October 24, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Campbell River, Museums
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Join expert sailors Anne & Laurence Yeadon-Jones for a lively presentation of personal cruising experiences at the Museum at Campbell River in Campbell River, BC, on Sunday, November 5 at 1:00pm.
The presentation, titled “A Summer in the Broughtons,” focuses on where to cruise in the exquisite Broughton Archipelago. Gorgeous colour photography and stories about the Yeadon-Jones’s own adventures will entertain and inform both the serious sailor and armchair traveller.
In recent years BC coast boaters have been discovering an exciting new world of cruising north of Desolation Sound, but unfamiliarity with the complex maze of islands and inlets often referred to as the Broughton Archipelago has deterred many yachters. Now, Anne and Laurence Yeadon-Jones, whose four classic guides on southern waters have made them the coast’s favourite cruising writers, weigh in with their long-awaited fifth volume, The Broughtons and Vancouver Island—Kelsey Bay to Port Hardy, on this fascinating cruising territory.
Taking up where Volume 2, Desolation Sound and the Discovery Islands, left off, Volume 5 includes all of the familiar features that make the Dreamspeaker series the incredibly popular cruising guides that they are. Numerous charts and aerial photos clearly delineate the safest routes north into Queen Charlotte Strait and the myriad islands surrounding it. Laurence’s whimsical hand-drawn maps expose the dangers and attractions of key anchorages among the maze-like passages with matchless clarity. Anne’s buoyant commentary draws on her own exhaustive research to evoke the mythic past of this “Kwakiutl Country” and provides a knowing guide to hidden treasures and not-to-be missed attractions. Laurence’s fine scenic photography adds the crowning touch to one of the most handsome marine guides on the coast.
Anne and Laurence Yeadon-Jones are experienced inshore and offshore sailors who have logged thousands of hours cruising, charting and photographing British Columbia’s co
October 19, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Campbell River, Museums
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During the Second World War thousands of European women married Canadian servicemen stationed overseas. The Canadian government assisted the couples after the end of the war by providing transportation to Canada. Most of the brides came to Canada in 1946, with a total of 48,000 women emigrating to Canada between 1942 and 1948. The war brides came from all over the United Kingdom and from nearly every country on the European continent, but the vast majority (93%) were British, no doubt due to the fact that Canadians were among the first to come to the assistance of Britain after war was declared in 1939 and they spent more time there than any other member of the Allied Forces. The impact on the development of Canada by these new ‘brides’ was enormous.
The Museum at Campbell River, as part of its Living History Series, will present an afternoon honouring Canadian ‘War Brides’. On Saturday, November 4 from 1pm – 3 pm, the Museum will present a social afternoon designed to pay tribute to local War Brides. In April of this year, the BC government declared 2006 to be the ‘Year of the War Bride’, a fitting tribute to follow 2005’s ‘Year of the Veteran’. The stories of War Brides form a tapestry that weaves together much of the history of Canada after WWII. Many of the new arrivals found it difficult to adapt to their new country, shocked to discover wood stoves and outhouses – items common to Canadian rural areas. Overcoming loneliness, isolation, homesickness and (many times) abandonment, these women’s stories are a testament to the strength of immigrants that have built the Canadian identity.
Please come to the Museum on Nov. 4 to hear some of these stories and meet our local War Bride ‘legends’. The re-issued War Bride Cookbook (given to new brides entering Canada in 1946) will be available for purchase, as will the official War Bride Pin. The cost for the afternoon is $5.00. War Brides are free!! Phone 287-3103 for more information.
October 17, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Prince George, Sightseeing Tours
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There is still a chance to enjoy the fall colours in and around Prince George!
One spectacular place to head outside to ‘get away from it all’ is the
Forests For The World, located atop Cranbrook Hill by the University of Northern British Columbia.
This interpretive forest has over 15 kilometers of trails to choose from to explore. One such trail is an easy fifteen minute walk around Shane Lake. A leisurely stroll down a dirt trail, through a carpet of yellow and golden leaves leads to the floating dock on the lake. It is not uncommon to view wildlife here, including ducks and moose!
A slightly longer (approx. twenty minutes one-way) and steeper incline leads to a wooden lookout point that boasts a 180 degree view of Prince George. The lookout provides interpretive signage highlighting distant mountain peaks, the glacier formed cutbanks and local industry.
This hike is suitable for your family and leashed dog. Be sure to pack your camera to capture all the colours and shades of fall.
For more information on Prince George visit us at
Tourism Prince George.We would like to hear
your Prince George insiders tips and experiences!
Send your stories to
Prince George BLOG
October 16, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Art Galleries & Artists
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If you're like my wife and I, with a 14-month old toddler perpetually on the go, keeping him entertained is first and foremost. Do you watch re-runs of Elmo on TV, or head out and find something the whole family will enjoy? Considering Elmo makes us want to put our foot through the TV, heading out for entertainment is a must. Last Sunday we discovered
Super Sundays at the Vancouver Art Gallery. Super Sunday transforms the gallery space into a fun-filled place for families with children (12 and under) to learn about art together. Children and adults are invited to draw, paint, sculpt and watch and engage in dance performances. The thing I really liked about Super Sunday was that all the projects are tied in somehow to the current exhibition at the gallery. So it's not just a place to let your kids finger paint and mash modelling clay, they actually learn about the art that surrounds them through hands-on projects. We found the staff to be very helpful and amazingly patient with kids who likely stand just a little too close to the art. To be honest I was surprised how casual the gallery was about the art. You'd think with hundreds of kids tearing through the gallery space everything would be roped off, but the kids get to experience the works just like anyone else. On the Sunday we went, the gallery was packed with parents and kids, the perfect atmosphere for our son who is just starting to socialize with other children, not to mention my wife and I got to take in the exhibition too. Needless to say, the three of us had a great time. So if your family finds itself in Vancouver the third Sunday of any given month, might I suggest heading to Super Sunday at the Vancouver Art Gallery. You won't be disappointed, and it's far and away better than any Elmo re-run you'll find on TV.
October 11, 2006 | Tips from Us >
100 Mile House, Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
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With Summer winding down and the potential of an increased workload looming the horizon, a R&R getaway was just what I needed. I had heard many great things about Echo Valley Ranch and Spa and made the decision go up there for 4 days. The Ranch is a 6 hour scenic drive from Vancouver and is nestled in the Cariboo Chilcotin Region of British Columbia.
I really had no idea of what to expect at the Ranch other than what I had heard about it and what I had read on their website. I have to say, the Ranch was amazing and I wish I could’ve stayed longer.
On the first night of arrival the staff had arranged for an outdoor BBQ, a campfire complete with a stockbroker-turned-cowboy strumming country tunes much to the delight of all us city tourists not quite used to this type of outdoor hospitality. While roasting marshmallows I could not help but notice the hundreds of stars that brightly dotted the night sky. I came to the realization that light pollution was virtually non-existent here which made my star gazing experience truly mesmerizing.
The next few days were filled with activities. From participating in Thai yoga every morning at 7:00am, horseback riding, fly fishing and hiking, time just flew by. My evenings were spent sampling the various Thai massages offered by the Ranch. I have to tell you that I’ve never experienced more authentic Thai massages anywhere. It was a truly relaxing experience.
With an Austrian chef preparing delicious and healthy meals served 3 times a day, I could’ve stayed in the dining area all day long. Amazing food was prepared and served by even more amazing staff.
The accommodations were first class. I stayed in a large ranch cabin next to the horse stables with a wonderful view of the mountains and surrounding areas. Each morning I sat on the porch drinking coffee, reading a book and soaking in the atmosphere. Good times!
I could go on and on but suffice to say that whether you are looking for a relaxing or active getaway
October 09, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Whistler, Dining
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All I can say it that I’m glad I forgot my dancing shoes and had to wear my stompin’ boots when I went out "clubbing" last week in
Whistler. It had been a while since I had gone dancing in the village and I forgot about the variety of music that gets played at
Buffalo Bills, a favourite après-ski, après-mountain biking, and après-ziplining dance club.
While current top hits like “SexyBack” (Justin Timberlake) and “Maneater” (Nelly Furtado) were on the list, so were old favourites like “I Wear My Sunglasses at Night” (Corey Hart), slam-dancing songs from Spirit of the West and The Pogues (not that anyone wanted to slam dance with me and my boots…), and a myriad of head-banging tunes (there were plenty of folks to bang my head and whip my hair around with. Bettina – you rock!)
Pique, Whistler’s newmagazine, calls it “A mainstream mix of tunes that gets the dance floor going.” Fair enough. Don’t forget to hit the bar for the Jager Bombs.
October 04, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Surrey, Sightseeing Tours
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On a boring Saturday I decided to take my little cousins to Bear Creek Park so they could enjoy a nice evening on the
Bear Creek Park Train, little did I know what I was getting myself into. After purchasing our tickets, we were on our way on the “Haunted Forest Scream Train”, the Halloween theme for this month.
The train ride began passing through the Haunted Forest entrance, so far it was a nice calm almost scenic start to the ride. And then before I knew it I was screaming and jumping out of my seat, anticipating what was coming next. From the Castle of Doom to the grim graveyards you’ll be laughing and screaming the whole way through. And just a little tip for the brave adults who go on the ride, make sure you have a child to hold on to.
Check out the link for more info.
http://bctrains.com/Spooky-Details.htm
September 25, 2006 | Tips from Us >
100 Mile House, Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
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I have never been so thankful to have been bumped off a ride. I was at the
Hills Health & Guest Ranch with my family last weekend, and the late-night hay ride was full, so the six of us got bumped to the second run. The 30 minute wait gave us time to snoop in the barn, slow dance in the horse stall, and mosey around the grazing meadow. We heard horses neigh in the distance, but couldn’t make them out in the din of the night.
When it was our turn to catch the ride to the campfire, we were able to pick whatever spot we wanted on the large wagon. My five-year-old son and I just fell back into the hay and looked straight up into the stars - all 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 of them. OK – not quite that many, but it was a lot! My husband and dad hung up front with Carl, who drove the two blonde Belgians (horses, not cowgirls). My son flipped his legs over the back and happily bounced his way down the road while my mom just tried to stay warm, scenery aside.
The campfire, blazing inside a wigwam, was good, the hot chocolate was better, and the singing cowboy would have been great if he remembered more than the first verse of each song. Definitely the best part of the night was the slow bumpedy-bump of the wagon and the twinkle of the
Car
September 20, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Armstrong, Festivals & Events
A Pumpkin of course! Didn't know Pumpkins can fly? Here's a chance to see for yourself. October 28th is when pumpkins fly high over Armstrong/Spallumcheen. Teams bring their people-powered catapults to the fairgrounds and compete for the longest distance and closest to the bulls eye - which you win if you put a pumpkin right through the bull's eye like last year. Whether you bring a team to compete or just come and watch - this is an event like no other. Just one of the fun events at the 6th Annual Harvest Pumpkin Festival - check out
http://www.aschamber.com for information on accomodations and a list of other events or email us
armstrong_chamber@telus.net
September 19, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Surrey, Attractions
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On a quiet weekday evening after work, I decided to take a trip to the local
Bose's Corn Maze with a friend. The maze is split into two and each one supposedly takes about half an hour to do. Inside each maze is 5 numbered posts. We were both given a set of questions with multiple choice answers so when we reached these posts, we would know to turn left or right. The correct answers to these trivia questions were supposed to help us find our way around the maze. The two corn mazes took us over an hour to go through. In the end, the corn cop came to give us a few hints on getting out. Overall, the trip was really fun, definitely something interesting to do on a boring evening. There are a few interesting tricks in the corn maze setup to confuse you, but you'll have to find out for yourself.
Tip: Never walk and look at your trivia sheet at the same time, you'll forget which direction you came from after a few turns.