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Posts Tagged ‘Canada’
Sunday, January 29th, 2012
I drove a van full of pre-teen girls to Big White Ski Resort, one of North America’s best skiing destinations, drawing skiers from around the world in search of the magic Okanagan powder. It’s been almost 30 years since I’ve been on skis, and the only kind of powder I search for these days is talcum. My chances of keeping up with five tween girls on a ski mountain are about on par with my chances of keeping up with my wife during a half-off sale at Tiffany’s, so why did I make the drive from Kelowna up to a mountain we have no intent of skiing? There’s more than one way to get down a mountain.
This is the kind of thing they don’t warn you about when you buy a minivan. You think, “Oh there’s tons of space. Now my kids can spread out and there won’t be as much fighting,” and you’re right. What you don’t think about, though, is the day that your van isn’t filled with your own children, but with your tween daughter and four of her friends. Whoever Chrysler hired to design the Caravan obviously didn’t anticipate this kind of situation either, or at least they didn’t appreciate that it’s almost a 45-minute drive to Big White, otherwise they would have installed in every van one of those soundproof partitions that they have in limos.
In addition to being a top ski destination, Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia is home to the Mega Snow Coaster, Canada’s largest resort tubing park. I may lack the coordination necessary to stand up and maneuver my way down a mountain, but I’m more than qualified to sit in a tube and let gravity do it’s thing. Of course gravity doesn’t have to work that hard to get me down a mountain. After a few mental calculations involving mass, acceleration, and slope I came to the conclusion that I would most likely break the sound barrier on the steepest run, and breaking the speed of light was a distinct possibility. There may have been some rustiness in my physics, but before I could recalculate the girls were ready to go and we were up the hill.
There are five separate runs in the tubing park. Three of the runs are gentler and designed for either young kids (you must be 36 inches to go down without a parent) or for people who want to go down in groups. The other two are steeper and built for maximum speed. These are the runs where I would expect teenagers to be, but I have that expectation because I was a teenage boy. I would have abandoned my friends immediately and headed for the steepest run I could find. Apparently pre-teen girls think differently. They would gather up at the top of the hill and get themselves all positioned so that they could slide down while holding hands the whole time. It didn’t seem to bother them that they had to take the slower slopes, it was more important that tubing was a group activity. I stood at the bottom of the hill for a while trying to figure this out, then eventually decided to classify it under the same section as girls going to the bathroom together as something I’ll never understand.
While we’re on the topic of things I don’t understand, why do girls scream at everything? I could possibly understand yelling if you were hitting the dips on the steep run, but I don’t grasp the need to shatter glass for a slow trip down a gentle slope. Think I’m exaggerating? See for yourself:
Warning! This is a video of 5 pre-teen girls (and my wife) sliding down a tubing run. Please, for your own safety, lower the volume of your computer!
You’d think maybe that was just their first run down the hill and they didn’t know what to expect, but truthfully that video could have been taken on any of the 25 or 30 runs the girls went on that day. Each time gathering at the top of the hill, and each time coming down shrieking like Justin Bieber was in the tube next to them. Some might consider it embarrassing, but as the parent supervisor it sure made my job easy. Every couple of minutes, whether I was looking or not, I knew exactly where all of the girls were. Of course so did everyone else on the mountain, but if anybody complained I could just say my wife was in charge and they should go talk to her.
The tubing park at Big White is located at the bottom of the mountain in the lower village. Admission for the day is $19/$21 and includes the use of the outdoor skating rink (which coincidentally is another sport that I have absolutely no aptitude for). It’s a fantastic place to spend your day, but I leave you with a warning. A short, free gondola ride will get you up to the main village where all of the hotels, the majority of the restaurants, and the main ski lifts are, but for some reason, every bump that the gondola goes over on it’s ascent to the main village causes pre-teen girls to scream in the exact same manner that the tube rides did, only this time in an enclosed space. There’s no denying you’re with them when you’re trapped in the gondola car together, and trust me, it’s too far down to jump.
Steve and his family are based out of Kelowna, British Columbia, although their misadventures are just as likely to take place in a town near you. Leaving a trail of mayhem, iPhone chargers, and Canadian pennies wherever they go, you can follow their travels on the More Kids Than Suitcases blog, their Facebook page, or on Twitter. They’re even on Google+, although it’s painfully apparent that they have no idea how to use it yet.
So, do you think Steve is crazy for a taking a van-load of tweens tubing for the day, or is he just a sweet guy fulfilling his Travel Daddy responsibilities? Let us know in the comments below!
You might also like:
• Canada for All Seasons
• New York City’s Best Sites, Activities, and Restaurants for Kids
• Road Trip with Teens – Are You Crazy?
• 20 Things Your Traveling Teen or Tween Wishes You Knew
Tags: Big White, British Columbia, Canada, pre-teen, tubing, tween, video
Posted in Family Vacations | 6 Comments »
Sunday, December 18th, 2011
Canada is a vast country renowned for its natural beauty with oceans, mountains, wilderness, and wildlife that attract those who wish to explore the great outdoors. For a more urban experience, there are major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. There’s a Canadian destination to suit any vacation style and, with very few exceptions, visitors can enjoy any destination in Canada at any time of year. Here are my family’s suggestions for great Canadian destinations for winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Winter dog-sledding in Quebec
WINTER
The province of Quebec is a fantastic winter destination for families who want to be guaranteed a snowy vacation. In both Montreal and Quebec City visitors can be immersed in French culture and language in cities that feel European. Quebec City is a particularly lively spot in February during the Quebec Winter Carnival, which runs from late January to mid February. Visitors can admire snow sculptures, view canoe races on the St. Lawrence, ride a sleigh through the Old Town, watch courageous snow bathers, and meet Bonhomme the snowman (the king of the Festival).
Downhill skiers head out of the city to Mont Tremblant for skiing and fantastic resorts but our family prefers vacationing in the Gatineau area between Montreal and Ottawa. Our favorite spot is the town of Montebello where we check into the world’s largest log cabin and fill our days with cross country skiing, dog sledding, ice skating and curling. Visiting nearby Omega Park to drive through and feed elk carrots from the windows of the car is a big hit with my kids.
Pose with a Mountie on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in the spring
SPRING
The nation’s capital, Ottawa, is a beautiful place to visit during any season but is particularly attractive during the annual Tulip Festival in May when the city is blanketed by more than one million tulips. We love this family-friendly city with its abundance of outdoor activities. Kids love boating on the Rideau Canal or the Ottawa River on a pleasant spring day, particularly if it’s aboard one of the amphibious vehicles that tour city streets before diving into the river.
If the weather isn’t cooperating then we move indoors to one of the city’s many family-friendly museums and galleries. Our favorite has always been the Canadian Museum of Civilization where visitors can walk through the streetscapes of Canada Hallto experience Canadian history, marvel at the world’s largest indoor collection of totem poles, and collect passport stamps while globetrotting in the hands-on Children’s Museum. Shoppers and foodies will enjoy browsing the historic ByWard Market and anyone looking for the quintessential Canadian photo can usually find a Mountie to pose with on Parliament Hill. Be sure to taste one of the famous BeaverTail pastries that originate in the Capital region – even President Obama made it a point to have one while in town.
Beach-time on Prince Edward Island in the summer
SUMMER
One of our favorite places to visit during the summer is Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island (“PEI”), which is connected to the mainland by the 12.9km (8 mile) Confederation Bridge. The island measures only 280km (175 miles) from tip to tip and has a population of only 138,000 people, yet each summer welcomes thousands of visitors from around the globe who come to the island for a relaxing holiday. They come for the beaches, the succulent lobster suppers, or to play a round of golf on a world-class course.
Many visitors come to pay homage to a beloved literary character, Anne of Green Gables. We spend most of our time in the Cavendish area, which is known as “Anne’s Land” and is very popular with families for its red sand beaches and warm ocean waters, amusement park style attractions, and the world famous COWS ice cream. This is where you will find everything related to Anne, including the Green Gables historic site and the Village of Avonlea where visitors can interact with costumed actors playing characters from Author Lucy Maud Montgomery’s stories. Nineteen of Montgomery’s 20 novels take place on Prince Edward Island.
Kayaking, cycling, and deep sea fishing are just a few popular pursuits available for the outdoor enthusiast. Regardless of where you stay on the island you should spend a day in the city of Charlottetown where you can learn more about the founding of Canada and attend a performance of Anne of Green Gables – The Musical which has been running continuously at the Confederation Centre for the Arts since 1965.
Fall in Banff National Park in the Canadia Rockies
FALL
Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies is best known as a winter ski destination, however, we find it to be lovely at fall. Visitors to the area arrive by car, bus or via a spectacular train trip through the mountains. My husband and I stayed at the majestic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, where you can experience Banff like the very first tourists to the Rockies did in the 19thcentury. Visitors to Banff have been coming for more than a century to “take the waters” and it’s now possible to experience the hot springs at a modern outdoor facility set against the magnificent backdrop of the mountains.
Just a few minutes from the hotel a gondola ferries passengers to the summit of Sulphur Mountain where a breathtaking view of Banff can be enjoyed while dining on an outdoor terrace. You will in all likelihood see elk and deer wandering the streets of town and you may come across bighorn sheep at the top of the gondola. About 50km (30 miles) away in Lake Louise, families with older kids can take a guided canoe tour on the emerald waters of the glacial lake (in early fall) or hike the trail to the Lake Agnes Tea House. The later you visit in the fall the greater the likelihood of a little snow to add excitement to your Banff vacation so be sure to come prepared for any weather.
Whatever the season you visit and wherever you choose to go — there’s a memorable family vacation waiting for you in Canada.
Which Canadian season/destination appeals to you most? Let us know in the comments below!
Lisa Goodmurphy is a lawyer living near Toronto, Canada who left the corporate world to stay home with her two daughters, Katie and Emma (now aged 15 and 8). Badly bitten by the travel bug years ago, Lisa considers herself fortunate that her husband and kids are equally enthusiastic about exploring the world. You can read about their family’s travel adventures on her blog at www.gonewiththefamily.com or follow along on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoneWithTheFamily1 and on Twitter as @GoneWithFamily.
You might also like:
• 5 Famous & Exciting Carnivals Around the World
• TBEX 2011 in Vancouver – A Stunning Conference in a Charming City of Contrasts
• Tips for Family Ski Trips from a Former Scaredy Cat Skier
• Why to Visit Minnesota’s Twin Cities with Kids
Tags: Banff National Park, Canada, Gone with the Family, Lisa Goodmurphy, Ottawa, Prince Edward Island, quebec
Posted in Family Vacations | 7 Comments »
Monday, June 13th, 2011
If this story’s title makes you cringe (and that’s the point), then you may have attended the Travel Bloggers’ Exchange Conference (TBEX) 2011 in Vancouver, Canada. If it doesn’t make you cringe, and you are a travel blogger or aspire to become one, then you might want to sign up for TBEX 2012 at Keystone Ski Resort in Colorado. Here are some reflections on this year’s conference and reasons to consider attending next year.
The giant globe at the Vancouver Convention Centre, location of TBEX 2011
The inspiration for the title sprung from listening to a panel of well-respected travel writers (including the curiously sexy Spud Hilton, Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle’s Travel Section), who listed descriptors to avoid in travel stories including stunning, charming, land of contrasts, perfect, hidden gem, off the beaten path, secret, quaint, perfect, rustic, luxuriously appointed, and breathtaking.
On most accounts, I whole-heartedly agree that clichés should be avoided. Spud was right, who ever says “luxuriously appointed” in real life? However, I have to argue that bloggers can and should use some of these terms because they are great search engine optimization key words. As someone who has written for both online and print publications, I know the rules for blog writing sometimes differ from those for print writing. When travelers search online for where to vacation they use words like secret, off the beaten path, and best hidden gem travel destinations. Clichés can be good for helping viewers find the content they seek. And add a woman to the panel next time too, please!
Celebrating a Canucks hockey win with my fellow Best Family Travel Advice bloggers at the Four Seasons Vancouver
Last year I complained in New York & TBEX ’10 – The Good, The Bad & the Ugly that I had been bored throughout a few sessions. (Ironically, I particularly noted my waning interest during the video blogging session since I was not, at the time, a vlogger. Now I am a proud video blogger for Barilla pasta’s Piccolini TV multimedia site and I actually use many of the tips learned in that “boring” session. So, ahem, I take that back.)
This year’s conference was a vast improvement over TBEX 2010. Name-tags were organized and available for pick-up on time. The Vancouver Conference Centre was in a convenient, central location. Breakout sessions were added, bringing intimacy and flavor to the conference for attendees with varying interests. This conference felt much less like a high school reunion where the popular kids shunned those who were not part of the in-crowd and more like a destination wedding where all types of travel bloggers with of all levels of experience and “fame” were welcomed.
Salmon lollipops served at the AMResorts harbor cruise TBEX party
While the conference was certainly professional, there was still plenty of partying going on at TBEX 2011. A definite highlight was the Men of TBEX Party hosted by Diamond PR at which 12 male travel bloggers posed for a “sexy” calendar all in good fun (with Mike Barish of Gadling sporting nothing but a blue mustached Speedo). I heard from a few attendees who found the calendar concept offensive, but most found it a hi-larious and genius PR stunt (including me)! The AMResorts invitation-only harbor cruise soiree was a relaxing affair with a live jazz band and tray-passed hors d’oeuvres like salmon lollipops stuffed with chive cream cheese. There was a Passports with Purpose gathering with delicious home-baked cupcakes plus a little get-together hosted by the Four Seasons Vancouver just for family travel bloggers like myself. I could go on and on…
And then there were the complimentary Vancouver day tours for TBEX bloggers – like the Takaya Canoe Tour on which I explored the coastal fjords of the Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm in a 25-foot canoe, complete with stories and songs about the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation. Our guide, Laura Leigh Paul (whose tribal name is Yuxweliptan’aat), was nearly brought to tears when she told a story about two orcas that returned to the tribal waters last year, a momentous event for her people because years prior the burial canoe of one of the tribe’s most beloved leaders was followed on either side by two orcas, indicating his connection with nature, animals, and orcas in particular.
Takaya Canoe Tour with a bunch of fellow travel bloggers (I’m in the green hat)
I have to admit, I didn’t attend all available sessions of the two-day conference. Vancouver’s Gastown with its cobblestone streets, famed steam clock, and shops selling maple sugar candy and proud Canucks garb lured me away from the meetings one morning. And I ducked out early one afternoon for some downtime back at my sweet Fairmont Waterfront room across the street.
I truly enjoyed much of what I attended, including Journey Woman’s Evelyn Hanson’s talk about how she got to where she is and her advice to “Stay true to your personal mandates.” The Narrative Travel Writing session provided useful tips and reminders for creating stories worth reading. The best session I attended was led by Robert Reid of Lonely Planet, who talked about the importance of doing research and including quotes in blog posts. He used humor, crayon drawings, and well, lots of research to make his points. I’d include a quote here, but this post is getting much too long for online reading eyes.
(Ironically, the first comment below, by Eva Holland, pointed out errors in my RESEARCH. Doh! This reminded me of something quotable in Robert Reid’s presentation. He said, “Sometimes we’re too quick to post.” He suggested bloggers “hug” their stories…give them time to breathe before hitting the publish button. Probably, he would suggest we get more than, oh, zero hours of sleep the night prior to posting too. *Yawn*)
The world’s first steam clock
The best part of TBEX 2011 was the same as last year – connecting with new contacts and familiar friends in both the blogging and PR fields. If there’s one cliché we all seemed to embrace wholeheartedly this weekend, it was that a rising tide lifts all boats. Well, hop on board, my travel writing friends. I hope to set sail with you on that tide at TBEX 2012 in Colorado!
You might also like:
• Barefoot Books $50 Giveaway – Explore the World with Kids through Reading
• Colorado’s Keystone Ski Resort Dining Adventures for Foodies & Families
• Travel Mamas Most Popular Blog Posts – Year 2
• Win a Hawaiian Family Vacation at Disney’s Aulani Resort
A Note from The Travel Mama: As a TBEX attendee I received entrance to a bunch of parties, free food and drinks, complimentary tour attendance, and I paid a discounted media rate for my hotel room. Another benefit of attending the conference!
Tags: Canada, Keystone, TBEX, Travel Bloggers Exchange, vancouver
Posted in Grown-Up Getaways, Mixed Baggage | 18 Comments »
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
In honor of the Olympics in Vancouver, I thought I’d share a link to this blog post from ThePlanetD.com, a travel blog by “Canada’s Adventure Couple” on The Great Canadian Word, Unique Phrases and Words of Canada. So, sit back, crack open a 2-4, pull a chocolate bar out of your knapsack and enjoy these Canadian colloquialisms.
Do you know some fun colloquialisms from Canada or another country that you’d like to share? Leave a comment below!
Tags: Canada, vancouver
Posted in Travel Tips | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
a) White Pelican
b) Barn Swallow
c) Common Loon
d) White-Tailed Sea-Eagle
(Scroll down for the answer…)
Answer: c) Common Loon
Common Loons are black and white birds with red eyes. They are most known for their distinct call. Unlike most birds, which have hollow bones, loons have solid bones. This extra weight requires these birds have a 100-600 foot water “runway” for taking flight from a lake. The Canadian one-dollar coin features a loon on it, inspiring Canadians to nickname the coins “loonies.”
To read more about these birds and view a photo of one, see my post The Travel Mama’s Top 3 Hidden Gem Destinations.
Do you have a suggestion for a Travel Trivia question? Send it my way!
Tags: Canada, national bird
Posted in Travel Trivia | No Comments »
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