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November 16, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Vancouver, Dining
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I was lucky enough to receive a hefty gift certificate to MARKET at Shangri-La, Vancouver’s newest (and tallest) hotel. I invited a few friends to join me for a mid-week fancy night out. If you’re thinking of going to MARKET, make your reservations early – the only time I could reserve that week was 8:30 pm on a Wednesday night.
The restaurant is split into a few different sections; we were seated in the “sophisticated fine-dining room.” The bar area was more casual and catered to the after-work suit crowd (they even had their laptop plugged in – I guess drinks and eats in a swanky bar is the norm for that crew).
Our table ordered a bit of everything to maximize our shot at the good life. All the dishes were delish, but there were a few stand-outs: butternut squash soup with mushrooms and chives; truffle mashed potatoes; and cheesecake with roasted figs and concorde grape sorbet.
The food was rich, we never felt rushed during dinner, and the presentation was creative. Merci, Jean-Georges!
November 3, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Vancouver, Flightseeing
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I attended a conference in Victoria and used one of the local floatplane companies (think it was Harbour Air) to get there and back (from Vancouver). On my way back from Victoria I took several pictures as we approached Vancouver. A few of these photos turned out great. Here's one of them. Flying to Victoria and back on a floatplane is a great experience. I'm sure many people are used to it since they go from one city to the other on business constantly. But for me, it was the first time, and I loved it. I also got lucky on the way back sitting in the front next to the pilot who was a very personable guy. If you ever have the chance to fly to and from Victoria on a float plane, do it (and bring your camera).
October 9, 2009 | Tips from Us > Vancouver, Aquariums
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There's a fab new exhibit at the amazing Vancouver Aquarium and I was privileged to be invited to its opening last night. Canada's Arctic - In the Grip of Change is a truly wonderful and educational exhibition featuring stunning photography about the animals, people, landscape and conservation and environment of the country's most remote areas including Iqaluit and Resolute Bay.
The exhibit also features a few tanks (baby arctic char, some really pink and fluffy arctic anenomes and "zooanthids", skeleton and Greenland shrimp and weird, tiny hedgehog anthropods) and some pretty cool and interactive "multi-tap" tables (imagine a table that's like an iPhone screen - you can tap, enlarge, move about digital images and videos, and they will automatically show you how the images connect together.).
Of course the most fascinating backdrop for this exhibit of all this is the wonderful and growing beluga family swimming behind you. Watch Aurora and her new calf, a smiley and nuzzling not-so-little girl) or Qila and Tiqa, as they all play about.
It's a great use for a popular room - and now, even more informative and fascinating than ever.
October 9, 2009 | Tips from Us > Vancouver, Aquariums
I am a sucker for aquariums. I turn into a kid at these places - running about, pressing my nose up against glass. And in all my travels, no aquarium has impressed me as much as the amazing Vancouver Aquarium (though Ucluelet's tiny touch pools and one-room Aquarium is also pretty special).
And now, it's also even more fascinating - it's currently home to a growing beluga whale family: Aurora, Tiqa, Qila and an as-yet-unnamed wee (okay, maybe not so wee) baby beluga share space at this fabulous aquarium, known for its conservation, education and innovative projects. One new exhibit (which opens today, October 9) is their stunning photo and interactive display on Canada's Arctic. Learn more about the Arctic, while watching as the white and baby-grey belugas swim and smile in the background.
October 8, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Vancouver, Wind-Surfing
Windsurfing in Vancouver, British Columbia! When the wind picks up, Vancouver is a great place to hit the water for a sail or windsurf... and that is exactly what I did on a windy fall day at the end of September! I must admit there is nothing like strapping the board to your car roof rack, driving to Jericho Beach, and ripping across the Ocean waters of Burrard Inlet looking at the amazing views of Vancouver and the North Shore Mountains. Talk about having it all... and in a couple of months we will be skiing too! Beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia has it all!
Tip: If you don't have your own gear... no worries! Windsure Adventure Watersports by the Jericho Sailing Centre rents windsurfers or even a paddle boards!
October 6, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Vancouver, Festivals & Events
The Vancouver Biennale is a series art installations around the city and the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition partners up with the Bienalle on its official opening for the "bikenalle" which is a bike tour of the installations that allows you to view the art and also see a lot of Vancouver. I decided to hop on my bike and take the tour.
I thought it was a great way to ride the seawall that now goes almost all the way around downtown. I saw parts of the city that I hadn’t seen in years, the art was fantastic and I was reminded how beautiful and bike friendly Vancouver actually is.
September 29, 2009 | Tips from Us > Vancouver, Hiking
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Most people hike the
Baden Powell trail in sections, though there are some hardcore runners who do it in a day during the infamous Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run. Me? I fall somewhere in the middle and set out to tackle it in a weekend.
The trail is 48km long and runs from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove. Three unique aspects of this trail are:
1. It’s accessible by public transit at either end, as well as in a few points in the middle.
2. It’s more of a traverse that a summit, so when you look at the skyline from Vancouver you’re likely to be looking at a section you completed.
3. If you live near Vancouver, you can go home to make dinner and sleep in your own bed in between days – awesome!
Baden Powell Trip ReportDay 1: Horseshoe Bay to Cleveland Dam, 10 hours (we took it slow and there was loads of snow)
Transport: 257 bus (Horseshoe Bay express) to trailhead at Eagle Ridge; 236 and 240 buses from Cleveland Dam back to Vancouver
Highlights:
- Seeing a deer 10 minutes into the hike
- Having the trail to ourselves for hours at a time, with no one around except for friendly ravens and whiskey-jacks
- Incredible view from Eagle Bluffs (the pic shown is proof)
- Neat old cabins in Cypress Provincial Park
Day 2: Grouse Mountain to Deep Cove (7 hours)
Transport: 240 and 232 buses to Grouse Mountain, nice friend-with-car from Deep Cove back to Vancouver (but buses would have been possible, too)
Highlights:
- Watching mountain bikers hop and balance (with hooting and hollering) their chunky bikes on the trails
- More people meant lots of friendly trail dogs giving slobbery hellos
- Seeing wiry runners training for the Knee Knacker run
- Interesting section from Lynn Canyon towards Deep Cove – never been here and was cool to check it out. Boardwalks, a mini-Grouse Grind, and beautiful forests.
Would I do the whole thing again? Heck yes. It’s a great trail that passes through forests, bluffs and wetlands – and it’s practically in my backyard. Highly recommended.
September 4, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Vancouver, Other
Hello,
I basically just wanted to share my story with the future 2010 Vancouver travelers.
About a month ago I tried to rent out a hotel in Vancouver since my sister and I have tickets. Unfortunately all hotels were booked. So we went on Craigslist and booked a condo, we wired money since the owners seemed honest and ready to rent us the condo. However, they ended-up selling the condo and taking our money with them.
We then went with a company called Rent For The Games, they found the perfect location for us, they guaranteed that our money would be protected. They offered us legal contracts and financial management! I am definitely recommending this company to anyone who is looking for Olympic accommodation!
Hope I was able to help a few of you!
August 10, 2009 | Field Reports > Vancouver, Festivals & Events
I went down to
Vancouver's Plaza of Nations for the Ultimate Saturday of the 2009
World Police and Fire Games. There I watched the Dragon Boat races and
the Ultimate Firefighter competition and asked a few of the competitors
what they thought of Vancouver. What an amazing event!
August 9, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Vancouver, Gardens & City Parks
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If you are the type of person who likes to tour the streets at Halloween or Christmas to view what creative ways people have decorated their gardens, then you’ll love this house.
Located in Burnaby, this garden is a real delight. I first noticed it as I took a different route biking to work. There was street after street of regular looking housing and then I saw this house coming up in the distance. At first I wasn’t sure what it was, it looked like an explosion of colour had erupted all over someone's the garden. In essence this is what has happened. Every square foot has some kind of decoration or fun toy.
Whether a rainy Vancouver day or a perfect sunny afternoon this garden is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
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