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October 10, 2008 | Tips from Us > Vancouver, Artists & Art Galleries Vancouver, Artists & Art Galleries
I had the opportunity to visit a very cool art gallery recently, located smack in the middle of Vancouver's downtown eastside..and it was well worth the visit. Centre A is Vancouver's International Centre for Contemporary Art and is located at the corner of Carrall Street and East Hastings. What is a real treat is that it is housed in one of the City's most important heritage buildings - the old BC Gas building that was where the interurban trains looped around before heading back out to the suburbs - this all many years ago of course. Now the building is home to some pretty edgy and thought-provoking Asian artwork. If you are visiting Gastown or Chinatown, or shopping at nearby Army & Navy, check out what they have to offer. But keep in mind that it is in one of the City's more colourful neighbourhoods. They are open Tuesday through Saturday.
October 9, 2008 | Tips from Us > Vernon, Farms & Orchards
In September, I returned to my hometown to visit with family. The fall season in the Okanagan brought back one particular memory... APPLES!!! Fall meant the peak season for apples and as a kid I remember going to a family friend's orchard to collect apples that had fallen from the trees to make apple juice. The amount of labour was intense to make the juice but the rewards were sweet and we had concentrated apple juice for the rest of the year!
We no longer make homemade apple juice but I felt the need to share my childhood memories with my nephew so we decided to go to Davison Orchard to see the "apple patches" (as my nephew describes them)!
The orchard was decorated to display the seasons harvest - great orange pumpkins, a variety of apples and squiggly shaped Goose Gourds. To get a full tour of the orchard we hopped on the tractor-pulled Apple train for a "rollicking" ride! While on the tour you had the option to get dropped off to pick your own apples off the trees. The final destination of the tour was in front of the petting farm. A donkey "hee hawed" us welcome as we walked into the farm area where we also saw some bunnies, chickens, sheep and even fed some hungry goats! Then back to the main market for some apple samples and to try their caramel apple dessert for lunch!
I think we'll be back there again as it was a memorable visit for my nephew, so good in fact that you'll see his reluctance to go home in the video when we said good bye.
October 8, 2008 | Tips from Us > Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Skiing (Downhill) Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Skiing (Downhill)
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As the fall weather has been nice here in Vancouver, I got an email today from our friends at Kicking Horse Mountain. They received their first snow of the season. They don't open until December 12th though (unless it really starts dumping earlier). I can't wait to strap on my snowboard and ride!
September 30, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Whistler, Mountain Biking Whistler, Mountain Biking
I headed up to Whistler to meet some friends and before I knew it I was ripping down the mountain on a downhill bike. Hanging on for dear life, I tried to keep up with the crew. After that experience, I'm pretty sure I'm already addicted to the sport!
Whistler Mountain Bike Park celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and offers over 250 kms of trails for all levels of riders. You got to check it out.
September 28, 2008 | Tips from Us > Vancouver, Suspension Bridges
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The UBC Botanical Garden is one of Vancouver's best kept secrets as a tourist attraction....and it just got even better with the addition of the new Greenheart Canopy Walkway, an eco-adventure for all ages.
The walkway is like a series of hanging suspension bridges or "aerial trails" high above the ground - about 60 feet above the ground in some places. It is a bit of a wobbly workout making your way around the circuit - there are 8 different bridges that form the loop. Its really quite spectacular to be so high up and you get a really great view of the upper layers of the forest canopy. While I just got a kick out of the views, anyone remotely interested in west coast forest ecosystems, the environment, animals and plants will see this new attraction for it scientific merits. The guides that take groups around the walkway are knowledgeable and informative. The makers of the Canopy Walkway is a Vancouver-based company that has created various aerial trails throughout the world. Lucky us that they finally got to build one locally.
Admission is $20 for adults, less for kids and seniors and you get to wander all around the Botanical Gardens for the same price.
September 28, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Kimberley Alpine Resort, Skiing (Downhill) Kimberley Alpine Resort, Skiing (Downhill)
we visited Kimberley last winter and had a wonderful experience! We found out that a lot of the locals do not know truly how much there is to do in this great place- so we set out to find most of the adventures ourselves. We had two young kids in tow. We skied the whole mountain- our son loves trying to find all of the old mine tunnels that are hidden on the slopes and our daughter loved the new glades. We enjoyed the great grooming and fall line. We tried the Nordic centre! this place is huge and there is no promotion about it! also night lit track- loads of fun. We also snowshoed down from mountain to an old barn (restaurant). We then went to a tipi at night to hear a wolf howl....no kidding. So we are going back- sure to find more fun!
September 26, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Cranbrook, Air
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The NEW & IMPROVED Canadian Rockies International Airport between Cranbrook and Kimberley in the Kootenay Rockies region (SE corner of BC) is awesome! They've rebuilt the terminal building with wood & floor-to-ceiling glass: you get views of the spectacular Rocky Mountains from every area of the airport! The runway was expanded as well, so they can take the big jets now, including ones from Europe, and they're getting service from the US (Delta.com) starting December 17.
With domestic service from Air Canada & Pacific Coastal (Vancouver & Calgary), as well as US service via Salt Lake City there's no excuses any more. It's easy to check out BC's fastest growing destination.
There's a reason so many of us are moving here. I moved here from Vancouver Island. Yes, I loved growing up on the Island, but I won't be going back except to visit. If you like clean air, low crowds, outdoor lifestyle, open highways and nice people, check us out!
September 25, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Kimberley, Skiing (Downhill)
Wow, I can't believe none of my relatives told me about this area. Kimberley is fantastic, one traffic light, 7000 people and its all in the mountains. I moved here August 1st and commute to Cranbrook with NO rush hour traffic, and no line ups. People are friendlier here than in Sidney.
September 25, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Clinton, Artists & Art Galleries
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So many amazing places in the Cariboo! If you drive through Clinton make sure to check out Vallance Pottery. It is right on Highway 97, the Gold Rush Trail. They have so much to choose from if you are looking for some unique gifts to take home.
Besides great quality handturned pottery, they also have Cards, Lotions and handmade Bath Salts, handmade Quilts to hand Knit Socks, Candles and loose Specialty Teas. Definitely a must see!
September 25, 2008 | Tips from Travellers > Bella Coola, Shopping
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When travelling to the Bella Coola Valley I always make sure and stop at Kopas Store. They have this amazing selection of BC books, outstanding native jewelery, masks, carvings and artwork, just to name a few.
Cliff Kopas, originally from Alberta, opened Kopas' Store in 1937. He
"discovered" the Bella Coola Valley when he and his bride took a
four-month horseback trek on the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage
Trail/Nuxalk-Carrier Grease Trail. After reading the book about their trip from Calgary to Alberta (which was their honeymoon) my last visit to the store was even more interesting.
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