Happy Birthday, BC! British Columbia celebrated 150 years on Monday, the BC Day provincial holiday. In honour of the BC150 celebrations, here’s a quick test of your BC IQ:
1. From August 24 - September 28, 2008, BC150 Rivermania celebrates the history, culture and Peoples along the Mighty ___ River?
A. Columbia B. Thompson C. Skeena D. Fraser
2. The Sunshine Coast is ___ kilometers long.
A. 150 B. 63 C. 5,000 D. 363
3. In which year did Captain George Vancouver chart most of the Georgia Straight?
A. 1692 B. 1792 C. 1892 D. Last year
4. The Sea to Sky Highway is also known as ____?
A. Highway 1 B. Highway 101 C. Highway 99 D. Highway 2010
Of course, you’ll have to read through the September issue of Story Starters before I reveal the answers. Enjoy!
The journey of a spawning salmon through the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region is nothing short of epic. From evading hungry predators to battling wild rapids, can you imagine what a salmon would write if he kept a travel diary? We think it may go something like this – Dear Diary: After two years of roaming the broad Pacific Ocean, I’m ready to start my 17-day, 480-km journey to my freshwater spawning grounds. Wish me luck! Dear Diary: Today I arrived in Harrison Mills and was greeted by hundreds of hungry-looking Bald Eagles. I’m trying to stay hidden, but it’s getting harder because I’m undergoing a bizarre transformation: my normally blue-grey body has been gradually turning crimson! Dear Diary: I battled the Hell's Gate Rapids on the mighty Fraser River today. They call it Hell's Gate because 800 million litres of heart stopping rapids hammer through here, the narrowest point on the Fraser River. Phew! Dear Diary: Today I made it through the white water rapids in the Fraser Canyon. We’re now looking for a cool, clean river to lay our eggs. What a journey! The hatcheries in Vancouver, Coast and Mountains are great places to learn about the life cycle of the salmon, including the Capilano Salmon Hatchery in North Vancouver and the Weaver Creek Spawning Channel near Harrison Mills. Visit www.exploreouroutdoors.com for details.
Apples to zucchinis, that is. Forget the new backpack - what your kids really need this fall is back-to-school brain food. You can get a healthy head-start by filling-up on nutritious, local food choices. September is the perfect time of year to visit a Fraser Valley u-pick farm to have the whole family help select farm fresh fruits and vegetables. Or, visit one of the many farmers markets in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region. Granville Island Public Market, Whistler Farmers' Market, Steveston Farmers' Market, Abbotsford Farm and Country Market, Lonsdale Quay Farmers' Market and UBC Farm Market all feature locally grown, seasonal produce – think cabbage, corn, blueberries, hazelnuts, cucumbers, potatoes, and plums. The ultimate foodie festival - Vancouver Feast of Fields - takes place on Sunday, September 7, 2008 from 1-5 pm: don’t miss this gourmet wandering picnic harvest festival. Visit www.ffcf.bc.ca for details.
From Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to What Not to Where, makeover shows have taken over reality TV. In the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region, we have a different kind of makeover taking place: former forestry towns are reinventing themselves as must-see travel destination for outdoor adventure. First up: the Pemberton Valley, 30-minutes north of Whistler on the Sea-to-Sky highway. Before: a quiet town based on forestry and agriculture. After: Pemberton has recently reinvented itself as an exciting travel destination. With everything from jet boating to horseback riding to gliding, Pemberton is a paradise for outdoor activities. In July 2008, Pemberton gained international attention as the host-city of the outdoor Pemberton Festival. Drawing 40,000 music fans from all over the world, the three day event featured acts like Coldplay, Nine Inch Nails, and Jay-Z, among others. Next, Squamish. Before: a little-known forestry town. After: the completion of the railway from Squamish to Vancouver in 1956 and the Sea-to-Sky Highway a few years later has catapulted the town to ‘outdoor Mecca’ status. Known as the ‘Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada’, Squamish offers unparalleled quality and quantity of outdoor activities to be explored. And there’s one more thing these communities have in common with reality TV makeover shows: visit once, and you’re hooked! Visit www.tourismsquamish.com and www.tourismpembertonbc.com for more details.
For many kids, going back to school is a time of excitement and anticipation. But if your kids are suffering from the back to school blues, help them get excited about learning with a visit to Honeyview Farm in Chilliwack. Honeyview Farm is a hands-on, interactive destination that inspires children to learn about their natural environment and the food they eat. Farm tours at Honeyview Farm give visitors the opportunity to see a modern large-scale beekeeping operation at its finest. Tours start at the Observation Hive, a wall of over 50,000 bees. But don’t worry! The bees are safely behind glass so they won’t sting you. You’ll learn about the fascinating ways bees communicate and will find out how to spot the Queen bee. Honeyview Farm specially creates their tours to raise awareness among children (and their parents) about the honeymaking process. Self-guided tours are free, or visit Honeyview Farm at 2:00 pm on Saturdays for a $4.00 tour led by a bee expert. Group tours are also welcome. Visit www.honeyviewfarm.com for more details.
Rising gas prices are changing consumers’ travel plans, but ‘affordable travel’ doesn’t have to mean backpacks and bad service. Remember: there’s cheap travel and then there is inexpensive travel. What is the difference? Both don’t cost a lot, but while cheap travel can lack quality, inexpensive travel maintains comfort and value without a hefty pricetag. If you’re looking for an inexpensive, quality getaway, look no further than BC’s Sunshine Coast. Anyone, with any budget, can plan a great getaway on the Sunshine Coast of BC. Make your summer sizzle a little more by staying at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort. From September 1-4, make a minimum two night reservation and receive 50% off the regular rate for your second night. At the Historic Lund Hotel, September rates start at just $130/night. From Lund, you’re a hop, skip, and a jump away from Desolation Sound Marine Provincial Park. Rent a boat from Powell River Sea Kayak in Lund (rentals start at $29) and explore the 60 km of shoreline, several islands, numerous small bays and snug coves. The warm September waters of the park are ideal for swimming and scuba diving. After kayaking, pop into Nancy's Bakery which is famous for delicious breads and incredible sticky buns. Here, as is true for the rest of the dollar-friendly Sunshine Coast, you can have your cake and eat it too! Visit www.vcmbc.com for information.
