British Columbia Canada Blog

Another great escape in Central BC is the Prestige Hotel in Salmon Arm. Last year, my girlfriend and I dropped in for a few nights and the staff were kind enough to upgrade us to one of their theme suites. It was the Barbados Suite and it had a hot-tub right in the room and a fabulous view out over the Salmon Arm of the Shuswap Lake.  It was the ‘off-season’ and the hotel was very quiet. That’s by far the best time to go anywhere, in my opinion. Salmon Arm is another one of those BC cities that bursts at the seams in the peak of the summer season due its hot weather and proximity to the Shuswap Lake.  So if you can get there in the off-season, you’ll find everything that you need and more, but no crowds. There’s plenty of shops along the main street in town, and several great little restaurants. One of the restaurants that we ate at (I can’t remember the name) served awesome seafood, and had a live pianist that was amazing. Everything is within walking distance of the hotel, so you don’t have to hold back on the wine with dinner!

I am back from my trip to Fernie and Kimberley and I must say that the trip has been a total rejuvenation of my senses.  It’s quite a drive if you plan to take a road trip from Kelowna to Kimberley but it’s totally worth it because of the amazing scenic beauty.  It takes about six hours to drive from Kelowna to Kimberley via Grandforks, Christina Lake, Castlegar, Nelson, Creston and Cranbrook. The nearest Airport from The Kimberley Alpine resort is Cranbrook.

Although Kimberley is a small ski resort compared to Fernie it offers fun and adventure to all ages. Winter Activities that can be enjoyed here include skiing, snowboarding and skating.  During the summer months mountain biking, hiking, fishing and golfing attracts tourists from all over the world.  In Kimberley I stayed at the Residence Inn, Marriott Trickle Creek which is a gold star property with all the amenities of a modern living.  I was totally impressed with this hotel as it is built with tall, lodge pole pine beams and river rock pillars.  One can relax in the outdoor heated pool, hot tubs or try their fully equipped fitness center. Visitors can also choose to unwind with a nice book in front of the fireplace with wonderful views of the Rocky Mountains and Ski slopes.  Stay at Residence inn includes a complimentary daily hot breakfast buffet which is really mouth watering and hits the spot.

Trickle Creek Golf resort is one of the top ten places to Golf in Canada as per Gold Digest.  After a long day of outdoor adventure one can enjoy a sumptuous meal at Kelsey’s which is located just next to Trickle Creek Marriott.  Other nice places to stay include Polaris Lodge which has some nice spacious units.  If you decide to stay on the slope side you can pick from a number of town homes or condos like Northstar and McGinty’s landing. On the lower mountain which is about 15 minutes walk from the ski runs, you can find reasonable lodging in Mountain Edge and Silver Birch. Visit Kimberley for a wonderful Purcell mountains experience.

Related Links:
Kootenay Rockies
Fernie Hotels
British Columbia Skiing

I found a little treasure to share with you!  It is called An Inn for Two, and that is exactly what it is, a romantic getaway for two.   It’s a place off the beaten path, far from the hustle of everyday life.  A calming place that offers peace and quiet and privacy.  The Inn for two is tucked away in the gorgeous valley of the West Kootenay’s Arrow Lake, not far from the quaint little town of
Fauquier, British Columbia.  If you are coming from Kelowna or Vernon area, you get to experience the Needles Ferry that crosses the Arrow Lake to get you to your destination.  

The view from the private deck of the log faced cabin is spectacular.  It overlooks Arrow Lake and the Monashee Mountains. Inside, the atmosphere is cozy and inviting.  Each cabin has a gas fireplace, a large soaker tub, a stereo, a kitchenette and dining table.  The queen sized bed overlooks the lake and is covered with DOWN filled duvets and fluffy pillows to help you get a good night sleep.

We just went for one night, but you could spend a few days exploring the area.  Nakusp, 55km north of Fauquier, boast shops, culture and recreation. This bustling town is known for its scenic beauty and rich history.  There are many fine 9 hole golf courses that surround Fauquier.  Enjoy relaxing in steaming mineral waters at the geothermal hot springs in Nakusp.  Or, you can go for walks and hikes that start just outside your cabin.  I enjoyed it so much, I will definitely be back!

Vancouver – the most beautiful city on Earth? The most desirable city to live in?  The answers are YES, but… you must love rain. Where I’m from in the prairies, it occasionally rains for an hour or two off and on through the spring, summer and fall. Say, from 5 to 7 pm. You can get away without rain gear just by waiting it out. It often just rains for a few minutes while a storm blows past. That’s NOT Vancouver.

When I moved to Vancouver 10 years ago I was not prepared. I’d prepared myself to live in “The most beautiful city on Earth” and the city that has repeatedly made the top 5 in the most desirable cities on Earth to live. What I found was not rain from 5 to 7 pm but rather, rain from September to April! Constant rain too. The best though are the lifers that shrug it off and say, “We’ll at least its not snow, and 20 below, like on the prairies!” Well, having lived in both places, let me tell you that I’ve never been colder than when I lived in Vancouver. With the temperature barely above freezing, the wind blowing and everything within 100 miles is soaking wet - my bones were cold! And how do you warm up when everything is damp? On the prairies, one prepares for the winter and the cold weather by dressing appropriately. When the snow falls, we just brush it off and continue. You can’t brush off rain. Sure, you can dress appropriately in rain gear, but ‘appropriately’ would mean waterproof coat, pants, hat, gloves and rubber boots! If your gear keeps the rain off, you’ll still be soaked by your own sweat!

So how is Vancouver so beautiful then? When it’s at its best, it’s spectacular. When the North Shore mountains are freshly covered in snow, the sky is blue and the sun is shining, it takes your breath away and makes you forget about the 8 months of grey and rain that you just endured. So in summary, Vancouver may be the most beautiful city on Earth and a very desirable city to live in, but be warned, it’s not like that very day of the year. I can’t wait to hear what the world thinks of Vancouver during its two weeks in the spotlight in 2010.

Related Links:
Vancouver Accommodations

One of the advantages of working with a travel agency is that you get to travel to different places and next week I am off to Fernie, Kimberly and Panorama.  I am looking forward to my trip and will share my experience with all the readers of this blog. My friends from work who have been to Fernie before are really excited to visit this beautiful place again. Keep reading and I will let you know what I think about it.

Check Out:

Fernie Skiing
Fernie Resorts and Lodges
Kootenay Rockies

There are quite a few good ski resorts near Kelowna and I was unaware about them until I started living in Okanagan.

Big White: Just a 20 – 30 minute drive from Kelowna is Big White Ski resort. Big White offers accommodation including full service hotels, luxury townhouses, condominium apartments, vacation homes to economy units. This year, the ski season in Big White is over by mid April.

Apex: Another Short drive from Kelowna to Penticton leads us to Apex mountain resort. Apex Mountain Resort remains one of the hidden gems of Canadian skiing. Apex is known for its quality snow, great weather, incredible terrain, and friendly people. Apex being located in the southern part of the Okanagan Valley features the perfect mix of large amounts of precipitation and low humidity; that makes for the lightest champagne powder snow imaginable behind them. With an average temperature of -4º C, Apex receives about 600 cm of dry “Okanagan” powder each season. Popular hotels to stay in Apex include the Saddle Back Lodge (as stay includes continental breakfast), Outlaws Inn and Apex Mountain Inn (near to the skating loop).

Silver Star: If you happen to be around Vernon, you don’t want to miss Silver Star Ski resort. Silver Star’s Victorian-themed, mid-mountain village offers charming, comfortable ski-in/ski-out accommodation for every budget. Visitors can choose from over 3,200 beds on-mountain, eight hotels and more than 100 vacation homes. Ski season in Silver Star is ending on April 10th this year so ski while the snow lasts.

If you DO want to ski past April, I would recommend checking out the Revelstoke area where skiing is open until May.

Check out all Ski Locations in BC.

If you enjoy the outdoors, look for adventure and appreciate nature then
British Columbia is a perfect holiday destination for you!  The top 3 adventure activities in BC include Whale Watching, Kayaking and White Water Rafting.

Whale Watching:  Vancouver Island is home to some of BC’s best wildlife viewing.  Take in a whale watching tour that leaves from Tofino, Uculetet or Victoria.

Kayaking/Canoeing:  What better way to spend a holiday than on the water, kayaking in and out of untouched bays.   You will be surprised at how much wildlife you will see on this adventure.

White Water Rafting:  If you are looking for an adrenaline rush, than this is for you.   Some of the best white water rafting in BC can be found in the Kootenay Rocky Region.  Check out the tours departing from the town of Golden.

Plan a trip and experience all three adventures.  You will be sure to write home about this BC holiday!

Anyone who has eaten at an East Indian restaurant before knows that Butter Chicken is often one of the tastiest items on the menu.  Luckily, here in British Columbia there are many restaurants throughout the province which make a mean butter chicken.  Here are some of my favorite (not in any particular order):

• Sitar Restaurant - Located on 8 Powell St. in Vancouver, BC
• Dawett - Located on 1435 Ellis Street in Kelowna, BC
• Samosas - (Opened recently) Located in Downtown (426A Bernard Avenue) Kelowna, BC
• Goldie’s Flavours of India - 563 Seymour St Kamloops, BC
• Mannie’s Curry Hut Golden - 10th Ave. S. and 9th St. S Golden, BC

If you need accommodations while in these cities check out:

- Vancouver Accommodations
- Kelowna Accommodations
- Kamloops Accommodations
- Golden Accommodations

Every once in a while, I think it is important to spoil yourself, and I know the perfect place to do this….The Wickaninnish Inn.  The Wickaninnish is located in Tofino, BC which is on the Westcoast of Vancouver Island.  

Vancouver Island is accessible by both ferry and airplane.  Ferries depart from Washington State, Tsawwassen (South of Vancouver), and Horseshoe Bay (North of Vancouver).  Once on the island, you will enjoy your drive to the beautiful West coast.  The road from Nanaimo is one of the most spectacular in the world where you will travel through old-growth forests of the Cathedral Grove. 

The setting of the Wickaninnish Inn is truly breathtaking.  The Inn sits on a rock ledge that offers panoramic ocean and beach views from every guest room. They have 75 deluxe guest rooms and suites with fireplace, soaker tub and individual balconies.  For services, the Inn offers a full-service spa for some pampering; a coffee lounge to sit back and watch the waves crash along the shoreline, and a gourmet restaurant to dine at called the Pointe.  The details in the rooms are outstanding.  Our room had a private bar, beverage station, individual book selection, our own suite of cds, down duvet, large screen television, AVEDA aromatherapy products and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the ocean, even from our tub.  This place truly is heaven on earth!

I try to never visit the same campground twice!  This is because there are so many amazing places to explore in BC, and I don’t want to miss out on experiencing as much as I can.  My 3 favorite campgrounds are Mabel lake, Otter Lake and Little Qualicum falls.   

Mabel Lake Provincial Park is located in the Thompson Okanagan Region, near Lumby.  You take Hwy 6 east from Vernon to Lumby and then follow the signs turning north onto Mabel Lake Road.  The campsites are fairly big and very private.  The campground is on a sandy beach and is surrounded by lush trees.  Things to do here include watersports, fishing, swimming, biking and hiking.

Otter Lake Provincial Park is also located in the Thompson Okanagan Region, just bordering the  Vancouver Coast Region.  It is located 33 km northwest of Princeton off Hwy 5A toward Tulameen.  This campground is very private with a natural setting in the trees. The Park is surrounded by the Cascade Mountain Range, home to lots of wildlife including otters, beaver and red squirrel as well as, mountain goats, cougars and grizzly bears.  The Lake is great for watersports, swimming and fishing.  It can be a little cool, but very refreshing.  There are also lots of nature trails along the lake with beautiful views.

Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Campground is located in the Vancouver Island Region, 19km west of Parksville.  The campground has a River and lake nearby for lots of fun activities.  The park also has lots of walking trails with beautiful viewpoints to the impressive waterfalls.   The campsites are large and very private, like most provincial parks. If you are planning to visit any of these campgrounds in the summertime, I would definitely recommend making reservations.   Both Otter Lake and Little Qualicum Falls can be reserved through BC Parks.