September 04, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Pemberton, Hot Springs
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Labour Day weekend marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall in BC, and is usually one of the last weekends for fair-weather campers to head out before the cold weather sets in.
To make the most of the long weekend, a few friends and I decided to head far enough away (ie: meaning no cell reception), but still close enough to Vancouver that we weren't driving the entire time. We decided on St. Agnes' Well/Skookumchuck Hot Springs -- a remote campsite with natural hot springs located four hours north of Vancouver along the Lillooet River.
The campsite had the usual BC elements -- big trees, snow-capped mountains, situated along a rushing river (and a couple nearby lakes) -- with a dash of the Gold Rush History that's present in this part of the province: it's accessed by a gravel logging road that makes up a section of the historic Gold Rush Trail, and two small, overgrown cemetery plots along the way had headstones dating back to the 1960s.
The hot springs were the biggest draw (and such an affordable luxury for camping!). Fed from a natural spring, they've been developed into a series of rustic, outdoor thermal baths located in the middle of the campsite. There's a single- to two-person barrel, a few multiple-person "canoe-like" tubs, and one sheltered A-Frame bath house. The baths stay open 24-hours and at night are lit by candles.
We also brought rods to cast for fish in the river, and took advantage of the Sea to Sky Highway on the drive back: in Pemberton, we stopped for coffee and lunch, and outside Squamish, we jumped off the dock into Alice Lake, then tested the waters over at Murrin Lake.
There's certainly no shortage of things to do or scenery to take in along this slice of the province -- it was the perfect "official" end to summer!
October 25, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Bowen Island, Kayaking & Canoeing
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When you're dodging umbrellas on the way to work, you know fall has officially hit. If you're dreaming of summer plans already, here's a great idea: head to Bowen Island for some ocean paddle-boarding.
Bowen Island is only 45-minutes from Vancouver, but it felt miles away: it's small, quaint and laid-back. After the ferry docked, a short stroll led us to an open-air market, galleries, studios, stores and restaurants (we stopped for fresh fish-n-chips on a patio).
Soon we were in need of cooler temperatures, so we headed to the dock to try paddle-boarding. This not-so-extreme water sport is like a cross between kayaking and surfing: there is a wide, long board and an equally long oar, and you're supposed to stand up and paddle.
Sounds simple, right? Well it's trickier than it looks (balance is key) - and I definitely made the first splash into the ocean (luckily the water was cool and refreshing).
After a few wobbly moments, we all picked it up and spent the rest of the hour cruising around - even spotting a pack of glossy seals likewise enjoying the water. Another great thing about paddle-boarding? It's very affordable! This left us plenty of money to snack on the delicious, authentic tacos, conveniently located on the pier next door to the kayaking/boarding shop.
Paddle-boarding available from Bowen Island Sea Kayaking.
July 20, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Professional & Spectator Sports
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What's a great way to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon? Watching wiener dog races at the Hastings Race Course Track, of course! Having never been to the track before, I was compelled to go this Sunday to watch cute wiener dogs battle it out in a 20m dash. There were 3 heats, which took place in between the horse races. The dogs were hilarious to watch, even though not all crossed the finish line: some ended up going backwards, others circled each other and one just plain decided he didn't want to race anymore. But the two that did cross the finish line got loud cheers from the crowd for their photo finish race.
Although the wiener dogs were fun to watch (note: they only happen once a year), the horse races were definitely my favourite. It was great getting beers, hot dogs and placing cheap bets on the horses (you can bet as low as $2.00), and then cheering on your horse as they whipped by you! Word of advice: betting solely on the cool-factor of a horse's name is not a good strategy, and may lose you a few bucks. Overall it didn't matter that I lost money, because there was nothing better than spending a day in the sun, having some drinks and food and watching horses race by!
July 14, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince Rupert, Camping
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Prince Rupert may get its share of rainy, overcast weather but this is not always the case! I just returned from a week-long visit where it was sunny and hot, and the skies, blue and cloudless - perfect camping weather!
A few friends and I headed out to Kasiks Wilderness Resort, located between Prince Rupert and Terrace along the Skeena River. The drive along the Skeena is incredibly scenic, and you can often spot bears, eagles, moose, waterfalls and idle fishermen standing by their lines in the river.
Kasiks Resort was great. The camping spots are set back from the property and surrounded by dense wood, so it was quiet and private - true wilderness camping. But after a night of roughing it, we were very excited to find that the main lodge had a lounge/TV room (with satellite) and a kitchen which served up delicious - and cheap - breakfast...just in time to watch the Netherlands/Spain World Cup final match! Awesome. Not exactly "camping," but we were pretty happy for modern amenities that day.
Here are a few other things to do in Rupert when the sun is shining: stroll along the waterfront rocky beach and hunt for sea creatures or look for glimpses of seals and sea otters, kayak next to huge anchored ships in the harbour, and hike to views of rapids from Butze Rapids trail. Or my favourite: sit out on a patio and eat fresh seafood - there's nothing better!
June 04, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Hope, Climbing & Caving
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Recently I had the good fortune of checking out REO Rafting Resort near Boston Bar. What a great place! Not only do they have whitewater rafting down a range of Class 1 - 4 rapids, but a bunch of other activities - all set in a remote, wilderness location.
Besides the good food (and it was really good), I loved the rock climbing wall. They have a relatively easy, outdoor wall (although be warned - it looked easier than it actually was, as I found out first hand!), tucked away in a forest clearing, with a couple of different "routes" to challenge yourself.
Even if you aren't into rafting, be sure to check out the rock climbing and other amenities at REO Rafting Resort.
(Oh, and the picture above is of me scaling the wall, horrible technique and all! :) )
May 18, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Hope, Attractions
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Saturday afternoon was a great summer day, so a friend and I headed out to Hell's Gate near Hope to check it out. Part of the fun was the drive itself - within an hour or so you can leave behind the hustle and bustle of the city and drive a scenic, winding road along the Fraser River and through a series of tunnels (don't forget to hold your breath & make a wish!).
Once we got to Hell's Gate (about 3 hrs. from Vancover), we hopped on the airtram that crosses the Fraser River at its narrowest point. This section is notorious for its current - twice the volume of Niagara Falls passes through there! After a short ride across, we got to the other side and spent some time walking across the suspension bridge and checking out the displays on the history of the river. To cap it off, we ordered a delicious salmon burger from the cafe and ate it on the patio in the sun - so nice and relaxing!
February 09, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Shopping
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Stores in Gastown are an eclectic mix: there’s everything from independent designer boutiques to vintage stores, high-end galleries displaying Aboriginal art and Euro-centric furniture stores. Oh, and seemingly more souvenir shops than Starbucks coffee shops (if that’s possible).
Walking down the cobbled streets made me feel like I was exploring a quaint European alleyway and I enjoyed window-shopping almost more than actually shopping. Partly this was because prices can run a lil’ high in some stores.
I first ventured into Fluevog. This international shoe store started its origins in Vancouver and its funky shoes have been worn by people like Madonna and Scarlet Johanssen. It has such a cult following that there is even an International Fluevog Day (May 15th). I’m assuming it’s celebrating wearing your ‘vogs(as they're fondly called) but I'm not entirely sure.
Next I headed to One of a Few. Like the name suggests, there are only a few of each item of clothing, which is great if you’re looking for something unique. If you want slightly more selection head next door to their aptly named sister shop, Two of a Few.
In search of a good deal, I visited Army & Navy (Canada’s version of Wal-mart). If you’re willing to hunt you can find some pretty good stuff here. Also: their annual shoe sale is a HUGE deal – line-ups usually start forming at 6am and in 2009 they sold 75,000 pairs of shoes in just 12 days!
Also worth checking out: Koolhaus for higher quality, Ikea-esque furniture (but with a heftier price tag); and the OK Boot Corral, a small shop jam-packed with all things Western - including rows and rows of cowboy (and cowgirl!) boots.
Happy shopping!
Locations: Fluevog, 65 Water St; One of a Few, 354 Water St; Two of a Few, 356 Water St; Army & Navy, 36 West Cordova; Koolhaus, 1 Water St; OK Boot Corral, 205 Carrall St.