January 25, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Outdoor Activity Tours
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Motorcycle ride: Vancouver as seen from the Cypress Mountain
point of interest. Zoom into city center and visit the 2010 Olympic
countdown clock, also see a cruise ship passing under the Lions Gate
Bridge. Then, a virtual motorcycle ride on the Sea to Sky Highway to
Porteau Cove Provincial Marine Park, British Columbia, Canada.
January 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Courtenay, Wineries & Vineyards
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When I have friends visiting Vancouver Island, it's great to take them up the oceanside route on Hwy 19A to breath in the fresh sea air and quiet beach exploring on the way to Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery, which has a quiet location with great vistas of the Beaufort mountain range. We usually arrive in time to enjoy one of the vineyard picnic baskets or bring our own.
We partake in the complimentary offering of red and white wine selections and unusual blackberry / black current port in the wine tasting room and learn quite a bit about wine making from the Vintners: Susan and Jeff Vandermolen.
Afterwards, we take time to sit on the patio deck or side yard chairs listening to music while sipping their flavourful wines, chatting with other guests & enjoying the restful setting.
January 21, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Burnaby, Bird Watching
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Burnaby Lake is a jewel, a quiet oasis in the heart of the city of Burnaby. The area is popular for outdoor enthusiasts looking for a quick “back to nature” moment, without the hassle of a long drive.
The paths along the lake are well marked and easily accessible. Strolling along the lake you can see a wide variety of birds. Herons, ducks, eagles and kingfishers are spotted regularly, and keep an eye out for the beaver dam and its occupants!
A bird viewing tower and several wooden promenades provide excellent photo opportunities, especially in the early morning when the sun is coming up over the lake. A seasonal nature house and interpretive display is open during summer weekends.
A loop around the entire lake is approximately 10km (6mi), or you can take a quick out-and-back stroll on one of the many trails. Don’t forget your camera!
January 21, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Victoria, Gardens
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I went to Butchart gardens for the very first time and was amazed at how beautiful this place is. Awesome.
January 19, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Rossland, Skiing & Snowboarding
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Just had an unbelievable weekend at Red Mountain in Rossland. The weather on Saturday was spectacular and the snow was even better. Dropped the kids off at the ski school and managed to get 3 hours of uninterrupted and great skiing.
Took this picture on the top of Granite looking out over towards Old Glory! The trip up the mountain was worth it just for the view.
January 17, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Wells, Kayaking & Canoeing
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Bowron Lake Provincial Park is a large wilderness area situated on the western slopes of the Cariboo Mountain Range in eastern British Columbia.
The world-renowned Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit encompasses a 116 km chain of lakes, waterways and connecting portages. The Park is a place of many moods, from bright sunshine and placid blue lakes to angry gray waters and torrential rains.
January 05, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Whistler, Dining
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I could eat here every day..thoughtful, well-rounded menu, well-prepared food, great service (ask for Kelly), reasonable prices, pleasant atmosphere...the open kitchen adds to the warmth and coziness. It is on the Village Stroll, just on the West side of the footbridge and the gazebo (see the map).
They offer an ample variety of pastas and pizzas as well as wood-fired rotisserie chicken, lamb and pork; the entree list has a couple steaks, and some other fish and seafood. The braised lamb shank special sounded tempting, and the calamari (served la plancha) came highly recommended. I chose the mussels in tomato coulis from the appetizers, along with chicken/cannellini bean soup...either with a salad would have made a great meal!
We ate several places we won't go back, but this is exactly the kind of place we were looking for - I don't need foie gras prepared six different ways as one place advertised - just take good food and don't mess it up...I eat food because I like it and it sustains me not because I am making a fashion statement for crying out loud! And I don't need to pay $200+ to do it...so there! Go eat at Caramba! and tell them the crazy people from Seattle sent you.
January 04, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Nimpo Lake, Festivals & Events
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We had the pleasure of attending the New Year's Ice Party at Nimpo Lake this year and it was unbelievable! Apparently the last one was held 10 years ago during the Millennium year and it was intended to be an event every 10 years. However, organizers tell me it was so much fun, this just may become an annual event. People arrived in vehicles, on snowmobiles, ATV's or simply walked to the party spot.
Starting just after dark, the party was held on the ice of Nimpo Lake. A huge area was cleared on the ice, and numerous Christmas trees were subsequently plopped into the resulting snow banks surrounding the party area. The trees were decorated with Christmas lights that lit up the huge area. There were Swiss candles (six foot tall logs that burned like torches) ice candles (ice mold lit from within by a candle) and even tiki torches added their light to the four bonfires kept roaring by party goers.
Barbecues kept chili and hot dogs hot, while a turkey roaster did double duty as hot chocolate heater and a great punch slowly froze next to the ice bar. The ice bar. Now that was something to behold! The base was built of huge blocks of ice taken from the lake the day before and it was finished off with long slabs of ice about four inches thick, then coins were set into the ice. Lit from behind by red and green floodlights, it stood like an ethereal sculpture in the middle of the dance floor.
Oh yeah, there was music, along with other activities. A skating rink provided fun for the kids, while adults tried their hand at curling. But this was like no curling you've ever seen before! The rocks were made of blocks cut from a large Aspen tree that were smoothed and then a bent spike was hammered into the top and provided a handle, while the bottom of the 'rocks' had water poured over them so that they were smooth and sailed along the curling rink at a pretty good rate.
A grand show of fireworks was put on at 8:00, at 9:30, and a spectacular show again at midnight. This was a great way to welcome in the New Year and if the organizers do decide to do this next year, by all means, attend. I spoke to a lot of out of towners that came in just for this party and they all had a blast! Seeing the amazing Coastal Mountains in the moonlight beyond the gay Christmas lights was a sight to behold and you couldn't ask for a greater way to ring in 2010.