April 30, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Golden, River Rafting
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We had one of the best trips ever in Golden BC!
We came for the rafting but got so much more! The drive through the Rockies was gorgeous and the view from our hotel was amazing! Located next to our hotel was Alpine Rafting which runs whitewater rafting trips on the Kicking Horse River.
Everyone was very friendly and helpful and once we got on the river we realized why the Kicking Horse is a major destination for rafting! We spent the whole day on the river enjoying our guides banter and the excellent BBQ lunch. We ended our day on the patio of the restaurant next door looking down the valley and planning our return trip for next summer!
I highly recommend Alpine Rafting for your whitewater rafting trip!
April 27, 2011 | Tips from Us >
Whistler, Spas & Wellness
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What to do when your body aches from skiing, mountain biking or exploring Whistler? Or you just want to relax in peace and quiet? How's three hours in Scandinavian baths, saunas, steam rooms and and solariums - surrounded by mountains and forest - sound?
Yeah, thought so.
I was recently in Whistler with a bunch of friends who were all off being active...but I just wanted to chill out. So I decided to check out the new and impressive Scandinave Spa, located a few minutes' drive outside the village.
I arrived at the spa through a foresty walkway (a real chipmunk munching a pinecone greeted me!), and entered into this AMAZING zone of calm. I opted to spend a day in the baths (though you can also get Swedish, Deep Tissue and Sports Massages!), and soon flip-flopped my way down to do the "circuit" of relaxation...
I started in the amazing eucalyptus steam room (so good for colds & sniffles!) then plunged into an icy pool (seals pores and strengthens the immune system). I then sat under a warm waterfall that pummelled any stress out of my shoulders, relaxed and read magazines, sat with my feet up outside by a wood fire it, gazed at the mountains, looked at the trees, then popped into the dry wood-burning Finnish sauna, followed by another round of cool pool and warm pools.
Along with my amazing cheese/nut/grapes snack box which I had afterwards in the lovely little Spa bistro, the whole experience took me about three hours - but you can stay for less or longer. I even snoozed a bit in the solarium while listening to bird noises and new age music!
The best bit? Talking isn't allowed, really, so you're there to enjoy the unwinding in complete peace...
Cannot recommend Scandinave enough. If you're up in Whistler, make sure you book in time to relax in between all the sports and rec!
April 27, 2011 | Field Reports >
Victoria, Sightseeing Tours
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Explore Victoria, British Columbia, with Tourism BC Field Reporter
Chris Wheeler. Learn about trip ideas and things to do in Victoria,
including the Inner Harbour, Royal BC Museum, shopping, afternoon tea
at The Empress, Fan Tan Alley in Chinatown, brewpubs and more.
For more BC Trip Ideas visit
http://www.hellobc.com/tripideas
April 27, 2011 | Field Reports >
Vancouver, Sightseeing Tours
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Discover Vancouver, British Columbia with a trip idea designed to help you explore the city's top activities.
Join
Tourism BC Field Reporter Chris Wheeler as he takes a day trip to
Vancouver, checking out the Stanley Park seawall, the downtown shopping
district of Robson Street and historic Gastown, before hopping on the
small ferry to Granville Island and its famous market and shops. Chris
also discovers the city's culture and history at the Museum of
Anthropology and enjoys the cosmopolitan side of Vancouver at its
restaurants and Granville Street clubs and venues.
For more BC Trip Ideas visit
http://www.hellobc.com/tripideas
April 27, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
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Just a short 45 minutes north of Dawson Creek on the Rolla Highway is the Clayhurst Bridge across the Peace River. It's a great place to experience a big river, a big bridge, a beautiful view and peace and quiet all at the same time.
There is a place at the south end of the bridge to pull over and park so you can walk across the bridge. There used to be a plaque that dedicated the bridge to a former MLA, but it was vandalized years ago and not replaced.
There is very little traffic on the bridge and no other sounds of civilization so you can really appreciate the sounds of the water, the wind that comes down the valley and the vibration of the bridge under your feet. The power is amazing.
The center of the bridge is the best place to stop and lean over the rail to watch the water flow by under your feet carrying the occasional log downriver. The last time we were there, a pair of Canada Geese flew under the bridge right under us.
On the north side of the bridge is another old wooden bridge that crosses a smaller river that flows into the Peace, we like to cross that one too and carry on hiking up the banks for a bigger workout.
I was really impressed with the thickness of the ice on the banks of the river. Take your camera!
April 26, 2011 | Tips from Us >
Whistler, Attractions
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I was up in Whistler this weekend for the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival with a bunch of friends, and while they snowboarded, I took the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful sunny day by riding the amazing Peak 2 Peak Gondola. I
Even if you're not skiing/boarding, you can get a lift ticket and it's worth it for the views on a clear day. Just magical. I hopped on the Gondola at Village base and road it to the top of Whistler Mountain, enjoyed the views there (and the snowboard demo park for the WSSF), and then snuggled into a P2P gondola for an 11-minute breathtaking tour of the skies over to Blackcomb peak.
You also get a birds-eye view of the village, the local lakes and more tree tops and ski trails than you could ever imagine. Once at Blackcomb, grab some nosh at the lodge or do what I did, lay down a plastic bag in the snow, have a seat and enjoy the sunshine (put sunscreen on, it's really strong sun!), the views and ruddy faces of all the people skiing.
April 26, 2011 | Tips from Us >
Whistler, Festivals & Events
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One of the myriad great things about Whistler, besides its jaw-dropping mountains and the fact that it's kind of stunning all year round is that it is home to some amazing festivals and events.
This Easter Weekend, we headed up for the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival which ran from April 15 - 24. There were gigs and concerts in the main Village Square, DJs, ski and boarding competitions, plus fashion and art exhibits.
While everyone was hitting the snow, I road the gondola to the top of Whistler Mountain to check out the demo park (bonus! The views are there year round - get a lift ticket and you can check them out whether you're riding or not), then took the Peak 2 Peak over to Blackcomb for a bite to eat at the lodge. Sat in the sunshine, chatted with other visitors (one from BC, another from Dublin) while having a beer on the patio on top of the world.
In town (see pic), I wandered, shopped, and checked out the Whistler DogFest. At night, our gang stuffed our faces at Ric's Grill, and joined the thousands in the square for the WSSF Big Air competition - brilliant to see great athletes make huge ski jumps, and and meet other visitors. The WSSF activities provided a great vibe in the village, lots of people (though we still managed to get good hotel deals), and the best news is that it happens every year. And even better news? You don't have to be at an event to enjoy Whistler. The mountains don't move! :)
April 20, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Gardens
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Hey guys! Cherry blossom season is upon us and it’s time to get out of the house and enjoy the coming of spring! There are TONS of trees springing to life all throughout the city right now and it’s quite a sight to see!
For my video I visited Steveston, #1 Road, and the Minoru area, though at this point it’s hard to go anywhere in the city without seeing them!
Viewing and enjoying the beauty of these flowers heralds back 1000 years to an old Japanese custom called ‘hamani’. (Translated: ‘flower viewing’) This tradition has been adopted in Richmond (and Vancouver!) and is looked forward to every year!
In fact, some people take it very seriously. My Mother who is an avid gardener did some research online and found out there are actually people called ‘cherry scouts’ (haha) in Vancouver that comprise massive lists of all the trees in the city and surrounding area. There are 42 varieties of cherry blossoms worldwide and between Vancouver and Richmond, we have 18 of them! Nice! I’ve managed to pick out all of the Richmond trees they found and have listed them below, along with their variety. If you want to view some of our flowers, these are the best places to start:
1. Yaohan Centre – ‘Accolate Cultivar’ (March 22nd- April 10th; Early bloom)
2. Wood Bridge in Minoru Park – ‘Accolate Cultivar’ (March 22nd- April 10th; Early bloom)
3. Intersection of Gilbert & Granville – (March 22nd- April 10th; Early bloom)
4. Blundell near Gas Station – (March 22nd- April 10th; Early bloom)
5. Minoru Blvd & The Bay (West Gate) – ‘Somei-Yoshino’ (March 30th-April 14th)
6. South of Minoru Aquatic Centre – ‘Akebono’ (March 29th-April 7th)
7. 7500 Granville Street – ‘Akebono’ (March 29th-April 7th)
8. Richmond Caring Centre – ‘Akebono’ (March 29th-April 7th)
9. Granville Park (Livingston Place) – ‘Accolate Cultivar’ (March 22nd- April 10th; Early bloom)
10. Livingston Place – ‘Spire’ (April 1st-15th)
11. Garry Point Park (LOTS)– ‘Accolate Cultivar’ (March 22nd- April 10th; Early bloom)
12. Minoru Blvd Across From Richmond Centre – ‘Shirotae’ (April 4th- May 14th; Late bloom)
13. Dorchester Circle (729 Moffat Road) – ‘Shirotae’ (April 4th- May 14th; Late bloom)
14. #1 Road, Westminster Hwy to River Road (30 Trees) – ‘Akebono’ (March 29th-April 7th)
15. Dyke Park – ‘Akebono’ (March 29th-April 7th)
16. Grant McConachie Way to YVR (airport) – ‘Akebono’ (March 29th-April 7th)
Enjoy them while they last!! Spring is here!
-VideoChris
April 20, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Dining
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There is a new coffee house in town and it's really great! It's called Cups Tea & Cakes and I spent a morning there last week. I brought my laptop to catch up on some work, sat at a high table in the corner with my favorite large Americano with cream and watched the scene on the street and the constant comings and goings in the shop.
Cupcakes are the specialty of the café and they have upwards of 20 varieties for sale each day. The mixing, baking and decorating are done behind the counter for customers to watch and I admit to watching with great interest as batches of icing were flavored and piped onto the many cupcakes.
Strawberry Shortcake, Black Forest, Coconut Lime, Cookies 'n Cream, Red Velvet, Mocha are just a few of the names. It's as hard to choose your favorite cupcake as it is to pick a favorite ice cream. I guess the best way is to just try a different one every time.
Another feature worth noting in this café is their beautiful washroom with granite counters and glass basin... everything sparkling clean.
This is going to be a favorite spot for locals and visitors.
April 18, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Revelstoke, Backcountry Skiing
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Good Morning!
We stayed at Glacier Park Lodge with great site coupled with awesome nature! The hotel is popular with alpine touring at Rogers Pass. I would say it was a memorable experience and will definitely come back there. Great Prices for food, good skiers specials. Beautiful hotel with great services, highly recommended!!