SPELL WHAT?
Okay, so you were the spelling bee champion in your junior high class … never stumped, never off guard, and the master of literary challenges. But you might be singing a different tune had you come across this zinger – Mighty Popo & Urunana rw’abadatana. Perhaps a definition will help! Mighty Popo performs with the band Urunana rw’abadatana (which means “The Circle that Can’t be Broken), in a unique Rwandan concert featuring the music of the pygmies at the upcoming Harrison Festival of the Arts. Never knew the quaint community of Harrison Hot Springs could become a global village? Check it out for yourself from July 8 – 16. Visit www.harrisonfestival.com for more information.

A NEW TWIST ON ANGORA
There is always something to be discovered for those of you who really seek the truly quirky. Enter Bluff Hollow, the unique bed and breakfast where dogs are given as warm a welcome as their owners! Relax in a secluded,private cottage surrounded by acres of leash-free running room, while enjoying gourmet breakfasts, clean air, quiet surroundings, and dark nights. Not too weird right? Just wait … at Bluff Hollow dogs are encouraged to shed to their hearts delight, for Ann (the owner of the B&B) is also an avid spinner and creates warm chiengora. Yes, that is what it sounds like … yarn spun from dog hair! Don’t worry, she only works with hair that has been shed naturally, little Scruffy won’t wake up bald in the morning, he’ll just be incredibly well rested after his luxurious getaway. Visit www.bluffhollow.ca for details.

SMUGGLERS AND ESTHETICIANS
While it is possible, it is unlikely that these two career choices overlap too often (unless you count that bottle of nail polish that might have gone unmentioned at a recent border crossing!). That is until they met Rockwater Secret Cove Resort on the beautiful Sunshine Coast. The resort is hidden away on the shoreline of the infamous Secret Cove, once home to smugglers and rumrunners. Their secrets are buried deep within the land surrounding the cove. However there is one secret that is now out in the open – literally. The Rockwater Spa features an awe-inspiring “Spa Without Walls”. Discover a new level of pleasure with a spa experience in the great outdoors. Relax with the soothing sounds of the ocean literally steps away from you, while the gentle breeze of the Malaspina Strait warms your body and soul. Too bad the smugglers aren’t around to enjoy it! See www.rockwatersecretcoveresort.com for details.

HELLO CHINA
You have been practicing for months – getting ready to greet every person you meet upon your arrival in China and you have mastered the pronunciation, Ni hao (nee-Ha-OW). You are so excited to try the exotic food, visit the many marketplaces, and most of all tour the gleaming golden temples. The only problem? Your budget doesn’t support a trip to China for at least the next decade! Worry no further … shimmering temples are waiting to be discovered in Richmond, BC – the next best place to China herself! Visit the most exquisite example of traditional Chinese architecture at the International Buddhist Temple. Golden porcelain roof tiles and spectacular upswept eaves surround you at this temple, an edifice straight out of the Chinese past. And for the rest of your China holiday? Richmond is also home to the Richmond Night Market and the most delicious dim sum you will ever taste, leaving you to wonder why you ever needed to visit China. See www.buddhisttemple.ca for details.

IN LOVE WITH JUNE (AND MARY, SUSAN, AND BARBARA!)
It’s easy to be in love when the sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and let’s face it, there is more skin showing! From as early as the 1900’s there have been love stories in June, especially at Capilano Suspension Bridge, where there is definitely something in the air. From the earliest days at the turn of the century, when past owner Edward Mahon won over his crush Lillette and forest ranger Mac MacEachran swept bridge manager Elizabeth off her feet, Capilano has endured as one of the most romantic spots in Vancouver. Check it out for yourself (and get prepared for a bite from the love bug!). See www.capbridge.com for information.

LOCAL SECRETS
What is truly Canadian? You know you can name a few: maple sugar, Mounties on horseback, beavers, hockey, and beer! What about the “real Canada”, the one that us Canadians like to keep a secret, for fear that the world will really discover the gem that is Canada. West Trek Tours is ready to let the secret out, showing young travelers Canadian delights like a Rocky Mountain campfire (which would be nothing without a marshmallow roast), and jetboating in Lillooet, discovering authentic Canadian history. It’s definitely a world apart from the usual bus tour. Visit www.westtrek.com for information.

IT’S ALL IN THE FAMILY
Do you remember fishing with your dad, way back in the days of the old putt-putt boat? Relaxing, casting a line, sharing memories in the good old days before life got too hectic. Relive the moment! Sewell’s Marina has a special surprise for their 75th Anniversary celebration, especially as they have just re-acquired an aged boat originally built by Dan Sewell Sr. With a fresh coat of paint and a little spit'n’shine, the boat will be back in the water of it’s old stomping ground in Horseshoe Bay. Just in time too, as these third and fourth generations of Sewell’s get ready to celebrate a 75th that will be remembered 75 years from now. See www.sewellsmarina.com for details.