February 04, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Hiking
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I found myself in Victoria recently, and with a bit of time to explore I headed out with a friend to East Sooke Regional Park.
Our hike started from Aylard Farm, a 40-minute drive from downtown Victoria. After a short walk through open fields, we merged onto the Interior Trail and had an uphill slog for about 30 minutes. The uphill section was a bit of work, but the absolute silence, dense forest and moss-draped trees provided a very calming, Zen-like vibe. After a short downhill section we merged into the Coast Trail, which is where the real beauty of the hike lies.
The trail meanders along the shore; the scenery is classic west coast: wind, waves, ocean, mossy rainforest and gnarled arbutus trees growing out of the rocky shoreline. There is even an old trapper’s cabin at the aptly-named Cabin Point. The cabin is just walls, floor and a roof, but is in good shape and provides an excellent spot for a picnic lunch – or to just relax and admire the view.
From Cabin Point the Coast Trail follows the shoreline north-west (towards Sooke) and south-east (back towards Aylard Farm and the parking lot). If you travel west, you would need to have transportation at the other end – hiking the entire Coast Trail from end to end (10km) typically requires a car at each end of the trailhead.
There are some interesting petroglyphs in the rocks at Alldridge Point, a reminder of the Coast Salish people who inhabited the area. Sea life abounds – seals are commonly spotted bobbing among the kelp beds and eagles and seabirds are everywhere. Our round trip hike took about four hours at a fairly easy pace.
Practical Points: The Coast Trail may be a “walk in the park”, but it is not a hike for beginners. There are some rocky scrambles and moderately-challenging sections, so a decent pair of hiking shoes is recommended. The trail is generally well-marked, but it can be easy to lose at certain points. If your path runs out just backtrack, look around and chances are you’ll spot the yellow trail markers.
East Sooke Regional Park is a must-visit area for any outdoor enthusiast. There are trails for every skill level, including wheelchair-accessible picnic areas and easy walking (but very scenic) trails.
February 03, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Sechelt, Festivals & Events
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There is a special place that we discovered in our travels in search of the perfect beach, challenging golf and great cuisine. That place is Roberts Creek, in the heart of the Sunshine Coast. Perfectly placed between Sechelt and Gibsons, this charming community has it all. There are bed and breakfasts galore, vacation homes, a hostel, and great camping.
When were were there on in mid August we were able to experience and participate in the silliest parade and the most interesting market with live entertainment all in the perfect setting of Roberts Creek beach and park.
It was an incredible day of continuous entertainment, great fast food, crafts, and just tons of local characters. We met a kayaker that had just kayaked from his home on Gabriola island and had come in to spend the late afternoon and evening before kayaying his way furnther up the coast to his eventual destination at Powell River.
We then went back to our vacation rental after picking up some suculent wild salmon fillets from the local fish monger and had a fabulous bbq. A truly spectacular day and wonderful evening. The sun shone the whole day making me the biggest believer in the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.
February 01, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Art Galleries & Artists
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Art’s popping up all over the place in Vancouver lately. Here are a few of my favorites:
A-Maze-ing Laughter: There are always people imitating these giant bronze sculptures’ poses while snapping pics. It’s so popular that the grass couldn’t handle the crowds and was recently replaced with bark mulch. A mystery fan even made Santa hats for the sculptures at Christmas.
Location: Corner of Davie and Denman, near English Bay
Monument for East Vancouver: It has people talking – isn’t that what art’s all about? A recognizable cross-shaped East Van symbol has been upgraded to giant public art status. Most impressive at night, when it’s lit up and tough to miss.
Location: At Clark and 6th Avenue
We, 2008: Nice in daytime, but incredible when darkness falls. That’s when it’s illuminated to create a glowing man made out of all the letters of the alphabet. It’s huge, too – step inside for a unique perspective (like my friend Jonathan Sparks did for the photo above).
Location: At Beach and Thurlow, near the Vancouver Aquatic Centre
Artificial Rock #143: Not everyone is a fan (I’ve heard it described as “God’s filling”), but I like it. It’s shiny, lumpy and outer-space-y, and contrasts with the straight lines of the downtown buildings.
Location: Corner of Granville and Georgia, near the Vancouver City Centre Canada Line station
Woodward’s W: Is this considered public art? It’s definitely a Vancouver icon – the neon Woodward’s W lit up the sky from 1944 to 1993, and now it’s back (with energy efficient bulbs).
Location: Woodward’s building, look up from Woodward's plaza near Abbott and Cordova
February 01, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Spas & Wellness
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Yoga pairs nicely with Vancouver’s laid-back West Coast vibe, and this city has fully embraced the idea of stretching, breathing and oooohhhmming in a room of like-minded people.
Studios are popping up everywhere, and all types of yoga are available. You name it, Vancouver’s yoga scene has it (yes, even nude yoga). Where to start? Here are some suggestions:
YYOGA: The downtown Flow studio is huge, has a ton of classes, and feels like a spa thanks to organic hair products, peppermint soap and an infrared sauna. That being said, there’s also something special about the small, cozy room at their Yaletown studio. Big wooden rafters and candles make it my favourite space for an evening yin class.
Yoga for the People: A friend of mine loves this Gastown studio. What makes it unique? It’s all donation-based to make yoga accessible to everyone – pay what you can. Incredible! It’s a small and intimate space that offers a variety of styles. Wade’s vinyasa and Elle’s yin classes are my bud’s recommendations.
Semperviva Sea Studio: This relaxed studio reminds me of doing yoga in someone’s living room (maybe it’s the carpet?) – albeit a living room with a waterfront view. It’s on the second floor in a refurbished industrial building, and two walls of windows overlook False Creek, houseboats, and gently swaying boat masts. Stress, begone.
Lululemon: In Vancouver, it may seem as though the road to inner peace is paved with lululemon clothing. Lululemon was founded in Vancouver, so they have a huge local following. They also offer free in-store yoga classes – great for any out-of-town yogi, as they provide the mats.
Free Yoga: During the Winter Games, YYOGA and lululemon are offering free yoga at any of YYOGA’s studios (6 locations, including Vancouver and Whistler) – an awesome way to stretch your cheering muscles!
Sometimes, though, the urge to zen-out can happen any time, any place. That’s me above striking an impromptu pose on a sunny summer day at Third Beach – no studio required. (Photo by Vanessa Griffiths).
February 01, 2010 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Ferry
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I worked on Granville Island for a few years, and one of the best things about it (besides the food) was commuting on the little ferries that bob along False Creek.
After a long day in the office, I’d walk down to the docks and watch the ferry’s lights get closer before hopping in. The evening rides were always my favorite: quietly gliding across the water in the dark was an instant de-stressor.
Daytime rides, though busier, gave me the chance to watch kayakers, cormorants and harbour seals (it’s neat to look a seal in the eye from water level). These ferries are by far the coolest form of transit in the city, and they make an awesome harbour “mini-cruise” rain or shine. Plus, they're pretty darn cute.
Both False Creek Ferries (the blue boats) and Aquabus (the rainbow boats) offer the same relaxing ride. The differences between them are: only False Creek Ferries will travel to Maritime Museum/Space Museum/Museum of Vancouver, and only Aquabus can handle bicycles – they even have a special Cyquabus for that purpose.