enjoy amazing food. Right in the heart of downtown Golden - the old section of town - is a great new bistro that is clearly a local, and visitor favourite. It is called the Whitetooth Mountain Bistro (named after the mountain that Kicking Horse Ski Resort now occupies). The atmosphere is cozy and classy-colourful with a great bar stacked with all sorts of wines and spirits. The martini selection rocks and there are some great BC wines by the glass. The menu has something for everyone, but I really recommend the caesar salad (with a touch of blue cheese in it according to the waiter). We were in town 3 nights and we ate there two of them it was so good - the risotto was wonderful and one of my companions didn't look up from his steak and potatoe with all the fixings so I guess he was happy too. The place was packed...and for good reason! We were in Golden in April and there aren't alot of restaurants open so this is a real gem. I bet it would be great after a long day on the slopes at Kicking Horse, or after a river raft ride as well.
April 20, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Revelstoke, Museums
Find more information about Revelstoke - Museums
View a larger image on flickr.com
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.
March 19, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Osoyoos, Museums
View a larger image on flickr.com
My colleague and I had an extra hour before our meetings in Osoyoos began and the road signs pointing us to the Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad were so darn easy to follow, we thought, "what the heck, lets go check it out". Off we went. This attraction is a 5 minute drive from the Osoyoos Visitor Centre, tucked in behind an array of industrial buildings. From the outside, it appears to be a large shed, and truthfully, our expectations were modest. But what a surprise we got once we made our way through the giftshop, up a set of stairs and through a set of double doors! While there most certainly is a model railroad incorporated into this miniature village, it is so much more....3000 feet more including 8000 little painted people (painted by members of the family that operate the attraction), a working Ferris wheel, a ski hill complete with an operational gondola system, Euopean style houses and buildings, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, running cars, even a brothel! In fact, the model railroad, impressive as it is, was a secondary experience to just trying to take in all the detail of the village.
While we were there, a man in his twenties asked the owner if he could take his picture because "visiting this place was in the top 5 highlights of his life". My colleague and I planned to spend about 30 minutes...we could have stayed most of a day. At a modest $6 entrance fee ($4 for children) this is a must-see while in Osoyoos. You can even buy some of the little painted people and start your own village at home! The Gift Shop is well supplied with unique stuff including some great kids toys; the attraction is wheelchair accessible, easy to find, well maintained and well cared for. I will be back.