August 05, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Beaches & Swimming
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A student sees a long weekend as a time to take full advantage of the many freedoms he or she is denied throughout the school year; a time of avoiding essays (and finishing them hurriedly the night before they're due), listening to the token boring professor, and of course, sirviving on nothing.
All of these miseries seemed distant to me as my stepbrother Landon and I made the 30 minute drive to West Lake on Saturday to enjoy the sun, water, and let the dogs explore the dog-friendly part of the provincial park. Half hour out of town, the campground is totally equipped for a great day at the beach: sandy beaches for families, a shower station, volleyball net, and on-leash dog lakefront walking trail.
The water was the greatest surprise. The lake was shallow, freshly stocked with fish (many of which lazily swam near our feet) and perfect for swimming. My swimmer-self awoke instantly and I paddled away into the depths, diving under the water and brushing up on my swimming skills! Our lunch, leftovers from the BBQ the night before, was another great addition to the day; we had our own picnic bench and beach access to enjoy our burgers (and tofu burger respectively) and other goodies.
We tanned, napped, and took one last dip before we got ready to go. This is one place I will definitely want to visit again before it's time to hit the books.
August 04, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Theatre & Performing Arts
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My two little cousins dance for Judy Russell’s Enchainement School of Dance, so when I told my mother I was coming to Prince George to visit for the long weekend last Tuesday, she bought an additional ticket and she, myself and her friend Paula were off to the Prince George Playhouse to see The Who’s TOMMY: A Rock Opera.
It was a different experience than the ones I have had in the past (the cousins weren’t in this one, and there were only several familiar faces), this one was a musical, not simply a generous helping of exquisitely performed dances I was used to, but it was a great example of diversity, both in the performance format and the performers themselves. The technical aspects of the musical were incredible: the musicians were flawless, the entire company was well-synchronized and the effects at the beginning for the overture made it seem like watching a movie.
Having extensive experience in theatre myself, I was pleased to see such a smooth transition from dance to musical, and had a great time watching the performance. Watching a Judy Russell performance is one of the little treats I love about going home, and the original twist on the weekend was a welcome change of pace.