May 26, 2007 | Tips from Us >
McBride, Attractions
Hey,
This is the first blog that describes something new and exciting I have experienced first hand. This week was a little hard to get out and find something because school is still in session but I managed to get out there. This week I went to community basketball. Community basketball is a great way to get out and play a fun competitive game between people. It is at our local high school two nights a week and it is just a fun way to spend an evening
May 25, 2007 | Tips from Us >
Kamloops, Historic & Heritage Sites
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The Armstrong Explorer runs from just outside of Kamloops at Campbell Creek to Armstrong in the north Okanagan. This 9 hour trip travels through some of the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen. Old bridges, a tunnel, along Monte lake, farm land, lots of wildlife and you can see it all from open air cars! The heritage train is pulled by a 1912 steam locomotive # 2141 called the Spirit of Kamloops. A group of volunteers spent over 80,000 hours restoring it to like-new condition. They use old VIA coaches painted in the CN passenger colours. everyone has a seat reserved inside with washrooms and a giftshop and then is allowed to visit the open air cars. Some people ride the entire trip there!
Free non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, fruit, etc. along the way and lunch is on your own for 2 hours in Armstrong. The train pulls up right downtown and everyone fans out to have lunch, sightsee and shop.
There is a high level of service onboard and many volunteers who can give an insight into the restoration project and railroading in general.
Highly recommended and it sold out all trips for the past two years so you need to book well in advance. They operate 4 trips in the spring and 4 in the fall.
May 14, 2007 | Tips from Us >
Squamish, Surfing & Watersports
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The Howe Sound wind forced me to sit lower and lower on the rocks, allowing the jutting spit to block the morning air from reaching my stinging ears.
Despite their wet suits, the kite surfers swore at the cool BC water, and shared their energetic hoots and hollers with us onlookers as they stomped the waves. And then they would soar off again, into the snow-capped mountains or Shannon Falls or against the cargo ship docked on the opposite shore. I sat and shot away, and relished in the action as they played. The spit ranks right up there with the best wind-surfing and kite-surfing spots in the world.
May 11, 2007 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Attractions
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Last night I had the opportunity to have dinner with the beluga whales at the Vancouver Aquarium. I have been fascinated with belugas ever since I grabbed my pillow, put on my pj's, and joined an aquarium sleepover a few years ago (yes, I brought my young son with me). Despite the late night, it was magical to follow the belugas around the tank and then into my dreams.
So dinner last night was followed by a nice slice of pool-side pie and a splash of "artic" sea water. Those blubbery beluga tails look small, but they can pack a punch! Fortunately I stood up fast enough to evade most of the over-the-fence wave.
And I didn't know this, but you can get into the pool with a trainer to feed, touch, and train one of the belugas. When you are that close to them, there is no way to move when they splash you - full soaking is included in the encounter. Fortunately, so is a wet suit.
Check out the live Beluga cam on the Aquarium website.