It’s the first day of October, and you know what that means: the winter holidays are just around the corner. By the end of the month pumpkins and fake cobwebs will be replaced by mistletoe and menorahs. Whether you welcome the early start to the holidays or lament that it comes too soon, our November issue of Story Starters is sure to get you into the holiday spirit. From a horse drawn sleigh ride through a winter wonderland to secret spots to find the perfect gift, we’ll have you humming your favourite carol in no time!
Think you know all the lyrics to ‘Jingle Bell Rock’? Prove it! Take a tour onboard a beautifully decorated Vancouver Trolley this December. All Trolleys are equipped with Karaoke machines so that guests can sing their favourite Christmas songs as you’re driven through the city. The tour winds throughout the streets of Vancouver before arriving at Bright Nights in Stanley Park, a Christmas tradition in Vancouver for over 20 years. The second stop of the evening is at the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Gardens, where the gardens are transformed with over 20,000 twinkling lights. All admissions are included in the price of the tour. At $30 for adults, $20 for children or $85 for a family of four, this is a fun family activity that will have you singing all the way. For more information visit www.vancouvertrolley.com.
So the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. Well since there’s no place to go… let it be an all girls getaway weekend to the spa! Visit the Hilton Whistler Resort’s Artesia Spa in the heart of Whistler’s winter wonderland. Your perfect day with your girlfriends begins with a 60-minute Chocolate Blitz Body Wrap followed by a Beaute Neuve renewal facial, a brow shaping, lash lengthening, and a make-up application. Finish the day sipping hot cocoa in front of the fireplace in the Hilton’s Cinnamon Bear Grille. The ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!’ spa package is four hours of beauty and bliss for $340. For more information visit www.artesiaspa.com.
Santa’s not the only one making a list this holiday season. Here are our picks for the top winter attractions in Vancouver, Coast & Mountains this December. Delight in old-fashioned ornaments and decorations at the Burnaby Village Museum. During December the Museum is home to holiday entertainment, hands-on activities and exhibits from the early 1900s. Or, for a true winter experience, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride and let majestic Clydesdale-Percheron horses guide you through Whistler’s pristine wilderness. On December 22, you can watch the lavishly decorated carol ships from the Pender Harbour Docks on the Sunshine Coast. Join in with your own boat or take part as a caroler aboard the Nanaimo Tillicum tugboat. And what Christmas list would be complete without including Christmas at Canada Place? From December 14 - 23 join giant Gingerbread Men, the 35-foot high Christmas Tree, and the beloved Woodward’s Window characters at Canada Place. For more information visit www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca; www.whistlerblackcomb.com; www.penderharbour.org; www.christmas.canadaplace.ca.
Christmas. It’s supposed to be the season of joy, warmth, and good will. But if the stress and hectic pace of the holidays has you feeling more like Scrooge than Santa Claus, you’re not alone. The perfect gift for your true love this holiday season is to escape the hustle and bustle. At Tranquility Bay on the Sunshine Coast you can leave it all behind and relax amid the forests, mountains and ocean bays. Take advantage of their special mid-week offer that’s on until December 14: stay any two nights in a luxury suite from Sunday to Thursday and the third night is free! Bah humbug no more! For more information visit www.tranquilitybay-bc.com
Just when you thought you were home free for the holidays this year... your dear Aunt Edna calls to tell you she’ll be coming home for Christmas. But between the kids and the presents and the errands and the cooking, how will you find time for Aunt Edna? Lucky for you, the charming River Run Cottages Bed & Breakfast in Lander has a brand new heritage suite for long term stays of 7 days or more. Located in one of Ladner's finest heritage houses, it’s an excellent home base for Aunt Edna to explore Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. The suite comes complete with a pre-stocked fridge for the first day so that Aunt Edna can settle in, relax and enjoy a glass of sherry, compliments of the hosts. Weekly cleaning and linen exchange is included along with cable TV and local telephone service. For more information visit www.riverruncottages.com
Take the 'Ouch!' out of Christmas this year by doing your Christmas shopping on a budget. The perfect place to find all the gifts you need at prices that won’t break the bank is Abbotsford, the retail and shopping hub of the Fraser Valley. Every Sunday, Abbotsford is home to one of the area's largest flea market and swap meet, perfect for inexpensive decorations and ornaments. Abbotsford’s popular Circle Farm Tour allows shoppers to visit some of the more than 1,100 local farms and purchase a wide variety of products direct from the grower. And what could be better than winning a prize for indulging in a girl’s favourite pastime – shopping! With Abbotsford’s Passport to Christmas, collect stamps at all twelve participating shops, boutiques and farms and enter to win fabulous prizes, including an overnight stay at the luxurious Sweet Dreams B&B. Ah, ‘tis the season! For more information visit www.tourismabbotsford.ca/index.php?page_id=291
