British Columbia Canada Blog

As a travel consultant selling different ski packages, I have discovered a trend in choices people make for selecting ski destinations. Over president’s week lot of people flew from U.S.A to British Columbia to ski at these destinations.

• Whistler ( The most popular destination so far attracting skiers from all over the world, especially: the UK, Australia, and Germany)
• Fernie
• Mt. Washington
• Kimberley
• Kicking Horse near Golden
• Silver Star (only a short drive from Vernon)
• Sun Peaks near Kamloops
• Big White near Kelowna

Other ski destinations which haven’t attracted as many skiers as the resorts above but are still excellent include:

• Red mountain/ Ross land
• Apex

Related Links:
Ski Nelson, BC
Thompson Okanagan Skiing

I love wine, and I love to visit the places where the grapes grow and the wine is made!  Yes, you can definitely do some winery hopping on your own, but from my experience touring in the Napa Valley, the Sonoma Valley and the Okanagan Valley, I feel you receive huge benefits from joining a guided Wine Tour.

First of all, your day is planned and organized, so you can just sit back and enjoy.  You don’t ever have to worry about missing that turn, or getting lost.  The entire group can enjoy the wine tastings and not have any safety concerns of drinking and driving.  The Guides have years of experience and have built the Tours to reflect a good assortment of wineries that the area has to offer.  So you will be visiting the charming, tucked away wineries you are unlikely to find on your own and avoiding snobby, stuck-up wineries.

They have also selected a Facility Tour that they feel gives you the best overview on the “Art of Winemaking”.  You will have a designated local tour guide/host for the day who will provide commentaries on the valley, the wine industry and each winery specifically that you will visit.  The Guide is also there to answer any questions you may have.  The wineries that they visit are expecting us, so you’ll be skipping crowded wineries and getting preferred treatment.  This is sometimes a BIG bonus on the days that the wineries are super busy, where tours and tastings get booked up.  And last but not least, you can socialize with other visitors on the tour and meet some great people with similar interests. 

I wish you happy touring!

Related Links:
British Columbia Wineries

If you’re ever in the Vancouver Coast region be sure to make some time to take part in some of the activities.  Here’s a list containing some of the most popular activities:

1. Whale Watching in Vancouver
2. Fishing in Richmond
3. Sailing the Pacific
4. Sightseeing in West Vancouver
5. Hiking in Gibsons, British Columbia
6. An Outdoor Adventure in Sechelt, British Columbia
7. World Class Skiing at Whistler
8. Relaxing Spa in Madeira Park

This is only scratching the surface in terms of what the Vancouver Coast has to offer its visitors.  Go and explore for yourself!

My husband and I took a mini-holiday this winter and discovered the Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort.  This was my first time experiencing Hot Springs and I enjoyed them very much.  There is nothing more relaxing than soaking in a pool of naturally heated water while looking out over some of BC’s most beautiful scenery. 

Ainsworth is located in the Kootenay Rockies region of British Columbia about 50km from Nelson.  The Ainsworth Resort features three pools, a main soaking pool, 160 foot horseshoe caves and a stream fed cold plunge.  The Hot Water comes in to their systems at about 117 F degrees.  The water is then cooled to an average 42 C, 114 F before it enters the caves.  The springs originate in the Cody Caves area, which is directly above and to the west of Ainsworth Hot Springs.   The Resort also features a dining room that overlooks the Kootenay Lake and the Purcell Mountain range from their floor to ceiling windows.  This resort is open all year-round and I bet every season has its own unique appeal.  All you need to bring is your hubby, a bathing suit and a good book!

Related Links:
British Columbia Resorts and Lodges
Kootenay Rockies Spas

The following video shows a beatiful scenic view of Big White Resort, British Columbia from Central Mountain check in.  Come and Ski BC!

Click on the PLAY button. Or, RIGHT CLICK here and SAVE AS to your computer, and then OPEN after the download completes.

Below is a view from Sundance Lodge at the Big White Ski Resort. Big White offers World class skiing with champagne powders, bring the family and check it out for a weekend.

Click on the PLAY button. Or, RIGHT CLICK here and SAVE AS to your computer, and then OPEN after the download completes.

Related Links:
British Columbia Skiing

You don’t need to travel far to “get away”, especially if you live in the Okanagan.  My husband and I were in need of a little break from work and our everyday hectic agendas.  My first thought is always that we need to plan a trip to an exotic destination with sandy beaches and margaritas!  But when time doesn’t allow for this, you need to be creative and maybe find something a little closer to home.

I live in Kelowna, and this area is full of “get away places”.  I found a beautiful spot in Summerland called the Summerland Waterfront Resort and booked us in for a night.  To me, a few things define a “getaway”:  no work, no phones, sleeping in, no cooking, breakfast in bed… and you can do all this during your one nights stay away from home.  The room we stayed in had a breathtaking view of Lake Okanagan, a fireplace, a full kitchen, DVD player, soaker tub and had all the luxuries and amenities of a first class Hotel.  

We picked up some coffees around 11:00AM and headed towards our destination.  We arrived in Summerland around noon and were able to check in right away.  We put our stuff in the room and headed into town for lunch.  Summerland is a great community rich in history and culture and is set amidst endless vineyards and orchards.    We had lunch at the Peacocks Perch Pub which was perfect, a couple of specials and a couple of beers!  Let the holiday begin…

I recommend anyone who may be feeling stressed out to get away for a night and you’ll be surprised at how refreshed you feel.  I also recommend the Summerland Waterfront Resort which truly is a destination for all seasons!

Related Links:
Thompson Okanagan Resorts

Last weekend I went skiing at Nordic Cross Country Ski Club near Kelowna, British Columbia Canada. Great spot! The area is located about 40 minutes from Kelowna up Highway 33. Very easy to get to and well worth the trip. There’s seemingly endless miles of groomed trails and two distinctly different huts that you can ski to, to warm up or cool off as the case may be.

My wife and I often take a picnic lunch to enjoy by the fire while our gear dries out. The central Okanagan has a few different places to cross country ski, that all boast excellent conditions from December to late March. Our favorite is the Nordic area because it’s less crowded than the others. The trails themselves are quite flat, but there are several spots where the scenery is beautiful and the snow is always great.

The top of Big White Ski Resort shows itself frequently on the eastern horizon. You can often see cougar or lynx tracks on the trails. They’re seldom spotted, but are never far away. One time, while skiing from the furthest hut in a blizzard, we came across tracks that were obviously made by a cat that we’d scared off the trail, because the snow was coming down hard, and the tracks were still completely uncovered. Pretty spooky to think that you are being watched from the darkness by an animal with teeth that big!

Related Links:
Thompson Okanagan
British Columbia Skiing

One of my favorite things about living in the Okanagan is the fact that we get four distinct seasons, that each have their own allure.

Most people know about our summers. With temperatures frequently reaching the mid to high 30s, with blue skies and sunshine until late at night (due to our northern latitude) you are hard pressed to find a better place to play. Golf courses, orchards, wineries and freshwater lakes are only a few of the attractions that really shine in the summertime. Fishing, horseback riding, climbing and hiking are also popular around the valley in the summer.

Fall is equally as attractive, when the temperatures moderate and the leaves begin to turn. The sun still shines but you don’t need your air conditioner to sleep at night, as the temperatures moderate. Golf courses are usually open until late October or even November.

The winters in the Okanagan are famous for their light dry champagne powder snow, which translates to spectacular skiing and snowboarding conditions. Big White, Silver Star and Apex Mountain are all within 100km of Kelowna, the major population centre in the Okanagan and all consistently boast some of the best skiing conditions and terrain in North America. Big White gets an average of 23 feet of snow per year. The best part though, is that the snow doesn’t really last in the bottom of the valley … so we don’t normally have to drive on it or shovel it! Its just a short drive away.

The spring in the Okanagan Valley takes your breath away. Orchards and vineyards line the lakes and ridges from one end of the valley to the other, and when they are all in bloom, under a crystal clear sky, there aren’t words to describe it. The lakes are still cold, so you might need a wetsuit, but there’s nothing else from stopping you from an afternoon wakeboard in April! Once the snow melts, the trails open up for some spectacular hiking.

Related Links:
Okanagan Horse Back Riding
Okanagan Skiing
Thompson Okanagan

I never give up an opportunity to visit Kamloops British Columbia. Located in the Thompson Okanagan, this mid sized city has much to offer. Once upon a time I actually attended Thompson Rivers University so it always reminds me of home when I have time to travel their and catch up with old friends.

Although I usually end up crashing at a buddy’s place, hotels like the Plaza Heritage are an excellent selection especially because of their location to amenities. My day usually starts with Golf at Aberdeen Hills and dinner at fun restaurant like Earl’s or Kelly O’Brien’s.

For people who enjoy horseback riding I would definitely recommend Jandana Ranch located northeast of Kamloops at beautiful Pinantan Lake. I haven’t personally made it I out there but have driven the scenic route dozens of times. On a hot summer day there’s nothing better than zipping down that road with an ice cold Pepsi slush in hand.

Related Links:
Aberdeen Hills Golf
Kamloops Cottages
Kamloops Air Travel