July 02, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Dining
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In summary of the following post, may I say, 'Yummmmmmmmm'.
I originally heard of “Qoola” on my quest to find lactose free yogurt.
The owner said in response to an earlier blog post "We are the only
frozen yogurt establishment in Vancouver (that we know of) that can
display the Live and Active Cultures seal, signifying that our
product does contain at least 10 million helpful bacteria per gram.
Our own yogurt contains well over 100 million per gram. Thus, the
more bacteria, hopefully the greater the likelihood that people that
are lactose intolerant will be able to enjoy our products".
Whilst my brother and his family were visiting we decided to finish
off our night with a trip to Qoola. I was very excited to try the
yogurt for the first time and to hopefully not be effected. I was
impressed by the interior of the establishment. It was modern, clean
and we were welcomed by friendly staff. Even when I was being
indecisive about which of the many topping extras I wanted and I was
holding up the line, the staff didn't make me rush and they were very
accommodating. I also quizzed them about the yogurt and myself being
lactose intolerant and they were very knowledgeable and helpful.
My initial reaction was that the cost was a little on the high side,
but when you consider it is next to English Bay, it is a treat and
personally for myself I can actually enjoy yogurt it was well worth
the price.
Cold treats are good any time of the year, but especially on a hot
summers day, so go treat your self this summer at Qoola Yogurt + Fruit.
Qoola Yogurt + Fruit is located at 1116 Denman St in English Bay
July 02, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
North Vancouver, Dining
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I’m a Yorkshire lad (pronounced York–sha) born and bred. Grew up eating scotch eggs and lard sarnies with crisps (chips) for Saturday (pronounced Sat-day) tea (evening meal).
So when I learned there was a British Butcher in town selling delights of my culinary childhood I was excited to visit.
The shop is located in North Vancouver (703 Queensbury Ave), a little off the beaten track, but is easy to find if you have a map. As soon as I walked in I noticed that it sells lots of meat products, pies as well as condiments and sweets (candy) from the mother land.
I was like a little kid who had been transported to their English youth. They sold Hula Hoops, which are crisps in the shape of a band (like a wedding band) that you put on all your fingers and then bit them off. They sell English Mustard, like no other in the world. If you like wassabi you MUST try this, it’s amazing (my mum always brings me a jar from England when visiting).
They sell 36 different varieties of sausages. It was difficult to choose but I decided to be patriotic and buy the Yorkshire variety.
Then there was why I went, I had a craving for a Scotch egg. Put simply, imagine a circular lump of cooked sausage meet with a hard boiled egg in the middle, covered in bread crumbs, this is a Scotch egg. It was absolutely amazing. Great flavour and consistency, good quality meat, and was big enough for a small meal.
The one thing you realize when you visit the shop is how great the quality is of the products. On the website they say “we have found that it is not worth cutting corners to meet the demand as our customers have come to expect a high quality product”.
The website could do with a wee polish, but the food is first rate. Go there and spend lots and eat lots and then tell me how great it was.
July 02, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
100 Mile House, Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
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The Free Rein Ranch was a highlight of our trip through the Cariboo-Chilcotin region. We were only able to spend a short time there but the time we did have was relaxing and fun! We arrived with a few hours of sunshine left and were able to take out some kayaks on the small lake in behind the ranch. The surrounding forests mirrored perfectly onto the glass still water as loons and other birds fished around us. While we didn't see any that evening, our host Debbie told us that often other wildlife such as moose come down to the lake to drink and frolic in the water that is overlooked by the gorgeous log lodge. The horseback riding made for a fantastic morning and learned a ton about interacting and riding horses. Our hosts and guide were easygoing, fun and sweet, providing comfortable, cozy beds and simple, yet yummy food along with smiles and stories throughout our stay. By the end of our trip we felt like friends, rather than just simply visitors and it made us excited for a return trip.
July 02, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Dining
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Yee Haw!!! My first country experience was certainly a most memorable one. Being from a large city, I have always associated country dancing with doing a couple of steps to Cotton Eyed Joe, so when several fine gentlemen cowboys asked me to “two-step”, I was completely baffled. What is this “two-step”? Will I completely embarrass myself if I attempt this dance? It wasn’t until a friend of mine pulled me onto the dance floor, at New Frontier in Fort St John, and insisted on teaching me how it was done, that I immediately excelled at this new dance. Well, maybe not excelled, but I certainly did a lot better than I had ever imagined.
After the dancing, I got the opportunity to meet some real cowboys. I had no idea that real cowboys even existed, so you can imagine my excitement. I finally had an epiphany and although I had travelled the world and currently resided in Toronto, I had lived a very sheltered life. I went from believing that cowboys merely existed in those old western films to actually grasping that they are, in fact, real. The New Frontier is a great place for a fun night out and, for a tourist such as myself, it provides a brand new experience.
The festive music, live band, and affordable beverages provided for a great night. When my feet got too tired from the ample two-stepping, there was always a place to sit. This nightclub is additionally a great place to go if you are the type of individual who wants to sit back, relax, and have a drink. The dancing isn’t necessary but is always a great form of entertainment. Earlier in the night, the New Frontier offers a variety of food items on their menu and functions as a bar and grill. It is located at 10320-100th Avenue. I will most certainly be returning there in the near future to have another great experience!
July 02, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Williams Lake, Museums
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Often times, Visitor Information Centres (VICs) fall within the trap of being a quick, unmemorable stop off for visitors who either need directions or a toilet break. Thankfully, the Williams Lake Discovery Centre (which holds the city's VIC) exceeds these usual expectations and offers visitors an interactive experience that will certainly be memorable. The building, which can't be missed when driving through town as it is strikingly beautiful with huge wood architecture. The centre is chalked full of information of the city, region and province, all within an extraordinary building that will have flashes snapping and necks stretching to look up and around, most likely at the humongous tree that rises through the centre of the building. Whether you chose to have your picture atop a mountain bike with peaks in the background, watch a quick movie in their cozy cabin or just have a chat with the friendly staff, you won't be disappointed with this rest-stop.
July 02, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Penticton, Festivals & Events
Wow! The
Pacific Northwest Elvis Festival was a huge success. For the first time ever the two big events, the Saturday Night Tribute Show and the Sunday Judged Finals, sold out completely. This has become a very impressive event, attracting top talent from around North America.
Between the Elvis Festival and the
Peach City Beach Cruise, it was really amazing to see the traffic in downtown Penticton. There were people everywhere because both events took place within the same two block radius. On top of that, the Penticton Farmer's Market STILL ran on Saturday morning.
Talk about things to do! Summer in Penticton is jammed with so many great things: sun, sand, festivals, fresh fruit, wineries... the list goes on.
July 01, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Sandspit, Kayaking & Canoeing
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I just spent a month on Haida Gwaii for a university field "school". Everything was just amazing! We hit up Masset, Old Masset, Tlell, Port Clements, Queen Charlotte City, Skidegate, Sandspit, and Gwaii Haanas and did so many different things! One thing that REALLY stands out though was Mount Moresby Adventure Camp! Located on Moresby Island, not far from the launch point into Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, this place is GORGEOUS! MMAC is right on Mosquito Lake and Mount Moresby overshadows the lake and there are some really cool short and long hikes nearby! The bunkhouse and mess hall buildings are also stunning; two cedar traditional longhouses!
But that's not all! Our field school rented out the camp in May as the camp was just coming alive and we had the chance to talk to Jonathan, the director. We got to hear about MMAC's beginnings and as it turns out, MMAC is not just a business, its actually this amazing Forest Stewardship and Outdoor Education Program that is partnered with the Haida Gwaii School District. Every year all the grades 4, 8 and 12 spend a week or two at the camp learning outdoor skills and environmental stewardship among other things. I think he said that as of this year every kid on Haida Gwaii will have been to MMAC! And better yet, all the money from tours and facility rentals that MMAC puts on goes towards supporting this program!
The staff that we met at MMAC, including Jonathan, are all pretty awesome and their resumes are pretty impressive! No need to worry about safety or having a good time with them around!
MMAC offers ecotourism sea kayaking tours into Gwaii Haanas, kids adventure camps and kids eco-tours as well as offering the MMAC facility up for rental for retreats and field schools to support the non-profit school camp!
It was such an amazing experience, kayaking and canoeing on the lake, hiking trails built by campers, campfires, 'class time' in the mess hall, spreading out our mattresses in front of the fire in the bunkhouses and waking up to the smell of cedar every morning! I hope everyone going to Haida Gwaii takes a tour with MMAC to support this great cause!!
July 01, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Victoria, Golf
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We played the Arbutus Ridge Golf Club near Victoria on Vancouver Island and caught some video of an amazing rainbow from the patio. Then we saw a group of golfers fly off in a helicopter! Must be nice.
The views from clubhouse and golf course are fantastic. You can see the ocean and nearby islands in the background. We had dinner at the Satellite Bar & Grille at the Arbutus Ridge Golf Club and it was very good. I have to say I don't normally expect much from a golf course restaurant but the menu, food quality and selection of local wines far exceeded my expectations.
The golf course is surrounded by 9 wineries, so we visited a few. The Pinor Noir from Avrill Creek is fantastic! Cherry Point and Merridale Cider have great venues for tastings as well. Check the golf course and nearby wineries out if you can!