British Columbia Canada Blog

I recently had a trip to Whistler, which is the most popular ski resort in British Columbia. I must say, it is one of the most fascinating places in the world and Ofcourse, Skiier’s paradise. Check out some Do’s and Don’ts from a Whistler Lover:

 Do’s

1. If you are visiting Whistler anytime between (Nov-April),  make sure to carry your heaviest jacket, warmest trousers and lovely toques. It can get really chilly in Whistler.

2. I would definitely recommend making accommodation arrangements at least 2 weeks prior to your arrival date to get suitable place to stay. Believe me, it can get very busy in Whistler and last minute travel arrangement plans can leave a bad taste in your mouth.

3. Do try to get a unit with kitchen facilities because you will need a lot of energy to try all those fun activities that Whistler has to offer. Also, if you are planning to stay for a couple of days then having your own cooking facility can save you a lot of money on eating out.

Don’ts

1. Do not shop unless you absolutely have to because things are a bit expensive in the Whistler village.

2.Do not trust the Weather Gurus because climate can change quiet drastically in and around Whistler. We drove from Kelowna to Whistler on Friday morning and roads were fantastic and weather was fabulous. On our way back it took us over 5 hours just to reach Vancouver from Squamish.

3. Don’t try extreme sports ( like heli-skiing, rock climbing, mountain biking)without expert guidance unless you are really good at it because Whistler can be cruel at times. Also, make sure you carry good map with you all the time.

 Enjoy Whistler but be safe.

Related Links:
Ski BC
Whistler Skiing
Whistler Resorts

It’s quite difficult to only name the top 10 places to visit in British Columbia because I am sure I could name 100.  I know I am going to leave something important out with so many beautiful towns and cities across the province, but here goes…

1. Victoria
2. Kelowna
3. Revelstoke
4. Clearwater
5. Tsawwassen
6. Prince Rupert
7. Bella Bella
8. Radium
9. White Rock
10. Terrace

If you do get a chance to visit any of these places in British Columbia do take the time and spend 3 or 4 days in order to really absorb all that each city has to offer.  Checkout over accommodations and activities in over 130 British Columbian Cities here.

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

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

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!