You Know You're In A Small, Laid Back Place When Directions Are Given By "Turn At the Big Tree" Hornby Island is one of our favorite places to visit. It's where we can always escape to for a relaxing getaway. Hornby has a reputation of being a hippie island. Over the years the atmosphere has changed somewhat. The mix of musicians and artists now share the island with an ever growing number of wealthy retirees and vacation property owners. The locals on the island are a tight nit group that are committed to conservation. Bringing people together through social activities and volunteering … [Read more...]
Exploring Hornby Island
Scenery, Climate And Wildlife Hornby has a unique micro climate that allows it's beaches water to be much warmer than others on the west coast. It has been nicknamed the little Hawaii. The island is sheltered from the weather on Vancouver Island's west coast, therefore it enjoys mild and mainly dry weather in the spring, summer and fall. … [Read more...]
Whistler, So Much More Than Skiing
Whistler Is A Great Destination For Year Round Activities Going to Whistler in the fall seemed to be the perfect time for us, considering we don't ski. The weather was still favorable. It wasn't hot, but still a comfortable temperature for enjoying the outdoors. It was a relaxing atmosphere around the villages and in the hotels. They were much quieter than what they would be in the peak of summer or during the ski season. Whistler and Blackcomb are located in the Coast Mountains, 120 km's north of Vancouver. There are more than 200 down hill ski runs and 27 lifts. Heli-skiing, cross … [Read more...]
Our Stay At The Chateau Whistler Fairmont
Our Stay At The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Our stay at the Whistler Fairmont was near the end of September. Overall we thought the Fairmont Whistler was quite nice. We are lucky enough to stay at a very good rate through the employee program as my husband Jack works for another one of their properties. … [Read more...]
Hiking Lake O’Hara
Beautiful, Pristine And Highly Protected Lake O'Hara We have been hearing about the amazing hiking around Lake O'Hara for quite some time. We finally got around to doing it this past weekend. All we can say is wow, it did not disappoint! … [Read more...]
Moraine Lake, The Lake Louise Alternative
Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake that is located in Banff National Park. It is situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, just a few minutes away from famous Lake Louise. … [Read more...]
The Plain Of Six Glaciers Tea House
A Rewarding Hike To The Plain Of Six Glaciers And Teahouse This is a moderate hike that gains about 400 meters in elevation. It is approximately 14km's round trip. Give yourself between 3 to 4 hours. Much of the hike is in the open, it can get quite hot during a summer day. Bring lots of water and appropriate clothing and sunscreen. Hiking shoes are recommended. … [Read more...]
Lake Agnes Teahouse
Lake Agnes Teahouse The hike to the Lake Agnes Teahouse is one of the most popular trails in Lake Louise. It is a moderate hike going up about 400 meters in elevation. The distance is 3.5 km's one way. It starts to go uphill quickly, it's not difficult but does get tiring. You may feel the effects of the altitude, just take your time. Most people make it to the teahouse in about an hour. It can get very busy during summer and especially on weekends. … [Read more...]
Canmore Highland Games
The Origin Of The Name Canmore The town of Canmore, Alberta was named in 1884 by Scottish born Donald A. Smith. He was an employee of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The word originates from a town on the northwest shores of Scotland that was named for King Malcolm III. The Gaelic name Ceann Mo'r, was anglicized into the version of Canmore. It translated to something such as "big head", "great head" or "chief". … [Read more...]
Takakkaw Falls And Spiral Tunnels
The Takakkaw Falls are located in Yoho National Park, near the small town of Field, B.C. The highest point of the falls are 384 meters from the its base. This makes it the second highest waterfall in Canada. The falls are fed by the Daly Glacier which is part of the Waputik Icefield. … [Read more...]