July 27, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Burnaby, Kayaking & Canoeing
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Who knew?
Renting a boat at Deer Lake in
Burnaby
is really, really AWESOME! If I hadn't a reason to go, this local
would've scoffed at the suggestion of spending a prized Saturday
afternoon at lake buttressed by major traffic congestion routes.
SCOFFED! And I would have been wrong.
Here's what great about
renting a boat at
Deer
Lake:
- Deer Lake is big. Big enough for a couple of hours tootling around it.
-
Though it's off Hwy 1 and Canada Way (yuck), all you can see are
mountains, greenery and the lake.
- They rent rowboats, kayaks, canoes and peddle boats for 1-4 people. Huge
selection!
- The staff are extremely proactive, friendly and
helpful.
- In just 20 mins from downtown, you can feel like
you're at an imaginary friend's lakeside cabin, dragging your toes in
their water, sunning yourself caring only for how much humous and goat
cheese is left.
- It's serene, pretty and easy (who doesn't like
that combo?) rejuvenating one's passion for living in this magical place.
January 25, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Train
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Well, I can hear the new Streetcar's friendly, yet excessive ding-ding-dinging from my bed, so I decided to go and make friends with it.
It's free. When stuff that you would expect to pay for is free, it usually means it sucks. Gladly, the jolly little Streetcars do not. They are a little bit of Europe (Brussels to be exact) connecting
Granville Island frolicking with Olympic Village Station transit.
Cool Things About It: -
Worldly: English is the 3rd language on its interior signs.
-
Euro-Slender: It's skinny, but with cleverly accommodating bag storage potential. Like a Parisian woman back from the shops.
-
In/Out Privileges: Pressing its circular electronic door buttons WILL elicit Euro-backpacking flashbacks* (use at your own risk.)
-
Frequent, too frequent: For all you midnight cheese & sausage buyers...they run 6am to 12:30am every 6-10 mins. Ha!
-
Retro a-go-go: It's a trial to assess permenantly bringing back the good ole days of this very green transit solution.
-
Friendly: Already proven by San Francisco, people riding in streetcars are in good moods.
-
Free: Yeah, have I mentioned the free part?
So choo-choo up before the train's final departure back over the Atlantic folks.
November 23, 2009 | Tips from Us >
Whistler, Skiing & Snowboarding
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Having considered a weekend getaway milling about Seattle or relaxing on Galiano Island, learning that
Whistler has now completed it's annual metamorphasis into a winter wonderland sealed the deal.
Snow
is calming. Snow slows one down. Snow makes regular dirty old things
appear pristine and pretty. Whistler is built for nice times in the
snow. And that is what we had. Take this
shot of Alta Lake as evidence. Beat that Seattle!
I
was so happy to have found a quality, non-pretenious, non-chain and
visa-light tapas restaurant. So delighted I'm not telling you it's
name - you can earn it by
exploring tapas haunts in Whistler online.
There are awesome overnight deals to be had in Whistler. We had a central studio with full kitchen for $89 at the
Whistler Inn & Suites
that I found on HelloBC.com. With about 2 feet of snow having
collected at Village level, the mountain is well and truely ready to be
conquered by
ski or board.
If
you go, make sure you take a walk around Lost Lake where you can spot
cute lake otters appearing out of the ice to hang out and eat their
freshly caught fish.
October 21, 2009 | 2010 Olympics >
Richmond, Attractions
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Visit the 2010 Winter Games long track speed skating venue before the Games! We visited on a rainy Saturday for a ride on the Canada Line and to see this magnificent building. We were able to stand right beside the starter, a body length from the best skaters Canada has on offer.
I kept starting up at the ceiling. It's intriguing. The wooden convex roof is made of small convex layers. Yeah - you'll just have to see it for yourself!
There are public skating sessions available, an opportunity to shot hoops, and a gym. It's well and truely open for use. Even good for plane spotters. It's North Shore mountain view behind the airport and Fraser River is worth the $2.50 Canada Line fare alone.
July 31, 2009 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Accommodation
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Opting out of a kind post-wedding accommodation offer of pitching a tent on the bride's property, we decided to take advantage of an enticing online special at the
Delta Ocean Pointe. This turned out to be a brilliant move.
Having stayed at all the big name hotels downtown, I have to say - the
Delta takes the cake. Why? Unique little and big things done thoughtfully: provided sunscreen, mouthwash, binoculars, beautiful blue-bouncy tennis courts, being able to see the
ENTIRE harbour from bed. To wit: Houses of Parliament in all it's nighttime radiant glory, merry little ferries,
whale-watching tours, Empress Hotel, mountains, hot seaplane action.
Also notable: ample opportunity to find free parking, relatively small scale without being creepy, pool area on harbour's edge *see photo*, and let's not forget - a timely note from the manager apologizing for the fire alarm in the night.
That was last weekend, and I'm already looking for a reason to go back!
June 17, 2009 | Tips from Us >
Queen Charlotte City, Boating & Sailing
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With the long and inlet-laden coastline BC has, touring by sea makes perfect sense. One might expect to have novel adventure, easy
wildlife viewing and a peaceful pace from a sea-bound tourism experience. Recently
Bluewater Adventures showed me I could
concurrently have a luxurious and gourmet experience.
Aboard their 70' Island Odyssey yacht, guests are served freshly prepared, mouth-watering meals and tapas prepared by the onboard chef. After about ten minutes aboard, I better understood why the wealthy seem to be so fond of owning great big showy boats. With tourism companies like
Bluewater around, living the high-life at sea is temporarily brought within grasp of anyone wishing to treat themselves.
Despite only being onboard for 3 hours, I ventured below the decks to get a peek at the 'living quarters'. There were many inviting, cheerful, wood-polished sleeping rooms with porthole windows. Not spacious, but certainly full of childlike 'playing fort' styled fun.
This manner of small ship tourism elegantly fills the gap for those who run from the bloat of a
cruise ship AND the labours of a
self-guided trip. If this is you, BC's small ship adventures will be a true wilderness experience and education.
May 29, 2009 | Tips from Us >
Sooke, Culinary Tours & Schools
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How pleased we were that the Little Vienna Bakery chose to advertise 'Cheese' on it's main road facing sign! We'd left Vancouver on a 8am ferry to Swartz Bay. By 11:30am we were at our destination of Sooke and it felt a world away. Never to miss a fine European cheese selection, and ready for a healthy lunch, we hopefully entered the Little Vienna Bakery. Travelling with a gluten allergy is challenging to say the least. Trying to get lunch at a bakery usually ends in disappointment. This bakery was a marvellous exception.
When we sheepishly inquired of a gluten-free possibility, Michele, the proprietor, enthusiastically came out from behind her counter and regaled us with CHOICES of bakery treats and promises of a freshly baked loaf. This was enough to make our hearts sing. The most divine mushroom soup alongside my turkey and havarti sandwich on mmmmm....bakery fresh bread was enough to start looking into Sooke real estate. We couldn't resist taking away flourless chocolate cake for later. It was devoured within the half hour.
If not tuned into 'cheese' signage, The Little Vienna Bakery would be regretably easy to miss - blending in with other less interesting looking small businesses on the right side of the main road coming into Sooke-central. However, inside is a cerebrally-skewed microcosim of the town. Yes, it's a relaxing locals hangout and they probably want to keep it that way. Their secret outstanding lunch spot and repreive - all to themselves. Don't let them. Two weeks later, and my mouth's still watering at the memory.
May 15, 2008 | Tips from Travellers >
Hope, Attractions
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The Othello Tunnels near Hope were a surprisingly magnificent find for this BC resident. After visiting, I wondered how it was possible that I had not heard of this fantastic rest-stop before. Best visited when approaching Hope from Princeton (Hwy 3), or Merrit (Hwy 5), this stop is not just about old railway tunnels.
Perhaps more dramatic, are the roaring rapids cutting the canyon floor and the refreshing, cool air the thundering velocity of their water offers a road-weary traveller. The tunnels themselves are dark, damp and cavernous - the path daring you to venture in. Your reward? Viewing the next hairpin turn of the rapids and another tunnel before you. Adults, kids, and dogs will return to your vehicle entertained, exercised and rejuvenated.