March 15, 2011 | Tips from Us >
Mount Washington Alpine Resort, Skiing & Snowboarding
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I’m fairly new to snowboarding, and most of my experiences thus far have included groomed green runs and trying not to get hit by anyone on a busy ski hill. That is, until last week when I visited Mount Washington Alpine Resort.
So. Much. Fun.
Blue skies. Five to 10cm of fresh snow. Mid-week, which meant the ski hill was blissfully free of crowds.
I had an absolute blast. I boarded in powder for the first time, and it was hours before the fresh snow was tracked out. I tried blue and black runs and even dipped into the trees for a bit.
After more than a dozen runs, I hit the pub for a pint of Vancouver Island ale and waited for my ski hill buddy to join me after he explored “The Outback” from the Boomerang Chair. A great day... thank you Mount Washington!
March 15, 2011 | Tips from Us >
Tofino, Gardens
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I’ve passed by the botanical gardens in Tofino plenty of times, but on a sunny March day, I finally decided to check it out.
Since it was still winter, the honour system was in effect. I plunked the suggested off-season donation of $5 into an envelope, tossed it through an open window (fingers crossed they find it!) and borrowed one of the field guide binders to help me navigate the winding garden paths.
The gardens were much bigger than I expected – they go all the way back to the mudflats! Many of the trees and plants were in winter-mode (ie. not blooming), but there was still neat stuff to see. I found giant art sculptures, wooden huts, huge trees and a even a dry-docked boat along the paths.
It took me about a half-hour to walk through the gardens, but I could imagine spending at an hour or more on a sunny, summer day when all was in bloom.
March 15, 2011 | Tips from Us >
Tofino, Sightseeing Tours
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While wandering on Cox Bay Beach in Tofino, I came across a sign on the north end of Cox Bay for Pettinger Point/Sunset Point. The trail appeared well-travelled and the sign looked new, so I ventured into the woods to see where it led.
The path was very easy to follow and a large part of it was wooden boardwalk. Thick salal and trees lined the route. Less than ten minutes of walking later, the trail opened up into a grassy area surrounded by chunky black cliffs and rocks. My only company? A batch of black oystercatchers and some seagulls.
The view was fantastic. From the top, I was able to look back towards Cox Bay, Rosie Bay, and Chesterman Beach, as well as out towards the open ocean. Waves smashed against the rocky cliffs, and a few benches were nicely positioned to take in the scenery.
I visited in Pettinger Point in the afternoon, but I’m sure that sunsets from this spot would be spectacular.
March 15, 2011 | Tips from Us >
Tofino, Accommodation
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Looking for a place to stay in Tofino? I recently stayed at
Cox Bay Beach Resort and had an awesome time. Four things in particular made my experience ultra-enjoyable:
Hot tub near the beach: Even in the pouring March rain, the resort's hot tub rocked. It’s right near the beach, so I soaked in the view while soaking in the tub.
Beds: Soft mattresses, comfy pillows and super fluffy duvets. I’m not normally one to notice these things, but it was pretty cozy.
DIY Spa: To create my own personal spa sanctuary, I poured the sac of complimentary bath crystals into the gigantic soaker tub and set the heated tiles to high... the resort’s big white robe and candles took my budget-savvy relaxation night to a whole ‘nutha level.
Location: You can’t get much better than this. Set on Cox Bay, the resort is close to good surfing, an incredible beach/sunset viewing point (the trail is just a 10-minute walk through the woods), birdwatching and lots of sandy beach.
Next time, I’ll bring my bike, as I realized that Cox Bay is the southernmost point of the Tofino MUP (Multi-Use Path), making it easy to bike into town.
March 10, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Chilliwack, Art Galleries & Artists
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For art you will not see anywhere else, check out Metal Animation in Chilliwack just off the highway 1, Exit 129. Kevin Stone's larger than life creations made out of stainless steel are unique and have been featured on Discovery Channel's Daily Planet. Admission is FREE and a stop here is just a sample of what there is on the Chilliwack Artisan Tour.
March 09, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Sightseeing Tours
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We had a blast last weekend with a company called BC Powersports. They rented us a couple of ATV's and we took them to Harrison Lake. We had so much fun, and even saw a few eagles. We are going to go again soon, and they offered to take us out this summer to do some wakesurfing. I cannot wait!
March 09, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Festivals & Events
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The annual Cabin Fever Winter Festival hosted by the Mattson Family took place on a very cold, clear February day this year. We were all dressed up in our warmest winter clothes to be outside.
It was a day of visiting, laughing, eating, dancing, playing and stiff competition between neighbors and visitors alike.
The kids with their rosy cheeks had a great time racing the "Board Walk" (modified three legged race where they have to walk together with feet strapped into two short pieces of lumber) and also testing their skills in the "Snowball Toss."
Adult Competitions:
"Tea-Boiling" – contestants had to run to grab a hatchet and kindling and light a fire with no paper and only ten matches to bring a pot of water to a rolling boil – first one to drop a bag of tea in the pot was declared the winner.
"Cross-Cut Sawing" – teams of two people sawing a slice from a big log with an antique cross-cut saw.
"Bale Rolling Race" – Teams rolling 1500 pound bales of hay a lengthy distance.
"Mitt Mayhem" – This was the best! Contestants struggled to open a canned drink and make a peanut butter and jam sandwich wearing large bulky snowmobile mitts.
The competitions were fierce! The winners were thrilled!
There was a beautiful team of Shire Horses giving sleigh rides. Hot food was served in the warm barn and we had a warm-up fire and hay bale wind break to make the outdoor event comfortable even with the bitter winter day.
The festival ended with a barn dance in "Albert's Loft" with old timey music by the Sweetwater Ramblers.
The festival was a great way to shake off the winter with friends and laughs.
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!