March 08, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Victoria, Accommodation
A visit to Victoria can be overwhelming—with so much to see and do, you’ll definitely need a few days to take it all in. Along with endless sights and attractions, Victoria also has an infinite number of accommodation choices. Do you want a bed and breakfast? A boutique hotel? A backpacker hostel?
To help you make your decision, here’s a list of my favourite 7 places to stay in Victoria:
Fairholme ManorFairholme is a luxurious, yet affordable, bed and breakfast in the historic Rockland district. It’s a newly-restored 100 year old Italianate mansion located next door to Government House, the official residence of British Columbia’s Lieutenant Governor. Fairholme lies on nearly 1 acre of park-like land and features beautiful rooms with ocean, mountain or garden views. It’s a 5 minute walk to Craigdarroch Castle, a 10 minute walk to Antique Row and a 15 minute walk to the heart of downtown Victoria.
Swans Suite HotelSwans, Victoria’s Boutique Art Hotel, is just steps away from Victoria’s famous inner harbour. The hotel contains 29 unique suites suited to tourists, corporate travelers and even families with children. Each suite retains the character of the 1913 heritage building and features unique displays of original artwork. In addition to the hotel, Swans also has a brewpub, a bistro, a brewery and a beer and wine shoppe.
Birds of a FeatherBirds of a Feather is a unique bed and breakfast with true west coast flavour. The waterfront, purpose-built house is located on a 120 lagoon that provides ideal shelter for canoeing, kayaking and row boating. The bed and breakfast is nestled between two National Historic Sites, Fort Rodd Hill and Hatley Park, and is surrounded by 600 acres of old-growth forest. Birds of a Feather is suitable for both honeymooners and families with children. In addition to their free canoes, kayaks and mountain bikes, they also offer personalized marine eco tours and Hummer land adventures.
AmbrosiaAmbrosia Bed and Breakfast is luxurious, romantic, relaxing and conveniently located in the heart of downtown. The 1897 heritage building houses one-of-a-kind suites with classic Japanese design with a modern flair. Ambrosia’s breakfasts are not to be missed—you can look forward to tasty treats such as broiled grapefruit with Canadian maple syrup and brown sugar, homemade banana bread and smoked salmon and asparagus crepes.
EmpressThe Empress Hotel is one of Victoria’s most famous (and oldest) landmarks. Built in 1908, the Edwardian-style hotel is one of the most photographed attractions on Vancouver Island. If you’re not staying in one of its 477 rooms, you can indulge in their famous afternoon tea, visit the gift shops, get pampered in the spa or enjoy the Bengal Lounge’s curry buffet.
Chateau VictoriaChateau Victoria is located in heart of Victoria, minutes away from Beacon Hill Park, the inner harbour and all of downtown’s most popular attractions. The comfortable, spacious rooms are suitable for both leisure and business travelers and many have breathtaking views of the city. Chateau Victoria’s Rooftop restaurant, Vista 18, is the only of its kind in Victoria. On the 18th floor, you will dine with a backdrop of the Olympic Mountains, Mount Baker and beautiful downtown Victoria.
Ocean IslandOcean Island is Victoria’s most popular backpacker and budget-traveler accommodation. The fully-renovated 1891 heritage building is full of art, colour and lively travelers and staff. It’s located right downtown, with all the best music, clubs, shops and attractions within walking distance.
March 03, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Victoria, Fishing
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It was the summer of 2010 and we wanted to escape our city life in Austin, Texas and visit the Pacific Northwest. We had ten days off and decided to drive from Texas, to Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia (3000+ mile car trip). We had just bought a new VW and thought it would be fun to drive it across country and have an adventure along the way (and, boy did we ever)!
We entered BC the “round-about” way by ferry from the NAS base on Whidbey Island to Victoria BC (you can make reservations for some of these BC ferries, so plan ahead). I highly suggest traveling on at least one of the ferries in British Colombia because it is a great way to see some of the Canadian coastline. We saw thousands of puffins and what we thought was a whale plume in the distance during the journey, it was fun!
We had booked a hotel room in Victoria BC for a couple of days with a family-owned hotel that also had a hotel in Vancouver (made it really easy for us since that was another destination on our itinerary), but we did not make any activity plans so that we could depend on the locals’ recommendations and be more impromptu rather than planning out everything before arriving in Canada. It was a good thing that we had booked our hotel though because we didn’t realize July 1st was Canada Day (we thought we had avoided the crowds of July 4th weekend in the states!) and hotels were booked up.
We ended up stopping at the
visitor center in Victoria so that we could gather local flyers and talk to a tourism expert who was able to recommend activities still available for the holiday weekend.
Through the BC tourist official, we ended up going deep sea fishing off of Vancouver Island which was completely amazing. I kinda like fishing, but deep sea fishing is a whole adventure on its own (do not forget the Dramamine if you even get a little motion sick). I caught a silver salmon, red snapper, and a smaller halibut. We even found a storefront in the Fisherman’s Wharf that would smoke and vacuum seal our fish so that we could take our catch home with us!
I had a great time overall. We met some wonderful people, compared mosquito size (Canadian vs Texan), and had some Canadian beer! Overall, our time in Victoria BC was marvelous. Next stop, Vancouver and the Strait of Georgia!
To Come:
Part 2: Vancouver and the Strait
of Georgia
Part 3:
Glacier National Park
March 03, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Air / Airports
Hey everyone! Today was really a special treat! I was given access to shoot inside the Vancouver International Airport (YVR), easily one of the most beautiful airports in the entire world. Located on Sea Island, which is a part of Richmond, it stands as the gateway to the Lower Mainland. Thanks to some handy connections, I was even given clearance to go post security, which really gave me some great opportunities for video.
The airport has been around and served Vancouver and its surrounding suburbs since 1929, though it has gotten many makeovers, additions, and facelifts since. The present terminal, and the one seen the in the video, was completed in 1968 and is accompanied by four runways. Upon first entering, one can’t help but notice the striking Pacific Northwest Coast Native Art deco almost everywhere. It’s very well done and is a great touch that adds a lot of BC flavour to the building. This accompanied by the copious use of glass, greenery, and natural light creates a very welcoming and vibrant air to the entire building. Speaking of greenery, YVR is probably one of the only airports in the world to feature a full ‘park’ with a man-made stream and waterfall inside its International Terminal. (Post security- sorry! Have to fly to see this one!) Though I wasn’t able to see the waterfall, the stream area is just beautiful, and really sticks out as a memorable spot in the airport.
Just down from this stream, is the much talked about aquarium- the largest one in an airport in the world. This 114,000 litre glass ecosystem supports approximately 850 native species of BC marine life and is a stunning display as the centre piece of the room. Accompanying it is also (my personal favourite) a separate tank featuring 100 moon jellyfish. Unfortunately I was not able to shoot this one, but I’ve seen it with my own eyes and it’s quite something to behold. These two massive aquatic exhibits are maintained by the Vancouver Aquarium and help you forget you’re in an airport!
Beyond that, there is also a great public observation deck located just above the food court in the Domestic Terminal. This is a great place to meet for lunch or spend some time just watching the aircraft arrive and depart through massive floor to ceiling windows. Quite a bit of the footage I took in the video was from this perch, as there was always lots of activity below! Though I didn’t show it, there was also an interactive map and kiosks that offer lots of information about the airport to travelers. I did the YVR airport quiz to test my knowledge and I got 0/10. (OUCH! I hope you do better! I’ve since done my homework!)
The Vancouver International Airport is a truly stunning building and functions as the gateway to Vancouver, Richmond, and all the Lower Mainland. I’ve only touched on a few of the key features this building has to offer – it is literally dripping with BC flavour. The next time you’re travelling, take some time to enjoy all the amazing work that has been put into our airport! It truly is a gem of BC, and of Richmond!
- VideoChris
P.S. Special thanks goes out to my friend and colleague Yuriy Rzhemovskiy for providing stills for the shoot this week!
March 03, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Historic & Heritage Sites
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Hey everyone! Today I was very fortunate to be invited to the International Buddhist Temple on Steveston Highway. This is one of those places that many people drive by on a daily basis, but never actually take the time to go check out! Wow! The place is incredible, not just in architecture, but in energy and atmosphere too!
Two Buddhists from Hong Kong established the International Buddhist Temple, also known as the ‘Guan-Yin Temple’, in 1981 in hopes of creating a major Buddhist establishment in North America. Opening to the public 1983, it has been thriving in Richmond ever since. The temple primarily practises Mahayana Buddhism, though it is also open to Theravada Buddhism and welcomes all visitors, no matter creed. Upon walking in, I was given an amazingly warm and accommodating welcome by the monks, nuns, and groundskeepers throughout the facilities.
I soon learned that the temple itself is the most authentic structure of traditional Chinese palatial style in all of North America! Wow! Its design is based on the Forbidden City in Beijing, China and I have to say, it is stunning.
Where do I even begin? Almost everywhere you look you’ll see ornate, beautiful designs, architecture, statues, sculpted greenery, ponds, cobble stone walkways, and little traditional courtyards. The roofs feature golden two tiered tiles, stone bridges cross ponds covered in lilies, and the smell of burning incense is thick in the air. The bonsai gardens, perfectly landscaped, have won numerous awards year after year for their beauty. In the distance you can hear soothing traditional Chinese music being played as ambiance throughout the temple. It truly is a small microcosm of traditional, rural China.
One of the things that struck me almost immediately was the calm, soothing, tranquil energy throughout the entire grounds. Just the way the temple is laid out makes you want to relax and take in the serenity of the place. I would love to come back here again and check it out!
Still basking in the glow of the Lunar New Year festivities, the temple was much busier than normal with people traveling from far and wide, some dressed in their traditional Chinese garb, to light incense and pay their respects to the Buddha. It seemed like everyone was hoping to bring on some good luck for the coming year!
Probably the highlight and apex of the temple is the Main Gracious Hall. Out of respect, I was not allowed to bring my camera in there, which is too bad – they have the largest Buddha statue in all of North America. I got to see it with my own eyes, and I would reckon it was about 25-30 feet tall, painted in gold. It was quite a sight!
Regardless of if you’re a Buddhist or not, this is a place that shouldn’t be missed if visiting Richmond – if for no other reason than to enjoy the calm tranquility of the grounds and take in the traditional Chinese atmosphere. Have you ever wanted to walk the Forbidden City of Beijing? Save yourself some money and come to Richmond instead! Just make sure you like the smell of incense, because there certainly is a lot of it!
The International Buddhist Temple offers insight into Buddhist philosophies, sanctuary, meditation classes, and charitable giving.
- VideoChris
March 03, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Sightseeing Tours
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Hey guys! Today I am going to give you a quick peek at the West Dyke Trail, part of Richmond’s extensive dyke system! If you’re up for a nice stroll, bike ride, dog walk, or just want to take in the natural beauty of the place, then the West Dyke Trail is for you.
The West Dyke Trail is a gravel pathway that offers excellent views of the Sturgeon Banks marshes, the distant Howe Sound mountains, and the Gulf Islands along a 5.5km path between Terra Nova and Garry Point Park. (Steveston).
It should be noted that this is only a tiny part of the Richmond’s entire dyke system, which surrounds the entire island and is a total of 49km in length (now THAT is a hike!). Richmond itself is only one metre above sea level, and located on a floodplain (as we are on the mouth of the Fraser River). These extensive dykes actually keep us from flooding during high tides and excessive rain and are a mandatory measure to keeping us nice and dry.
The West Dyke Trail, which is the western most stretch of this dyke system, is open to the public all year around and is a fantastic walk or bike ride filled with scenic landscape and plenty of wildlife. In fact, while I was there today I even managed to catch a glimpse of a coyote! I’ve lived in Richmond my whole life and I’ve never seen one up close before (about 10-15 feet away!). Unfortunately, I had my puppy Bailey with me, so I had to stop filming and grab him before the coyote realized what was going on! In hindsight, I probably could have gotten one of those great National Geographic hunting scenes on video, but Bailey is just far too cute for that. =)
Don’t fret though- The West Dyke Trail is an incredibly safe place for humans and dogs alike. This is the first time in my life I’ve come across a coyote, so this shouldn’t be a deterrent to enjoy the mountains and marshes. It’s just a friendly reminder that this is a wild living habitat to countless birds and other small animals. In fact, the Sturgeon Banks marsh is a major migration route for almost 1.4 million birds annually, including our famous snow geese!
Whether you’re here in the summer to enjoy it’s lush green marsh grasses, or make it in the winter to see it’s sepia, honey toned vistas, the West Dyke Trail is the ideal backdrop for some great recreational activities and wildlife to boot. Just don’t feed the coyotes!
- VideoChris
March 03, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Historic & Heritage Sites
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Hey guys! Today I’m excited to show you around one of the most important parts of Steveston’s history – the
Gulf Of Georgia Cannery!
Wow!! The last time I was in here was probably about grade 2 or 3! It felt great to be back and familiarize myself with all the amazing exhibits and work they’ve done since. I’m not really much of a museum guy, but the Cannery really does do a great job of keeping things informative, interesting, and interactive. As you could probably tell from the video, I was thoroughly entertained throughout my experience!
If you don’t know much about the Gulf Of Georgia Cannery, here’s the lowdown. It was built in 1894 in Steveston, and was the largest and leading producer of canned salmon in all of British Columbia! It was titled ‘The Monster Cannery’ and packed more than 2.5 million cans of salmon in 1897! Today, it has been transformed into a beautiful museum with interactive exhibits, films, and tours that demonstrate how important its role was to not only Richmond, but the entire West Coast of BC.
My experience there was fantastic. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the amount of information, old artifacts, machinery, and overall atmosphere really drew me into the canning & fishing culture. They also play really catchy old fishing tunes at the door when you enter the building! It not only put a smile on my face, but it’s small details like this make the building that much more immersive and fun!
Lastly, my personal highlight of the museum (as showcased in the video!) was the walkthrough troller replica found inside! It’s a representation of an actual fishing boat that would have been used on the Fraser, complete with sound effects, atmospheric lighting, video screens, and even a fisherman ‘taking a break.’ (this caught me totally off-guard by the way, and I thought it was a fantastic touch)
If you’re in Steveston, definitely take a stroll through the Gulf Of Georgia Cannery! It’s a fantastic piece of Richmond’s history perfectly preserved and waiting to be explored! The Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site is open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm.
- VideoChris
March 03, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Historic & Heritage Sites
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Hi everyone! Today I went and toured the national historic site of Britannia Heritage Shipyards, located in the corner of Steveston. This place is an amazing collection of old restored boatyards, residences, boardwalks, and docks dating back to the cannery days of Richmond in the 1800’s!
Britannia is a really cool place, stuffed to the brim with history and old pieces of the past just waiting to be uncovered. I was hit by a bit of nostalgia when I arrived as I have very fond memories of coming here on field trips when I was a kid. Regardless of your age however, there’s definitely something here for everyone.
The shipyards themselves date back to 1889 and are in remarkable condition considering their age. They are the oldest restored shipyards in all of British Columbia and nowadays act as a wonderful public museum! Britannia offers guided tours where you can take in the park-like atmosphere, watch a boat restoration in progress, or simply enjoy the buildings and artifacts on display. (tours are by donation!) The site itself sits on an eight and a half acre piece of land alongside the Fraser River, with a total of 12 buildings all beautifully restored and decorated to match their era. When you visit, ask for Brooke, the heritage coordinator! It was her task to fashion the building’s interiors, and transport you back into the old cannery days. To that end, she’s done a fabulous job!
Britannia offers a fun atmosphere that offers a view into the lives of the former village residents and the importance of the boat building and repair industry! It’s a lovely marshland walk filled with informative plaques, restored houses, ships, and an old boatyard just waiting to be taken in. Next time you’re in Steveston, check out the Britannia Heritage Shipyards!
- VideoChris
March 03, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Historic & Heritage Sites
Find more information about Richmond - Historic & Heritage Sites
Hey guys! Today I am going to give you a quick tour of the beautiful historic fishing village of Steveston. If you’re not sure where Steveston is, it’s in the South West corner of Richmond on the mouth of the Fraser River. This is without question and is one of the most unique and iconic locations in the entire city.
Today is actually an interesting day because, as you’ve seen in the video, there is snow everywhere! This NEVER happens in Richmond. If we’re lucky, we get snow maybe 1-2 times every couple of years. My shoot day just so happened to fall on one of those days. Go figure. For the record, Richmond is one of the mildest cities in all of Canada, albeit a wet one. (rain! rain! rain!) That’s ok though, as a little liquid sunshine never hurt anyone.
For those who aren’t familiar with Steveston, there are a few key landmarks that are ‘must visits’ if you’re in the area. First and foremost, are our famous docks! On weekends they are bustling with activity; fishing boats showing their newest catches, little souvenir shops, patio restaurants, cafes, fish & chips on the water, and the best frozen yogurt in the city. Taking a stroll down the boardwalk and taking in all the sights and sounds really is a special thing- a totally unique experience to the rest of Richmond.
Next up is The Gulf of Georgia Cannery, which is pretty much the main reason Steveston is on the map. Back in the 1800’s Steveston was the epicentre of fishing in all of BC. In fact, last fall we had the biggest sockeye salmon run in 100 years. The Cannery is a beautifully laid out museum showcasing the traditions and proud heritage that made Steveston what it is today.
Lastly is Moncton Street, which is the main ‘strip’ of Steveston. You’ll find plenty of ‘Ma & Pa’s’ restaurants (among others!) that cover the whole gamut: Greek, Indian, Italian, Mexican, sandwich places, and of course the best local seafood around! Beyond that, there are many micro bakeries, cafes, souvenir shops, and other hidden little gems just waiting to be explored.
Steveston really is a beautiful place and absolutely worth a visit if you come to Richmond. A nice afternoon on the docks, a basket of fish & chips, some fresh frozen yogurt, and a stroll through one of it’s scenic parks is only the tip of the iceberg of what Steveston has to offer. The charm of it’s little streets and character buildings really takes you back to a time long past, but that’s for you to explore yourself.
- VideoChris
March 03, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Attractions
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Hey everyone! Watch the video before reading!
The Richmond Oval was the home of the speed skating competition last year during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
This is a majorly cool building. If you haven’t been there yet, you owe it to yourself to check it out! The facility is MONSTROUS and offers almost every sport you can think of. I was shooting there for an hour or so at most, and I saw at least five different sports being played, plus a HUGE gym facility that was bustling with activity. On top of that, everything is still pristine new and incredibly well maintained.
I was fortunate to meet up with Aran Kay, Assistant Manager of the Oval while I was there. He gave me a quick tour of the building: two Olympic sized ice rinks, eight hardwood ball-sport courts, a full gymnasium, a 200m running track, rubberized turf area, and even a high performance centre for elite athletes. The building was buzzing with energy and filled with people enjoying their sport of choice all night long. The only sport I didn’t see (being played at least) was VOLLEYBALL! I’m a bit of volleyball nut, so this made me sad. But, they did have nets set up, so I can only assume I wasn’t there at the right time.
It’s worth mentioning that the Olympic Oval is also a super eco-friendly building with TONS of sustainability factors built into it. In the video you probably noticed the stunning wood roof. Well, that’s not ordinary wood, but rather reclaimed pine beetle wood that would have otherwise been sitting in the forest and rotting. (thus creating CO2) They’ve taken almost 1.1 million board feet of this wood (from Williams Lake area, BC!) and made the roof you see today.
On top of that, the ice in the oval actually heats the building. Yes. Heats it. All the thermal energy generated to cool the slabs is pumped through pipes and distributed back throughout the building instead of being exhausted outside. Aran told me that there’s actually so much extra energy produced from this, that when the surrounding community starts getting built up more, they will be sharing that energy to heat neighbouring homes too. Beyond that, there’s a pond outside that collects all the rainwater that falls from the roof (and there’s A LOT of it; the roof is MASSIVE at seven acres). They use this collected water to supply the sanitation systems throughout the building, so they are far less reliant on city water.
The Oval really is a stunning building. I will be eagerly awaiting a volleyball indoor drop in schedule so I can get out there and play. Aran told me that they offer free guided walking tours of the facility, so if you’re interested at all definitely get down and check it out! So many people are already enjoying this incredible facility! Why aren’t YOU?
- VideoChris
March 02, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Dining
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View a larger image on flickr.com
When I heard that I could get my favorite Italian Gelato (ice cream) in town, I was thrilled!
The Café Europa has an international atmosphere (Italian & Hungarian) and a menu featuring specialty coffees, European sandwiches and deserts. The display cases are a work of art.
It's right downtown, a block away from the Mile O Post, tucked away in a long narrow building. You can pop in when you are downtown checking out the murals. Then you can stroll and eat ice cream or enjoy your coffee at the same time.
Within days of opening it's doors, this little eatery became a favorite with locals and visitors alike.
The café is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. You can eat in or take out and there is a small veranda out back to sit and enjoy your food in the summer months. This is the only place in town where you can eat Tapis one week and Turkish Barbeque the next.
I'm most excited about the international nights – Italian, Greek, Spanish, Serbian, Hungarian, German, French, Turkish menus. All those flavors in one restaurant.