You have always been eager to jump on the bird-watching bandwagon,
but you find yourself struggling with a tiny thing
called patience (or should we say your lack of it!). Now there
is no need to spend endless hours with binoculars in
the brush, frightened to move barely an inch, even though you
lost all feeling in your feet hours before! Get your fill of
beautiful birds, with a stay at the Duck Inn, located right on
the Fraser River in Ladner. With a name like that, you are
destined for bird-watching (and bragging) success. Let swans
eat out of your palm, watch eagles and herons dive before
your eyes, and of course let your mind drift lazily with ducks
during your stay at this quaint inn on the river. The cottages lead down to your own dock, perfect for casting
your fishing line, or perhaps you would rather swing in a
hammock under the riverside willows. What ever you choose to
spend your lazy days doing, you can be certain that you
will see a bird or two, without the leg cramps! Visit www.duckinn.net for more information.
Metamorphosis. The mere mention of this word may conjure images
in your mind implanted since grade school –
likely of a caterpillar struggling mightily as it waits to
become, and later turns into, a beautiful butter fly. To the
lowly caterpillar, this is one heck of a big
change … and certainly
gives credibility and meaning to the word metamorphosis. And
what a perfect adjective to describe the newly renovated Sunset
Inn & Suites. This downtown property, situated at
a terrific location in the west end, recently underwent an
impressive transformation and the results are fabulous! Check
out the new look at www.sunsetinn.com.
Who said fame only lasts 15 minutes? Café Il Nido & Enoteca
has long been famous for their courtyard patio, a
favourite of Vancouverites and local secret for tourists.
Now, Café Il
Nido & Enoteca has undergone a menu revival – with
gourmet dishes fit for the finest royalty! The new menu incorporates
BC ’s finest ingredients to create dishes
reminiscent of Northern Italy. Traditional fish, meat and
pasta dishes are made luxuriously with the use of non-traditional
herbs and spices, such as saffron and ginger. Sauces are
lean and light. Fresh fish and vegetables are staples.
Desserts are homemade and spectacular. Now we have all the
proof we need to know that no one needs a star on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame to prove you’ve made it. Visit www.cafeilnido.net for more information.
With the launch of the new Coca-Cola BlaK in Canada (we know
the US got theirs earlier!) it sheds a whole new light on
coffee and sugar … now add chocolate into the mix.
At least these are the thoughts of at least one event organizer at
this year’s Cornucopia Food and Wine Festival in
Whistler. Learn about the future of chocolate and coffee,
and enjoy some yummy spicy mochas
as incentive. And where to stay while in Whistler? There
are many properties to choose from,
but we bet you haven’t heard of Latitude Five
Zero. This intimate, full service, chalet-style retreat
adds the perfect touch to a weekend
of munching with it’s warm, cozy
atmosphere and delicious breakfasts.
See www.whistlercornucopia.com and
www.latitudefivezero.com for
information.
Ripley’s Roadshow traveled to BC and visited a unique,
brand new museum last year: Believe it or not? In this case
it is definitely a sure thing! Now that
you are getting into it, let’s
continue with this theme – Believe it or not: Last
year marked the opening of the first
new museum built in BC in the 21st century, and October
2006 was the celebration of the
first year anniversary. This is absolutely true! Believe
it or not: This stunning, new, modern building was created with
bricks made to match the municipal hall building next
door. You betcha! Believe it or not: The line up for
new exhibits include the Arts of
China in February and a lively Bugs & Butterflies
exhibit in summer 2007. You had better believe
it! Believe it or not: This fabulous architectural delight
is located in downtown Vancouver. No way! Surrey, BC is
home to the new Surrey Museum, and the way things are
moving and shaking since the opening, there couldn’t
be a better place for it. Visit
www.heritage.surrey.ca for
details.
Often, when you think about a girls’ getaway the first
thoughts that come to mind are around shopping, wine, and
perhaps some great chocolate treats. But not all girls fall
into this
cliché (although, I must say that I am not opposed
to the label if chocolate is involved!). The Howses’ House
on the sparkling Sunshine Coast was created out of
a great girls’ fantasy, and remains
a unique special place to hang with your best friends. In 1988,
Denise Howse and
her gal pals embarked on a 3-day break,
free from the stresses of marriage, children, illness,
career changes, etc. The
trip was a roaring success and
now Denise runs her own slice of heaven for girls (and
everyone else too!). From gals
scrap-booking, to families star-gazing, this accessibility-friendly,
quaint retreat is the perfect place for girls to rediscover
the reasons behind their lasting
friendships. Oh, there is chocolate on the coast too … in
case you just can’t leave it
behind! See www.howseshouse.com for
information.
You don’t have to go to Hawaii to enjoy cruising the
waters in the middle of winter. Granted, boating in our region
is a completely different experience,
but imagine telling all your friends how you have been boating
around
in Canada in December, and enjoy
the looks of surprise on their faces! With Fraser
River Safari in Mission, discover
the ancient secrets of the Sto:lo
culture and legends, while witnessing eagles in their
nests
and the impacts of the earliest
explorers. This stunning section
of riverside is something that has to be experienced
to be believed. Something else
to keep
your eyes open for? 2008 marks
the monumental 200th anniversary of Simon Fraser’s
exploration of the Fraser River. Keep your eyes peeled for all the wonderful events that
will surround this pivotal year! Visit www.fraserriversafari.com for more information.
