Canada

Lots of rainy-day attractions in off-season Victoria

Barbara Kinney — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800

VICTORIA, B.C. — Only a few passengers ventured on to the deck of the Port Angeles-based ferry M.V. Coho, their heads bent and feet firmly planted against wind gusts and light rain, as we entered Victoria's Inner Harbor. The warm-weather parade of float planes, sailboats and small harbor ferries had disappeared — the harbor's waters the same color as the concrete walks surrounding it.

Okanagan family getaways are the ticket for affordability, access

Kristin Jackson — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Let me count the ways my family was injured during our ski vacation.

Tofino puts out a bigger welcome mat

Jeff Larsen — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0700

This town on the west coast of Vancouver Island is literally at the end of the road.

Seaside spa charts a soothing course

Jeff Larsen — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Sometimes a delayed Valentine's Day gift can be even more special than getting a gift on the real day -- especially when a spa is involved.

Young Simon Carrier, who waits tables at the Bearfoot Bistro in Whistler, B.C., worked Valentine's Day this year. So, for a delayed celebration, he and his Chilean girlfriend, Fernanda Icaran, decided to spend a night at the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort in Parksville on Vancouver Island for what Simon called "a little spa action." Overnight was all the young couple could afford.

A soothing soak when it's dripping gray outside

Jeff Larsen — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0800

Northwest weather sometimes can ruin even the best-laid plans. The almost daily deluges lately can wash away travel plans faster than you can shout "Please stop raining!" A couple of weeks ago my plans were swept downstream -- literally.

The day started gloriously for this time of year -- partly sunny, broken, white puffy clouds, with the temperature hovering in the mid 40s. Rain, however, was in the forecast. How far out wasn't clear.

You'll find plenty of green and white in the Comox Valley region

Anne Mullens — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0800

My husband has become an obsessive golfer, but the kids and I still love to ski and snowboard. With these irreconcilable differences, how can we have a successful winter family vacation?

Fortunately, we can head to the Comox Valley, about three hours north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. There, thanks to two starkly different climate zones in one geographic location, he can hit the green fairways of some top-notch golf courses and we can frolic in the snow -- all on the same winter's day.

British Columbia islands offer a quiet escape

Carol Pucci — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0700

PROTECTION ISLAND, British Columbia — "Would you like to borrow a wheelbarrow?" Catherine Hebb asked as we finished the last of our French toast.

We had spent a relaxing two nights at her B&B. Now our bags were parked near her front door. It was time to catch the ferry and head home.

Go north for a real China experience

Jeff Larsen — Thu, 19 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- The smells early in the morning in Vancouverýs Chinatown were intoxicating. Different, exotic Chinese melodies emanated from practically every storefront. Merchants shuffled heaping boxes of produce out to the sidewalk. Family members sliced, trimmed and configured each piece just so for maximum display effectiveness.

Stanley Park, Vancouver, B. C.

Cathy McDonald — Thu, 12 May 2005 00:00:00 -0700

Location: Vancouver, B.C.

Length: Miles of trails within park.

Level of difficulty: Park trails vary; look for nesting areas in trees above level, paved parking lot; accessible.

Head north of the border for a magical mix of city lights and mountain heights

Greg Johnston — Thu, 07 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0700

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Avid hikers who visit Vancouver just may want to stick to the city, taking in the attractions and absorbing the energy of a very diverse metropolis.

Shop until you can't stop along fashionable Robson Street, or find a desperately hip place to dine along West Pender.

Visit the phenomenal First Nations Collection at the University of British Columbia's Museum of Anthropology.

Stroll the famous Seawall at Stanley Park if you must.