by Sarah Blinco | Dec 3, 2011 | North America, Travel blogger destinations
It’s almost become a rite of passage for Aussies to visit, if not live, at Whistler in Canada, the number one Snow & Ski Resort in North America.
Everywhere here there are Aussie accents, which is quite nice, and just a little surreal being that there certainly isn’t any place like this in Australia!
Whistler is a simply gorgeous village located about an hour and a half outside of Vancouver, Canada. It’s brimming with chic boutique stores, pubs, restaurants and hotels and the fun is as plentiful in summer as it is in winter.
Obviously the allure of this place for Australians is the snow, and we were fortunate to experience a super snowy day on Tuesday followed by what locals describe as a ‘blue bird’ day (superb sunny skies but with snow-capped mountains – ideal conditions for skiing and snowboarding).
Whistler and Blackcomb mountains (side by side surrounding this resort town, and connected by the world-famous, record-holding Peak2Peak Gondola) are huge, and vast − a snow-drenched dream. Aside from the simple pleasures of playing in the snow, visitors here treasure the exceptional standard of service at each and every hotel and dining venue, and the ease with which anyone can wander around and enjoy so many fun options – rain or sunshine, day and night.
We stayed at the Pan Pacific Hotel by the village (there is also a Pan Pacific option ‘mountainside’) which we’d highly recommend for its proximity to everything, fantastic service, free and delicious breakfast and free WiFi, among many other delights that made for a totally brilliant stay.
I also have to say we enjoyed the fab lunch specials (especially the soup) offered by Ingrid’s Village Cafe (yummy!), although there are many exceptional dining options here − so much so that actually ‘choosing’ where to eat can be a happy challenge.
If you’re keen for some R&R check out the luxe Scandinave Spa with its hot and cool plunge pools and steam rooms surrounded by awe-inspiring mountains and fir trees (draped in snow when I visited).
Whistler is pure magic. We’ve only ever visited in winter but we’re told summer is even better with cycling, hiking, concerts and so much more on offer. I can’t imagine this place could actually get any better.
All I can say is that if you ever have the chance to come here, whether for a day (check out West Coast Tours, excursions from Vancouver along the Sea to Sky Highway), a week, season or a year − definitely say ‘yes’ in a heartbeat.
**Just be aware… if you’re taking a midnight stroll through town as we did on Sunday night, you may just run into a big brown bear! Yep, it was meandering along on one side of the street where we almost crossed over and bumped into it. Thankfully we didn’t smell good enough to eat and that exhilarating experience just added to the fabulousness of this awesome little place.
We adore Canada and British Columbia and believe it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Take a look for yourself here on Flickr
If you’re interested in more stories from this divine part of the world, you might also enjoy:
Heaven is Harrison Hot Springs
Coffee & cocktails in Gastown
The X-Files and Vancouver travel journal
Discovering Grouse Mountain and Victoria, Vancouver Island
By Sarah Blinco
by Sarah Blinco | Nov 22, 2011 | North America, Travel blogger destinations
Hello again! I’m back following a forced hiatus − that is, my computer decided to have an extended nap for a week. $$$ and a new screen later, I’m back!
It’s even cooler here in beautiful British Columbia, and the snow is falling. Ski resorts are now welcoming winter sports enthusiasts and I’m there ready to… well, drink hot chocolate and watch in awe.
Cool travels – Grouse Mountain and Vancouver Island
We paid a visit to gorgeous Grouse Mountain last week. Grouse is cool because it’s only about half an hour’s easy commute from Vancouver city. We’ve been patiently watching from the city down below each day, waiting for powder to appear on Grouse’s peaks, and as soon as it did (on a sunny day, no less) we ventured up top for a play in the snow.
Grouse is special to me because it’s really the very first place I ever saw decent, fluttering, deep white winter wonderland-type snow, back in 1999 when my brother and I first visited.
Grouse is fabulous and this time around we trekked into the mountain a little further to see if we could meet the bears they have at a refuge nearby. Unfortunately the lazy little fellas (like the wolves in the sanctuary at the bottom of the mountain) were sleeping, so we were left to guess what they look like. Anyone however, can check out what they are up to day or night by logging onto the Grouse Wildlife Refuge bear-cam.
Little did we know that one day soon, we’d come face to face with a bear in the middle of the night in Whistler village!
Ice-skating, skiing, snowboarding, walks, hot drinks and fabulous Vancouver city views − it’s all at Grouse. There was even an Aussie Blue Cattle Dog playing up the top of the mountain with his owner − a highlight of our day, because this young dog looked just like our very own Harry who we miss back in Aus.
This is my third visit to B.C. but there’s just so much to see in this beautiful part of the world that I never seem to make it far out of Vancouver city itself. We had an aim this time around to at least get to Victoria on Vancouver Island (about four hours from Vancouver by coach, ferry then coach − check for deals on Pacific Coaches).
We’ll have to get back over to Vancouver Island one day because we realise we’ve missed so much − it’s one of the largest islands off the west coast of North America, and there are numerous areas of the region (such as Ladysmith and Tofino) we didn’t get to visit: untamed, wild beautiful landscapes. Typical ‘super natural’ BC (as they tout in the tourism advertisements).
Victoria however (capital of British Columbia), is a picturesque, clean city brimming with cool old buildings, contemporary shopping and night-life.
My friend, Lauren, once sent me a snow globe featuring Victoria’s romantic city skyline and I’ve wanted to visit for myself ever since receiving this treasured gift. Victoria is Western Canada’s oldest city, originally settled in 1843 and is named after Queen Victoria.
Mostly it is easy to navigate by foot if you’re staying in the city centre. Stroll around the inner harbour for lovely views of the city’s classic, famous architecture of parliament buildings and grand old hotels; Government Street offers shopping and entertainment options, and look out for areas like Old Town, Chinatown, Market Square and Bastion Square for historical buildings and boutique browsing.
It’s also worthwhile finding your way to the famous Butchart Gardens and Craigdarroch Castle, and of course whale watching is a popular activity with numerous adventure companies offering a range of options to suit your time and budget.
We were lucky enough to be reunited with a fellow Expat Explorer from our brilliant August trip, which made this visit extra special.
Vancouver Island is definitely worth adding to your B.C. itinerary − it’s stunning, typical of the whole region, but with a slightly different feel to Vancouver city. Again, I feel fortunate to have visited such a pretty part of the world.
We adore Canada and British Columbia and believe it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Take a look for yourself here on Flickr
If you’re interested in more stories from this divine part of the world, you might also enjoy:
Heaven is Harrison Hot Springs
Coffee & cocktails in Gastown
Wonderful Whistler adventures
The X-Files and Vancouver travel journal
By Sarah Blinco
by Sarah Blinco | Nov 7, 2011 | North America, Travel blogger destinations
So far in our lives the only ‘hot spring’ town we’ve experienced is Moree in New South Wales (Australia). Now don’t get me wrong, we love Moree − we lived there for about two years, but Harrison Hot Springs (about 90-minutes drive from Vancouver), apart from also being a small town, couldn’t be more different − or scenic.
It is in fact, a sublime corner of the world that makes you want to pack up your bags to move! In all honesty, if you’re seeking beauty like Switzerland but without the price tag, add a destination like this in British Columbia (B.C.) to your ‘to see’ list.
Heaven is Harrison Hot Springs in British Columbia
Harrison Hot Springs in British Columbia is a town of around 2000 people. Harrison thrives as a cool tourist destination which boasts pretty homes, chic coffee shops, restaurants and hotels, surrounding mountain ranges, beaches, rivers, lakes, farmland and of course, divine mineral hot springs (accessible, as in Moree, via public pool facilities).
The quaint town was quieter this weekend because the weather is cooling down (hence the snow appearing on peaks above us), but the sun glistened so we were free to explore landscapes that appear to be directly from a Twilight or Once Upon a Time set (incidentally, both filmed in B.C.).
Even the commute from Vancouver on Friday afternoon was gorgeous − thanks to major traffic congestion we were forced to (literally) take the scenic route cross country, brightly lit by autumnal colours under a setting sun; and through classic old towns like Mission and Fort Langley – areas I recognise as popular filming ground for movies, and TV series’ including The X-Files, Supernatural, Smallville and Stargate.
We were introduced to the town by Phil (an old friend of Cooper’s) and his lovely wife, Susan.
Everyone we’ve met here has shown us warm, friendly hospitality, and we’ve done everything from enjoying delicious lattes by the beach overlooking snow-capped mountains, to walks around the town and local lake, hiking through vast open spaces, keeping an eye out for salmon and bald eagles. We watched ultralight aircrafts cruise across farmland, and enjoyed toasting marshmallows by a secluded river at sunset (pictured on this page).
It’s the ultimate B.C. escape, and a location also ideal for cycling, fishing, boating, golfing and getting back to nature. Harrison Hot Springs has reminded me, once again, why I believe this part of the world to be one of the most beautiful you could hope to discover on any journey.
There’s an added secret bonus in these parts too − it’s known as ‘Sasquatch (Bigfoot) Country’ − so keep your camera handy at all times because you may just need it for more than the scenery!
Further reading
If you’re interested in more stories from this divine part of the world, you might also enjoy:
The X-Files and Vancouver travel journal
Coffee & cocktails in Gastown
Wonderful Whistler adventures
Discovering Grouse Mountain and Victoria, Vancouver Island
Play flickr gallery:
by Cooper D | Nov 3, 2011 | North America, Travel blogger destinations
I must admit my initial excitement was masked with a tinge of nervous tension as I was kitted out in my finest Kayaking ensemble by a boy not long into his teens. As I stood on the shore admiring the vast body of water framed by a coastline of tree-covered mountains and palatial homes, my fiancée sheepishly asked, “Have you done this before?”
Like a character from a softdrink commercial full of bravado I slowly wiped my chiseled chin, sporting a rather handsome three-day growth (let me embellish a little…) with my muscular forearm, and grunted, “Of course, we’ll be fine”.
Kayaking at Deep Cove
As those final words left the corners of my dry mouth I remembered with apprehension my last kayaking experience, unbeknown to my now confident fiancée Sarah. It ended with me cold, wet and embarrassed with glowing red cheeks dragging my kayak to shore to the cheers and laughter of my ‘supportive’ classmates. Ah school, such fond memories!
As we slowly slide into the glassy cold unknown, venturing into our kayaking at Deep Cove adventure (a mere 20-minutes ride by public transit or car from North Vancouver), I recall the instructions – first, drop rudder for steering; secondly, make sure pedals are properly adjusted to operate rudder and finally the easy part, paddle. Why am I getting wet when I paddle? I keep telling myself it’s all part of the fun – until my bottom begins to feel moist… quite moist.
There are several directions available to have a great daytrip, but today our destination was towards Jug Island (one of the closest destinations to Deep Cove). Like two Olympic kayakers we paddled for a solid twelve minutes directly east to shore towards Indian Arm Channel before we ran out of breath and started to overheat. Surprisingly distances can be quite deceiving to the uninitiated and inexperienced. We paused for a photo opportunity and admired the many yachts and boats of all different shapes and sizes that glide effortlessly by us.
Deep Cove is the epitome of the Canadian West Coast lifestyle. It truly is a magical place of beauty and serenity, occasionally punctuated by the sound of a two-stroke motor being driven by jovial kids singing hip hop tunes. We laughed and sang along as we enviously watched them fly by. Suddenly we were confronted by the overwhelming presence of their boat’s wake heading towards us. My fiancée, Sarah, begins to show signs of concern (evident by the growing panic in her voice). “We’ll be fine,” I assured her… Just listen to the sultry sound of my voice as I rock the kayak side to side hoping for a more panicked reaction (boys will be boys).
We recharge our batteries and paddle slowly towards Jug Island. Birds fly silently and float around us disinterested in our presence. After 45-minutes relaxing paddle we reached our destination and captured copious amounts of photos while drifting aimlessly with the current.
There’s something quite therapeutic about being surrounded by a great mass of tranquil water. Thoughts become clearer as your lungs fill with clean fresh air. ‘Picture postcard’ clouds hover and hug the wooded mountains like halos, as the sun’s ray’s warm chilled skin.
We fantasise about owning one of the many gorgeous homes dotting the coastline until our conversation is interrupted by a dog barking from the veranda of a beautiful home perched high above us. More importantly, we were faced with the realisation that we had to paddle another kilometre east back to Deep Cove Marina.
The marina, home to a plethora of yachts in the distance is our guide as we begin the arduous paddle back. To Sarah’s surprise and horror we were greeted by another speed boat cruising towards us and like any typical bloke, I can’t help myself and once again rock the kayak to the (amusing) sounds of panic from Sarah.
We adore Canada and British Columbia and believe it’s one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Take a look for yourself here on Flickr
By Cooper Dawson
by Sarah Blinco | Oct 31, 2011 | Travel blogger destinations
Gastown, Vancouver: it’s an eclectic little area featuring numerous cool boutiques, galleries, bars, cafes, restaurants and chic stores.
As new-comers, we found it difficult to secure a summary of the best choices within the precinct so we decided to compose our own.
It’s pretty simple – if you’re after ambiance, great coffees or cocktails then try one of these splendid establishments.
The best coffee and cocktails in Gastown
STEAMWORKS375 Water Street
Tweet @SteamworksPub or on FACEBOOK
Our number 1. pick…
In our experience Steamworks offers by far the best service, value and cocktail selection. The food here is delicious, the atmosphere vibrant and we’ve enjoyed a great experience every time.
We met popular Bar Manager, Josh Taylor (pictured), who is evidently well-liked by patrons. He serves up a mean cocktail – all with a friendly smile and helpful service.
We discovered Steamworks has not only the cheapest cocktails in Gastown but possibly the most innovative selection (the menu was redesigned recently, and Josh along with some other staff have carefully created bespoke options like the fab Nothing Rhymes with Orange).
We also tried the delicious Bellinias well as one of their famous locally brewed beers. There are daily drink specials on offer at Steamworks, as well as a ‘Brewer’s Choice Beer of the Day’.
Drinking for a good cause. Back in 2011, Josh designed a special cocktail for the month of Movember, kind of an offshoot of the Dark & Stormy – totally delicious, and a percentage of proceeds from the sale of each was put towards fundraising for Steamworks’ very own Movember crew, Team Happy Fun Ball. Cheers!
THE IRISH HEATHER GASTRO PUB
210 Carrall Street
Tweet @TheIrishHeather or on FACEBOOK
With its comfy, chic interior this place is easy to spend time in. It’s renowned as being the number 1. seller of Guinness in the city (about $7/pint). There’s also fine coffees, cocktails and dining on offer.
131WATER KITCHEN & BAR
131 Water Street
Tweet @131Water or on FACEBOOK
This cosy little bar serves up inexpensive cocktails like the signature classic Bourbon & Sour, as well as a delicious selection that uses 131’s own house-made lemonade – yummy!
THE SALTY TONGUE
212 Carrall Street
These guys know their coffee. If you’re seeking decent menu choices and a sleek coffee stop, take a look inside.
THE BLARNEY STONE
216 Carrall Street
FACEBOOK
Daily drink and food specials mean this pub is always thriving.
SMART MOUTH CAFE
117-131 Water Street
Tweet @smartmouthcafe
A favourite local haunt – this place is typically ‘Vancouver cool’ – kick your morning off with a delicious coffee and a quirky quote that is posted on a board outside the store daily.
CHILL WINSTON RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
3 Alexander Street
This gorgeous venue always captures our attention when we’re walking through Gastown. It’s as cool inside as it looks from the outside. Don’t envy those sitting under the (occasional) sun in the street sipping on their cocktails – drop in and enjoy your own, and ask about one of Chill Winston’s signature drinks such as the Spooning Jesus…
BONETA
Courtyard of 12 Water Street
Tweet @bonetavan or on FACEBOOK
Set within the quaint courtyard of 12 Water Street, Boneta boasts a chic environment, divine yet reasonably priced menu and a selection of delicious coffees and classic cocktails. The open kitchen means you can even watch the chefs do their thang while you sit back and enjoy the surroundings.
MILANO BOUTIQUE COFFEE ROASTERS
36 Powell Street
Fabulous interior and delightful drinks, this coffee house offers a unique concept for enjoying your daily brew.
Have we missed your favourite Gastown coffee and/or cocktails hotspot, or would you like to give a shout-out to your fave that’s listed above? Feel free to share as a ‘comment’ below…
If you’re interested in more stories from this divine part of the world, you might also enjoy:
Heaven is Harrison Hot Springs
The X-Files and Vancouver travel journal
Wonderful Whistler adventures
Discovering Grouse Mountain and Victoria, Vancouver Island
