December 29, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Harrison Hot Springs, Spas & Wellness
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Boisterous Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort publicizes itself as an official venue for February's 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, but visitors seeking a calmer experience may find its "older sister" resort at Harrison village a nice alternative.
Sprawled on the shore of southwestern British Columbia's Harrison Lake, the hundred-year-old hotel and adjacent mineral baths was offering cocktails and spa treatments to bathrobed movie stars when the upstart ski municipality of Whistler, BC was still just a shack on a cattle path.
Historically, the scalding "St. Alice's Well" waters gushed into Harrison Lake at a torrential rate and carried huge quantities of dissolved, "healthful" minerals. It was a tempting scenerio for 1890s era speculators and bathers. Over time the "health spa" expanded to become more of a "pleasure resort." Liquor distributor Seagram assumed ownership in the mid-1950s, possibly due to the growing fame of The Copper Room. Prime ministers (Mackenzie King), presidents (John F. Kennedy), kings (King of Siam) and movie stars (Clark Gable) snuck away to Harrison's dine-and-dance room for time away from the limelight — sometimes mingling with surprised locals on the dance floor.
Nowadays, the resort is still part Hollywood supper club, part Tropicana spa and part rustic lodge. It remains —as one staffer told me— "A place where movie stars can feel like regular people; and regular people can feel like movie stars."
Fans of ski sports may rush to Whistler's mountains in 2010 for a piece of Olympic action, but for a quieter experience, I prefer to get chin-deep in a natural hot spring, sip a cocktail and share gossip about movie stars.
(Photo: St. Alice Hotel - circa 1890's)
December 16, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Harrison Hot Springs, Festivals & Events
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This past weekend I experienced a great event in the town of Agassiz. The Farm House Natural Cheeses, every year put on the 'Journey to Bethlehem' they act out the Christmas story with live animals, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and heavenly hosts. You follow along as they journey looking for a place to stay, right up to the shepards coming to see the King.
Dress warmly as it is all outside. Refreshments are offered after the play. Admission is by donations, raising money for goats in Haiti project. Their cheese shop is open late each evening this weekend too, so great time to get fresh cheese for entertaining this holiday season.
The cheese shop is open year-round and is part of the Agassiz/Harrison Mills Circle Farm Tour.
December 12, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Whistler, Sightseeing Tours
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Vridetv recently had the opportunity to ride our motorcycle up to a Cessna 172 plane in Squamish, hop in, and film a flight with Glacier Air to Whistler, British Columbia. The passenger door of the plane was removed for filming, allowing for an unobstructed view of the incredible scenery. Some of the points of interest featured are, Stawamus Chief Provincial Park, Howe Sound, Lake Lovely Water, Tantalus Provincial Park, Black Tusk, Whistler Village, both Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, the Barrier lava dam and Garibaldi Lake in Garibaldi Provincial Park.
December 12, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Red Mountain Resort, Skiing & Snowboarding
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Our family went to Red Resort in Rossland, BC last year and we had a terrific time skiing and snowboarding - the powder was great and the resort was amazing. We will be going back this Christmas and can hardly wait! We also got time to visit the city of Rossland and with its quaint charm it was a magical place to be during the holidays.
The restaurants and pubs at the Resort served up yummy food and great warm drinks! For accomodation, we booked again at "Red Mountain Condo" which we found very affordable compared to other condos at the hill - it was cozy and furnished very well. Red Mountain Resort is highly recommended for all ski and snowboard enthusiasts like us!!!
December 11, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Hope, Hiking
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Vicuna Peak is one of the most striking peaks in the Coquihalla Area. Access is from Highway 5, just past where the old toll booth used to be. This peak requires advanced scrambling, or mountaineering skills to safely summit.