May 31, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Sightseeing Tours
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The time was right. The roads were clear and I got to do a road trip from Hudson’s Hope to Prince George. It was so nice to see the soft green of growth in the valleys. As I rounded that last corner to Chetwynd, the valley opened up to show me Chetwynd nestled in the valley with the Rockies as a back drop. I stopped in at the visitor centre as there is quite a collection of chainsaw carvings just out front. I found out there is a walking trail that takes you all over town as the carvings are scattered all over town. Check them out! Then off to the mountains I headed. There is a nice rest area close to Pine Lemoray Provincial Park. It was a beautiful warm 24 degrees but still the snow was heavy on the mountains looming so close, you felt like you could touch them. Everyone at the stop was friendly and smiling; the surroundings and heat made it so. I ventured in to see Heart Lake and was amazed to see it was still frozen but a reminder that it was still early spring. Not far down the road you are viewing Azouzetta Lake, looks like a nice campground there, and then just pass Powder King Ski Hill, you reach the summit of the Pine pass at 933 metres. Water was running off the mountains and created numerous water falls , cascading off the rocks along the highway. I knew my next stop would be to pull in to Bijoux Falls, where you can park, meet fellow travelers, cheep with the cheeky well fed Stellar Jays with the huge volume of the falls roaring in the background. Take a picnic for this stop!
Continuing along you break out of the mountains and next stop was the Mackenzie junction Visitor Centre. It is so cute… a wooden train caboose. Kids just love it. And so they did a few miles down the road at Windy Point, restaurant and gas stop. The building has owner’s dwelling on the second floor, that opens onto a flat roof, complete with dog house and a couple of dogs that like to survey the goings on below. It was hilarious!
Carrying on through Macleod Lake and then Crooked River, I watching for the swans that are usually spotted this time of year but I was either too early or too late. But I did see three bears; one black turning over a stump, one very sleepy looking black and a powerful looking brown grazing a green hillside. And I moose. I made a point to stop in at Crooked River Provincial Park on Bear Lake because the last time I was there, we did see a bear. Not this time but what did greet me in this serene setting when I got out of the vehicle was an uproar of ducks. Lots of ducks! I’m sure things quiet down once the campers arrive to take in the fine sandy beaches on this lake.
And onto Prince George to close out the day! Stayed at Ester’s Inn … met up with some friends and had pizza in the indoor garden courtyard; it was fantastic. The pool was just feet away and the steam bath as well. I couldn’t ask for a better day.
May 26, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Dining
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NOTE: I realize I pronounced ‘Tapenade’ wrong a few times in the video. Please thank my superior linguistic skills. =/
Right now is a special time of the year in the lower mainland. It’s none other than Spot Prawn Season!!! When I heard about these little guys, I had to go check them out for myself. They are just all the rage right now and for good reason. They are DELICIOUS! I headed down to Steveston today to see for myself….
What is a spot prawn anyway? They are large shrimp that are fished along the British Columbia coastline and are considered sweeter and tastier than regular shrimps. Just another shrimp? No. Spot prawns are easily identifiable by the two little white dots on their bodies and are special because they are only available for one month of the entire year. (Usually May) This makes them a coveted prize and special treat that is extremely limited!
I headed down to Tapenade Bistro in Steveston to meet up with execute chef Alex Tung to try my own spot prawns. When I arrived he was literally taking the spot prawns out of the back of his car- they were in the water only an hour earlier. After a quick explanation of the prawns, he began preparing two delicious dishes that we sat down to. The first dish was raw spot prawns, and the second was a traditional spot prawn boil with glazed potatoes, chorizo, peas, and fresh garden herbs. Both were absolutely delicious, though I preferred the cooked spot prawns of the two. The prawns are mouth watering, clean, and very fresh to eat. The dishes were beautifully prepared, aesthetically pleasing, and the food was excellent.
I was happy I got to try spot prawns. They are a really tasty and unique treat that you need to go check out before the season ends! (which is very soon!) Head down to Steveston and pick up some on the docks, or check out one of the many restaurants that offer them. I recommend Tapenade Bistro- they have a great patio, friendly staff and the food is excellent. Enjoy them while they last!
May 26, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Farms & Markets
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One of the best things about spring is the opening of the Farmers Market and this year is no exception!
Although May is a bit early to find produce, it's the best place to find fresh homemade baking, preserves and local eggs.
Along with the poppy seed cake, cinnamon buns and chocolate chip cookies, I bought a big loaf of unsliced white bread and a jar of local Saskatoon jam.
Cut a big thick slice of bread, toast it, butter it and slather it with jam... can a Sunday morning breakfast treat get any better than that?
There are lots of craftspeople that bring their wares to the market too.
The market is held in and around a big white tent on 8th Street on the corner of the Co-op Mall parking lot, and the inside of the tent is stuffed with vendors!
There is plenty of easy parking for RV's and such and along with the locals who make the market part of their weekly shopping; visitors enjoy the bounty as well.
May 26, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Penticton, Attractions
Penticton's Rollerblade Park (aka: Penticton Youth Park) is a great place to visit and enjoy.
I have made a point to visit it frequently every summer.
Take advantage of a nice day and get outside for some fresh air!
Rollerblading is a great form of aerobic exercise that tones parts of
the body that you never normally use.
Rollerblading both improves balance and
strengthens every muscle from the lower back to the knees. Muscles in
the upper arms and shoulders are also developed when arms are swung
vigorously while skating.
I started skating at age 36. Anyone can do it. Blading is so fun and the skate park in Penticton is one of the best in Canada.
I like to take a large milk jug half full of ice then topped up
with water. It's great to take to the skatepark on a hot day. The water
stays ice cold for hours.
Check out my You-tube video that shows the park clearly and me and my family swimming and rollerblading in the Okanagan Valley.
May 25, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Harrison Hot Springs, Accommodation
The Echo's on the Harrison River was an amazing find. Along the banks of the Harrison River, this quaint little hideaway is accessible only by boat. You get picked up at the Marina and wisked away to a little piece of heaven. We thoroughly enjoyed our little two night getaway from the hustle and bustle of every day life. The hosts are friendly and engaging, but know when to step back and let you enjoy the solitude of their property.
Dining on perfectly portioned meals prepared with that little bit of special TLC. Home cooking at its finest along with a gourmet's touch!!!
Breakfasts are delivered to your door (when you desire) along with a fresh pot of steaming hot coffee. Lunches are packaged for a picnic so you can enjoy them anywhere you please. The little cabins are warm, rustic and comfortable. Eco-friendly toilets, 3 piece bathrooms with full running hot and cold water, propane fireplaces and king sized beds greet you. Oh yes, I forgot, the hot tub!!! Warmed by a woodstove in the tub nestled in between huge granite boulders along the river, you can sit under the stars and enjoy a nip of wine while relaxing .... Simply put, we surely enjoyed this little gem and will be back again real soon!
May 24, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Whistler, Car / Truck / Motorcycle
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I had a terrific time competing in the 2011 Clearly Contacts Whistler Squash Open over the long weekend. Great squash, good times and great people! Nothing like combining fitness and friendship in a great place like Whistler over a long weekend! My legs are sore from playing hard and my head is sore from partying hard, but luckily a session at the Scandinave Spa cured both at once!
Can't wait til next year!
May 22, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Salmon Arm, Kayaking & Canoeing
Pre-easter kayaking trip from Canoe Beach to
Salmon Arm Bay bird sanctuary. This is the best local paddle to view and experience the many different bird species at the bay - especially fishing raptors such as ospreys and bald eagles.
May 21, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Silver Star Mountain Resort, Skiing & Snowboarding
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SILVER STAR, CANADA
Librans are partial to being surrounded by beauty. In a ski resort my preference lies in surrounds that have a theme (European, colonial) or reflect 'days gone by' (Silver mining, Copper mining etc). Failing that, bright primary colours used in buildings tend to inspire, stimulate and complement the green and white theme nature provides as a backdrop. Welcome to Silver Star, British Columbia. Think Fairyland.
WORKING-IN WITH BIG WHITE
Two hours up the Vernon-bound road from Big White lies Silver Star. Fantastically the Big White season pass can be used at Silver Star, which makes for a great bargain when you're planning to ski for more than 10 days. Two thousand five hundred vertical feet, 115 runs, you won't get bored.
The ski school systems are synchronised, when you walk in on day one all you need to do is explain that your child was a 'Racing Raccoon' at Big White and they get straight into it. One of my pet peeves is when you need to explain over and over what ski skills your child has achieved, this can sometimes mean the week is spent skiing basic slopes when they were working up to blacks. An expensive, annoying pain in the what-zit. Luckily, Silver Star is a fine example of how to run a ski school, take note.
THE SHOPPING VILLAGE
This village would be perfect for my mum and the sooner she gets to experience it the better. Stores with baubles and trinkets, wall hangings to decorate condos, thick top quality wool jumpers with snow flake designs on them followed by a hot chocolate by the fireside. Nice one. The targeted demographic down the main strip quite clearly points to the older generation, but what a generation flocks it is. It was Silver Star that turned me to see the merits of settling down and taking roots one day in one ski resort (rather than traverse the ski world like a ski wanderer as I do, sampling the wares and delights of each). This finer point deserves some elaboration and for this I dedicate a special paragraph.
BOOM BABY BOOM
The Silver Star Baby Boomers are inspiring, somebody forgot to tell them they're not thirty anymore. You see them on the steepest, bumpiest slopes, they're not lost, they skied there deliberately and they're smiling like Cheshire cats. Press your nose up against The Bakery window at 10am or noon and the place is packed out like Rockerfeller Square on New Years Eve. Forget tennis on Tuesdays, these bunnies pass you in packs out on the runs, laughing and living it up. Sheesh. Have we got a thing to learn. We stayed with an awesome couple in their sixties, I sent them an email at 8am, to say we'd arrive there that evening. They didn't get the message because they'd left for their day's skiing. And they were on their sixth or eighth week of skiing in a row.
May 18, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Whale Watching
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What a day!!! Today was easily one of the most fun days I’ve had in Richmond in a long time! I spent the day hanging out with a cool company named ‘Vancouver Whale Watch.’ As the name suggests, we got to see whales… and oh, so much more! By the time the day was over I had seen killer whales, eagles, sea lions, harbor seals, and a ton of stunning B.C. scenery! What more do you need for a great day in Richmond?
I’ve lived in Steveston my whole life and have always seen whale watching signs posted throughout the harbour, but never actually bothered to go. I’ve gone a couple times elsewhere in the world, and my experience was always just awesome! So when an opportunity came around to film the whale watching out of Steveston, I was all over it.
My friend Yuriy (the photographer) and I headed out for what we had originally thought was a two hour excursion— as it turned out it was a six hour day! Wow! The most awesome thing though? We never felt tired or bored; there was just too much see and enjoy. Our guide Joan (from Vancouver Whale Watch) was a fantastic and wonderful host, as was our friendly captain John.
The whole experience was well planned and executed and best of all, the whales were spectacular! We got the privilege of seeing a pod of eight killer whales, including a baby! They never did that Free Willy jump like in the movie, but it was still an amazing experience to see them.
On this trip something extremely rare and awesome happened. By law, you cannot get within 100 metres of the whales unless you are a researcher. (like the white boat in the video) They want you to keep your distance, which is totally understandable and what we did. However, as we were idling out in the Straights of Juan De Fuca, (off Vancouver Island) the entire pod surfaced almost right next to our boat! This was totally unexpected as they had dove several minutes ago and no body knew where they were. They had been quite far away in the distance, and suddenly were almost right underneath us! The footage and stills speak for themselves! It was the closest I’ve ever been to wild whales in my life. What an amazing stroke of luck!!
If you want a killer day (no pun intended) out in Richmond, head down to Steveston and check out the spectacular whale watching. There are two main companies that service the area: Vancouver Whale Watch and Richmond Seabreeze.
I spent the day with Vancouver Whale Watch and they rocked! It’s worth your time and makes a great day out in Steveston! Check it out!
May 17, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Dining
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Stuies Diner is one of the newest restaurants in Dawson Creek. The parking lot is often full and it is very popular with both the locals and visitors.
It's a big shiny silver metal building with a 50's retro theme. You can choose to sit in a booth or sit at the old fashioned counter.
There is a big jukebox in a corner and the music is nostalgic. The waitresses were wearing 50's style uniforms too. We listened to Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly while we ate.
The menu has mostly hamburger and fries and the portions are generous. We got there just as the supper crowd was starting to come in and within minutes the place was full.
It's on the east side of 8th Street, which is one of the main drags in town and there is easy parking. It's a great trip down memory lane.