September 19, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Sechelt, Cruises & Boat Tours
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Sunday morning in
Sechelt and I dragged the kids to Secret Cove, which I believe is one of the best kept secrets in British Columbia. For only $25 an hour, we rented a motor boat and explored the area by water. Bob from Buccaneer Marina marked on the map all the hot spots. We motored around Thormandy Island and searched for lingcod in the northern shallow bays. On the south side of the island we watched harbour seals sunbathe on their bellies and roll down into the waves. Zooming across the channel we then coasted in and around Halfmoon Bay (a great place to go kayaking) and into Smugglers Cove Provincial Park, which used to be a traditional First Nations fishing site and then a hiding place for rum runners. The pinnacle of the day was landing on Thormandy Island for a picnic lunch. Thormandy beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in BC and is boat access only. The long, white sand beach set against an evergreen forest. There is even a small provincial campground if you want to spend a few nights. The place is full of boaters, bathers and sandcastle makers during the summer, but this weekend we were the only ones around. Our three hour trip cost a total of $75.
September 19, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Duncan, Historic & Heritage Sites
One of the best things about this vacation is getting to do some things I’d never normally do in Victoria as a local. Taking some pretty spectacular things for granted is something we’re guilty of here I’m afraid. A perfect example is taking (or not taking) a ride on
VIA’s E&N Dayliner, our version of a train. This isn’t one of those long trains with the little red caboose on the end. It is a dayliner which contains the engine, passenger seats and caboose all in one neat little car. It is kind of cool because the train can really pick up speed relatively quickly since it hasn’t got all that extra baggage hanging on.
It was a bit of a circus getting 9 of us down to the train station and on board by the 8:15am departure but we managed.
Lesson #4: book this trip well in advance. This is a small train with only two cars running on a usual day in the summer. When we called two days in advance, they were sold out because one of the cars had been taken off the route for maintenance. Wait listing a group of 9 people is not the easiest thing to do. Save yourself the headache and book in advance…there is no penalty for canceling or no-showing.
Attention all seniors. VIA has a promotion that enables an adult to ride free when accompanying a senior citizen. Great deal. Did I mention we invited my mother to come along?
Now I’m not an experienced train traveler, having been on only a few trips in my entire life but there is something both thrilling and relaxing about chug-chugging along, doing nothing but checking out the sights. This route took us out of downtown Victoria, along the western communities of the Greater Victoria area, through
Goldstream Provincial Park and then began the climb up and over Malahat Mountain. Some of the scenery near the summit overlookin
September 14, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Qualicum Beach, Shopping
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If you're in the
Qualicum Beach area on
Vancouver Island, stop in to Smithford's Island Time Gallery in Qualicum Village. Their motto says it all ... "If you don't need it, we've got it." Smithford's uses their space to great effect, displaying unique and charming artwork by local and BC artists inside the store as well as in front, back and side garden areas. On display are fantastic folk art sculptures for the house and yard, beautiful hand-made furniture, jewellery, clothing, bath products, you name it. Smithford's merchandise isn't cheap, but products aren't outrageously priced considering their quality and unique nature. Allow yourself an hour or so to browse as there's lots to see, and you're guaranteed to leave with a smile on your face!
September 14, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Shopping
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I believe part of being a good and gracious host is knowing your limitations, identifying your strengths and weaknesses. That is why I have deputized my wife as the leader of today’s events: planning, organizing and managing a shopping day in Victoria with five kids in tow. To me it is mind boggling to find stores that will not only be of interest to youth but will also fit within their budget. Since our marriage vows included words about partnership and supporting one another throughout life’s trials and tribulations, I agreed to at least be the driver and refrain from complaining throughout the day.
My wife was in her element to say the least: I’m not sure who was looking forward to this day of the vacation more; her or Kelsey, the 12 year old going on 16.
First stop:
Mayfair Shopping Centre where the end-of-season sales were in full swing. I think she said everything was at least 50% off but then my wife was less than coherent when she called on the cell phone from one end of the mall, gasping for air as she had Kelsey in the change room with a pile of clothes that surely would take a half day to try on.
Okay, so Walter, the 6 year old and I are well matched when it comes to patience – an hour or so of this cosmopolitan stuff and we were ready to go. It didn’t take much convincing to recruit 13 year old Devin and the suave 16 year old Kirk onto our team (I kind of fibbed and told him more girls hung out at the other mall).
Soon we were off to Tillicum Centre, which, as far as shopping centres go, is as good as it gets. Why? While the girls worked toward their Ph.D in consumer spending, we headed off to the SilverCity movie theatre adjacent to the shopping centre. Ah, we found our happy place! It is like a video arcade, a fast-food haven and movie hall all in one. I was a kid again.
As I watched my wife and Kelsey struggle across the parking lot, arms stretched from holding
September 13, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Sightseeing Tours
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I’m getting the hang of this family vacation stuff. Here’s how I figure it: find a real gem of a place and stay there all day; it’s appeases the kids and it is way easier.
All Fun Recreation Park is about 20 minutes from downtown Victoria and it is definitely a place where you can hang with the family all day. It is in the most unsuspecting place, amidst construction and what looks to be a gravel pit so if you are driving there and are thinking you must have made a wrong turn, keep going, you really are headed for a day of fun.
Tip: Get to the park when they first open. You will have a shot at the slides before a majority of the people arrives and the lineups start plus you can claim some prime real estate with your blanket on the picnic grounds. We planted ourselves right in front of the main pool, watching everyone plop off their slides into the water. I found it odd that spectators still have to pay an admittance fee, albeit considerably reduced. I guess when you get to sit and make fun of all the bad landings (especially the adults) you get your $6.00 worth.
I’ve discovered that kids love to teach adults the ropes. I was given a crash course in sliding which, by the way, just happened to be the exact opposite of the posted “sliding rules” put out by management. When I became airborne only to swallow a few gallons of chlorinated water after kerplunking into the landing pool, I thought it was time to worry less about being cool and more about leaving the place in one piece. Luckily, the staff seemed quite competent and after watching how the whole thing works, I felt pretty comfortable letting even the 6 year-old hike off to the slides on his own while I sat back and chilled.
Between the River Run (floating on inner tubes and dropping off a series of “waterfalls”), the drop-off slides and several of your basic, loop-de-loop ones, I barely saw any of them for the remainder of the day. I did notice the 16
September 07, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Beaches & Swimming
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Sometimes I can be a really lazy tourist. I get up and just want everything to be easy: no planning a detailed itinerary, no making sure I’m at the right place at the right time; just let the day happen.
Well, today was that lazy day that just fell into place. With the Minivan bursting with aquatic toys and food, kids, dogs etc…we set out for the Beaver Lake end of
Beaver and Elk Lake Regional Park. This is only minutes from downtown Victoria and a real haven for families. One can easily spend hour after hour here, enjoying the warm water, sandy beach, picnic area, playground, walking trails and playing fields. We arrived mid-day and didn’t leave until after 6 o’clock. I guess we tried to leave but the kids wouldn’t let us. Wow, just when you think nothing matters to kids other than a PS2 or X Box, along comes an inflatable raft that provides hours of joyful bliss. Who’d a thunk? Again, I am the coolest uncle in town.
Tip: many stores in Victoria reduce their summer beach stuff up to 50% off part way through the summer so it is quite affordable to pick up some toys, coolers, etc... when you are here. (I’m having a flashback of a disastrous attempt to carry a beach umbrella onboard a flight once).
You know kids. We packed a refrigerator-sized cooler of food for the day but one of the wee folk spotted the concession stand and it was all over. I can’t compete with French fires and ice cream. In any case, you won’t go hungry at this park.
This is another example of a park for all ages. While the kids played, the dogs and my sister and I did the 10 km (6 mile) loop around the lakes. I don't think she heard me but I was kind of whimpering at the end: this is a long haul so I’d recommend decent walking shoes.
Tip: do not set out on the 10 km walk with a pair of flip-flops. That space between my big toe and the other guys felt like a watermelon by the end.
Evenings are s
September 04, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Beaches & Swimming
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Good news! I ended up getting a Minivan after all! I waited at the rental agency for an hour and a half and just as I was leaving the lot (literally), in pulls the blue 7-passenger hotrod of my dreams! sometimes you just get lucky I guess! Remember: book it in advance! Today was an easy day because everyone is tired after last night's late arrival. We headed to Thetis Lake which just happens to be a five-minute drive from our house although we took the long route because I was still so ecstatic about procuring the Minivan that I had to show it off. Luckily, just about every route you take in this city has something beautiful or of interest to see. Thetis Lake's Main Beach is by far the most popular local hangout for Victoria's young crowd so I thought taking the kids there first would show that their uncle is somewhat in the know with the youth of today. Warm, clear water, surrounded by a towering Douglas Fir forest and a network of trails made if a bonus choice. While dogs aren't allowed to stay on the beach and picnic area during this time of year, they can be off-leash along the trails and the rest of the park. So while some kids (namely the 16 year old) opted to hang at the beach with the locals (I think her name was Melanie) the rest of us hiked around the lake, dogs at our heels and worked up an appetite for the perfect picnic. Not a bad way to sleep off an afternoon of jet-lag and for me to recover from the near Minivan fiasco.
Travel tip: Air Canada offers a non-stop from Toronto to Victoria daily, arriving at 10pm. Everything else seems to connect either via Vancouver or Calgary. Sure makes the trip shorter if you can get this one.
September 02, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Sightseeing Tours
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Well, I've been planning this family vacation in Victoria for over four months and today it happens. Five nieces & nephews ranging from ages 6 - 16 are flying in from Nova Scotia with my sister for a two-week holiday; me playing the official tour guide of Southern Vancouver Island. The pressure is on to be the local expert and to produce a fun-filled, highly entertaining 14 days that will not only appeal to this age range but that will somehow enable our two 10-month old Jack Russell Terrier puppies to be included.
Step 1: secure ground transporation (i.e. Minivan that holds 7 people, 2 dogs and a blow-up raft)
Lesson 1: book a Minivan early! The entire city gets sold out well in advance because these are hot items on the vacation car rental market. I have been trying to find one for over a week and am still on a waitlist just hours before the flight arrives. The alternative? Perhaps they can tie two compacts together?? U-Haul? Oh boy, I think I have failed my first task.
August 29, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Hope, Sightseeing Tours
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Three cities along a 200km stretch of highway. Gas stations between cities: non-existent. That's what you're faced with driving the Coquihalla Highway, Hwy 5, between
Hope and
Kamloops. While it's absolutely drivable don't head off without checking your gas tank first. You know your own vehicle the best, so gauge your fuel consumpition accordingly.
Merritt is roughly 100km from both Kamloops and Hope - smack-dab in the middle of the route - if you are travelling during the day you'll need at least enough gas to get there. If you are travelling at night you may need to drive the whole stretch on a single tank of gas. Cell phone service is spotty along this mountainous highway, so if you do run out of gas you may not be able to quickly call for service. And if you get a tow truck to deliver fuel to you, be prepared to pay an outragious price for the gas. Save the hassle and check your fuel first. Contact one the respective
Visitor Info Centres for more information on the locations and hours of operation of local gas stations. Road conditions along the Coquihalla are available from the
Ministry of Transportation.
August 26, 2005 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Hiking
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There are no restaurants awaiting you at the top, no bars or Gondola rides down; in that sense nothing compares with the Grouse Grind, one of the more challenging
hikes in Vancouver. But if you are looking for a similar, steep, high-cardo hike in Victoria, head out to
Goldstream Provincial Park and take on the Mt. Finlayson Trail. This steep, rugged trail challenges hikers with varied terrain before rewarding them at the top with a sense of accomplishment and amazing views of the Juan de Fuca Strait, Finlayson Arm and surrounding areas. And while there is no snack bar at the top, you'll get twice the workout (because you have to hike back down), it's much more scenic and you'll avoid the commuter-like crowds that plague the Grouse Grind. The average hiker should be able to hike up and back in about three hours. Proper footwear is essential.