It’s summertime and, in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region, the living is easy. Fish are jumping and… well, you get the idea. The change of seasons has brought wonderful warm weather to Vancouver, Coast & Mountains, and as we heat up the BBQs our winter woes seem to melt away. But the weather isn’t the only thing changing: tangerine frappuccinos are replacing extra hot soy lattes, the iPhone is the new BlackBerry… and there’s a new author of Story Starters! As of today, I will be stepping into Jennifer’s shoes as the author of Story Starters (and for those of you who know anything about Jennifer’s shoe collection, you’ll appreciate just how cute these shoes are!).
So, who is this mystery contributor to Story Starters? My name is Laura Woodbridge, and I work with Jennifer as the new Manager of Media Relations at Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism. I love sushi, the colour red, calla lilies, Duran Duran, crème brule, dogs, being outdoors, travelling, my family, and I am truly proud to call the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region my home. Now that you know who I am, please feel free to contact me with questions, comments, or even to introduce yourself. And as you ponder when the last time was that you heard “love” and “Duran Duran” in the same sentence (hint: it was probably around 1984), here is the August issue of Story Starters!
Summer is synonymous with romance. But if flowers and candles aren’t enough to woo the one you love, try taking a step back – way back – to the 1950s. This was the era of poodle skirts, cat eye glasses, and drive-in movies. This August, the romance of the classic drive-in movie is back all summer long throughout the city of White Rock with the return of their BIA Great Outdoor Film Festival. Bring your date, a blanket, and cuddle up under the stars to watch classic date movies like ET, The Goonies, and Jaws on a massive 40 foot outdoor screen. Each night the venue is different, opening nightly at 6:00 pm and starting the feature presentation by dusk. Admission to the movies is free, which will leave money leftover for the traditional theater concessions food that is available. All sales go to the evening’s charity, so be sure to bring a little extra cash and support a good cause. A romantic and a philanthropist? Your date will be eating popcorn out of your hand in no time! For more information and specific show times contact www.stayplaywhiterock.com.
Your Great Aunt Ester has decided to make an impromptu visit to the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region. She arrives on Friday and by Monday morning you’ve taken her hiking, biking, shopping and to the beach, and you’re completely lost for ideas on how to keep her entertained for another five days. Lucky for you the region is bursting with exciting summer festivals to suit every fancy. From August 3-12, the community of West Vancouver is celebrating the 17th Annual Harmony Arts Festival. For ten full days the Festival highlights the talent of North Shore artists, sharing the value of arts appreciation. Admission is free, and you can take your time to experience the arts through exhibitions, demonstrations, studio tours, theatre, concerts, markets and other hands-on activities. If you prefer Mozart to Monet, check out the Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival’s eclectic weekend of concerts August 17-19. Celebrated musicians from across North America will perform selections from the traditional to the contemporary repertoire in the picturesque Performance Centre on the Sunshine Coast. For family friend fun, visit the Cloverdale Blueberry Festival on August 11. After all, the best ways to beat the summer blues is by eating them! For the truly adventurous, join in the action in Squamish on August 2-5 at the Loggers Sports grounds and witness the strength and skill of champions as they participate in North America’s premier Loggers Sports Show. While in Squamish, there’s also the Lullaby Festival, the Haulback Hoedown and Squamish Days Loggers Stomp. All of this fun is guaranteed to send Great Aunt Ester home exhausted and full of stories of the fabulous Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region! For more information contact www.harmonyarts.net, www.penderharbourmusic.ca, www.cloverdalebia.com, and www.squamishdays.org.
School is out for the summer. The kids are elated and so are you -- for two whole months you’re free from helping with last-minute homework assignments and waking up early to make peanut butter and jam sandwiches. So, now what? Good thing the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region offers a number of activities to keep your kids outdoors, active and entertained all summer long. There’s no better way to spend a day as a family than walking through the wilderness, developing an appreciation for art, heritage and nature. The community of North Vancouver has produced brochures for self guided walking tours of local art pieces and heritage sites. The self guided tours are convenient for families looking for a low cost, flexible excursion that allows the group to move at the pace of its slowest member. For a long weekend escape, take the walking tour of Gibsons Landing on the beautiful Sunshine Coast. Discover Gibsons Landing’s recently restored heritage harbour front and surrounding sights. When you’ve ticked both North Vancouver and Gibsons off of your list, try Burnaby, New Westminster, downtown Vancouver or Whistler; they’re all communities that have excellent resources available for those interested in self guided travel. Return home at the end of the day enriched, exhausted and thankful that there’s no need to worry about early morning alarms. Ah, summertime! Visit www.cnv.org and www.destinationsunshinecoast.com/tours/glwalk.htm for details.
For anyone who’s ever wondered what’s in a name (listen up, Shakespeare!) this summer the Mighty Fraser River has certainly showed that this spectacular river can only be known as the Mighty Fraser River. With the Fraser River’s water levels threatening to rise to unprecedented levels, the phrase “through Hell or High Water” has taken on a whole new meaning for the guides at Fraser River Safari. With the incredibly fast moving water creating powerful swirling whirlpools and back eddies in the River, there’s no better time than now to explore the Mighty Fraser in style, safety and comfort aboard the Fraser River Safari’s “Safari Craft.” Year-round, the Safari Craft takes guests from Mission Harbour to the Harrison Confluence, weaving through the huge braided channels of the Fraser River between the Coast and Cascade Mountains. View abundant wildlife, discover the Fraser River’s remarkable history, enjoy First Nation legends, and tales of missionaries, fur traders, gold miners, and the elusive Sasquatch. Discover for yourself why it’s not the great, strong, or even forceful Fraser River – it’s the Mighty Fraser River. Check out www.fraserriversafari.com.
