May 26, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Kayaking & Canoeing
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Wow, I just got back from a really cool kayaking day trip along Victoria’s Gorge Waterway. Even though my dad was a lighthouse keeper and I grew up on the water, I can’t say that I am much of an experienced boater so when we began our kayak lesson, I was a little weary. The beauty of the Gorge is that the water is so calm and protected through this narrow inlet that you can become pretty confident in no time at all. My kayak seemed to glide through the water on its own while I watched Victoria’s skyline fade into the distance.
The highlight for me was seeing an otter pop out of the water and scurry along the tide line. I don’t think the critter knew I was there and that seems to be the beauty of kayaking: one can surreptitiously float amongst the marine wildlife and they are none the wiser.
May 22, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Burnaby, Sightseeing Tours
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What better way to learn about the history, architecture, culture and secrets of a city than by going on a walking tour? And, even though I am a "local", I am a big fan of walking tours in the Vancouver area too. So, with that in mind, I ventured to the first of four "SkyTrain Explorer" walking tours that will take place over the summer months in Burnaby. The guide, well-known historican and author, John Atkin tells intriguing stories and helps his 'subjects' appreciate how communities, their homes and buildings, streetscapes and even social behaviours are shaped and influenced by urban developments such as the SkyTrain, (or its precursor, the Interurban). The tours are about 2 hours in length, the walk is manageable by most and the cost is $10.50.
May 15, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Summerland, Wineries & Vineyards
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I visited the
Okanagan valley with my sister and my Dad for the weekend for some wine tasting at the local
wineries. It was spring and a lot of the fruit trees were in full bloom, creating wonderful landscapes. One winery on a list of "must visits" was called "Dirty Laundry" in
Summerland. We were intrigued because of the unusual name.
The friendly wine expert who assisted us with our tasting told us that the winery was named after a dry cleaning business that operated in town a long time ago. It turns our that the owner operated some other business as well. Above his dry cleaning business was an illegal casino and brothel. His dry cleaning business quickly became known as "Dirty Laundry".
The winery has adopted the name and included some cheeky quotes from famous people on one of its bottles including “It's not true I had nothing on, I had the radio on.” by Marilyn Monroe.
The wine tasted great by the way...
May 15, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Naramata, Wineries & Vineyards
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Kettly Valley Winery came recommended by a friend. I toured the
Naramata, famous for it's wines and wineries, just east of Penticton. The winery was located close to the Okanagan Lake down a hill. A picture perfect location. A lovely young woman assisted us in our wine tasting. We tried 3 or 4 wines and decided the Pinot Gris was our favourite so I bought a bottle before moving on to our next stop.
May 03, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Golden, Wildlife Tours
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Boy was I glad we made the 15 minute trip west of Golden to the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre. With 6 resident wolves and very enthusiastic, passionate and knowledgeable staff, this Centre's mission is to promote wolf and bear conservation throughout the natural environment. A reasonable $10 admission gets you past the unique gift shop/resource centre that one enters upon arrival. From there, a staff member provides interactive commentary on the wolves including explanations of why wolves are so vital and integral to our environment. The highlight of the visit was when all 6 wolves began to howl in response to a barking dog. It was a hauntingly beautiful sound and I was sad when it ended after about 10 minutes.
If you are in Golden enjoying the town's summer or winter activities - and there are many, you really should make the short trip to see the wolves.
May 03, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Golden, Dining
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Who says you have to be in a big city to enjoy amazing food. Right in the heart of downtown Golden - the old section of town - is a great new bistro that is clearly a local, and visitor favourite. It is called the Whitetooth Mountain Bistro (named after the mountain that Kicking Horse Ski Resort now occupies). The atmosphere is cozy and classy-colourful with a great bar stacked with all sorts of wines and spirits. The martini selection rocks and there are some great BC wines by the glass. The menu has something for everyone, but I really recommend the caesar salad (with a touch of blue cheese in it according to the waiter). We were in town 3 nights and we ate there two of them it was so good - the risotto was wonderful and one of my companions didn't look up from his steak and potatoe with all the fixings so I guess he was happy too. The place was packed...and for good reason! We were in Golden in April and there aren't alot of restaurants open so this is a real gem. I bet it would be great after a long day on the slopes at Kicking Horse, or after a river raft ride as well.