British Columbia Canada Blog

 This Thursday, on April 29th 2010 at 7.00 pm you can sample 4 delicious wines at Once Upon A Vine located in Maple Ridge, British Columbia:

#600 - 20395 Lougheed Hwy
Maple Ridge, BC, British Columbia V2X 2P9
ph. 604-460-8463

Once Upon A Vine is hosting this wonderful wine tasting event so that guests can come and sample four (4) delicious wines, commercial “benchmarks” of wine kits that can  be made at home at economical prices. Each wine will be paired with a scrumptious appetizer. Entry fee is $15.00 Per Person - redeemable towards the purchase of any wine kit made that evening. If you purchase one FEATURED wine, you will receive an ADDITIONAL $10 off! 

Interested? Register to attend by calling: 604-460-8463

Related Links:

BC wineries

Top 5 BC wines

Best Okanagan Wineries

Recently the Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia awarded five BC Tourism businesses ‘ Authentic Aboriginal’ title and St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino is one of them. The authenticity program recognizes the most culturally authentic, accurate and respectful representations of First Nations peoples and cultures in British Columbia’s tourism industry. The first tourism operators to qualify for the new Cultural Authenticity program are:

1. Haida Heritage Centre at Kaay Llnagaay, Skidegate

2. Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Osoyoos

3. St. Eugene Golf Resort Casino, Cranbrook

4. ’Ksan Historical Village and Museum, Hazelton

5. Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, Whistler

Certified culturally authentic operators can display the authenticity logo on their marketing materials to help visitors easily identify them. The logo is an eagle feather and human eye motif accompanied by the words “Authentic Aboriginal.” The eagle feather symbolizes the pinnacle of achievement, the eye represents vision towards the future, and together, the logo represents how nature and people come together in the aboriginal tourism industry.

For more information about BC Tourism, visit: BC Travel Guide or learn about our travels at British Coulmbia Tours
 

Tod Mountain Ranch located in Heffley Creek (near Kamloops), BC could be your next getaway especially because now they have reduced their prices for Spring 2010. Have a great horse back riding experience during your next BC vacation.

Tod Mountain Ranch is offering reduced rates on all dates in May & June. These savings represent around 15% off our usual summer rates. Check out their latest reduced summer rates at Tod Mountain Ranch Website.

Another exciting news is that they are offering Free transfers to the guests from Kamloops airport/ Bus station/ Downtown Hotel.  Also, they are advising guests about saving money on their vacation by keeping an eye on taxes. Here’s how:

The BC Government recently announced some tax changes which will affect travellers to BC after 1st July 2010. The current tax rate for ranch stays is 6.2% and this will increase to 12% for all bookings from 1st July. However, if you have already booked, or were planning your ranch vacation after 1st July, there is an opportunity to avoid this increase. Simply book and pay in full prior to 1st May 2010 and you will only be charged the current tax rate of 6.2%.

Walnut Beach Resort in Osoyoos is a great place for your winter weekend getaway. Skiing conditions at Mt. Baldy are excellent and the Malt Wine is ready along with the fireplaces in cozy Walnut Beach Resort rooms. 

All one bedroom and two bedroom suites have their own fireplaces and insuite washer and dryers. Oh and don’t forget the Wine Bar and Bistro on site. The pool and hot tubs are open and resort also offers sauna and steam room to warm up those tired muscles.

Walnut Beach Resort’s private beach has received a go ahead for a liquor license which will make you feel like you are in the tropics with beachside bar service. Plan a wedding at the resort and we promise, you won’t be disappointed.

Tomorrow (Jan 2nd, 2010) will be the last day 12th Annual Bright Nights in Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia. The tickets are priced at $8.00/adult and $5.00 for kids and seniors. So, if you haven’t been to Bright Nights with your family and friends yet then do it before it’s over.

More than two million twinkling lights transform the forest, the train and children’s farmyard areas in the middle of the city’s wondrous Stanley Park. Bright Nights is enhanced by entertainment, dozens of delightful animated displays and more - carrying on the tradition that started with the first Christmas Train over thirty years ago!

For more information, check out: Bright Nights in Vancouver

 One trip through British Columbia and you will realize that BC is home to some of world’s best orchards and vineyards and Canadian government has always extended their support in promoting BC’s Orchards and Vineyards. Recently, Minister of Agriculture and Lands Steve Thomson and Member of Parliament Ron Cannan (Kelowna – Lake Country), presented a cheque to the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association for $591,426 as part of the Orchards and Vineyards Transition program.

In 2007, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia entered into a Contribution Agreement for the Orchards and Vineyards Transition Program to help the tree fruit and grape industries adapt to industry pressures and changing markets. The federal government contributed $4.98 million towards strategic plans and removal costs and the province provided $3 million through a grant to the Investment Agriculture Foundation for an orchard replant program. The term of the agreement is for four years starting in fiscal 2007-08 to 2010-11.

With support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association initiated a long-term strategic planning process in 2006. The industry strategy has resulted in packinghouse restructuring, better quality control of packed product, new labour initiatives, industry participation in the school fruit and vegetable nutritional program and Eat and Drink B.C., expanded promotion of ambrosia apples in U.S. markets, continuing replant efforts, the launching of new cherry and apple varieties and the creation of an industry innovation fund.

Visit BC’s orchards and vineyards and we are sure you’ll be impressed. Plan your next BC trip with BC Travel Guide

Canadian Cold Water Classic Surfing Competition popularly referred to as Tofino Classic is on its way and will be held in Tofino (The Surfing capital of Canada), British Columbia this October from October 25th to 31st. Yes, right until Halloween!

Tofino classic is being organized by Tourism Tofino and O’Neill and will be Canada’s first-ever professional surfing competition. Isn’t it exciting?  The Cold Water Classic Canada,  will bring more than 100 professional surfers to Tofino, tourists and of course media (like BC Travel Guide.)

The Cold Water Classic Tofino is the fourth installment of the five-part World Qualifying Series (WQS) competitions sponsored by O’Neill and sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP).

The event is expected to attract more than 100 professional surfers competing for $145,000 U.S. Previous 2009 O’Neill Cold Water Classic competitions were held in Tasmania, Scotland and South Africa. The series culminates in November 2009 in Santa Cruz, California.

If you love surfing or enjoy the sport then Tofino,British Columbia is the place where you should be from Oct 25th Oct 31st.

Read other relates stories here:

Surfers battle it out in Tofino Classic

Details of Tofino Classic unveiled

Cohen named Ambassador of Cold Water Classic Tofino

Other Related Links:

Tofino lodging and Activities

Vancouver Island: Resorts and Lodges

 Fort Langley is a small town located in the township of Langley. It is about 15-20 mins away from Langley and 45 min drive from Vancouver. Fort Langley played an important role in the history of British Columbia.  Learn about history of Fort Langley here.

If you are visiting Vancouver or surrounding area this Thanksgiving on Saturday, October 10th 2009 then you might want to check out BC’s only ‘Cranberry Festival’ being celebrated in Fort Langley. The festival will be held at Glover Road (96th down to Mavis Street) from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. There will be over 80  market vendors at Cranberry Festival this year.

The other exciting reasons to visit this year’s Cranberry Festival include:

- Jam packed rockin’ entertainment all day featuring some popular local bands like Nikki Werner, Shannon Lee and Yesterday’s Forgotten at community hall.

- Yummy Freybe’s pancake breakfast on Mary Street at 8.30 am. 

- Unique handmade crafts and home made gourmet foods.

-7500 lbs. of bulk Ocean Spray cranberries available for purchase at about three dollars per lb.

- Farm Tours with The Fort Wine Co.

-Canoe Races on Bedford Channel from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm by Fort Langley Canoe Club and much more.

What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving then to visit Cranberry Festival with friends and family. For more information, visit: Cranberry Festival

Interesting Fact: Did you know B.C is the world’s third-largest producer of cranberries ?

 Vancouver, British Columbia -home of Winter Olympics 2010 is a popular tourist destination in Canada but not all tourists who visit, Vancouver city get a chance to explore Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island located just off Canada’s Pacific coast is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Georgia. It is 460 km (286 mi) long and up to 80 km (50 mi) wide.

For Vancouver Island accommodations, we strongly recommend choosing a Bed and Breakfast property as it will surely enhance your experience of Vancouver island.

At the southern tip of the Vancouver Island is the capital of BC- Victoria known for its historic parliament, narrow streets dotted with cafes, pubs and colourful gardens and world-famous Butchart Botanical Gardens.

The newest big attraction on Vancouver Island is  nearby Sydney — the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre. The aquarium is a 10-minute drive from the Victoria Airport and Swartz Bay ferry terminal.

Here invertebrates and marine plant life numbering in the thousands inhabit 17 aquarium habitats. The other features include the Gallery of the Drifters, where algae, delicate jellies, and other plankton appear to be suspended in backlit aquariums. For more info, visit www.oceandiscovery.ca 

Find Victoria accommodations here.

Activities available on Vancouver Island include:

- Skiing

- White-water rafting

- Caving

- Mountain biking

- Surfing

- Diving and Snorkelling

- Whale- Watching

- Trekking and Hiking

Plan your Vancouver Island activities with BC travel Guide

If you’ve been to Wildplay Park in Whistler, I am sure you realize how much fun it is and now a new adventure park is opening in Victoria called WildPlay Victoria.

WildPlay Victoria will open on Wednesday, November 4th 2009 under a partnership with West Shore Parks and Recreation. It will feature the Monkido aerial adventure courses and the park will be located at 1767 Island Highway behind the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre and next to the Bear Mountain Arena.

If you love adventure as much as we do, I am sure you’ll be the first in line to come to this new adventure park in Victoria.

Other Related Links:

Victoria Accommodations

Victoria Activities