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October 21, 2009 | Tips from Us > Richmond, Skating Rink
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Visit the
2010 Winter Games long track
speed skating venue before the Games! We visited on a rainy Saturday for a ride on the
Canada Line and to see this magnificent building. We were able to stand right beside the starter, a body length from the best skaters Canada has on offer.
I kept starting up at the ceiling. It's intriguing. The wooden convex roof is made of small convex layers. Yeah - you'll just have to see it for yourself!
There are
public skating sessions available, an opportunity to shot hoops, and a gym. It's well and truely open for use. Even good for plane spotters. It's North Shore mountain view behind the airport and Fraser River is worth the $2.50 Canada Line fare alone.
October 14, 2009 | Tips from Us > Squamish, Hiking
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The Grouse Grind is considered “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster”, but the Stawamus Chief trail comes a close second. I know this because my thighs are still burning two days later.
This past weekend, three of us tackled the Chief to burn off calories from the previous night’s indulgent camping dinner (Kraft dinner, marshmallows, wine). I was looking forward to checking out the second peak route, as I’d only been to the first peak on previous Chief hikes.
The first and second peaks share the same trail for most of the journey. It’s steep, rocky and rooty. The trail was busy, but not packed, and there were lots of dogs hiking with their owners (patting friendly dogs is a good excuse for a break).
Near the top, the trail splits and the route to the second peak gets a little more challenging than the route to the first. Like the first peak, there are chains to help climb up and around the huge slabs of rocks, but they required a little more attention.
That being said, though, there were some children (maybe aged 7 and 10?) with their dad on the route; we stopped to give them a hand climbing the rocks and chains. They did great! It’s always awesome to see young kids out in the woods. They took it slow and steady and made it to the top with everyone else.
It took us an hour to hike up, and less time down. The trail was dry, but if there was a recent rainfall it would have slick, especially on the rocks.
The view of the water, mountains and Squamish was fantastic, and it was neat to see the first peak from the second peak. If you have the energy, I’d recommend the second peak over the first to avoid crowds. Feeling really energetic? There’s a third peak with even less people.
October 14, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Squamish, Camping
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When I think Thanksgiving, I think turkey (or rather, tofurkey) not tents. Well, this weekend I learned that a lot of people think tents, RVs and warm campfires on the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend.
Our plan was to take our new/old ’88 Westfalia campervan on a maiden voyage over the long weekend. We had a few campsite requirements: within cellphone range of Vancouver in case something falls off the Westy; no crazy unpaved roads; campfire. Bonus points for electric plug-in so we could make smoothies in the morning (hey – I didn’t say this was rustic).
Alice Lake Provincial Park in Squamish sounded good to us. We rolled in around 6pm, and were blown away by the number of people who had the same idea, albeit with more functional vehicles. Our smoothie dream was crushed when we found all 55 electric plug-in campsites were already taken. Nonetheless, we were able to find a nice spot tucked in the trees.
All that was left to do was to sit around the crackling fire, cook dinner on our campstove, and eat what seemed like a zillion marshmallows (they were the mini-kind, which made for some eclectic roasting methods). It was a clear night, so we had a nice view of stars peeking between the silhouettes of tree branches above. In the morning, we checked out Alice Lake and watched a fellow camper take his dog paddleboarding.
Before we left, the campground operator told us that more than ¾ of the 108 Alice Lake campsites were full, and that ALL of the 60 campsites in nearby Porteau Cove Provincial Park had been full since the Wednesday before the long weekend. Wow! I had no idea so many people went camping and RVing for Thanksgiving.
Overall, I had a relaxing, bug-free, quiet camping trip at Alice Lake Provincial Park. I’d definitely consider camping as a future Thanksgiving activity. Now all I need to figure out is how to roast a tofurkey over an open campfire
October 13, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Cranbrook, Fishing
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One more wild B.C. trout caught on a wild fly fishing only river.
Gerry Frederick
October 13, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Cranbrook, Fishing
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I live here and fish these waters every year. After a better than normal season this past summer I wanted to share some images with everyone. These fish and the surrounding mountain vistas are all part of high country fishing in the Canadian Rockies near Cranbrook B.C.. The scenery may not change but the fishing only gets batter as time goes on. New fishing practices and basic common conservation efforts has insured continued great fishing for years to come. I hope you enjoy the photos.
Gerry Frederick
October 13, 2009 | Tips from Us > Port Moody, Hiking
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Our good friend and colleague Mark suggested the Diez Vistas when asked for a recommendation on an intermediate hike in the area that would result in good exercise and a spectacular view. The Diez Vistas trail delivered on both and then some!
Leaving our car in the Buntzen Lake parking lot (free!), we headed up the trail on a glorious October Saturday morning. We were ahead of most of the hikers and had the trail to ourselves. Having done the Grouse Grind I was a bit aprehensive that this was going to be another "put your head down, one foot in front until you get to the top" climbs but I was pleasantly surprised that while it was no walk in the park, there were sufficient breaks from the switchbacks to look up and enjoy the trip.
The hike to the first peak (of ten thus the name Diez Vistas) took us just over an hour. The trail is well marked and maintained. There is a sneak peak view about ten minutes before the actual viewpoint so we kept going as the majority of the climb has been completed and the summit at 570 metres has been reached. As with all spectacular sights, we didn't actually see the view until we came around a large boulder and then it hit us. Indian Arm, Deep Cove, the City of Vancouver and as far as Vancouver Island were all within our vision. It was really something special.
We understand there are nine more viewpoints that meander the top of the ridge ending at the far end of Buntzen Lake but we chose to retrace our steps due to time restraints (and because a fellow hiker said that we had just seen the best one). Perhaps we'll get back up there again another day and do them all!
October 13, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Kamloops, Golf
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For all the times i have played Sun Rivers, never have i had the opportunity to witness all the Big Horn sheep. There must have been 40+ grazing and roaming thru the 9th hole as the video clip below will show.
What a site to see. But do not get too close!!!
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.
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