Trails on the north face of Black Mountain will be open to intermediate and expert skiers and riders, with more alpine runs expected to open on the weekend.
The early opening is largely due to snowmaking equipment used during last year’s Vancouver Winter Olympics, when Cypress Bowl suffered an infamous lack of snow.
Long-time ski instructor Lorne Milne explained that ...]]>
Cypress Mountain opened for skiing on Tuesday, the earliest opening ever for the West Vancouver ski resort.
Trails on the north face of Black Mountain will be open to intermediate and expert skiers and riders, with more alpine runs expected to open on the weekend.
The early opening is largely due to snowmaking equipment used during last year’s Vancouver Winter Olympics, when Cypress Bowl suffered an infamous lack of snow.
Long-time ski instructor Lorne Milne explained that a recent dusting of snow and heavy rainfall have combined with zero degree temperatures to produce perfect conditions for snow-making.
“The new snow-making machinery blows the water mist high into the air. Then it turns into snow crystals and gently flutters back down to the ground,” he said.
“It lands with bigger snow crystals and it has more of the texture of what we consider powder-like snow.”
Skiers and riders will have access to man-made snow trails from the Upper Fork of Upper Maelle Ricker’s Run through mid Jasey Jay down to the bottom of Eagle Express.
More of the Eagle Express terrain is expected to open on the weekend and Panorama and Windjammer trails will be open as soon as conditions allow.
With Grouse Mountain also expected to open their own man-made snow runs soon, Milne is anticipating a huge boost to Vancouver’s ski industry and looking forward to getting back on the slopes.
“This stuff is nice to ski in and I look for it if I’m skiing down the hill. It has a lovely feel to it. It’s soft, it’s grippy, it’s good texture, it’s good stuff.”
Cypress runs will be open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT from Nov. 8 for intermediate and expert skiers only.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/11/08/bc-cypress-opening.html
Pacific Car Rentals in Vancouver has all sized cars and vans with snow tire rentals and SUVs capable of getting you up to the snow capped mountains safely and easily.
]]>Whether you are a local looking to get through ...]]>
Whether you are a local looking to get through the snowy days in the city without getting outfitted with expensive snow tires and subjecting your vehicle to the harsh condition, or a visitor looking to get up to the surrounding snowy mountain resorts, Pacific Car Rentals has the vehicle for you.
We have our fleet of SUVs that are capable of getting you through the winter weather without a problem and also Midsize, Full Size and Van rentals with snow tires. Check out the links below to see our selections on y=our website where you can book your rental online!
Midsize Car Rental with Snow Tires in Vancouver
Full Size Car Rental with Snow Tires in Vancouver
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The Thompson-Okanagan is the province’s fastest-growing area for tourism but the region remains highly dependent on two months of the summer.
Tourism operators from the region gathered at Sun Peaks Thursday and Friday to share ideas on how to increase that market share. A key piece was the unveiling of a draft tourism strategy that will guide operators for years to come.
Glenn Mandziuk, chief executive officer of Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, unveiled the strategy to operators and members at the conference.
Kamloops is one of the cities in the region where tourism activity is squeezed into a two months, something the industry here is trying to broaden.
Key parts of strategy unveiled Thursday involve focusing on a handful of “iconic experiences” in the region, mimicking a Canadian Tourism Commission strategy that names the country’s “signature experiences.”
Mandziuk acknowledged there is bound to be controversy in selecting those iconic experiences within the Thompson-Okanagan, because it will leave many more out than are included. But he said the risk is “if we don’t have it we’ll be passed by other destinations that do.”
Those experiences will “tell the story,” in the marketing lingo of the trade, to visitors who come here.
The group is also encouraging efforts such as those in Clearwater, where there is a community effort to have the area’s volcanic heritage declared as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Unveiling of the strategy follows federal and provincial tourism strategies.
Mandziuk said statistics show tourism created $1.73 billion worth of spending in the economy last year, slightly less than Vancouver Island’s $2 billion.
But research showed growth is highest here of six sub-regions of B.C.
“It’s the fastest growing of all the regions and is growing at a faster pace than the province itself.”
The majority, about 64 per cent, of visitors come from within B.C., largely the Lower Mainland.
Among the data presented were facts on international travel. Visitors from the Netherlands account for one per cent of travellers here but about 20 per cent of all Dutch coming to Canada will travel through the Thompson-Okanagan.
And while international visitors, other than Americans, comprise only 10 per cent of visitors, they contribute 24 per cent of spending.
One of the goals is to attract more international visitors as well as keeping them here longer.
Target markets close to home are the Lower Mainland, Saskatchewan, Ontario and the western United States.
Farther afield it is the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Australia, as well as the emerging markets of China, Korea, India and Brazil.
Cam Fortems
http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/article/20111103/KAMLOOPS0101/111109896/-1/kamloops01/regional-tourism-strategy-aims-at-big-spending-internationals
]]>Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia. “The United Kingdom is one of our key markets and also serves as a hub for other international travellers heading to our province. Virgin Atlantic is recognised ...]]>
Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia. “The United Kingdom is one of our key markets and also serves as a hub for other international travellers heading to our province. Virgin Atlantic is recognised around the world as a progressive airline and we look forward to welcoming their passengers to Super, Natural British Columbia when their service begins next summer.”
Vancouver, British Columbia’s Pacific gateway city, is consistently acknowledged as having the best quality of life in North America. Easily accessible from cosmopolitan Vancouver and the historic provincial capital of Victoria are some of the world’s best wildlife experiences, including bear and whale watching, as well as over 25,000 kilometres of coastline offering deserted beaches, pristine islands and majestic fjords and inlets. Further inland, visitors can explore the alpine resort of Whistler, the wineries of the lush Okanagan region and the spectacular beauty of the national and provincial parks of the Canadian Rockies.
The new flight is expected to boost arrivals to BC, with more than 174,000 Brits predicted to explore the province between May and October 2012. Currently, 70% of UK visitors to BC travel in these months.
Louise Petter, Tourism British Columbia’s Manager – UK, Ireland and Scandinavia, commented: “We are delighted that Virgin have chosen Vancouver as their gateway to Canada. As a dynamic, innovative airline, Virgin aligns perfectly with British Columbia’s spirit of adventure and exploration. The additional flights will offer more choice than ever when it comes to visiting British Columbia and we are looking forward to working with Virgin Holidays and our other tour operator partners on developing some exciting new products and packages to support the new route.”
Rupert Peters, Regional Managing Director, Canadian Tourism Commission UK added: “Brits continue to view Canada not just as a beautiful place with incredible landscapes, but as a place that offers them the chance to create their own extraordinary stories and experiences. This new flight with Virgin will help an increasing number of British holidaymakers turn their dream into reality.”
Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia. “The United Kingdom is one of our key markets and also serves as a hub for other international travellers heading to our province. Virgin Atlantic is recognised around the world as a progressive airline and we look forward to welcoming their passengers to Super, Natural British Columbia when their service begins next summer.”
The new flight is expected to boost arrivals to BC, with more than 174,000 Brits predicted to explore the province between May and October 2012. Currently, 70% of UK visitors to BC travel in these months.
Louise Petter, Tourism British Columbia’s Manager – UK, Ireland and Scandinavia, commented: “We are delighted that Virgin have chosen Vancouver as their gateway to Canada. As a dynamic, innovative airline, Virgin aligns perfectly with British Columbia’s spirit of adventure and exploration. The additional flights will offer more choice than ever when it comes to visiting British Columbia and we are looking forward to working with Virgin Holidays and our other tour operator partners on developing some exciting new products and packages to support the new route.”
Rupert Peters, Regional Managing Director, Canadian Tourism Commission UK added: “Brits continue to view Canada not just as a beautiful place with incredible landscapes, but as a place that offers them the chance to create their own extraordinary stories and experiences. This new flight with Virgin will help an increasing number of British holidaymakers turn their dream into reality.”
Theodore Koumelis
http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/46171-Tourism-British-Columbia-celebrates-new-Virgin-flight-to-Vancouver
When you arrive to Vancouver Pacific Car Rentals can your vehicle waiting conveniently waiting for your pick up. Explore the great city of Vancouver and the incredible province of British Columbia from coast to the Rocky Mountains in one of our many affordable vehicles. We have a wide selecting from smaller economy cars to spacious luxury SUVs, whatever suits your for your westcoast adventure!
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Encounters with nonchalant bruins feeding on wild berries can be a terrifying experience for unsuspecting tourists. Two ...]]>
Encounters with nonchalant bruins feeding on wild berries can be a terrifying experience for unsuspecting tourists. Two days in a row, during a weekend getaway in Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia, we encountered a couple of bears. The first one was a cub in search of lunch at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and the second is a full grown beast wandering about a front yard. But once you’ve overcome bear attack fears — following advice from locals, it’s the cougars you should worry about — you’d find this B.C. town an attractive, off-the-beaten-track vacation destination.
Its best feature is the relative seclusion, which lends to a more private enjoyment of nature — one thing such destinations as Banff, Lake Louise and Whistler have long lost due to their popularity among tourists. You can spend quality family time here away from the distracting curious tourists who frequent the Rockies, and still get that awesome feel of being close to nature.
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Have you ever kayaked with spawning salmon in the winding Columbia River? B.C. Rockies Adventures can guide you to a leisurely 5-km paddling expedition and the best part is you don’t need to be experienced.
The guides will give you the basics on paddling safely and on you’ll be launched into an afternoon journey of communing with aquatic creatures and other wildlife such as bald eagle and colourful woodpeckers.
Jocelyn MacGregor, one of the guides, said kayaking is definitely the most popular outdoor activity during the summer and early fall. They take novice kayakers down the river for a trip between 1 and 3 p.m. daily and sometimes they have groups in the evening. Although the scheduled kayak tour can be generally booked in for between May and late October, the brave, adventurous ones can go to a winter water trip provided the river isn’t solid hard ice. MacGregor said a kayak tour is almost as close to nature one can possibly be with the majestic view of the Columbia Valley.
“The fact that you can see the whole valley, you usually see lots of wildlife, and in the fall the salmon spawning, kayaking can definitely be the highlight of your weekend getaway,” she said. If you’re not into aquatic tours, you can always bring your bike or rent one to explore the area. The other option is a guided scenic horseback riding. Your guide will take you climbing up and down the hills, across cools water streams, to see stunning views of the valley.
If you prefer to simply hike around the area, one destination you must not miss is the Hoodoos — geological formations that stand imposingly by Hwy. 93/95. Winter adventures are a different story and you can have ample opportunities to find one in this four-season destination where ski mountains are friendly to beginners. The uncrowded trails and runs for skiing and snowboarding are perfect for little ones that are beginning to discover the thrill of these winter sports.
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At the end of your exploration of the area, you can always look forward to soaking in Canada’s largest natural hot springs, known for healing and rejuvenation qualities. If you’re a registered Fairmont Hot Springs Resort guest, you have unlimited access to all pools both hot and cold, to a sauna and a private outdoor soaking pool. For those who want to get pampered, the resort’s spa awaits you. If you stay long enough in this quiet little town, chances are you’d meet someone who can show you the way to a hidden, undeveloped waterfall cascading with hot springs rapids.
Resort staff won’t tell you where this exotic spot is, although it’s within the property. This hidden paradise is becoming more and more popular among the regulars, who appreciate both the safe environment of the resort’s hot pools and the rustic, slightly modified natural soaking tubs where you can get free back massage from the rapidly cascading warm water. There’s only one caveat : Explore the hidden hot spring waterfall at your own risk.
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Whenever I travel away from the comfort of my own home and kitchen, it’s always a must to find reasonably priced restaurants. Asian is my comfort food, but I know Chinese and Indian cuisines can be a rarity in smaller towns. A mere 10-minute drive from The Residences at Fairmont Ridge, where we stayed, is the Hoodoo Pub and Grill. Who would have thought I’d find a panko-crusted basa on a bed of rice, blanketed with a spicy, sweet chili sauce, at this local hot spot?
There was no wavering what to order. The only doubt I had was whether the entrée would come with real Jasmine rice. Some of the culinary trips I’ve had in the past proved to be a disappointment. The menu would say the dish comes with Jasmine rice and then what ends up in front of me is the processed, instant variety. Not at Hoodoo. The aromatic scent of steamed Jasmine rice was evidently palatable.
It was indeed a comfort to find this treat in a place where what’s familiar to my palate isn’t always easy to come by. Surpr isingly, the highlight of the meal was something unfamiliar: A creamy soup made with garlic and dill pickle. The sour and creamy flavour of this Polish-inspired soup ripped through my mouth like polka dancers. Just when I thought Hoodoo Bar and Grill is the only place where I’d find my comfort food, the newly renovated Bear’s Paw Bar and Grill at the resort proved me wrong because I found and enjoyed a decent butter chicken with rice dish.
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Finding a good restaurant is a must in my trips, but I also enjoy making meals while in an unfamiliar territory. Although I didn’t cook during this trip, The Residences at Fairmont Ridge located just steps from the resort, provided that opportunity with its modern, open designs and state-of-the-art kitchen made for entertaining and gourmet cooking. The Residences is one of the newest projects in the area and it comes with all the fixings — fully furnished and stocked, home theatre system, recreation room, Internet, among others.
Vacationers can either rent the place or own a fraction of a unit, depending on how much one is willing to invest in their seasonal getaway spot.
For less than $40,000 you can get a deeded 16th fractional ownership option. Developer Tim Tourond said timeshare product has remained the competitive choice in the Columbia Valley due to its low cost and flexible exchange programs. “The new fractional offering at The Residences, owning a second home becomes a smarter choice and significantly easier, and in these times, ease and value mean everything,” he said. Tourond said what’s attracting people to the little Rocky paradise is its four seasons during which people can indulge in a variety of recreational activities such as golfing and skiing. If you want to build your own vacation home, there’s also that option as owners of the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort have opened up lots facing the scenic valley, with prices ranging from $114,900 to $269,000.
Richard Haworth, the resort’s vice-president for real estate development, said they’re seeing a shift in what owners build. Gone are the days when owners are building massive and grandiose vacation homes, he said. “They don’t need the monstrosity and the opulence, they just need somewhere to go,” said Haworth, noting some people are building 1,400 sq. ft. vacation homes as opposed to double or triple to size. What haven’t abated are the day-time chance encounters with wildlife and the impressive celestial display when the ebony night sky showcases stars shining brightly, without the distracting city lights.
By RENATO GANDIA, QMI Agency
http://www.canoe.ca/Travel/Canada/BC/2011/10/14/18825601.html
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(British Columbia, Canada) – October boasts a bevy of highlights in the Vancouver, B.C. district of Granville Island, where the fall ...]]>
(British Columbia, Canada) – October boasts a bevy of highlights in the Vancouver, B.C. district of Granville Island, where the fall line-up includes fun and festive offerings for the whole family. These happen throughout October and range from shopping, arts events to a 10k run.
Culture Days, September 30 – October 2. Culture Days is a Canada-wide celebration of arts and culture that weekend. In Granville the events will feature free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate “behind the scenes,” to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, and designers at work in their community. For more information, visit www.culturedays.ca.
Railspur Alley Artisan Market, October 1. The Railspur Alley district of Granville Island holds this market from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., where industrial buildings have been transformed into Vancouver`s most unique and diverse shopping and cultural zones. Demos, a look into artists studios and maybe even a head start on holiday shopping are possible.
Also on the Railspur Alley scene will be some of the Island’s favourite day-vendors from the Public Market. These Artisans represent the highest quality of locally produced Art, Craft and Food products in Vancouver.
Turkey Trot, October 10. The annual Turkey Trot is a 10 km run that happens on the Canadian Thanksgiving – Monday, October 10. It starts on Granville Island, winds its way around False Creek, and then back again. Participants and spectators are invited bring a donation for the Vancouver Food Bank. For more information, visit turkeytrot.ca.
Vancouver International Writers Festival, October 18-23. The 24th Annual Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival on Granville Island offers a world of ideas to explore with writers from around the world. Attend readings, discussions, debates and poetry bashes, and connect with an eclectic array of writers from Canada and around the world. For more information, visit www.writersfest.bc.ca.
Granville Island Public Market and The Net Loft are open until 7 pm, seven days a week. For more information about upcoming Granville Island events, visit www.granvilleisland.com.
http://www.oregontraveldaily.com/news/granvill092111_708.php
]]>The rich aboriginal history of British Columbia is a cultural heritage gem. Many bands along the coast and into the interior of British Columbia offer unique experiences and traditions for the cultured travel. Interested in planning a trip to visit some of the beautiful Aboriginal cultures in Vancouver or British Columbia? Consider getting your car rental in Vancouver with Pacific Car Rentals. We well get you to where you want to be with ease and without putting a dent in ...]]>
The rich aboriginal history of British Columbia is a cultural heritage gem. Many bands along the coast and into the interior of British Columbia offer unique experiences and traditions for the cultured travel. Interested in planning a trip to visit some of the beautiful Aboriginal cultures in Vancouver or British Columbia? Consider getting your car rental in Vancouver with Pacific Car Rentals. We well get you to where you want to be with ease and without putting a dent in your pocket. Please enjoy this article sources from the Toronto Star regarding Aboriginal culture from a tourist POV.
The two businesses are part of a surge in interest in First Nations culture by international travelers, spurred by the First Nations focus at opening ceremonies at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
“I cannot stress enough the importance of the 2010 Olympic Games,” says Keith Henry, CEO of the Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C. “People around the world want to know the story about Canada’s aboriginal communities.”
British Columbia, home to 203 First Nations communities — about one-third of Canada’s First Nations groups—is at the forefront of this tourism drive, Henry says.
Cultural tourism in B.C. has more than doubled its market share in the past five years, primarily because aboriginal culture is being better promoted and packaged, he adds.
That ranges from tourism training for aboriginal youth to branding authentic products, created by aboriginal artisans. A logo is in development for a 2012 campaign to promote genuine Canadian aboriginal work.
Says Cook: “One of the reasons we started Salmon n’ Bannock was because I was frustrated every time I saw a made-in-China product with our (aboriginal) designs on it, selling for $100 at The Bay.”
The emphasis on telling their own story, their way, is evident at Klahowya Village, open from May 16 to Sept. 11 at Stanley Park.
Sponsored by the Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C. (ATA-BC), the village features twice-daily dance and music performances; aboriginal weavers and wood carvers at work; aboriginal legends being told at the Story Telling Circle; and elders sharing their life stories. Aboriginal food and art are available for sale; and children are encouraged to make crafts inside a 15-meter-high teepee.
The village began as a pilot project during the Olympics, and was so popular, it now appears to have a permanent home, with carvings and paintings by aboriginal artists dominating an open-air stage and pond.
The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Art in Vancouver already boasts an international reputation.
It’s a legacy to the Haida artist who died in 1998, showing his most intricate work (jewelry in gold and silver) to the most monumental (a bronze frieze, “Mythic Messengers”).
“We are the only public gallery in the world focusing primarily on contemporary northwestern art,” says Dr. Martine Reid, consulting curator at the gallery and Reid’s widow.
A recent exhibit, “Time Warp”, exhibited the work of 20 textile artists, from a Haida dress woven from shredded red cedar bark, to a Tlingit ceremonial robe with copper, wool and otter fur.
“It’s living art, very emotional . . . it allows people to go deep in time to communicate with their past,” she adds. “It’s also a form of resistance, of reaffirming who you are, and what you want to say about yourself.”
The Listel is the only Vancouver hotel known for showcasing aboriginal art, including originals by Tlingit artist Eugene Alfred, Musqueam printmaker Susan Point, and Kwakwaka’wakw potter Judy Cranmer.
The hotel devotes several “museum” floors to Haida masks and sculptures, on loan from the B.C. Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. livepage.apple.com
Quaaout Lodge in central B.C. draws visitors from as far as Japan, Australia and Europe.
They’re lured partly by the Little Shuswap band’s reputation of owning “the richest 120 hectares of land in the world”—the lucrative Adams River salmon run.
Other visitors are drawn by the culture: A group of 45 firefighting trainees from Sweden, for example, visited recently for wilderness training and to experience aboriginal life.
Quaaout is an architectural standout, surrounded by forest overlooking Little Shuswap Lake.
The lodge’s circular main hall suggests B.C.‘s traditional “kikuli” homes. Hand-carved murals and sculptures take guests beyond the hotel, to reproduction kikulis and a sweat lodge outdoors. (Guests must be invited; ceremonies here are still sacred.)
The band-built lodge opened in 1991, and all rooms were renovated with more luxurious decor in 2009. Log balconies facing the lake were added to each room last year
Quaaout’s 18-hole, Talking Rock Golf Course, averages 200 golfers a day, so the band is considering adding a 9-hole, executive course, then a “destination spa.”
It already hosts sweat lodges, women’s retreats, executive team-building weekends, and cultural experiences, such as learning First Nations arts and crafts with the band’s cultural coordinator, Barbara Callihoe, who is part of an aboriginal artists co-op. Chef Luc Martin demonstrates traditional ways of preparing salmon (in a clay pot, for instance, buried in hot ash), followed by tastings.
There are always new ventures to consider for the 320-member band, which has created 150 jobs through cultural tourism.
“People come here and expect totem poles, because Hollywood is what they know,” says Chief Felix Arnouse. “They are looking for a connection to original peoples, the people who have a connection to the earth.”
Kathleen Kenna is a freelance writer based in Portland, Ore. Her trip was subsidized by Tourism British Columbia, the Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C., the Listel Hotel and Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel.
http://www.thestar.com/travel/northamerica/article/1040964–acquiring-a-taste-for-first-nations-culture-and-cuisine-in-b-c
]]>Whistler is on track for one of its busiest summers ever in spite of bad weather and a high Canadian dollar that is ...]]>
Making the trip up to Whistler BC? Pacific Car Rentals offers many SUV Rentals as well as Sport Wagon Rentals and Economy Car Rentals to get you up there from Vancouver. Here is an article from the Vancouver Sun discussing the popularity of Whistler as a destination holiday despite the below-average weather they’ve had this year.
Whistler is on track for one of its busiest summers ever in spite of bad weather and a high Canadian dollar that is hurting tourism hot spots in other areas of the province.
The resort community recorded a 20-per-cent increase in overnight visitors this June compared to June 2010 and bookings for July and August put it on track for one of its three best summers, according to Tourism Whistler.
“What is interesting is we’ve noted the entire Pacific Northwest has been challenged with an unseasonable summer, but despite that we’ve actually seen a lot of strong visitation,” said Tourism Whistler spokesman Breton Murphy.
Whistler’s other two most successful summers, which drew almost the same amount of people, came in the past five years. He said the tourism authority does not divulge statistics because of worries about competing resorts.
Murphy credited the growth to the regional markets of British Columbia and Washington state, but also said Ontarians and long-haul American visitors from places like Texas have helped numbers.
“The majority of our visitors in the summer are coming from that regional market,” Murphy said. “Right now with the strong Canadian dollar, it’s impacting consumer behaviour — they’re looking for more and more value.”
The healthy Canadian dollar — which on Tuesday reached a three-and-a-half-year high against the U.S. dollar — means American tourists are looking to save money across the board, Murphy said.
“They may choose to stay fewer nights, but they may come up, and instead of eating out every night they’ll stay in one night and use the kitchen in the condo.”
Historically, summertime stays are shorter — by a couple of days — than winter ones, Murphy said.
Tourism Whistler said it has attracted visitors with very competitive accommodation as well as its focus on social media, where it has been publicizing the area’s many free or cheap activities.
Further down the Sea to Sky Highway, Vancouver has seen about five-per-cent fewer American tourists the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2010.
“The dollar plays a bit of a role, mostly in the closer-in markets like Oregon and Washington state,” said Paul Vallee, executive vice-president of Tourism Vancouver. “Generally speaking, Americans aren’t as aware of how their dollar is doing against the Canadian dollar.”
But those living in states neighbouring Canada are more conscious of exchange rates, partly because of the influence of Canadian media, Vallee said.
In the Interior, hotel operators said the recent surge in the Canadian dollar is the latest factor in a longer decline in the number of U.S. tourists over the past several years due to a weak economy and stalling dollar.
“We’re just not seeing the American cash in the tills or the licence plates in the parking lot like we used to,” said Ryan Martin, a managing partner at the Hume Hotel in Nelson. “On top of it all, you have to convince Americans to come up and pay more for gas, alcohol and cigarettes and they also have to have a passport to get here now — so it’s many different compounding factors.”
Martin said the hotel’s two bars used to attract busloads of nearby U.S. college kids eager to take advantage of B.C.’s earlier drinking age.
“That business is completely non-existent,” Martin said.
The U.S. tourists who do come are stunned when servers come back with their bills asking for more money; some still think the two currencies are at par, Martin said.
“Americans certainly aren’t used to having to dig into their pockets to go over and above what the bill is,” Martin said. “It wasn’t too long ago we had the better-than-fair exchange program [where Nelson businesses offered American visitors $1.50 Cdn for each of their dollars].”
The hotels in the southern Interior have seen U.S. tourism drop as much as 30 per cent, said Victoria Anderson, who manages sales at Prestige Hotels and Resorts, which has nine locations throughout the Okanagan and Interior.
“There’s a lot of visitors that usually come up from Spokane to Rossland — it’s only a two-hour drive,” Anderson said. “And we used to have a lot of people come up for golf from Spokane and that’s definitely dropped off quite a bit.”
By MIKE HAGER, Vancouver Sun July 29, 2011
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Whistler+boasts+record+summer+numbers+despite+lackluster+weather/5181338/story.html
]]>The standard wedding vehicles would be to go with our white fleet of vehicles but you can always add flair with the hot black SUV or midnight blue Maserati. Pacific Car Rentals based ...]]>
The standard wedding vehicles would be to go with our white fleet of vehicles but you can always add flair with the hot black SUV or midnight blue Maserati. Pacific Car Rentals based in Vancouver, BC has a series of luxury vehicles in classic white from the Cadillac Escalade to the firey convertible Mustang or even the ever elegant BMW M5. You can rent a vehicle for a day/weekend or take it for a longer time on your honeymoon adventures. Wherever will be having your wedding, do consider renting a special vehicle for your special day as it will become a very affordable expense that will add to the memories to last over your lifetime.
Visit our website for all your Vancouver wedding vehicle rental needs to book your vehicles or contact us directly 1.866.689.3994.
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Tourism Vancouver has a host of top picnic spots in the city for scenic outdoor dining. Some are old favourites while others are a little less conventional.
Enjoying a meal outside has become popular in Vancouver recently due to the influx of food carts, Vancouver Tourism’s Sonu Purhar said.
“People like getting great food outside and sitting in the sun with friends,” she said.
Here are some of Tourism Vancouver’s picks for picnic spots:
? Stanley Park: This is the most obvious suggestion on the list.
Arguably Vancouver’s most famous beachside park, this spot has a whole host of picnic-worthy locations. Ferguson Point offers a view of English Bay with places to sit right on the water. There’s a large grassy area for the traditional basket and a blanket-style picnic or benches for a quick bite.
? Vancouver Art Gallery steps: This is top pick for Purhar.
“I think it’s a really great location because you’re in the core of downtown,” she said.
“It’s such a great people-watching spot. It’s always full of shoppers and people eating their lunches. It kind of becomes a community. It’s a good way to meet people and get outside.” As a bonus, if you didn’t pack a picnic, you can grab something from the art gallery’s café — including wine — and enjoy a scenic lunch.
? Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Park: This park offers picnickers a chance to enjoy a traditional Chinese garden for free. The park is adjacent to the Dr. Sun-Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, with pieces imported from China. Tourism Vancouver suggests setting up your spread underneath a weeping willow tree or on a trail of rocks. This spot also offers a chance for a complimentary tour and a cup of Chinese tea.
? Granville Island: This is a great picnic pick if you haven’t packed a lunch at home. Not only is there a wide variety of takeout food, but, as Purhar points out, there’s also the nearby Lobster Man.
“It’s a fish market,” Purhar said.
“Not many people know this, but you can select a crab or lobster and get the staff to steam it for you at no extra charge.”
The Lobster Man is one of Granville Island’s original tenants and serves several restaurants and supermarkets in the city.
? Lonsdale Quay: Looking for a spot that’s more low key than Granville Island? Hop on the SeaBus for a short ride to the North Shore’s waterfront market. Gourmet shops offer to add to your picnic while the seaside atmosphere creates a unique experience.
By Staff Reporter, The Province July 25, 2011
Photograph by: Submitted photo, Morguefile
http://www.theprovince.com/travel/Pick+perfect+picnic+place/5155362/story.html
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