British Columbia Canada Blog

Your trip to Vancouver this summer won’t be complete until you attend Shakespeare Festival. 2011 Season runs from June 2nd to September 24th. As you like it, The Merchant of Venice, Robert 3, Henry 6 are four main plays for the season and you can see them all for one ticket price of $145/person.

Other Bard on the Beach specials include: Bard B-Q and Firworks, Celebration Red and White and various discussions andlectures. So, if you like Shakespeare than this one is for you.  For more information, prices and schedules, visit: Bard On The Beach.

Know about a cool event in BC? Drop us a line at info@bctravelguide.ca

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Vancouver Attractions

Silverstar mountain resort has come up with an exciting new weekend getaway 2011  for all vacation lovers and I absolutely love it. Trust me, you can spoil someone special with this little breather in Silver Star’s outstanding setting.Check out the deal details below:
 

Saturday August 20

Food & Wine Pairing Seminar 4 – 6 p.m. Prepare to be entertained and learn how to cook like a chef! Have fun with guest chef Martin Laprise as he guides you through making delicious food and wine pairings.Gourmet at the Grand Café 6:30 – till late
Allow us to make your dinner reservation at the Bulldog Hotel’s Grand Café where a special ‘Indulgence’ menu will be sure to spoil you.

Movie Night at Club Snowbird
Enjoy a screening of Chocolat…sure to set the scene for Sunday’s seminar.

Sunday August 21

‘Everything Chocolate’ Seminar 11a.m. – 1 p.m. Join chocolatier Barrita Durward for an entertaining introduction to the art of chocolate making. This hands on seminar will teach you how to properly dip, make sweet treats, and create some chocolates to take home.Finish your weekend on a high!
Enjoy the spectacular view of the Monashee Mountains and Okanagan and Kalamalka Lakes from the view point at the top of Silver Star Mountain. Take a relaxing ride to the top on the Summit Chairlift and either hike or ride back down. Lift is available from Noon to 4 p.m. on either Saturday or Sunday.

1 Night Indulgence Package - $215 per person Includes 1 night accommodation in a 2 bedroom Executive unit at luxurious Snowbird Lodge (based on double occupancy), Food & Wine Pairing Seminar, Chocolate Seminar, Movie Night, and a Chairlift & Hiking Pass. 12% HST additional. Some restrictions apply. This special cannot be booked in conjunction with any other special offers.

For more information or to book please call Silver Star Holidays at 1-800-663-4431

There really is so much to see and do in BC. From the bustling metropolis of Vancouver to the vast woods and mountains of the interior. Although the state has an enormous amount to offer tourists, there is one place that is rarely on the trail: the Haida Gwaii, previously known as the Queen Charlotte Islands until 2009.

Separated from mainland BC by the Hecate Strait that varies between 30 to 87 miles wide, the Haida Gwaii are comprised of 150 islands. There are however two main islands, Graham Island in the north and Moresby island in the south. There are three municipal towns, two modern Haida villages and various other smaller settlements.

You’ll find a variety of places to stay in Haida, if you like camping there’s plenty of well organised camp sites to stay at. If you’re more used to checking http://www.britanniahotels.com or some other hotel website, there are a variety of hotels, motels and inns, many of which have very useful websites. You could also hire a cottage or cabin, if you like the idea of staying in a building, but also fancy some independence.

There’s a lot to see on the islands - they have a maritime micro-climate that ensures the winters never get too cold and summers never too hot. This also makes for a beautiful flora and fauna - perfect for walking and bird watching and wildlife viewing. For those that like the wave, Haida offers great surfing, but there is also great kayaking and boating activities over the island’s numerous inlets and creeks. Let’s also not forget the amazing culture of the the First Nations who live on the island - there are plenty of museums to learn more. The totem poles of the First Nations of Haida are particularly striking, and art routes take around the island to see the full variety of arts and crafts available.

The easiest way to get to the islands is by ferry which are leaves from Prince Rupert. This journey is a particularly spectacular way of reaching the islands and takes you past the beautiful coastline. There are also planes that fly from Vancouver to Sandspit YZP (Moresby Island) and Masset ZMT (northern Graham Island), as well as a daily sea plane service. With such easy access, there is really no reason for putting off your journey.

Driving through interior British Columbia during winters could be treacherous but it’s a lovely drive during summer. You can expect beautiful lakes with crystal clear water, small hills, picture perfect picnic spots, campgrounds and hidden hiking trails.
Local attractions while driving from Revelstoke to Sicamous include: Enchanted Forest ( a great hit with kids) and Three Valley Gap. You can also check out the historic site of the Craigellachie Last Spike, hammered by Canadian Pacific Railway Director Donald Smith into the Transcontinental Rail Line that united Canada from coast to coast on 7th November 1885.

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Summer Weekend Getaways

It has been snowing a lot in British Columbia and ski lovers are really happy. 5 must try ski resorts of 2011 are:

1. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort - One reason to visit Kicking Horse Ski resort is that it is celebrating its 10th anniversary and the other is that it has a new terrain for advanced skiers which offer 17 challenging chutes.

2. Whitewater Ski Resort - We suggest visiting Whitewater Ski resort if you are an expert skier because it has 18 new runs this year. Thanks to the new Glory Ridge Chair.

3. Revelstoke Mountain Resort - Want to try backcountry, cat and heli-skiing as well as stay in a brand new luxurious lodge (Nelson Lodge.) Well, head for Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

4. Silver Star Ski Resort - You have been visiting Silver Star Ski Resort for years and see no reason to go back this year. Well, wait a second, how about trying new Ice Climbing tower or sharpen your skills by taking a course on technical sides of skiing and snowboarding.

5. Mount Washington Ski Resort on Vancouver Island: Last but not least, we suggest trying Mount Washington Ski Resort because Little Washington Peak has opened an additional 40 hectares of tree skiing terrain. Not to forget that backcountry excursions to the back side of Mount Washington and heliskiing adventures within the Vancouver Island ranges is also available this ski season.

Get ready for some fun and plan your next ski vacation with BC Travel Guide

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 10 Things you didn’t know about Whistler

Top 5 ski resorts in BC

Did you hear about new Whistler promotion for this holiday season (2010-2011)? well, if you book with Whistler Central reservations, you get the 5th night free…all season long. Check out the details below:

When you book a 5-night ski and stay package from $113* CAD
($107 USD) per person, per night - a discount equivalent to getting your 5th Night FREE - you’ll have some interesting choices to make.

Depending on when you book your Whistler Blackcomb ski vacation, you could save more by getting your 4th day of skiing free; have free breakfast and be one of the first to hit the fresh powder; or bring the whole family with you while the kids ski free. No matter what you choose to do, you’re in for a fantastic day. Book your lift and lodging package by January 31, 2011 and receive a BONUS offer.

Happy Skiing!

Pacific Rim National Park is located on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia and is well known for its beautiful sandy beaches. We highly recommend it to all BC visitors.  Some of the must see beaches of the region include:

1.Wickaninnish Beach:

Wickaninnish Beach is a sandy beach recreation located near the communities of Tofino and Ucluelet on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It is one of the larger beaches surrounded by many large resorts. A short paved hiking trail leads from the main parking lot to the beach. There is a picnic shelter prior to the sandy beach and some picnic tables located in the shade of the trees near the beach. Not far away are some pit toilets. Higher up on the beach are pebbles and piles of driftwood logs. Lower down on the beach the sand is hard packed and wet - great for beachcombing. Other popular beach activities include surfing, swimming, sun tanning, picnicking and building sand castles. During the winter months Wickaninnish Beach is one of the more popular beaches to walk for storm watching. Suited up in rain gear and rubber boots people come to watch the storms crash the shore.

2. Combers Beach :

Along the Pacific Rim Hwy look for the road signs indicating the Spruce Fringe Trail and Combers Beach parking lot. Follow the road to the parking lot. From the parking lot you begin the Spruce Fringe Trail to Combers Beach.Combers Beach is one of the smaller sandy beach and provides access to two other beaches - Long Beach and Wickaninnish Beach. Combers Beach is accessed via a hiking trail named the Spruce Fringe Trail. The beach is covered in fine white sand and littered in driftwood logs thrown ashore by winter storms. Like all west coast beaches the back drop is made up of a forest of dwarfed trees. The beach looks out at Sea Lion Rocks (A popular Sea Lion and bird sanctuary) viewed through a good set of binoculars.Some of the activities enjoyed at the beach include beachcombing, suntanning, frisbee, picnicking, birdwatching and surfing.

3. Long Beach:

Take Hwy 4 north towards Tofino. The highway runs beside the beach - you’ll recognize Long Beach on sight. The most visited, easily accesible and also the longest(10 kms), the long beach is a magical place comprising of sand, surf, mystical tidal rhythms, sea lions and starfish. Long Beach boasts the only Surf Camp of its kind in Canada, providing popular adult camps, youth camps, and daily surfing lessons.

4. Wreck Beach:

Wreck Beach on Florencia Bay is 3 miles (5 km) long and lies at the south end of the Long Beach Unit. It’s easily reached from Hwy 4, 3 miles (5 km) north of the Tofino-Ucluelet Junction. Turn west onto Long Beach Road, then south at the first fork. The Wickaninnish Bay Interpretive Centre lies nearby at the end of Long Beach Road.

5. South Beach:

If you love hiking then South beach should be your destination. There are a couple hiking trails that can be accessed from Wickaninnish Beach and one of them which is just under 1 kilometre leads to South Beach. This short route is easy, mostly flat and follows a boardwalk path through a rainforest to the beach. Just before the beach is a set of stairs. The other trail leading to the beach is longer and travels over some headlands connecting one beach with another. The popular beach is both a hiking and beachcombing destination. Dressed in rain gear and rubber boots people hike to South Beach in the winter months with binoculars for storm watching. It is pretty powerful phenomenon to watch storms crash the coastline, throwing logs and debris in the air.

6. Schooner Cove:

If you are looking for a romantic beach then Schooner Cove is your place. This beach is a hidden gem located in a small cove situated at the north end of Long Beach. It is shut out from the rest of the world surrounded by rock outcroppings and dwarfed trees. To reach the private cove there is a 1 kilometre boardwalk trail. There are sections of the trail that includes some stairs. There are sections which cross wooden bridges. Some are slippery, most are wet so hold hands with your lover and be careful. The trail explores a forest full of ferns, moss and lichens. The ground is covered in deadfall trees and branches. The leaves drip with moisture from the mist in the air and sounds of waves crashing on the shore just add to the whole experience.

7. Florencia Bay Beach:

If you want to get away from crowd and don’t mind going to a lesser known beaches then head towards Florencia Bay Beach. A 2.5 kilometre trail, called the Nuu-chah-nulth Trail connects to Florencia Bay Beach. When traveling towards Tofino on the Pacific Rim Hwy look for the road sign indicating the Wickaninnish Inn Interpretive Centre. Just south of Tofino, BC. make a turn onto Wickaninnish Road and travel towards the resort. On your left look for the sign indicating the parking lot for Florencia Bay Beach.

The beach shoreline, in a small cove, includes big rock outcroppings, piles of driftwood logs and a sand and pebbled beach. During the summer months Florencia Bay is an ideal destination for activities like swimming, sand castles, picnicking and beachcombing. Prior to the beach in the trees are some picnic tables. During the storm season, the driftwood logs are pushed to the top of the beach. Many piled one on top of the other. Many visitors to the beach have rearranged the logs forming mini picnic sites. Some use the driftwood logs as chairs, others for shade from the sun - some use the logs for benches and tables.

8, 9, 10. Some of the other beaches that you might want to check out are: Cox Bay, Chesterman, and MacKenzie Beach.

They lie to the north of the Long Beach Unit, between the northern boundary of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and Tofino. There’s public access to each of them, though you’ll have to do some backroad driving to find it. A small park on Mackenzie Beach is a good place to begin. Take Mackenzie Beach Road west of Hwy 4 (Pacific Rim Hwy) and watch for a small roadside parking area and picnic table at the end of the road. Chesterman Beach is reached via Lynn Road, which loops west from Hwy 4. The public access to Cox Bay Beach is via Maltby Road through Pacific Rim Campground.

Hope you enjoy beautiful British columbia and your visit to Vancouver Island.

To plan your BC trip, visit; BC Travel Guide

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Visitor Requirements for British Columbia

Whistler is definitely one of the most sought after vacation destinations in British Columbia but did you know that:

1. Whistler was once known as Alta Lake, which itself was originally named Summit Lake.

2. Whistler was a First Nation trading route between the Lil’wat Nations and the Squamish Nation.

3. Whistler officially opened for skiing in 1966 and it wanted to host 1968 winter olympics but it lost this honor to Grenoble, France.

4. Nester’s Market on Highway 99 north of the village on the way to Emerald Estates and other residential areas has the best seafood that you can get in the area.

5. Although Whistler has only 10,000 permanent residents, during peak season their are about 40,000 visitors at this resort.

6. It has more than 200 trails and 38 lifts with world’s most advanced high tech capabilities.

7. You do not need car to travel within Whistler. Whistler Village is pedestrian-only and a free shuttle  is available that operates in and around Whistler Village, along with the Upper Village, at regular intervals.

8. Whistler has the most ski-in/ski-out accommodations out of any other mountain resort in Canada and there are more that 5000 rooms to accommodate thousands of visitors that flock this BC resort.

9. Ever wondered, how did Whistler Mountain get its name? It got its name from Western Hoary Marmots who live among the rocks and made strident Whistling sounds. Before that it was called London mountain by British Surveyors. 

10. Top activities to do in Whistler besides snoboarding and skiing are: Rafting, Mountain biking, Fishing, Heli Hiking, Canoeing, Kayaking, Partying and Golfing.

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 British Columbia does not only have some world class wineries but also boasts of some excellent breweries. If you love a good beer then check out some of our favourite BC breweries in and around Vancouver:

1. Dockside Brewing Company, Vancouver, BC 

2. Yaletown Brewing Company, Vancouver, BC 

3. Dix BBQ and Brewery, Vancouver, BC 

4. Steamworks Brewing Company, Vancouver, BC

5. Sailor Hagars, Vancouver, BC 

6. Hugo’s Brewpub, Victoria, BC 

7. Canoe Club,Victoria, BC 

8. Vancouver Island Brewing Company, Victoria, BC 

9. Big River Brewpub, Richmond, BC 

10. Howe Sound Brewing, Squamish, BC 

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Top 10 BC attractions

If you have no plans for the weekend or just want to get away from busy Vancouver city life, head towards Buntzen Lake. Try hiking Diez Vistas trail which is about 15 km (total route) and provides you an excellent chance for a day trip from Vancouver and neighboring areas.  Diez Vistas is a great year-round trail and easily accessible. It also provides lovely view of Vancouver Island, Deep Cove and North Shore Mountains.

Getting to the trail is easy. See directions below:

Head east through Port Moody/Coquitlam either from Highway 7a (from the Trans Canada) or from the Barnet Highway from Hastings Street and turn left onto Ioco Drive. Follow Ico Drive around the north shore of Burrard Inlet and follow the signs for Anmore and Buntzen Lake. Once at the parking lot, park near the southwest corner. Take the wide graded trail south through the forest. Cross the floating bridge over the south end of Buntzen Lake, and cross the gravel road to start the trail proper.

So, if the weekend looks bright and sunny getaway to Buntzen Lake and enjoy!