September 12, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Armstrong, Festivals & Events
September 30th 2006, the tradition CONTINUES! Bring the family to Spallumcheen for the 30th Annual Plow Match competition and see the HUGE tractor display on Rashdale Road! See the traditional way of plowing - no motorized vehicles - just men and their horses! Check out equipment from days gone by. To get there, follow Hwy 97A past the lights at Armstrong and then turn left on Rashdale - across from the Log Barn Fruit stand - then follow the signs. For details, call Nick at 546-2449! Stay and play this fall...in Armstrong/Spallumcheen!
September 09, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Whistler, Festivals & Events
I know the celebration is still two months away, but now would be the time to book your wine tasting at
Cornucopia in
Whistler as tickets typically sell out prior to the four-day event starting November 9th. I love Whistler in the pre-ski season, so I just might see you there! The festival is jam-packed with B.C. wine and food, but it's the Pre-parties, Parties and After Parties that go from 5 pm and end at 4 am that I want to go for - unlike a good B.C. Pinot Gris, I just can't seem to find these extreme parties at other fine dining establishments.
Here’s a direct quote from the event schedule describing the After Party at Bearfoot Bistro: “Part urban myth and part reality, the After Party has taken on a life of its own over the years with live entertainment, painted human artwork, wine, bubbly, caviar, chocolate and other mouth-watering delights from some of Canada's best restaurants including Lumiere, Vij's, Chippino's, Bin 941 and Tojo's.”
If you are interested in some visuals,
British Columbia Magazine currently has an article on Cornucopia, complete with pictures of painted bodies, fresh-shucked oysters, and bottles of bubbly. As writer Daniel Wood puts it, it’s a delicious and quick descent to the decadent. I'm in!
September 09, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Sechelt, Sightseeing Tours
Find more information about Sechelt - Sightseeing Tours
While at the onboard visitor information centre on the ferry to Langdale this last weekend, I came across an incredibly detailed, but easy-to-read map of the
Sunshine Coast. The
Sunshine Coast Super Map it is called. Well, I thought I knew the area pretty well, but this map revealed many new-to-me parks, beaches, hiking trails, beach access points, dive sites, and camping spots I didn’t know about before. Tip of the day: check with the local
Visitor Centre, as sometimes their maps lead to more treasures than the maps available elsewhere.
September 01, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Duncan, Festivals & Events
The Cowichan Wine and Culinary Festival committee members have big dreams as they aim to bring food & wine lovers everywhere to the Cowichan Region September 29th to October 1st. This is the second year for the festival and is building on the tremendous success of last years event. Visitors are encouraged to pick up a map from one of the regions Visitor Centres or participating venues and then sip and taste their way through the Cowichan Region.
There is an exciting new list of events at this year's festival and many of the activities are free to the public, others have fees ranging from $10.00 to $100.00 per person including several winemaker’s dinners, BBQs and dances.
This years festival features an event presented by the Duncan Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. The 'Gala at the Grand' a Cowichan culinary extravaganza will be held on Saturday, September 30th at the Oceanfront Grand Resort in Cowichan Bay. It will feature demonstrations by Cowichan culinary celebrities and chefs as well as local food producers and gatherers. Tickets will include a souvenir wine glass, 'tapa’ style tastings and local wine pairing, appetizer buffet, wild food identification, locally made ice cream and chocolate sampling, and interactive displays. There will be live entertainment, dancing, a silent auction and grand door prize “Decorative Dining Cowichan Style”, a table setting for four created by Cowichan artisans for the ultimate dining experience.
This year the wine shuttle will be expanding service to include pick-up points from Sidney to Qualicum and doubling the number of buses running throughout the 2 days.
“This is a celebration of food, wine and the tremendous sense of community that exists in the Cowichan Region,” says Tanya Smith, Festival Director.
For a complete schedule of Cowichan Wine & Culinary Festival events visit www.wines.cowichan.net
August 29, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Art Galleries & Artists
Find more information about Victoria - Art Galleries & Artists
The first thing I notice as I walk into room #308 is the amazing array of artwork. The immense
Roy Henry Vickers carving of a Tshimshian Halibut and Octopus Red Cedar House Post dominates the entrance way. An original Jack Shadbolt collage, Birds in a Tree #2, is tucked away in the corner of the living room, humble in its place, yet bursting with colour. The
Toni Onley in the dining room is, unfortunately, too big to stuff into my suitcase and take home, like shampoo and shower caps.
To say I am in awe would be an understatement. I am standing in the middle of a private art gallery / hotel room, filled with the work of famous B.C. artists - who wouldn’t be drop-jawed? And then there are the antiques. Original Louis Vuitton luggage in the bedroom. Asian dressers with secret drawers. Light fixtures, vases, butlers and books. Too many to place in time.
I can easily (and literally) see why the renovated heritage hotel, the
Swan’s Suites Hotel, is known as
Victoria’s “Art Hotel.”
The next morning, in the
Brewpub where breakfast is served, I spot three Toni Onley watercolours in the entranceway, and many Firs
August 29, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Smithers, Fishing
Find more information about Smithers - Fishing
What do autumn leaves mean to you--back to school; end of summer holidays? To me, it means steelhead fishing in the Bulkley River. The Bulkley River, running through the Town of Smithers, is a tributary of the Skeena River, the watershed of the entire northwest BC. The steelhead is a river-going rainbow trout. But because it spends part of each year in the Pacific Ocean, it can grow to 25 pounds or more. Given muscles of this size and a rainbow trout's athleticism, it's little wonder why people from all over the world come to Smithers each fall. Fly fishing (both wet and dry) is the most popular technique for steelhead fishing although fishing with 'gear' is popular, too. Catch and release is standard on the Skeena 'system' and special conservation tags are required for many of the tributaries of the Skeena.
August 29, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Smithers, Cruises & Boat Tours
As most Visitor Centre staff know, not all visitors--for one reason or another--don't go to the Visitor Centre. In Smithers, we understood this but wanted to do something about it. We created the Smithers "VIBE". "VIBE" stands for Visitor Information Bettering Our Economy. It's a pilot project to measure the effectiveness of of a mobile Visitor Centre. And so far, we've had very encouraging results. Staffed by two Visitor Counsellors, our specially equipped van visits our airport, railway and bus station on a daily basis. Together with an identifiable tent, we also set up at 'touristy' spots around town and at special events. VIBE is entirely sponsored by chamber members. In return, they receive special advertising privileges such as decals on the van and radio and tv ads. We're looking forward to continue the VIBE next summer.
August 28, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Armstrong, Festivals & Events
The
107th Annual Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede is ready to roll! Beginning
August 30th until September 3rd, enjoy the sights and sounds of a truly agricultural fair. A few insider hints from those who have been there: 1.
Come early -
gates open at 7:30am. Get a parking spot - cost $5.00 - don't use your gas driving around looking for a free spot - support our local non-profit groups. All proceeds from the large lots go to support community events. 2.
Gate admission - the best deal in BC -
$12.00 for adults - includes everything except food and the midway.
Canadian Pro Rodeo action begins nightly at
8pm and is part of your gate admission! 3. Looking for an
alternative to
traditional fair food? Don't miss the
Haystacks, horse blankets and sit down suppers sponsored by local churches and non-profit groups. And what's a fair without mini donuts or a corn dog? Come see us at the fair - we'll meet you at the front gate!
August 25, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Nelson, Dining
Find more information about Nelson - Dining
A tip from a friend led us to the
Oso Negro coffee shop in Nelson. This is a great place to sit back with a cuppa and check out the passing Nelson scene - a bohemian hipster town where peasant dresses mix well with high-tech hiking gear. Oso Negro means Black Bear in Spanish, and is a reference to the global nature of the coffee biz; you can rest easy in the knowledge that the beans are fairly traded. If you're looking for something stronger than coffee - say a pint of the locally brewed
Liplock Ale - check out the Library... the lobby-level bar in Nelson's
Hume Hotel.
August 19, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Mount Robson, Sightseeing Tours
Find more information about Mount Robson - Sightseeing Tours
Welcome to our Mount Robson blog site. We will be updating the blog weekly (or more) with interesting stories about our adventures here at Mount Robson. The Chinnok Salmon are currently spawning in the Fraser River. After a 1400km long journey from Vancouver, they arrive at Mount Robson park, and can be seen jumping up Rearguard Falls. The best time to see them is generally from about 4:30 pm to sunset (approx. 9:30pm). Yesterday I hiked up the Yellowhead Mountain, which is on the east side of the park. It was a beautiful day, although we did not see any wildlife (besides a squirrel carrying a huge mushroom) but we had great weather. It was so clear when we arrived at the end of the trail, we got a great view of Mount Fitzwilliam as well as some peaks in Jasper National Park.