Tourism British Columbia Blogs

A West Coast Experience!

tsix0910 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:36:47 GMT

On November 2nd, 2009 at noon my friends and I went out for lunch at Pescatores Seafood and Grill in order to experience a real west coast gastronomic meal. Having read numerous mixed reviews online yet hearing good things from locals, we were intrigued to find out the truth for ourselves.

Product - Upon calling and making the reservation I was automatically impressed by the professional and friendly manner in which my conversation was dealt with. The product that developed from the moment we arrived was stunning to say the least. The warm, inviting hues of dark mahogany and orange set the mood and raised the bar for all the culinary delights we were about to receive.

Place – My friends and I decided that in order to truly receive a west coast experience, we wanted to go a restaurant that utilized the local farmers, wineries, breweries, and fisheries. We reviewed their website and were awed by the amount of local products they claimed to promote through serving.

Story – Our server greeted us by bringing bread whilst we waited for the rest of our party to arrive. He was courteous, genuine, and most of all, knowledgeable. Being curious about the legitimacy of the websites claims of local product, we had many questions for our server. He was more than capable in expressing opinions on the dishes and wines offered by Pescatores and also made suggested pairings of our chosen dishes with some of their local wines. In the end we ended up consuming Kusshi, Effingham, Whaletown and Fanny Bay oysters.

Delivery - The presentation of the food was more than appealing and whetted our appetites even further. The poached Dungeness crab eggs Benedict were wonderful and laid out in a classic fashion with pan fries. The crepe Pescatores was larger than we were expecting and everyone in our party was able to try some! However the stars of the meal were the oysters! Having never eaten oysters, I was more than a little terrified to try them! But learning from the server’s recommendations and my other group members’ encouragement, I was able to “bite the bullet” so to speak. Let me tell you! There is nothing quite like a freshly shucked fanny bay oyster!

Take Home – My reflection upon our experience at Pescatores is one where I learned a great deal through and about the locality through the food I consumed. As only one member of our group is from British Columbia, albeit not Victoria, we were thrilled to discover a restaurant that was able to endorse sustainability, thus promoting the agricultural economies of the area, and still be a fine dining experience. We all came away with a wonderful last memory and would recommend it anyone wanting to try a variation on classics with some West Coast flair!

3 for 3 at Big White

Alfonzo — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:13:13 GMT

Wow is all I can say....what a great weekend. All fresh snow and fresh faces. It's hard to recognize friends from last year due to all the new suits. The voices & laughter are the same but all the gear is different. Couldn't have asked for better snow. Ran into Davey D today and he's my inspiration for this year...The Goal is simple Ski everyday and rip every run. I've skied a lot of places on this glorious earth of ours but I've yet to find anything as consistant as the mountains of BC. Specifically the interior of British Columbia and even more specifically, Big White Ski Resort. It really is named aptly when they called it Beautiful British Columbia! Now if only the cute girl from the UK would meet me for an icey cold bevvie, my world would be complete. I've been to about 17 "home" openers at Big White and I can honestly say that this one was the most incredible, fabulous, wonderful...did I say incredilbe yet? out of all of them...HANDS DOWN!

Dining at MARKET at Shangri-La

Karen — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:08:36 GMT

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!

Opening Day at Big White

Skiguy — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:59:18 GMT

Yesterday was my favourite day of the year, opening day at my mountain Big White Ski Resort. For me the anticpation is as big as kid’s on Christmas Eve. Lots of people up to join in the celebrations, I think the first riders in line at the Ridge Rocket were down there before 8am for the 8:45 opening, hard core!

Once the gates opened up and the first chair was loading there was a huge cheer from the crowd, really cool to feel the vibe of so many people as pumped to go skiing and riding as much as I was. It was pretty sweet as far as opening days go too. Blue bird skies, some fresh snow and the runs that were open were in great shape (nice job snow cat crew!). I saw quite a few people “exploring” some of the soft closures as well, naughty, naughty, no ducking rope lines.

It won’t be long before we’re able to open up more of the mountain and there’s a bit of snow in the forecast for the beginning of the week so it could be sooner rather than later.

Anyway, if you made it up here for opening day I hope you had a blast. If you didn’t get up here that’s okay too because there’s 154 more awesome days of the season to come!

See you on the mountain

Campbell River

Tarina Rissanen — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:12:06 GMT

There was so much to do on our last vacation we didn't know where to start! We had to choose from fishing off of the pier, boogie-boarding on one of the many sandy beaches, going on a nature hike on one of the many trails, going on a whale watching charter boat, rock climbing at the local rock climbing facility, AND swimming at various lakes and rivers.

We chose McIver lake just outside of Campbell River, heading up the highway towards Gold River. It's about a 6 minute drive, and on the right hand side of the highway. Once we arrived at our destination we soon realised how popular it was by the amount of vehicles parked at various locations lakeside.

We stopped and piled out with the kids running full tilt for the lake with me in the hottest persuit I could muster. I got within eyesight and stopped in my tracks. Now I am a North Island girl, and let me tell you, honestly, the sight of my kids splashing happily in the glorious heat of summer, well it's something I will not forget.

Campbell River has a lot to offer, check it out!

Family trip to Trail, BC

chris29 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:57:14 GMT

A late summer trip to Trail, BC. There were plenty of options for the kids and they loved Gyro Park. We had a great time at the ball park, the aquatic centre, interpretive centre and even had a swim in the Columbia River. Next time I'll have to bring the fishing rods!

Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve

outdoors girl — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:05:06 GMT

I have long been an outdoor enthusiast of the Prince George area, and beyond. One area that is a particular favorite of mine is the Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve. This reserve is located within the city boundary. Should one google it, you will be able to get directions.

The appeal of this area is that it is scenic and has a well marked trail which is easy on the legs. The loop around the lake is 2.6kms, while on this trail you can take in great views of the lake, which is stocked with eastern brook trout. Throughout the year it is not uncommon to see people fishing from the dock or their canoes or even ice fishing. There are many interpretive signs informing visitors of the animals and plant life that call the reserve area home. Also for those who enjoy history there is the a trappers cabin dating back from 1928 and a few interpretive signs to give you insight about early homesteading and logging.

Ferguson Lake has often been labled a hike, however do not let this scare you should you not be the type of person that particpates in such activity. In my opinion the reserve is really a nice walk, nothing challenging. It is a nice place to spend an afternoon alone or with friends and family.

In the winter my husband and I look forward to getting on our snow shoes and walking along the trail and across the lake. I personally think that Ferguson Lake in the winter is beautiful, cold weather and snow should not deter anyone from going out there.

One final thing I would like to mention is that this year my husband and I got married and had some of our wedding photos done out there and they look stunning. So should you be wanting to get your pictures done somewhere else that is different from everyone else, I suggest this area.

Approaching Vancouver

JaimeHR — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:53:59 GMT

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).

A Torch Relay Day 1 Experience

jeanine — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:13:37 GMT

On Friday October 30, 2009, I was in Victoria to watch the start of the Olympic Torch Relay. School children dressed in red and white holding Canadian and Olympic flags created corridors to the stage and were greeted by the Olympic mascots - Miga and Quatchy. Around me were all sorts of people: couples, families, business people, and international students all waiting with excitement. As the TV cameras scanned the crowd, people cheered if they saw themselves on the big screen that was set up next to the stage. The big screen also entertained us with videos from the Vanocouver 2010 website - "Meet the Vancouver 2010 Mascots" and the "Lights Will Guide You Home" video which always gets me teary-eyed.

Anyways, there was great excitement amongst the crowd as everyone watched the flame latern as it made its way from the aboriginal boat in the harbour to the stage in front of the Parliment Buildings. Welcome speeches were made and then it was time to light the Celebration Cauldron. The crowd held their breaths as Darlene Poole and John Furlong had a little bit of troubles lighting the cauldron - "oooe-ing" and "ahh-ing" in disappointment when the flame didn't take. Eventually the cauldron was lit and everyone cheered with excitement. Simon Whitfield and Catriona Le May Doan lit the first torch from the cauldron and then began the leg of the relay through the crowds.

Awesome Mountain Tour in a Buggy

bcbuggy — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:07:55 GMT

This was a great get-a-way driving up a mountain in a Dune Buggy.
We can leave our car at the Kawkawa Lake Resort & Campground and go from there.
There is also swimming and water sports available at a low day rate.

My niece in typical fly fishing attire

Gerry Frederick — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:06:00 GMT

Ashya Frederick fishing the lower St Mary's river in early September. The water was warm and the sun shining on a typical summer day. The St Mary's river is a very fisherman friendly river that continues to produce great fly fishing every year. The best way to get the full experience is to float down one of the many sections of river. The mountian range called the Steeples is in the back ground all day long.

Gerry Frederick

Jim Frederick with another big fish

Gerry Frederick — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:50:29 GMT

This is my brother Jim with another Cutt Throat he caught while visiting here last summer. After five days of fishing the Canadian Rockies he commited to returning every year. What a great trip our family had. Traditional late summer flies and technics were the order of the day and produced several large fish for everyone on our first annual family fishing trip.

Gerry Frederick

A Bear, A Golden Eagle and an Eagle's Eye

Tourism Golden — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:55:15 GMT

The world's largest enclosed grizzly bear refuge, a 1200m gondola and Canada's highest dining experience await you at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. It's not all about the mountain biking at Kicking Horse in the summer!

Golfing in Golden

Tourism Golden — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:52:05 GMT

The Golden Golf Club is one of the top courses in the Kootenays. With no surrounding housing developments, it is just you, your clubs, the mountains and a little white ball to keep looking for.

Wolf Centre

Tourism Golden — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:49:38 GMT

The Northern Lights Wolf Centre is the only place in the world where you can Walk With Wolves. It is also an interpretive and educational centre mandated to bust myths about wolves and spread the truth in order to save these marvelous animals from their worst danger - us.

Rafting the Kicking Horse River

Tourism Golden — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:46:57 GMT

The Kicking Horse is BC's first Canadian Heritage River, and one of the most popular whitewater routes in Canada. Various sections offer trips on Class II to Class IV whitewater.

Horseback Riding in Golden

Tourism Golden — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:42:36 GMT

Horseback Riding in Golden can be done for as little as one hour, or as long as 4 days.

Ski Touring and Backcountry Lodges in Golden

Tourism Golden — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:56:14 GMT

No where else on this white planet offers more ways to play in the powder. Golden has the Highest Concentration of Powder Providers in the world. Check out this video to give you a taste of the Ski Touring and Backcountry Lodges available to adventure seekers.

Susan use two hands

Gerry Frederick — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:55:35 GMT

This is a photo of my wife Susan and just another big fish she landed this summer. We both caught a lot of fish that day but this was the troply we talked about on the way home. We did finally get a good photo of her smiling while holding the fish just before the live release. When fishing these high country streams you have to be prepared for wild fat fish that just don't want to be handled. This is why we don't use a net so we can get them back into the water as fast as we can.

Gerry Frederick

Jason finally landed this large wild trout

Gerry Frederick — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 02:31:47 GMT

This is my son Jason with a large West slope cutt throat trout caught this past summer. Just a few days before I was walking through a part of the river and noticed a big fish swimm away as I came upon him. So when Jason and I came to the same spot a few days later I told him the story and suggested that he try to catch him before we waded into that portion of the stream. He did not think it was a likely spot but I insisted that he give it a try. Needles to say he won't second guess ole dad again.

Gerry Frederick

Olympic Speed Skating Oval

Martian — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:20:40 GMT

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.

Hiking Stawamus Chief (Second Peak)

Karen — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:33:26 GMT

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.

Thanksgiving Camping Trip at Alice Lake

Karen — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:27:38 GMT

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

Large B.C. fish

Gerry Frederick — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:37:25 GMT

One more wild B.C. trout caught on a wild fly fishing only river.

Gerry Frederick

High country fishing for wild cutt thoat trout

Gerry Frederick — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:31:28 GMT

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

Diez Vistas on a Gorgeous October Day

Margaret — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:03:46 GMT

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!

Golfing at Sun Rivers - Kamloops

bcgolfguide — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:49:52 GMT

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!!!

Explore Canada's Arctic at the Vancouver Aquarium

Mikala — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:32:39 GMT

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.

Baby Beluga Whales at the Vancouver Aquarium

Mikala — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:20:28 GMT

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.

Paddling the Bowron Lakes

Virtual Flair — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:48:53 GMT

Vancouver Windsurfing!

Chris Wheeler — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:01:36 GMT

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!

Camping on Vargas Island

tofinoGuide — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:09:28 GMT

My family decided that this year we wanted to stay for a few nights on Vargas Island, and rather than put it off, as we do so many camping trips, we managed to pack-up and find a boat ride to our destination beach for a wonderful camping trip.

The first thing that is important to remember if you are thinking about this adventure is to either:

1. Get to Tofino early (leaving Nanaimo at 7 AM or earlier) so that you have plenty of time for the boat ride out there

or

2. Find some accommodations in Tofino for the first night well in advance so that you are not stuck in the village with no where to stay (accommodations are famously booked in the summer months in Tofino

The second thing that I recommend for this trip is to line up a boat ride in advance (if you are not bringing your own marine transportation (I imagine kayaking would take at least 4 hours, but I'm not sure).

Next, I recommend doing a bit of planning about where you'd like to camp on Vargas Island. There are a ton of long sandy beaches on the island that you can see on Google Maps (satellite view). Apparently some of these beaches are private, so it may be best to stick to the provincial park area of the island (you can find a good map of the provincial park as well as other helpful information on BC Parks website).

Once you known where to go and have your marine transportation figured out, you're ready to go!

We decided to camp in the corner of Ahous Bay, which is one of the bigger, more protected sandy beaches on the island. We had a fantastic time, with exceptional weather. The biggest highlight for my kids was beachcombing (there are a ton of sand dollars, as well as many washed-up buoys and other flotsam).

We went despite the wolf warnings. According to the park officials, this was not a good idea, but we didn't know it at the time. Apparently there have been quite a few "close calls" with wolves and campers, and the prevailing thought is that the wolves are too habituated to humans and may be dangerous. After knowing this information, next time I'll definitely check around to see if there are wolf warnings before I go.

The ocean is not warm enough for a long swim, but you can certainly jump in and exhilarate in the feeling (our kids sure did).

Oh - and don't forget that it's important to arrange specific transportation for the way back. We are lucky in that we have our own boat (a small inflatable Zodiac), but I imagine folks have been stuck out there without a ride home now and again!

All in all, I would say that this is one of the easiest remote beach camping experiences that you can have in BC - you're close to Tofino (very civilized) yet feel completely isolated from the world on your own sandy beach heaven. Quite a trip.

Powder Highway -Ultimate Ski Bum Blow your Mind Contest

Deanne — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:50:36 GMT

This contest looks too good to be true- and the video is the funniest thing I have ever seen! A whole winter of ski bumming with no work, no agenda- nothing. Just skiing in the Kootenay Rockies on the Powder Highway. I think the contest ends November 22, and the winner starts bumming in the new year. I should just quite my job and go for it. Check out the video for more information!!

Touring the Vancouver Biennale by Bike

Ivan Hughes — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:51:04 GMT

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.

Gourmet Kayaking Weekend - Gulf Islands - Day 3

Tourism BC Field Reporter - Kelli — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:46:05 GMT

The third and final day was an amazing end to a great weekend. Breakfast was gourmet-goodness which has been par for the weekend. The rock formations along De Courcy Island rocked my world. Check out all the cool patterns, caves, and bulges in these rocks. It's so cool!

Then if you needed more convincing of how amazing this trip has been, hear testimonials from other adventurers!

Hanes Valley Hike

Karen — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:41:43 GMT

My vision of a casual trek in the woods seemed further and further away as I slogged behind my hiking buddies. The speed demon of the two (increasingly distant) figures up the steep slope had been enjoying a period of unemployment. Turns out that not working, while bad for the wallet, is great for developing thighs of steel on weekday hikes.

In between heaving for air and dodging rocks dislodged from the boys above, I took a second to look behind me and had one of those “I can’t believe I’m in BC” moments. I felt like I’d wandered into a Lord of the Rings flick, complete with misty clouds, thick conifers, freshly sprouting spring grasses, and jutting boulders.

In actuality, though, I was an area called Hanes Valley beyond Grouse Mountain. It’s an interesting, challenging and rewarding hike that takes you from well-travelled trails to complete wilderness in the space of a few hours. The full day hike ends at the peak of Grouse, which means we finished our day in the woods with lumberjacks, poutine and a blissfully effortless tram ride back down to the city.

Gourmet Kayaking Adventure - Gulf Islands - Day 2

Tourism BC Field Reporter - Kelli — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:51:14 GMT

This is the second day of the Edible BC Gourmet Kayaking Adventure. The day started with the best breakfast I've ever eaten - yummy and hearty! It gave us the fuel to paddle over to Valdes Island to the "Cliffs of Insanity." The incredible texture and shapes of these cliffs were otherwordly.

We ate a delicious gourmet lunch at Blackberry Point before heading back to camp. Luckily we beat the rain!

And again- worked up an appetite for a delicious meal of duck! YUM!

Hiking the Baden Powell Trail

Karen — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:51:52 GMT

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 Report

Day 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.

Gourmet Kayaking in the Gulf Islands - Day 1

Tourism BC Field Reporter - Kelli — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 11:47:22 GMT

This is culinary tourism at it's best!

Imagine...a weekend of exploring the gulf islands by kayak while every meal is expertly prepared by a gourmet chef using local organic ingredients. Yum!

This was Day 1 of our weekend adventure. We launched from Cedar near Nanaimo and kayaked to Pirate's Cove - we got up close and personal with seals and inter-tidal marine life. Passing between sandstone walls and following the shore brought us to camp where we ate the first delicious meal.

To work up an appetite, we hiked around the island and heard mystical tales of The Cult of Brother 12 and hidden treasure.

Dinner was in the dark - but the taste was clear - another fantastic meal!

Check out the video highlights and don't miss day 2 & 3, too!

Nelson BC has some of the greatest mountain biking world wide

dapoirier — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:17:30 GMT

We spent the day with mountain bike racer Trent Zoobkoff from Nelson BC on one of his favorite trails called 'Powerslave.' Nelson has the most amazing scenery and some of the best single track mountain bike trails world wide. Thanks to Trent for taking us out and sharing one of his favorite spots with us.

Best day in BC!

JB — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:04:55 GMT

The best part of our early September 2009 trip to Vancouver Island was the five-hour wildlife-nature boat tour of Barkley Sound and the Broken Group Islands--the labor of love of Alan and Toddy Landry. Their boat leaves from Ucluelet. As we cruised through the gorgeous island-dotted seascape, we saw a bear pushing over boulders on a beach as though they were made of styrofoam, whales, bald eagles, seals, and sea lions. The boat was lovely--beautifully appointed and comfortable--and the lunch and endless supply of good coffee made the experience gracious and homey. There were only fourteen tourists on the boat (maximum is about 23), and the owner-captains provide an informative commentary during the tour and make you feel as though you are welcome guests in their home.

Jet Boating the Upper Nimpkish River

herr hauptman — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:38:38 GMT

I had looked at the Nimpkish River for a couple of years trying to determine if it is passable in a power boat. I checked it out as best as possible on Goggle Earth as there are no people I know of which have actually challenged the river with a jet boat. After the rains over the past few weeks the river had signifigantly come up, so I decided to try it with my white water race boat. It was very challenging, but I made it almost all the way to Woss. This river is quite different from the rivers that I have previously run it. Specifically, the water is very clear, it is very fast in some section, and obstacles are quite numerous. It is not what I would consider recommending to someone to attempt who has little experience. Never the less, I was able to navigate it without incident, and managed an average speed of 40 mph. This is not bad considering that this river is narrow and winding and I had never been on it before. Unfortunately, I did not take a camera on this trip, but neither myself or my navigator would have had opportunity to use it. I am planning to mount a video camera in the near future to the top of my roll bar, this is the only way to record this kind of adventure. I am going to do it again when I have the time, and the water levels are appropriate. Let me say, this was a very good exiting trip, however if anyone contemplates doing something like this keep in mind that proper safety gear is absolutely mandatory as this river would be unforgiving in the event of a mishap, and it is totallly out in the wilderness

Awesome Bed and Breakfast near Harrison Hot Springs

Larry St Pierre — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 08:47:37 GMT

My wife and I have stayed at South Garden Bed and Breakfast 6 times over the last 6 years. We travel extensively in US, Canada, Mexico and internationally and stay mostly in B&Bs. South Garden B&B in Agassiz near Harrison Hot Springs. British Columbia, is by far our most favorite. Wonderfully done rooms (we stay in Garden Room) look out over beautiful lawn and flowers. The surround grounds are peaceful and serene and very refreshing for mind and body. Lovely touches include small waterfall, outside hot tub, wooden bridges, hammock, swinging chair, lots of beautiful flowers, large weeping willow tree, and beautful wood and metal bench. Breakfast, which you order off menu with time to be delivered, comes to your door so you can enjoy in the comfort of your own room. Food is always wonderful and a real treat. Hospitality and customer service are always outstanding from the owners, John and Jacquie, with warm and winning personalities. We most strongly recommend South Garden B&B to any traveler and we look forward to returning again in the fall next year.

H2O

Matt SamyciaWood — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:46:28 GMT

H2O is somewhat of a clichéd name for a swimming complex but also rather cool at the same time (yes, I am aware that this is a total contradiction). My designer side thinks that naming a water complex ‘H2O’ is rather obvious – but I also feel that the name will really resonate with the target audience. It is also a short and easily branded name which is cool.

My design ramblings aside, the pool was BRILLIANT. It was costly at $19 for two adults, but you could stay in there for hours.

They had two large swimming pools (one which was reserved for lane swimming), diving area, three slides (one of which was in total darkness which was lots of fun) and an adult- only hot tub.

There was another hot tub reserved for families; a kids slide and play area; a wave pool and a large strong-current section.

My favourite ‘attraction’ at H2O was the surfing ‘pool’, where people could surf a man made wave. It was great watching people with all levels of ability from the super- tanned buff guys standing up on the board to some larger heavier males pulling some quite clever tricks on the body board.

Upstairs there is a gym which overlooks the whole water complex and there is a juice bar and snack area too.

On the way back to the car we also noticed that the exterior lighting around the building utilized solar panels to gain their power, a really eco-friendly system to recommend.

Was it worth $19, well if you are used to paying $12 for two then the little extra is definitely worth it especially for the occasional visit.

Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa

Matt SamyciaWood — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:44:20 GMT

Except from my name on the room reading as ‘Natt Samyciawoo’ I have nothing negative to say about our one night stay at the resort.

We had booked a campsite in Harrison but due to torrential rain we abandoned that plan and went to the nicest hotel in town instead (a wise move if we say so ourselves!).

The room was small and a little cramped due to it being old. We had lots of baby stuff including a crib in the room which didn’t help matters.

This hotel has six pools. Yes, six! They all get their hot water from the natural hot springs. They differ in temperature which is great for the whole family.

Some are indoors, the others outside. Oh, did I mention the spa as well? My wife had a pedicure while my daughter(2years old) and I bounced on the bed and watched nature programs with ‘monkeys’ and other animals she recognized .

The next morning included a buffet breakfast and a return to the hot springs to relax and play.

The room was $159 per night which is not cheap but rather than being damp or even wet in our tent we feel it was well worth the expense.

The true test of an hotel like this is “does it feel like you have been away longer than one night?” and the answer is a definite YES.

Black forest restaurant

Matt SamyciaWood — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:42:18 GMT

This was our second meal at Harrison Hot Springs and once again the customer service was excellent.

The typically German-themed restaurant was nothing special, but fitting for a very small town. The food was authentic and really satisfied the hunger groans in my stomach. The waitress was amazing, personable and made a personal connection with our child and was very accommodating.

As we ordered she said they would get on to our child’s meal ASAP knowing that she was hungry. This was very thoughtful and a great touch.

Interior: 7 out of 10

Food: A good 6 out of 10

Customer service: 8 out of 10

Cookin Kim's Café

Matt SamyciaWood — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:40:52 GMT

As we entered this small café I saw the young waitress behind the counter, she looked bored and angry and I thought ‘oh great, grumpy youth of today’.

This could not have been further from the truth. She was so, so, so polite and accommodating. I love it when I am thinking a negative thought and it turns out to be totally wrong. It is always a good reminder to be “open” and not so judgmental.

We had eaten there a few years earlier and thought it would be good to return. It was also the only place open as it was super early. The food was good for a breakfast joint, not greasy and was a good size meal for the amount paid. But as stated earlier, it was the customer service that made it special.

Interior: 6 out of 10

Food: A good 6 out of 10

Customer service: 8 out of 10

Beacon Landing Waterfront Seafood Restaurant - Sidney, BC WOW!

Sparky009 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:58:43 GMT

Made the short trip out to Sidney from Victoria, BC a couple of weeks back on a sunny summer evening. Ended up at Beacon Landing Waterfront Bar and Grill. A real gem. Very impressive views from throughout the restaurant of the waterfront, ocean and mountains in the background. Wish I had known about this place sooner. Had the Tuna Tataki for an appy and the Filet steak for dinner. All of it melt-in-your mouth fantastic and the whole time drinking in the beautiful views.

Highly recommend you make the trip out to Sidney by the Sea and stop by Beacon Landing. It's right on the beach at the end of Beacon Drive. I.e. no roads or parking lots between you and the waterfront. Seafood was amazing. They have a large patio, a fully-licenced bar and lounge side, as well as a restaurant side where you can bring the kids. Enjoy!

Whale Tale

Kathrynw87 — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:16:59 GMT

Nearing the mouth of Active Pass, on our way to Schwartz Bay, our ferry passed a pod of 20-30 Orca whales.

They were swimming pretty fast- I think they might have been trying to escape forming a lifelong connection with Jason James Richter.

Definitley a very surreal, and cool moment. Especially, after just commenting about how I'd "Never seen a whale in the wild before". Give that phrase a try when you're leaving Tsawwassen.

Kamloops - Riverside Park Beach

KamloopsSecrets — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:11:57 GMT

Riverside Park is a large city park with a number of amenities not offered at the other Kamloops beaches including:
• washroom facilities,
• concession stand (varying hours),
• beach with a life guard,
• a number of picnic tables and benches,
• kids water park,
• tennis courts,
• two playgrounds,
• large trees for shade,
• open grass areas,
• a pier,
• and is within easy walking distance to an ice cream shop (Scoopz) and a number of restaurants - yummy!

This is a great family beach and this is where I’d recommend if you’re traveling with your family and have no dogs.

Riverside Park is beautiful and I love to have a picnic there and then walk up to Scoopz to grab an ice cream.