Upon arrival to the sleepy town you’ll spot the tourism info office, where we asked about things to do in the area. The very nice lady mentioned some things nearby and suggested we drive to  Joffre lakes, up a steep road about 25 minutes away, where we’d find some very nice lakes and a trail leading to each assuming it wasn’t foggy.

What we found blew us  (and a couple of other travelers that were there) away, as we did not expect to find something as truly beautiful as these lakes are. The first lake is just a short stroll off the main road, in itself  a beauty already with a glacier far in the background. We decided to trek to the second lake, about 3 km away up a steep path to be attempted only if you’re in OK shape and better. It will take the better part of one hour to reach it if you’re walking fast, but you’ll be rewarded with a sight you will not forget. Make sure you take your camera.

The third lake is the closest to the glacier, just 20 minutes past the second, and just as  spectacular as the second with the sound of the melting glacier a stone’s throw away in front of you. The trail finishes here though you can continue on your own ( I did get lost and had a bit of a scare after slipping and hitting a rock with my knee), but it’s probably not worth it. Overnight camping is permitted but fishing isn’t, yet going for the sake of the view will make the physical effort much more rewarding.

Conclusion

If you’re in the Whistler area make sure you leave town for a morning and head over to these lakes as they are very much worth the drive an trek. Again, remember that the uphill walk is not easy so you should be in at least OK shape, as many sections are quite steep (no need to use the hands at all though). Once there you’ll be rewarded with a view you will not forget.

Resources

Joffre Lakes Provincial Park Website: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/joffre_lks/

Have you visited these lakes? How about others you vividly remember and recommend others visit if in the area? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below and this post too if you think others may like it!

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Whistler’s snow capped mountains and world class skiing are what have put this small mountain town in the world map, and hosting the winter Olympics of 2004 certainly helped quite a bit too, and while it might be a great destination for snow sports fans during the winter it also boasts many other outdoor activities to be enjoyed the rest of the year.

It’s just an hour and a half north of Vancouver along the Sea to Sky highway and there’s no shortage of sightseeing to do along the way, with the Pacific Ocean on the left during a good part of the drive and beautiful mountains covered by pine trees and snow otherwise. It’s because of all these protected natural surroundings that wildlife-including deer, moose, mountains lions, coyotes and black bears- abound in the area.

Black bears are, without a doubt, the star of the show. Most locals and frequent visitors to the area have seen these usually passive creatures in the wild more than once, but if you’re only here for a few days finding them on your own may prove to be a bit tricky, specially if you’re visiting during late fall, early spring and, of course, winter (when they’re all hibernating). If this is your case your best bet is probably to join a bear viewing tour, and even then you might not be lucky.

On the Quest to Find Black Bears

I was surprised to learn that there aren’t really many tour operators that run these tours, perhaps because they cannot be spotted throughout the full year, and after some searching we decided to try our luck with Whistler Discovery Tours. Run by traveler, explorer and photographer James Fougere, Discovery Tours offers 4 different tours with different purposes but all sharing one thing: looking for bears. We chose to join the Moose Valley Experience which would take along an off road drive along the Coastal Mountain Range where we’d also be able to see lush meadows, two beautiful lakes and hopefully wildlife, including black bears.

We were picked up by our guide and driver at our place on a large and comfortable Land Rover at around 8am and made our way to the valley after picking up 4 more travelers who were staying at other hotels. The drive to the valley was short but fun, with great views as always, and we soon found ourselves bumping on our seats as we made our way along what would in a couple of months be a cross country ski trail.

During the drive our guide explained us many things about local wildlife and its forests, keeping an eye for the elusive black bears and reminding us that most of the times the bears are actually spotted by us travelers, as his eyes have to be on the road most of the time. His message was clear:” keep looking out the window because I do need your help. “

We drove around for almost two hours, and at one point I did see an animal moving some bushes just a few meters ahead of us. After shouting “There!!” and making everyone pull out their cameras the animal came out, but it turned out to be a deer with two calves. Cute and nice, but it wasn’t a bear.

Apparently They Aren’t That Easy to See

At least not during late October or the off season which is when we were there. Despite our guide’s best efforts and getting to see the deer and some beautiful landscapes the black bears were elusive and we never go to see them, either during the tour or later on while driving around. As it turns out food sources and climatic conditions affect bear viewing activity, and as berries in the low lands disappear the bears move towards the higher mountains where there can still find them. For best success rates be on the quest during May, June and July, with success being almost guaranteed, while in August to October the chances are much smaller.

Conclusion

The trip was great: we had plenty fun, took some very nice pictures, learned a lot about the local wildlife and even got to see some deer, but unfortunately did not get to see black bears. With this in mind I would recommend you certainly consider joining one of these tours during the best viewing season of the year (May-July), and only doing so if you have plenty of extra money and will be just as happy by observing the valleys, lakes and maybe  other wildlife, as the tour will set you back a couple of hundred dollars- and you may not see the famous black bears of Whistler.

Resources

Website: www.whistlerdiscoverytours.com

 

This great off road drive was possible thanks to Whistler Discovery Tours. All opinions and pictures in this post are my own, except those of the black bears which have been provided by James Fougere of Whistler Discover Tours as I did not get to see any.

Have you seen Black Bears? Where? Did you take any cool pictures of them? How did seeing them make you feel? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below and this post too if you liked it!

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As such, and despite I’d been kayaking in a lake in Vancouver just a few days before, I repeated my day outdoors in Whistler, where I got the chance to wander around for a couple of hours taking some nice pictures and absorbing the rain. Yup, it turned out that the sunny sky was gone and replaced by a light drizzle that would not stop throughout the whole day.

During the almost two hour paddle around lake Alta we got to see plenty of ducks and trout, spotted an eagle and learned visited the over one hundred year old cabins where the founders of Whistler, Alex and Myrtle Philip, had lived about a century ago. I was impressed by how this coupled decided to move to the area and live on their own, being self-sufficient throughout the whole year with no health care nearby, and became the pioneers of what today is a world famous skiing  and tourist destination.

And just as quickly as I we started, we were soon paddling back to where we started. Kayaking in Whistler is easy, ideal as a family activity, for couples like us who like to spend time outdoors or solo travelers who appreciate what nature has to offer. If it’s excitement and adrenaline you’re after you’ll want to look elsewhere, but if not this may be just the easy going activity you need to spend a holiday morning.

Resources

Whitler Eco-Tours Website: www.whistlerecotours.com

I was a guest of The Adventure Group Whistler, however all pictures and opinions mentioned in this post are entirely my own, as always!

How familiar are you with Whistler? And kayaking? Is it something you like? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below and this post too if you like it!

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Located in downtown Whistler and within walking distance of any of the most popular hotel choices in the area Sushi Village has been a favorite for quite a few years as you’ll read in any review website you’ll find online. In fact it had been recommended by some local people soon after we arrived and had already decided to drop by soon after. We wondered how its food with compare with that of the sushi restaurant we’d eaten in Vancouver a few days before…

How Good is it?

Very good. In fact damn good. While the restaurant is well decorated without it being fancy-  perfect with me because it’s good food that I’m after when I eat at a specialty restaurant-  Sushi Village did not disappoint, in fact has become a benchmark for the future. Instead of  eating a couple of dishes we decided to try a sample menu with a great selection of their best, and were surprised with some unique delicacies we had never eaten anywhere else, and doubt we will. These are pictures of what we ate, and as you may well imagine something that looks this good can only be this good.

Recomendations

We loved every single dish we ate, but if there’s one that stood out over the rest it was the  seafood. Full of flavor and tender, these exquisite mollusks left us in awe and wondered why the portion would not include three times as many (OK, that may be just me wanting more).

I was a guest of Sushi Village, however all the pictures and comments in this post are entirely my own, as always. I guess sushi that looks this good cannot be bad at all can it?

How much do you like sushi? What is your favorite dish? Share your thoughts with us and this post too if you think others may find it useful!

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I have to admit that Victoria in BC had not been in my radar until shortly before heading to Vancouver and having the opportunity  to visit it, but as soon as I saw some pictures of it that portrayed its quaint streets, traditional architecture and location right by the ocean in South East Victoria Island I figured it was a place I had to visit, and while not being a huge city with many things to see and do Victoria would be a fantastic getaway for a couple of days, and that’s exactly what it was.

How to Get to Victoria

There are basically three options to get here: on a ferry, by plane or by boat on a tour.

By plane: You can fly into Victoria from many cities, but if you’re in Vancouver West Jet and Pacific Coastal are your two best bets. The flight takes about 25 minutes, will set you back around 250 USD and if you’re lucky enough to do so in a Sea Plane you’ll get  spectacular views along the way.

By ferry: BCFerries operates the ferries between Vancouver and Victoria, though you can also get here by boat from Seattle in the US. There are several boats daily, just check out their schedule and plan accordingly.

On a tour: There are plenty of daily tours (some of them overnight) to Victoria from Vancouver. A few of them include whale watching along the way; this is what we did and I recommend this option too if possible (coincidentally, we got the best whale sighting on the way back, not when the whale watching leg of the tour was taking place. The crew diverted its path to allow us passengers get to see them up close, and they also admitted it being one of their best sightings ever).

Getting Around Victoria

Victoria is small, and the best way to get around is on foot, without a doubt. If you’re going to visit the Butchart Gardens there’s a bus that will take you there, but I recommend you don’t bother renting a car, it’s not necessary.

What to See and Do

Victoria is a beautiful small city, and you’ll notice this as soon as you reach the harbor (assuming you get here by boat). In other words, don’t forget your camera!  Most of the action happens near the harbor are and it is here you’be spending most of the time.

Begin your city exploration during the morning at  Port Angeles Victoria harbor where you’ll find plenty of cafes overlooking the water and the British Columbia Parliament Buildings on the opposite side. This the the most touristy area by far, and its not surprising as it really is a great place to go for a walk both during the day and once the sun sets.

 

From here head north on Government Street and after passing a few shops you’ll find Victoria Chinatown on the left. Get lost along a small maze of alleys between buildings and stop at the numerous shops to check out Chinese decorations and more.

Fisherman’s Wharf is where you’ll be heading next as it’ll be lunch time. The wharf is made up of many small floating colorful houses (some of which which double as a Bed and Breakfast) with lots of character moored to the docks and there are a few places where to eat great seafood including mussels, grilled salmon and char.

Heading back towards the city take a look at your right to see the British Columbia Parliament Buildings. They are lit at night too, allowing for some nice pictures like the one you saw earlier in this article.

The Butchart Gardens are not within walking distance, but well worth a visit as they are a major local attraction. I found it very interesting to learn that gardens were created by a family that made its fortune in the cement industry! You are allowed to buy seeds at the shop and these can be tagged so you can take them overseas without any problems at customs.

 

Where to Eat in Victoria

Seafood is, without a doubt, the way to go in Victoria. Of the many options you can find here, oysters, mussels and salmon are the most popular, and I just so happen to be a big fan of mussels and salmon.  There’s no lack of places where to eat when here, but of all that we tried Fisherman’s Wharf has the most character, where you’ll find fresh produce to be eaten outside while some sea lions check you out.

 

Where to Stay

Victoria has its fair share of hotels, hostels and even floating guest houses as we discovered once there. The Empress Hotel is the most famous (read most expensive) of  them all, but there are several other great choices as well. We stayed at the Chateau Victoria Hotel, and found it be a be a magnificent hotel, very well appointed, with character and conveniently located.

 

One Final (and Little Known) Tip

Victoria is a small city with no hills, so to get an overview of it all seems pretty much impossible. But alas, all is not lost. The Chateau Victoria Hotel has one of the tallest buildings in the city and has a restaurant at the top open to to the public! You can get a 360 degree view of the city from here at no cost, or consider having breakfast or a drink once the sun sets as prices are very reasonable.

 

Summary

It may be a small city but there’s more than enough things to do in Victoria in a day specially if you mange to include a night during your 24 hours visit. Don’t bother renting a car, allow yourself ample time to walk around and make sure you eat some of the great seafood you’ll find here.

Our visit to Victoria was part of the Ultimate Day Tour with Prince of Whales, a local company in Vancouver that offer sightseeing and whale watching tours. The ultimate day tour includes an overnight stay in Victoria (accommodation not included) time during which you can explore the city at your own pace, returning to Vancouver the following day.

Have you visited Victoria, or are you planning on visiting? What did you think of it? Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section below, and share this post if you think other might find it useful!

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The Lost Souls of Gastown

Starting at 8pm, Cathedral Square in Vancouver seemed to me an ideal place where to begin this tour which, among teaching and being entertaining, also likes to give the creeps when possible, and rightfully so. By the time I got there a few of the other participants were already chatting with Tiffany Anderson, our guide and story teller who would make this one of my favorite tours ever. You see, this is not the typical tour where a guide walks around a city pointing at places while speaking and participants stare and listen; it’s far from that. I prefer to think of it as as a theater performance where the city itself becomes the stage. Tiffany plays the role of Sarah Bray, a well intentioned young female who’s faced with the harsh reality of living in a frontier town during its early years, having to make a living by taking jobs one would rather avoid, and winning and loosing friends along the way.

As we followed Sarah along back alleys in Gastown into old hotels and across buildings, we learned about how Gassy Jack (who was eventually murdered ) founded this city by building a saloon in a day, how the city was burned to ashes and came back in full force, how the threat of plague shaped the lives of families Sarah, and saw real pictures of what some locations were like by then and some still hold on to date.

It’s Not Your Typical Tour

Not even close. I consider this tour to be a superb performance by a skilled actress who’s able to modulate her voice and accent while wearing a costume that immediately takes you back in time. Perhaps you should know that I dislike group tours profoundly, and much prefer exploring on my own taking pictures at my own pace. But “The lost souls of Gastown” is very far from being such a tour, though I do have to say that taking good pictures is not easy because of the lack of light.

Conclusion

“The lost souls of Gastown” may well be my favorite tour ever. Sarah’s role is excellently played, the tour itself is very well thought out and the 90 minutes it lasts fly by. Make sure you show up with an umbrella if you think it’s going to rain, comfortable walking shoes, and you’re set. The tour ends on Maple Square, a great place from which to walk to one of the many nearby restaurants and bars to grab a bite or a drink if you don’t have to wake up early the following morning.

Resources

Website: http://www.forbiddenvancouver.ca

My participation on this tour was complimentary, however all opinions shared in this post are genuine and entirely my own. In case you’re wondering, this is not the first tour I’m invited to. Or second. Or third.

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Miku Waterfront Restaurant

Located beside  historic landmark Canada Place, Miku finds its  home along the waterfront, part of what I found to be the beautiful Vancouver skyline though apparently not everyone likes it- I still can’t figure out why. The view here will not be unnoticed,  a seafront enclave serving as a perfect match to the mostly seafood to be eaten. And while the appearance does stand out for good, Miku Restaurant has also embraced environmental and social responsibility.

Miku Restaurant is downtown Vancouver’s first Ocean Wise Japanese restaurant. This conservation program, administered by the Vancouver Aquarium, recognizes restaurants supporting sustainable seafood choices and fishing practices. Menu items approved by the program receive the Ocean Wise logo, which is recognized by diners all across Western and Central Canada. In addition to this, in 2010, Miku Restaurant invested in the Vivreau System to filter and bottle tap water on-site. Metro Vancouver tests tap water over 136,000 times a year to make sure it is safe to drink, and Vivreau ensures its tap water tastes great. Socially, the restaurant tries to support as many events hosted by local businesses and charity initiatives as possible. Whether it’s sponsoring gift certificates, catering to an event or volunteering it has made a purpose of itself to be engaged in the community beyond restaurant borders. But let’s talk about the food.

Aburi Sushi

Miku Waterfron restaurant specializes Aburi sushi, midway between raw sashimi and grilled fish, so you get the great texture and the nice taste. This is achieved by the innovative idea of sear-flaming sushi. It has been accepted since the early days of history that a light sear direct from the flame enhances the natural flavor of the fish.The idea of flame-searing the fish goes above and beyond normal sushi style. By creating specialty sauces to go with each different Aburi style sushi and introducing flavors beyond peoples’ expectation, Aburi Sushi  has successfully established its reputation as a brand in itself.However, pursuit of something new also means to nurture the tradition while continuously carrying it to the future. The secret of the flavor of Aburi sushi comes from the method of making shari (that’s rice for you and me). Persistant flavor of shari maintains the flavor of Aburi Sushi, while pursuing the new Aburi styles.

Chef Kazuya Matzuoka

At the age of 18, Chef Matsuoka began his culinary career in Japan, with several years of training in authentic Italian cuisine.  His first exposure to classical French and French-fusion cooking techniques came with a position at La Maree de CHAYA. Using fresh seafood as its focus, La Maree de CHAYA was a pioneer of French style Japanese cooking.

In 2004, he relocated from Japan to Los Angeles to work for CHAYA Brasserie, sister restaurant to La Maree and a forerunner in Japaenese-French fusion cuisine in California.

After years of dedicated contribution to CHAYA Group, Chef Matsuoka left Los Angeles in 2011 to join the culinary team at Miku Restaurant in Vancouver, Canada. He immersed himself in the restaurant’s unique West Coast infused Aburi cuisine, adding yet another cooking style to his culinary repertoire. With his extensive experience, innate sensibility and strong passion for cooking, Chef Matsuoka soon moved into the position of Aburi corporate executive chef.

My Culinary Experience at Miku

I have to admit, right off the bat, that I’m not an expert in sushi. I don’t know fancy names of meals except for those you may know too like miso soup, sashimi, shari and nori. But that’s about it. I do know, however, what I like and what I don’t like, and may even venture to give a valid opinion on what is good and is not. And the sushi at Miku watefront is good, no questions asked. Sure, I may be biased because I noticed that, come lunch time, the restaurant was full and there were a few people waiting, each table carefully being cleaned and repopulated as soon as patrons were done, all without it being noticeable because of the ample space, great service, and superb views. Lot’s of them business people who know where to eat.

Conclusion

Great Aburi sushi, a fine dining experience in a carefully decorated restaurant located in a beautiful area,  Miku Waterfront Restaurant will not disappoint.  They do have a lot of options going on, so I recommend you ask what they recommend on that particular day, and if you’re hungry and still unsure about what to eat, ask for their sample menu and you won’t go wrong.

Resources

Miku Waterfront website: http://mikurestaurant.com

Do you like sushi? Have you visited Vancouver? What do you think of the sushi scene in Vancouver? Have you visited Miku restaurant? Share with us your favorite sushi dish in the comments section below and this post too if you think others may find it helpful!

I was a guest of Miku Waterfront Restaurant, however all opinions shared in this post are entirely my own, as always!

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Yet despite the eco-friendly time I had in the city I was eager to head out into the mountains, lakes and inlets shortly after arriving, and in Vancouver you don’t really have to drive too far to find them. In fact once you cross the massive  Lion’s Gate bridge  out of Stanley park and head out to North Vancouver you’re pretty much in the hills already, and another 15 minutes of driving will have you in one of the several lakes there are, surrounded by high hills in what really are the southernmost fjords in Canada.

Kayaking in Vancouver: Enjoying the Outdoors

On our first tour outside the city we were picked up by a minibus from where we were staying at and made our way to Indian Arm, a protected inlet that is Canada’s southernmost fjord. The path we took ended in Woodlands, a small settlement on the on the inlet with a public access to the inlet. Once there we helped our guide Gordon bring down the two person kayaks into the water and after a short safety briefing we began our paddle, immersing ourselves into the serene surroundings despite the impending drizzle that was about to begin and the gray sky and mountains that reminded me of a picture I once took in Laos.

With the unique characteristics of the glacial fjord we were paddling across we were on the lookout for wildlife that would make the trip even more memorable. The calm waters made us forget most of the time that we were on the Pacific Ocean and not a serene lake, and were brought back to reality when we saw the abundance of mussles, sea anemones, red and purple sea stars and huge crabs. The most common mammal in the area is the harbor seal, however despite looking for them all the time we were only able to spot a couple of them very far from us. There are also a few bald eagles in the area, but we didn’t get to see them.

After paddling for almost two hours along the middle of the inlet we made it to an island where we’d have a fantastic lunch that included baked tortillas with a homemade dip , fresh grilled salmon with a potato salad and corn on the cob, tea ( it is here that I discovered that I actually like tea if it has some apple juice in it)  and water of course. The group’s mood was very pleasant, with everybody enjoying the beautiful surroundings, excellent food and our guide’s explanations and stories.

After a short break we put everything back into the kayaks and slowly paddled our way back to where we started along a different route, close to the shore this time, with light rain refreshing and not bother us thanks to the rain gear we’d been provided.

Once back at the dock we helped putting the kayaks back on the van and made our way back to Vancouver, being dropped at the same place we’d been pick up. We’d spent around six hours on this tour and although a bit tired from the paddling we enjoyed every minute of it!

Conclusion

The kayaking adventure by Lotus Land Tours is a great way to spend a great day outside and learn about the area, visiting locations you wouldn’t be able to on your own and eating some great food along the way. Our guide Gordon Moore was very friendly and fun- we actually did learn many things about the area- and the landscape spectacular. We only wondered what it would have Indian Arm inlet would have looked like had there been a blue sky!

Resources

Lotus Land Tours website: http://www.lotuslandtours.com

I was a guest Lotuslandtours.com, however all the pictures and opinions in this article are entirely my own, as always!

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We opted into an igloo building workshop at the Jacques-Cartier park (the Eskimo life isn’t for me, clearly) and wandered around dozens of immaculately carved ice sculptures, from detailed polar bears through to a Scotsman, resplendent in full regalia.  Youngsters squeezed themselves into mini igloos whilst others launched themselves off a human snow slide, hurtling down the ice with fear and excitement. There are plenty of museums for children in Ottawa too, and the occasional ‘teddy’ mascots wandered around, Disney style, ready to pose for pictures and administer cuddles where necessary; I did debate ensnaring one myself but he looked so dejected and fed up, I left him to wallow in his lunch break, choosing instead to hunt down a drink (served in an ice glass, from an ice counter, to drink on an ice chair, obviously).

In winter, the Rideau Canal (a UNESCO heritage site) becomes the Rideau Canal skate-way, the largest ice rink in the world at nearly 8km long: a must-visit during Winterlude. If intending to go sakting on the rideau canal in full, the starting point lies near the parliament buildings and leads you (exhausted and traumatised from nimble children) to a youth gallery on Dows Lake.  As I laced up my (slightly too large) skates tight around my ankles, blocking out the flashbacks to bumps and bruises from my teen years, three kids jostled past, excitedly regaling horror stories of people losing their fingers whilst their mum chipped in with ‘Well, keep them out of the way then, because I didn’t bring my sewing machine’. My comrade and I agreed to cling onto each other for dear life, if one goes down, you both go down.  The skate-way is fettered with rest stops for the weary to re-fuel via a gamut of sugary goodies and to observe an army of humans trying desperately not to lose balance (and face) on the frozen canal. Small children in sleighs gleefully squealed, oblivious to their grumpy carer towing them along like reindeer, whilst romantic (if somewhat hasty) kisses of hand-holding couples were glimpsed as we tucked into an enormous bag of sweets.

Dining out in Ontario, until my final night, had mostly been of modest fare, however I couldn’t resist the allure of ‘Garlics’, a more upmarket restaurant promising to offer garlic in its starters, mains and desserts. Over a decadent couple of hours, I slurped a roasted garlic and onion bisque, cautiously tucked into a main of elk (no it doesn’t taste like chicken!) and braved the house-churned ice cream concoction of roasted garlic, bee pollen and honey. A fun experience to end a unique trip, I’m not sure the unfortunates seated close by on the plane shared my love of the whiffy vegetable…

Scarlett is a postgraduate social researcher with a heavily stamped passport, an empty bank account and a desire to eternally dodge the rat race…

Had you heard about Winterlude in Ottawa? Been there? What was yout favorite part of it? What would you recommend future visitors don’t miss? Share your thoughts below, and this post too if you liked it!

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