March 30, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Sightseeing Tours
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Hey guys! Today I went out and hiked the Iona Pipeline with Bailey. The pipeline? Isn’t that connected to the Richmond Wastewater Treatment Plant? Sounds fun, doesn’t it? Well actually, it’s better than it sounds.
Iona Beach is a regional park that offers some great wild life viewing and a fantastic hike or bike ride if you’re up for it. If you’re not sure where it is, it’s located just north of Sea Island and the Vancouver International Airport. Yes, it’s close to the treatment plant, but keep an open mind and hear me out on this one!
It’s really not as bad as it sounds. The park is clean, well kept, and frankly looks like any other beach in the lower mainland. The treatment plant is located at the entrance to the park, but is so out of the way you barely even notice it. Iona is a great place for picnics and interestingly, stargazing too. It’s far away enough from the main parts of the city that you don’t get the light pollution and the entire sky is very easily visible. There are not too many other places around Vancouver where you can easily do this.
The really cool thing here though is the 4km man-made jetty that supports the huge outfall pipes that carry the treated water from the plant. At the end of this jetty, the treated water flows an additional 3 km in submerged pipes to deep water in the Straight of Georgia, where tides and currents disperse it into the ocean.
There is a great walking/jogging/biking trail that goes overtop of them with plenty of nice views and opportunities to see local wildlife. During my trek out there I saw all kinds of birds, eagles, and even a seal!
Be warned! The trek is deceivingly long! At first glance it didn’t seem that much of a hike. I took Bailey out there and it was a haul - roughly 8km there and back! (Especially carrying 40lbs of camera gear! Yikes!) That being said, it was very rewarding reaching the end and watching the sunset with my puppy at the observation deck. There were plenty of other people around enjoying it too, and it was nice to laugh about how much fun a waste treatment plant could be.
The Iona Pipeline is a great hike if you’re looking for a new route around Richmond! Check it out and try something new!
- VideoChris
March 28, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Sooke, Hiking
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Recently I took a day trip up Island to join a small group of friends staying at a cabin in Port Renfrew, a small and remote town set amongst stunning west coast scenery. Beaches, crashing waves and thick, lush coastal rainforest surround this tiny community.
We decided to do a hike into Avatar Grove (apparently named for the movie to promote awareness of the area). The ground was moist and muddy -- bring your boots! -- and there were ropes for when the trail became too steep. We passed trickling streams, bizarre fungus and enormous, mossy trees, dwarfing us with their massive trunks. Inside the trees, the air was damp and silent.
On the drive home the sun came out, glittering on ocean waters. We stopped for a break at Jordan River to watch surfers bobbing the waves too.
Avatar Grove is not a well-marked trail but it's short and relatively easy to find the big trees. Make sure to dress for constantly changing (wet!) weather
March 26, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Merritt, Outdoor Activity Tours
Motorcycle riding on Highway 5A from Nicola Lake to Stump Lake,
between Merritt and Kamloops, British Columbia. This stretch of highway
is blessed with lakes, windy roads, and incredible scenery with a number
of roadside points of interest, and rest areas.
Thanks for watching : )
March 25, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Enderby, Kayaking & Canoeing
20 March 2011, Enderby, BC
A beautiful Sunday - the official beginning of spring marks Shuswap Kayak's first paddle of the season. Three of our members kayaked up Shuswap River from Enderby boat launch around Big Island at the bridge for an awesome float back down stream accompanied by geese and eagles of a great urban wilderness.
March 23, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Snowshoeing
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Last Sunday we went out for our weekly winter exercise. This time we went snowshoeing which is one of my favorite ways to enjoy this beautiful country. It's simple, great cardio exercise and we especially love the quietness. Snowshoes are light, easy to travel with and a great way to hang out with people.
If you need some, they have a great selection of snowshoes at Corlane's Sporting Goods store.
Last Sunday, was a sunny, warm day, great for snowshoeing. We chose a spot near the little village of Rolla, about 10 miles north of the city, which has great bush trails and fields with sweeping views all the way into Alberta. It's beautiful there.
We had just about completely crossed a field when we saw something big moving in the tree line just ahead of us. It moved like a coyote but was a lot bigger. We had our binoculars and little camera with us.
It was a Gray Wolf. Even though common sense told us that he would not bother us, being out in the middle of a field in deep snow with a wolf watching us was scary-exciting.
We stopped and watched the wolf, and the wolf stopped and watched us. We figured we would just wait for it to make the first move and after several minutes the wolf turned and resumed his travels away from us.
When we got home, I looked up Gray Wolves on the Internet and found that there are estimated 7,500 in BC. Life isn't easy for a wolf. Living on large and small game, they only have a 10% success rate with their hunting and so live by feast or famine. I also learned that they often travel 200 kilometers in a day.
A friend told me that a Gray Wolf had been spotted about 30 kilometers from here; maybe it's the same one. The mystery is whether or not there is a pack around.
Whether a local or a visitor, it's important to keep eyes and ears open when you are out an about in the country. There are a lot of wild animals living here. Cameras, binoculars and a cell phone are a good idea. It's also a great idea to mention to someone where you are going.
March 22, 2011 | Field Reports >
Fernie, Festivals & Events
Watch the action of the 2011 BC Ski Games! Tourism BC's BC Ski Games
contest winner has chosen the increasingly popular Fernie Alpine Resort
out of 13 different prize packages. Mark Chambers from Edmonton,
Alberta won the 2011 BC SKi Games contest where he and seven of his
friends will ski and snowboard at Fernie Alpine Resort as part of his
five-day vacation prize package.
Tourism British Columbia Field
Reporter, Chris Wheeler, joins the winners for the excitement of the BC
Ski Games which is a one-day event that includes a ski-cross race, a
snowmobile scavenger hunt and a hot tub trivia game. As part of the BC
Ski Games festivities, the group will also receive ski and snowboard
training from campaign spokespeople and Olympic gold medal athletes
Ashleigh McIvor and Maëlle Ricker!
Located in the Canadian
Rockies, Fernie Alpine Resort is known for deep snow and varied terrain
featuring five unique alpine bowls over 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres),
the most bowls in North America.
More about BC's 13 ski resorts at:
http://www.HelloBC.com/ski
March 18, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Beaches & Swimming
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Hi guys! Today I got to visit one of my favourite places in Richmond, Watermania!!! What the heck is Watermania? It’s the largest and most awesome aquatic centre in Richmond, that’s what. No other facility in British Columbia offers a 57 metre competition pool, one metre and three metre spring boards, a five metre tower (dubbed ‘The Platform’), giant WAVE POOL, interactive water play structure for kids, two waterslides, steam room, sauna, and hot tubs all under one roof. Beyond that, they also have a full gym and fitness facility. This is a really cool building that offers tons for everybody to enjoy!
I have such fond memories of this building from when I was a child. I remember having my birthday parties there every year and playing for hours with my friends making giant ‘floaty fortresses’ in the big pool with all the foam toys. You’d be just about to commandeer and board an enemy floating fortress when –BUZZZZ! The famous ‘buzzer’ goes off, causing everyone in the room to scream, and then run to the wave pool to catch the first waves. The waves are actually a good size too; with enough oomph to keep you thoroughly entertained as brave children get steamrolled and dragged out to – ok, they’re not THAT big! The pool is a lot of fun though, even for the little guys! Waves not your thing? Watermania has two huge waterslides as well, the windy red one and the blue tube one. No matter what anyone tells you, the blue one is the best one as well as the fastest one. After years of competitive slide racing I remain undefeated in the ‘the tube.’ (still accepting challenges)
One of my other favourite highlights of the building is of course the diving boards and the fabled ‘platform.’ (5 metres!) Unfortunately today I was unable to bribe any small children to belly flop off of it (great for the camera), however it remains to be a really awesome jump. I remember bombing off it as a kid with no regard for my safety as my horrified parents watched me smack the water. The platform is a cruel mistress, but the stinging sensation of awesomeness after hitting the water and winding yourself will always be revered among your friends.
Watermania is a great facility offering a ton of entertainment for the whole family. Whether you want to just relax in the hot tub, live your fantasy of being Tarzan on the rope swing, or just bob around like a cork in the wave pool, this facility offers it all. If you’re in Richmond, definitely head down and check out Watermania! Oh, and if you manage to actually beat the blue slide, email me as I believe it fundamentally impossible. :)
- VideoChris
March 17, 2011 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Accommodation
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I was pleasantly surprised with Ocean Island Inn in Victoria. For a hostel, this place has a lot of options!
We were looking for an inexpensive place to stay near downtown Victoria, as we were planning to visit some of Victoria's famous brewpubs located near the Inner Harbour.
Ocean Island gave us the choice of dorm rooms, semi-private rooms and hotel-style private rooms. We went for the posh option and stayed in a private room with a private bathroom, fridge and TV. Wireless internet was free. The room was small, but it very clean, comfortable and about a 15-minute walk from downtown. It faced the street, so we did hear some car traffic... something to consider if you’re a light sleeper.
It was indeed close to the places we wanted to visit -- we checked out Swans and Canoe brewpubs, and then visited Red Fish Blue Fish for Fanny Bay oyster tacones the next day.
Our one-night stay cost about $80, which included parking. A solid choice for budget-minded travellers.
March 17, 2011 | Tips from Us >
Sooke, Sightseeing Tours
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While driving between Duncan and Port Renfrew along, we stopped to stretch our legs at the Harris Creek Sitka Spruce.
This old tree is massive! Take a close look at the photo – that’s me in the bottom right corner to give a sense of scale.
The trunk and branches were coated in mosses of all textures and colours: soft, stringy, bright green and pale green.
The Harris Creek Spruce is located near Port Renfrew and was easy to find, as there were “point of interest” signs indicating where to pull over. It’s definitely worth a stop if you’re on this route. From the road, we couldn’t even tell the tree was there, but less than a minute walk from the car and we were staring at it’s enormous trunk.
A couple of tips if travelling the road between Duncan and Port Renfrew:
- Gas up in Duncan or Lake Cowichan. There are no gas stations in Port Renfrew.
- The entire route between Duncan and Lake Cowichan is now paved (a large section used to be gravel), but keep in mind this is still an active logging area. Take it slow and watch for logging trucks. We were travelling mid-week and saw at least a half dozen fully loaded logging trucks along the route.
March 16, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Art Galleries & Artists
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We are so lucky here in Dawson Creek to have a really active art community.
When my friend told me about the latest show and concert to open at the Grain Elevator Art Gallery I knew it was just the thing to bring some light and warmth and color into the deep days of winter.
We arrived early and from the first moment of opening the door we were wrapped in soft welcoming music. Looking up the spiraling ramp, the walls were hung with bright, colorful portraits, people were just starting to come in, and apparently with the same idea we had for breaking up the winter.
There was a big bowl of punch and a table full of appetizers to enjoy as well and we strolled up to the top of the gallery nibbling, chatting, and enjoying the art. We often stop to look down over the rails to the belly of the gallery below.
We finished our stroll and returned to the center of the gallery to fill our plates with more snacks and take a seat to listen to an intimate concert by a traveling musician. The Art Gallery hosts regular concerts and art exhibits and we try to go them on a regular basis.
Ticket prices are always reasonable and we never fail to enjoy ourselves. It's a small venue and that's what makes it so enjoyable.
It was a warm and wonderful evening.