Chris McBeath

10 Green Ways to Experience Vancouver

2011-08-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

Having just organized a Vancouver itinerary for a very eco-conscious, overseas visitor with only days in my fair city, here are some of the whirlwind suggestions I made:

1. Rent a bike or a pair of rollerblades and self-propel your way around Vancouver's Stanley Park seawall, marveling at Vancouver's green, urban, ocean-wrapped sanctuary.

2. Get a view of the city from the water; grab a kayak from Ecomarine and paddle your way through the waters of False Creek. If you're lucky, you'll spot some of the seals, otters, eagles and fish that make this urban waterway their home.

3. See Vancouver from the highest point possible atop Grouse Mountain's new wind turbine, the Eye of the Wind. The turbine has the capacity to produce enough energy to supply the needs of 400 homes over a year.

  
4. Eat sustainably on fresh, sustainably-harvested seafood; choose a restaurant that participates in the Vancouver Aquarium's Ocean Wise sustainable seafood program.

5. Take a guided walking tour with Rockwood Adventures and explore Vancouver's rainforests -- one of the world's most primitive ecosystems.

6. Sleep green at one of Vancouver's hotels that has made a commitment to the environment, such as the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel. Known for its zero waste management program, the hotel has a Green Key rating of four out of five.   

7. Travel by a 25-foot, First Nations canoe through the waters of Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm, while guides from Takaya Tours - an Aboriginal eco-tourism company - share legends, songs and stories from their rich history and culture.

8. Take transit - Bus, SkyTrain or SeaBus - around Vancouver's neighbourhoods and attractions. The diversity of views on water, on ground and on elevated rail, is the 'inside' way of seeing the city. Best of all, present your transit pass at a number of Vancouver's top attractions and you'll receive a discount on admission.

9. Indulge in the 100 Mile Tasting Menu at Raincity Grill where all dishes are inspired by sustainable aquaculture, local farmers and the book 100 Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating written by Vancouver-journalists Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon.

10. See what makes Vancouver a top city for green building and design; tour some of its state-of-the-art LEED gold-grade buildings, including the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Vancouver Aquarium's Aquaquest building, and the Olympic Village neighbourhood.

San Francisco Revisited

2011-07-31T10:31:00.000-07:00

Having not been to San Francisco for some 12 years, it was a delight to rediscover a city that I first visited in the seventies. I thought a stroll down memory lane would be a fun way to spend an afternoon but what I found was so much more.

Gentrifying Character
There`s an air of gentrification happening around many of the once-seedy backstreets near Union Square. Many neighbourhoods have also spruced up their picturesque homes and BART feels cleaner, too. Incidentally, BART makes for a very easy (and the cheapest) trip between the airport and downtown is less than $10 and takes about 30 minutes.

In Chinatown, laundry still hangs from fire-escapes Hong Kong style to dry in breezeS that can tunnel UP quite a force from the water; my favourite restaurant (the Far East Café) is still there but has cleaned up so well that I barely recognized it; and the jazz clubs seem to have shape-shifted appearances, the music is as great as ever. However, too many non jazz locales simply pound with incessant techno-beat music. I call it lazy-DJing – give the crowd an ecstasy pill and just keep blasting sameness.

The best re-discoveries were along the waterfront where former grunge is a distant memory. People and activity is everywhere – including an outdoor Sunday ministry for the homeless that really had unexpected `good vibrations` of friendship and decency. Pier 39 has settled into a pleasant stroll-shop-experiential destination. My biggest giggle came from experiencing Vitality, a Coney-island style spa. Pretty wild with everything from a flavourful oxygen-bar to electronic massagers.

Newest Top Draws
Away from the water, I really loved the attractions such as the amazing California Academy of Sciences and Walt Disney Family Museum.

The California Academy of Sciences is a showcase of our world's three dimensions: sea, earth and sky. In the basement (as in 'sea level') lies an amazing aquarium plus a swamp where Claude, one of only 45 albino alligator lives. Fabulous natural wildlife displays are on the main floor (as in earth), and a steamy, light filled dome contains a rainforest reaching for the sky. Everything`s geared to interaction. I loved the Science Tarot Cards – yes, you read this right. They were designed by intuitive artists especially for the Museum - I picked an image depicting a telescopic view of two stars, one slightly smaller than the other. They looked very real and while the scientific explanation was something about how stars can converge to create a new stars, the parallel tarot reading had something to do with choices.

Disney Family Museum is a wonderful revelation about Walt Disney himself. His family. Background. Early efforts. Failures. The creation of Steamboat Willie – one wall is covered with hundreds of images making up only seconds of film. Snow White. Fantasia. The working model of Disneyland … and so on. His daughter was the driving force behind telling the `real` story about her father, and it really is a delight to discover.

Dayton Boots Kicks It Up on Granville Island

2011-05-20T04:51:00.000-07:00

Established in 1946, Dayton Boots have garnered quite a reputation for hand-crafted boots - first for their logging boots, then for hell-bent-for-leather biker boots, and need to have heavy-duty construction and oil-rig boots.

Then Daytons got fashionable as in the hand-crafted, hip foot apparel for the likes of Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Robin Williams, Cindy Crawford, Sharon Stone, Kurt Russell, Lou Diamond Phillips, Harry Connick Jr., Brendan Fraser, Lorenzo Lamas, Darryl Hanna, and Alyssa Milano to name but a few.

So opening up a retail outlet on gentrified Granville Island is news --it's always sold boots out of its gritty workshop space on the city's East Side -- and is bound to create a stir for 'those in the know'.

The new store carries a complete line of Dayton Boots rugged performance footwear -- specifically designed for specialized motorcycling, riding, and walking footwear.

It's not uncommon to see Dayton boots still in use after 25 to 40 years. They're THAT good!

Georgia Hotel Soon to Re-Open

2011-05-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

Work and travel - rediscovering Montreal, has kept blogs on the back-burner but here I am again, prompted with the soon-to-re-open iconic Hotel Georgia as a Rosewood Georgia. The entire building has been under tarps and scaffolding for so long, it's great to see it finally returning to the Vancouver scene.

When the hotel first opened its doors in 1927,the location became the social, cultural and business heart of the city, as well as a hang out for celebrity guests including Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones, Ginger Rogers, Elvis Presley, Nat "King" Cole, The Beatles, Katharine Hepburn, Laurence Oliver and HRH Edward Prince of Wales.

The hotel's new Managing Director, Steve Halliday, is also a prominent Vancouver hotelier, remembered best for his opening of the five-star Pan Pacific Hotel.

Because of the hotel's illustrious history, Rosewood Hotel Georgia is inviting past guests to share their memories in a contest that launched this weekend and will run until June 18th 2011.

The best and/or most captivating story will win a grand price of a night in the Lord Stanley Suite (one of the hotel's two penthouse suites with private rooftop terraces and hot tubs), dinner at Hawksworth Restaurant, a decadent room service breakfast.

Check them out at www.RosewoodHotels.com
Me? I'm interested in trying the new Sense A Rosewood Spa so I can review in for my spa site on Bella-On-Line .....

Frommer's unveils 2011 Best Cruise Ships list

2011-04-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

As my Frommer's book hits the bookshelves for the summer, and cruise ships are soon to arrive in Vancouver, en route to Alaska, I thought I'd share their annual Best Cruise Ships list. After all, I used to work aboard cruise ships and have certainly written my fair share on cruising so it's close to my heart.

The newest and most groundbreaking ship on the list is Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, which debuted just a few months ago. Judges praised the 225,282-ton, 5,400-passenger vessel and her older twin sister, Oasis of the Seas, for "letting light and air into the center of the ships" via a radical new superstructure design. The judges also singled out Allure for being “undoubtedly the best entertainment ship at sea, with truly exceptional programming for both adults and kids.”

Also making the list of 2011’s best ships were:

· Celebrity's Solstice Class: Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox, and Celebrity Eclipse
· Seabourn's Odyssey Class: Seabourn Odyssey and Seabourn Sojourn
· Silversea's Silver Spirit, Silver Shadow, and Silver Whisper
· Norwegian Cruise Line's Jewel Class: Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Pearl, and Norwegian Gem
· Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria
· Celebrity's Millennium-class: Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Infinity, and Celebrity Summit

A further eight ships were recognized as “notable” including:
SeaDream Yacht Club's SeaDream I and SeaDream II
Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Epic
Princess's Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, and Ruby Princess
Windstar's Wind Surf
Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Jewel of the Seas
Star Clippers' Royal Clipper
Crystal Cruises Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony
Regent Seven Seas' Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager

All I can say, is WOW and Happy Sailing!

WHERE's 15 Things to Love about Vancouver

2011-03-02T09:18:00.000-08:00

When I said I'd share some secrets about Vancouver, when I found this just published piece by Where Vancouver ... well, it resonates.

1 Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, who are in town to film Twilight: Breaking Dawn. (did I tell you I was the Featured Performer in JK Rowling movie, Strange Magic, also shooting here?)

2 The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, which is nominated for a 2011 Juno Award. Tune in Mar. 27 to see if the VSO wins. (the VSO really is one of the most under-rated, great orchestras around)

3 Howard Hughes. The eccentric billionaire arrived at Vancouver’s Westin Bayshore Hotel on Mar. 14, 1972, taking over two floors for himself and his employees—though no hotel staff ever glimpsed the recluse during his long stay. (Errol Flynn - and his ladies - was another famous guest of that era, at the Hotel Vancouver ... and did you know that Boris Korloff actually came from Vancouver?)

4 Canine ambassadors such as Beau and Mavis. (Vancouverites are dog-crazy; expect to see packs of dog-walkers hanging out at your neighborhood Starbucks)

5 Fresh seafood. (Fresh, fresh, fresh ... especially if purchased directly off the boats at Steveston)

6 The Granville Island Broom Company.(Check out the organic sake maker, the amazing luthier and other one-of-a-kinds)

7 David Suzuki. The local author and environmental activist turns 75 on Mar. 24. (and let's not forget Greenpeace originated in Vancouver)

8 Luxurious anti-microbial yoga towels made by local company Baktuli (www.bak tuli.com). Each one sports a playful saying such as “Some like it hot.” At Moule and Fine Finds. (fitting company for Vancouver's other yoga great: Lulu Lemon)

9 Red Robinson. The legendary local disc jockey turns 74 on Mar. 30. Named in his honour, the 1,000-seat theatre at the Boulevard Casino features Gino Vannelli (Mar. 5) and Meat Loaf (Mar. 18 and 19) this month. (Red is one of the most genuine folks around ... a real local celeb. who has always loved his roots)

10 The Vancouver Canucks hockey team, which is celebrating its 40th season. (and they are doing sooooooo well - will the Stanley Cup be ours this year?)

11 The sense of community: Mar. 24 is Dining Out for Life, when restaurants across the Lower Mainland donate 25 per cent of each food bill to HIV/AIDS charities. (this is the first of so many community events that will now take place virtually every weekend through to the Fall)

12 Scuba diving. The water is cold—but it doesn’t warm up much in the summer. Scuba fans prefer winter diving here, when visibility is best. (Best spots include Porteau Cove)

13 The Vancouver Art Gallery. (Emily Carr and fantastic traveling exhibits of 'the classical greats)

14 Jogging on the seawall.(I've travelled the world, and Stanley Park's seawall is the best multi-experience, multi-generational seaside experience around)

15 Tiny art in Spirit Wrestler Gallery’s Mini Masterworks IV (Mar. 26 to Apr. 16). (and all the art at the Bill Reid Gallery)

If you have other favorites, let me know ...

tripadvisor includes BC inns in its top choices

2011-02-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

It's so gratifying when a site like tripadvisors lists BC Inns among its top choices -- even more so when some of them are already on www.greatestgetaways.com, which specializes in getaways in the Pacific Northwest, and beyond.

Here they are:

Abbeymoore Manor Bed & Breakfast, Victoria, BC
ThistleDown House, North Vancouver, BC
Eagle Landing Bed & Breakfast, Qualicum Beach, BC
Harvey House Bed & Breakfast, Tofino, BC
West End Guest House, Vancouver, BC
Apple Blossom Bed & Breakfast, West Kelowna, BC

Evan Penner, President of the British Columbia Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers Guild, says, “With four of Canada’s top 10 Bed and Breakfasts members of the BC Innkeepers’ Guild, this speaks volumes to the quality of our members. The inn or B&B experience is more than just a room: it’s a warm welcome, lovingly kept rooms, plus that unique feature – a sun porch, a cozy fireplace, a blissful hammock or a delicious afternoon tea. Our innkeepers love what they do, and it shows in the warm welcome they extend.”

San Juan Islands #2 on New York Times To Places to Visit List

2011-01-22T14:23:00.000-08:00

With my Frommers Guide to the San Juan Islands due out any moment, it seems fitting to share this news.

The New York Times 2011 top destinations list IN THE WORLD includes these islands as Number 2!

To quote the NYT: “From the beaches of Mexico to the wilds of Kurdistan, the places on this year’s list take you to the end of the world and back.” So you can imagine that the San Juan folks are pretty chuffed at the recognition .... as I am since the new Frommers guide already includes what this prestigeous paper reveals.

The article praises the Islands’ amazing nature, and its dining scene, including Chef Lisa Nakamura’s new Allium Restaurant on Orcas Island, in Eastsound Village. The “eternal lure of the San Juans” is credited to its landscapes where “pastoral hills give way to broody forests and scrappy escarpments that overlook fjordlike inlets.” Praise is given for the recent annexation of Mitchell Hill to the San Juan Island National Historical Park, active land preservation efforts by organizations such as the San Juan County Land Bank, and the preservation from development of the spectacular Watmough Bay Preserve on Lopez Island with its “moody water as magically lighted as a Bierstadt painting.” The San Juan Islands were last honored on a New York Times annual list in 2008, in its “31 Places to Go this Summer” in the United States. In that list, the San Juans held the #14 position.

Other Pacific Northwest destinations chosen for the “41 Places to Go in 2011” list include two San Juan Islands neighbors: Olympic National Park, Washington (#27) and Whistler, British Columbia (#25). Other world destinations chosen for the 2011 list include Santiago, Chile (in the #1 position), The Danube, Zanzibar, Budapest and Singapore, to name a few.

To read the entire article, please go to www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/travel/09where-to-go.html or use the shortened link of http://nyti.ms/gJXhwc.

WILD RIDE ON TOURISM'S NEWEST TECH WIZARDRY

2011-01-12T12:37:00.000-08:00

Now here's a travel evolution - launched today in Vancouver.

Ever dreamt of jumping in a helicopter pilot seat and soaring over some of this province’s finest glaciers, rivers, waterfalls and forests… in your pyjamas? Well now's your chance -- virtually.

The Vancouver-based northStudio360 has just developed an interactive, 360-degree helicopter video of some of BC’s most visually-stunning landscape. These techno wizards have created a web-based video by using a custom-built rig to which they strapped six cameras to a pole and hung it out of a helicopter while flying over a 150 km track of stunning coastal mainland. To finalize the product, northStudio360 used their proprietary video merging software for a seamless flying experience.

"Until now, 360 video really gave only a ground level look at our world. We’ve literally taken this technology to new heights," said Ryan Whitehead, president of northStudio360. "We teamed up with Nimmo Bay Resort, one of North America’s top heli-adventure destinations, to showcase the wild West Coast. With the push of a button, you’re in the pilot’s seat: fly inches off the surface of a river or soar over rugged mountains, it’s entirely up to you."
Due to improvements of internet and processor speeds in the past few years, it’s now possible to deliver higher quality 360-degree video to the public and with much more dynamic views, creating new opportunities for those in the tourism and advertising sectors. In the near-future, northStudio360 plans to create videos where users can stop the footage, insert location tags (Geotag) and upload vacation photos.
　
To experience the software first-hand, visit http://www.blogger.com/www.nimmobay.com/media/360-video/360-video-adventures

And get set for a wild ride!

Sunset Inn & Suites a REAL Vancouver find

2011-01-07T14:01:00.000-08:00

Because I tend to blog when traveling, you might assume that life has been quieter these last couple of months. Until you realize that the last eight weeks have involved all the usual holiday paraphernalia and New Year celebrations. And now that we’re all ensconced into 2011, there’s a real sense of optimism in the air. Despite a still-shaky economy, poor job stats, rising air-fares, and weather-driven misery, horoscopes and intuitive forecasters seem determined to paint a much rosier picture.

So, going with the flow, I’ve started out my New Year in rediscovering hidden treasures of my home city: Vancouver.

Here one of my first finds right off the bat: Sunset Inn & Suites – an apartment style hotel that’s just like living as a resident whether you choose a studio or one-bedroom unit. Recent upgrades have made this modest hi-rise an amazing value-for-money place – very comfortable, spacious, well equipped small kitchens, a wee exercise room, Wi-Fi, a DVD library and even free parking -- a big bonus in any city.

What really stands out is its hospitality. It honestly feels so much more friendly and genuine that the Big Hoteliers just down the road.

And you’ve got to love its central location. Restaurants and coffee houses are on your doorstep. Granville Island and the downtown shopping district are a stone’s throw away. Because of this, Sunset doesn’t have (or need) its own in-house restaurant which gets it listed as a 3.5 star property but trust me, this under-the-radar place offers 5-star service.

Once discovered, it’s the kind of place that will become your home away from home for every visit to Vancouver.

Now THAT'S a bona fide Vancouver greatest getaway!

REMEMBRANCE DAY

2010-11-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep,
though poppies grow in Flanders Fields

The haunting words of Canadian Lt.-Col. John McCrae were never more powerful than today.
He penned them to conclude his epic poem, In Flanders Fields, shortly before his death near the end of the First World War.

Sadly, only a handful of veterans fo the Great War remain with us. Those who served in the Second World War and Korean War are not far behind. So it falls upon us and our children to tell the story and remember ......

To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high

McCrae was writing those words for future generations.
And it must be within our moral compass to give them voice and heart.

TRAVEL WRITERS SPREAD ACROSS GERMANY

2010-11-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

Travel writers are a curious breed ….. independent adventurers each trying to up the other for the obscure story hook and eye-catching photo angle. When they converge on a destination, as we did for the recent international gathering of Society of American Travel Writers, organizers of the event must have felt like they were herding cats!

But the generous hospitality of Lufthansa, which enabled flexible travel schedules, German Tourism, which extended programs throughout the country, and our hosts in the Saxony region, a good time was pursued by all. I’ve never seen so many clicking cameras, bloggers, tweeters, scribblers, and Dictaphones running amok under one roof – metaphorically speaking.

Dresden and Leipzig were the primary destinations and really strutted the best of their stuff. Although virtually decimated after the Second World War, both cities have risen from the ashes to remember their glorious heydays. Dresden in particular is filled with architectural splendor and has a fabulous countryside to explore. Leipzig is music central as in the footsteps of Johann Sebastian Bach, Mendelssohn, Schumann and Richard Wagner. Add Mozart into the mix and Saxony becomes an unrivalled destination for its historical and cultural landscape.

And the hospitality of the German people is undisputed.

Since many of us spread our wings to other parts of Germany and Europe, you can expect a slew of stories to hit the media waves. Until then, read my tweets for travels beyond, to Prague, Budapest and Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Alaska - still the edge of the Frontier

2010-10-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

Traveling the length and breadth of Alaska sounds like a daunting task, especially since the majority of the state is still very much untamed wilderness. There's a raw beauty about Alaska that breeds independence of mind and spirit. The landscapes still invite homesteaders and pioneers to carve out a self-sufficient lifestyle here which, from any urbanzied perspective, looks pretty darn inhospitable at the best of times.

But ifyou're willing to roll with whatever the day might bring, have a dry pair of socks, and an all-weather jacket, Alaska should be on everyone's bucket list. Besides, the Alaska Railroad is legendary and one of the few remaining trains in the world that you can still flag down.

The harshly beautiful environments have engendered a kind of no-nonsense culture and it's easy to see how they've formed the backbone of Sarah Palin politics. Interestingly, Alaskans are divided towards their former governor, it part because they feel she left them after only two years in office -- during which time she tookon a currupt establishment, and won. Did she sell out for a book deal? Were establishment lawsuits making her ineffectual? Did she feel that she could make a bigger difference on a bigger stage?

Whatever you believe, one thing is true. Today, as a private citizen,and cheerleader for a back-to-founding priciples Americanism, she is widely considered one oof the most influential women in politics. It's been a meteroric rise from relative obscurity to the world stage which, when all is said and done, can only be good for Alaska. And SP wouldn't have it any other way.

Catch up with my tweets for other Alaska perspectives.

Frommer's Travels Complete

2010-08-07T21:26:00.000-07:00

Islands' travels are over, at least for the time being, and in essence, I was delighted with what I found. Yes, tourism is down. Yes, some businesses have faltered. But far from doom and gloom, I found a resilience that was heart-warming. Perhaps it's the population make-up of the islands: artists who are accustomed to creative ways of living; retirees with a set income; and families with a logging and fishery heritage who have already learned how to multi-task different careers, and reinvent themselves all together to weather the storm.

The islands are still happening places. Now that a beautiful September is on the horizon, now's the time to really enjoy them at their very best.

On the road for Frommers

2010-07-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

Updating my Frommer's guide to Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands is always a fabulous excuse to roam the roads. Sure, I clock up the mileage but in a Mazda Miata convertible, with glorious sunshine, it doesn't always feel like work.

In May, when I traveled the length and breadth of Vancouver Island, the miserable weather certainly didn't encourage hanging around a beach with an ice-cream cone. But it kept my nose to the grindstone. I wanted to see how the island had managed the recession, and is the reason why I'm visiting the San Juans and Gulf islands with such a keen eye, and tuned-ear.

Tourism is such an important economy for all these islands, and nothing beats finding out the 'state' of the nations', first hand. We all know that Americans are staying closer to home and, in spite of what the current US Administration is touting, unemployment and taxes are up; opportunities and optimism are down. And when you're away from the city cores, you're more than likely to witness a growing disaffection to the BO reality of promised change.

That in itself makes for interesting talk. But I digress. It's time to get movin'

Thailand Teaser

2010-03-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

Have just spent the last while touring Thailand from the less traveled roads of Ko Lanta in the south to the northerly hills towards the Burmese border. Slash-burning and little rain made the atmosphere somewhat claustrophobic but never distracted from my time with the elephants.

There are many tourist-style elephant activities to enjoy but they can leave me cold - much like making caged, 'tamed' tigers into a visitor attraction, but to learn and participate in elephant care at Patara is quite a different matter. Taking apart elephant dung and brushing their long eyelashes is a bonding experience like no other.

Look out for my articles to come. Until then, suffice to say that the charm of the country and its people is as gracious as ever; and the impact of highways and a skytrain in Bangkok has really shifted the smoggy chaos that once so characterized this city.

If you've not 'done' Thailand is the last 10 years, put it on your agenda

NBC says thanks, for the memories

2010-03-10T16:10:00.000-08:00

Before continuing on with my own observations, and in case you missed this, I'm posting it as a feel good read. It was written rather graciously by Brian Williams, anchor and managing editor, NBC ..... with an outsider's perspective with an insider's knowledge.

After tonight's broadcast and after looting our hotel mini-bars, we're going to try to brave the blizzard and fly east to home and hearth, and to do laundry well into next week. Before we leave this thoroughly polite country, the polite thing to do is leave behind a thank-you note. Thank you, Canada:
For being such good hosts.
For your unfailing courtesy.
For your (mostly) beautiful weather.
For scheduling no more than 60 percent of your float plane departures at the exact moment when I was trying to say something on television.
For not seeming to mind the occasional (or constant) good-natured mimicry of your accents.
For your unique TV commercials -- for companies like Tim Hortons -- which made us laugh and cry.
For securing this massive event without choking security, and without publicly displaying a single automatic weapon.
For having the best garment design and logo-wear of the games -- you've made wearing your name a cool thing to do.
For the sportsmanship we saw most of your athletes display.
For not honking your horns. I didn't hear one car horn in 15 days -- which also means none of my fellow New Yorkers rented cars while visiting.
For making us aware of how many of you have been watching NBC all these years.
For having the good taste to have an anchorman named Brian Williams on your CTV network, who turns out to be such a nice guy.
For the body scans at the airport which make pat-downs and cavity searches unnecessary.
For designing those really cool LED Olympic rings in the harbor, which turned to gold when your athletes won one.
For always saying nice things about the United States...when you know we're listening.
For sharing Joannie Rochette with us.
For reminding some of us we used to be a more civil society.
Mostly, for welcoming the world with such ease and making lasting friends with all of us.

Loved it, Miss it but glad to have my city back!

2010-03-10T15:40:00.000-08:00

What do I miss?

The roving packs of national teams exploring the downtown core; hundreds foreign accents always within an earshot or two, and media cameras always positioned to catch the latest street colour.

The innovative broadcast venues such as NBC atop Grouse Mountain, the Swiss on Granville Island and the Russians in Science World (a local radio station enabled nations to broadcast in mother tongue to local immigrants – Cool because it reflects Vancouver’s remarkable ethnic diversity.

The pedestrian-only streets; I can only hope that city-forefathers will take heed and at least try to recreate the sculptural and busker entertainment zones for periods in the summer.

The nightly firework and pulsating laser light shows.

The unparalleled camaraderie between visitors, everyone who sported anything red and/or white, the palpable buzz which in truth NEVER let up so there’s something to be enjoyed about claiming the city back!

And a concluding comment:
The British Press started off in a snipey mood (most notably The Guardian newspaper), but grew somewhat more conciliatory over the two week period. Well, it’ was good politics since they’re next in the firing line.

Having just returned from London I have a comparison to where Vancouver was two years out.

Vancouver is a much smaller city but it’s all relative, and I don’t envy London's already crowded metropolis trying to host a games three times the size, three times the headaches and many more times that in terms of accessibility to tourists and terrorists.

Londoners are bemoaning the expense (being somewhat nearer the financial brink than Canada), as well as the unnecessary location of certain events such as moving horse jumping to Greenwich Park when there are spectacular facilities at Windsor and other near-to-London communities.

At least Vancouver held a plebiscite and could wave a ‘yes’ flag in front of the naysayers. I’m not sure Londoners would give the same support. But we’ll see.

Anecdotal Olympic Legacy Items

2010-03-10T15:38:00.000-08:00

A smart new transit line from an expanded airport, a faster and safer road to Whistler, community venues such as the Richmond Oval, improved social housing and emergency units for the homeless (an issue always inflames debate), and an expanded convention centre are among the most written about legacies.

Here are some others:

Apprentice craftsman made the medal-ceremony podiums; many were First Nations earning their way to a career while inspiring their peers to vision self-responsible lives outside of reservation lands.

The XXI Games was the first true social media Olympics embracing online debate via Facebook, Blogs, Twitter and other social vehicles. It has set the stage for how all future games will be seen.

Opening ceremony artists lead iTunes downloads – Hallelujah by k.d. lang (who only agreed to perform if she could sing it LIVE – other artists lip-synched) and Nikki Yanofsky’s I Believe

The circular flags that were installed along Vancouver downtown sidewalks (http://www.flagwalk.ca/) representing the 80+ participating nations. Still a tourist attraction, catch them while you can since many of finding their way into suitcases – honest!

Post Olympic polls increased numbers from 63% to 86% of those who felt the Games were good for the province.

One developer claims to have sold $50 million of condo real estate during the Games including one Coal Harbour (downtown) at $22 million.

As a result of a tent city that sprung up during the Games in Vancouver’s poorest district, the East Side, 46 homeless were found space. Amazing what can be done when under a world lens.

What I miss? see next blog ...

For the Olympic Anecdotal Record

2010-03-10T15:36:00.000-08:00

Who would believe some of these figures .....?

Public Transit welcomed some 200 articles a day including an average of four passports/day, the majority of which are Canadian. Go figure?

Vancouver International Airport processed a record breaking 39,000 travelers in one day vs its daily average of 26,000. Small numbers for some big cities but a major stepping stone for YVR.

Within a few days of opening, traveling the Zip Line over Robson Square meant an eight hour wait with many a hopeful zipper starting the line-up at 2:30 AM!

The Molson Hockey Pavilion served at least 5,000 (large) glasses of beer during the Canada/USA games. Heard that the Heineken pavilion served a shade more than that a day.

In addition to pin trades, costumes and revelry, the next most common sight were ticket buyers/sellers wearing neck-boards advertising their desire to pay $1,000 for any Canada/USA hockey tickets. Top price was reported in excess of $10,000 for the Gold Medal Hockey finals.

In TV viewership numbers, the Gold Medal hockey game in the US was second only to those who watched the Obama election; it was the largest in Canadian television history.

Considering the above (and let’s remember the TON of security personnel too - see earlier blog), it’s little wonder that crime figures during the Games period plummeted, especially B&Es that went from 46 percent to 37 percent.

Whistler’s two, 80-metre-long composting tunnels swallowed up to 35 tonnes of bio-solids (per week) and are now churning it out the other end as rich, black loam for landscaping.

Legacy thoughts to come ….

Post Olympic Musings

2010-03-10T15:24:00.000-08:00

The XXIWinter Olympic Games is history. Or is it?

It certainly looks as if the afterglow is seeking an intrinsic value into a more outward-going Canadian psyche -- but I’ll leave that discussion for the pundits. After all, something’s gotta justify the costs of our hangover.

I’ll simply share some random thoughts, observations and anecdotes that might not have made it into the mainstream media – some of the things that transformed our city either physically with traffic diversions and street closures, or emotionally as the city celebrated its time in the world spotlight.

The Games opened during the city’s warmest 31-day stretch of winter weather on record. Yes, several events were postponed which is actually not unusual for a winter Olympics. Did anyone report that chilly Calgary had to postpone 70 events to accommodate weather variances?

Participants in both Opening/Closing Ceremonies couldn’t use hairspray lest the pyrotechnics set heads aflame.

Canadian flags created a landscape of red and white: draped on roundabouts, hung in windows, covering the stone paws of the legendary Lions Gate Bridge lions, portrayed as eyeglass lenses, converted into Superhero costumes, painted on cheeks …. Everywhere, on young and old, on tall and stout people, buildings and animals. The Games seemed to quench an unparalleled thirst to demonstrate a unity of patriotism. GO CANADA GO.

2,000 official vehicles catered to 2730 athletes; watch for deals when they (the cars not the passengers) are sold across Canada as end-of-lease vehicles only these ones will bear the Vancouver Olympic logo.

A round of applause for hot-country, one-athlete teams who managed to qualify: Senegal, Portugal, Taipei, Bermuda, Columbia, Morocco, Ghana, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Mexico, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Albania, Algeria and Ethiopia.

Shoppers usually had to endure a four-block line up around the Hudson Bay to get their hands on Olympic gear. VISA reports they spent nearly US $5.2 million on Opening Day alone.

The Athletes Village is North America’s greenest community; the second in the world to earn LEED platinum certification; some units were converted from containers; students at Emily Carr/UBC art programs designed and made the outdoor furniture.

The simple strategy of closing liquor stores four hours early meant that partying rarely turned into rowdy gatherings. When police asked selected revellers to pour drinks down drains, they did without fuss. Had Canada lost the Hockey Gold to the USA, perhaps things would have been different that last night.

Overall Games costs’ are $6 billion and counting. In most instances, we shone but shame of the $10 million spent on the Canada Pavilion. Half the cost was for the architecturally-uninspired, US-provided tent (huh?); the other half went to uninspired touch-screen exhibits geared to the under-10 crowd. Government trying to do kids’ fun is an oxymoron.

Miss the roving packs of national teams exploring the downtown core and media cameras always positioned to catch the latest street colour. And miss the innovative broadcast venues such as NBC atop Grouse Mountain, Swiss on Granville Island, and the Russians in Science World.

More random anecdotes to come……

A NOT SO PERFECT POEM

2010-03-01T16:47:00.000-08:00

I'll be blogging some catch-up observations on the Great Olympic event soon, but meanwhile, in case you've missed this in your web meanderings .... this is kinda cool:

So We're Not Perfect!

Do you believe?
We never claimed to be perfect,
That means we’ve learned to be humble.
We say excuse me and I'm sorry…as well as please and thanks,
Even when its not our fault we apologize.

Sure one arm of the torch didn't rise,
But when the earthquake struck Haiti,
Canadians raised their hands to say…”We’ll help.”

And yah, there is a fence around the torch,
But you can walk right up and shake hands with our prime minister and most famous Canadians. We put Gretzky in the back of a pick up, in the rain, not surrounded by police…and he was okay,
And by the way... the great one is Canadian…and HE wasn’t complaining!

We do have security at the games, of course, but most people don't even have a gun they have to leave at home.
The medals ARE under lock and key, but our doors and our hearts are open to the world.

It has been pointed out that some buses broke down last week…but let’s not overlook the fact that our banking system didn't.
We didn't get the "green ice maker" right this time…but we will, eventually,
Just like we did when we invented the zamboni.

Citius altius fortius
If you don't reach higher how do you get faster and stronger?
Was the first quad jump perfect?
Should we not have given snowboarding to the world "in case" it didn’t take off?
So big deal…one out of four torch arms didn't rise.
Good thing we had three more!
It’s called contingency planning!
But remember…the Canadarm works every time…in outerspace…and insulin turned out to be okay.

We couldn't change the weather, but maybe we can help to stop global warming.
We don't have the tax base of the US or the power of the Chinese but, per capita, we ponied up for some pretty kick-ass venues in the worst global recession ever.

Sure, some folks couldn't afford tickets, but our health care is universal.
We have shown the world that we can raise our voices in celebration and song, but moments later stand in silence to respect a tragic event...together...spontaneously…and unrehearsed.

What's more, we don't need permission from anyone to have a slam poet, fiddlers with piercings and a lesbian singer tell our story to the world while our multilingual female haitian-born, black head of state shares a box with her first nations equals.

We’ve shown the world that it doesn’t always rain in Vancouver, that you can strive for excellence, but not get hung up on perfection.

And we’ve learned what it feels like to be picked on by some no-name newspaper guy and we don’t have to take it lying down!

So the point is not the snow, or the hydraulics or a couple guys being 5 minutes late to a ceremony,
We know we’re lucky that these are the biggest problems we've had to deal with in the last couple weeks.
So take your cheap shots…Guardian newspaper and cynics of the world,
We're bigger and better than that.
What's more we're finally starting to believe it!

Do you believe?

OLYMPIC FEVER

2010-02-14T15:50:00.000-08:00

I would be remiss if I didn’t write something during the biggest event Vancouver has ever hosted. After all, in addition to the longest (and most creative) torch relay in Winter Olympic history, Vancouver`s Opening Ceremonies succeeded in pulling together a national pride that even instilled a patriotism into the hearts of disconnected naysayers.

Weather Woes

Weather continues to be as ‘iffy’ and ironically, despite concerns of balmy temperatures on the city’s local mountain, Cypress, it was the one to open without hitches … which cannot be said for Whistler`s alpine skiing program where fog and slush ruled the track.

Feeling the Vibe

At sea level, the weather swings between drizzles, downpours and warm, spring sunshine with cloudless blue skies. Regardless, crowds in the downtown core just seem to flow through it all. They wait with the patience of Job to enter the various international pavilions, circle around impromptu buskers and entertainers on steps, plazas, and sidewalks; and meander down roads that during the Games,have become pedestrian only celebratory areas. Watch for actors dressed as British Columbia historical figures; endure a wait of up to five hours to catch a zip-line ride from one hi-rise tower to another across the downtown core below; hang around until 10:30 pm to see a pyrotechnic show at Robson Square (above a public ice-rink) or in Coal Harbour near the Olympic flame and Convention Centre -- home-base to 10,000 international media that range from a team of 35 for Slovakia TV to 1500 for NBC from the United States.

$900 million worth of safety

There is a gaggle of anti-Olympic protesters who make the odd appearance (sadly, they managed to break a few windows of the sponsor store carrying Olympic clothing and paraphernalia) but with some 15,000 security personnel prowling around, everything remains pretty safe and peaceful. In fact, it’s really quite a sight to see so many RCMP officers from across Canada; some with gold stripes to their uniform, others with red (from Saskatchewan), some wearing woolly hats (from the Atlantic provinces) and others speaking with a charming French accent. You see them hanging out at the local Starbucks, kitted out with dogs, diving gear, in patrolling helicopters overhead and in plain clothes. This gig in Lotusland must be a dream. Nowhere else in the country are the daffodils in bloom and cherry blossoms are a sun-ray away from bursting into colour. Oh yes, did I mention that NORAD has had a couple of intercepting flights out of the Vancouver International Airport and the bomb squad was called in to explode a stray bundle? Both incidences proved to be non-issues but the security contingent here is alert to every possible nuance.

Feet First

Downtown is remarkably quiet of cars. Vancouverites have taken heed to the preambles to leave vehicles at home and use public transit. Road closures and diversions are all par for the course and with no-stopping allowed in the many designated Olympic lanes (taxis are having a heck of a time picking up passengers), walking really is the best mode of transport. Besides, stopping in these lanes carries a hefty fine and/or a tow away. No excuses accepted.

And so the Olympic transformation continues.

OLYMPIC BUZZ

2010-01-13T13:56:00.000-08:00

It’s pouring with rain, the snow is melting and the temperature is uncharacteristically warm for this time of year. But is there panic in my hometown that all these elements could undo the greatest party this city’s ever seen?

Not a chance.

As the city gets dressed for the ball, the excitement for the 2010 Games is palpable. Banners are emerging on streetscapes, colourful marquees now line the waterfront, flags are beginning to appear in windows, Christmas lights are still up (only now, many flicker red and white), and signs pepper the highways and byways, flashing messages of upcoming road closures and diversion.

Retailers still can’t keep up with the demand for wooly red mitts, emblazoned with the Canadian Maple Leaf in the palm – which is just as well because the weather folks are as optimistic for a chilly February as in-the-know sports enthusiasts are that Canada will own the podium this Olympic Games.

Although many Vancouverites are choosing to escape the scramble of hosting the world on their doorstep, I’m staying put. So what if there’s a traffic jam or two? I say, “Just chill in the cooler climes to come, and enjoy”.

And in case you are wondering? Yes, there are still rooms to be found. Check out the listings at http://www.greatestgetaways.com/

Olympic Christmas

2009-12-15T14:02:00.000-08:00

Now that we've had our first snow, icey sleet and salted sidewalks, everyone at Travelink Publishing is getting the festive vibe.

Olympic 'stuff' is around the corner - catch us skating the Richmond Olympic Oval - and stay tuned for what it will be like in the eye of the storm. Our offices are in the Olympic 'red zone' so there's no telling what that actually means once the torch arrives back in Vancouver and security gets hot and heavy. Meanwhile, take note of city streets that are now decorated with decal-flags from each of the participating countries, and making up a flag-walk.

The holly trees have lots of red berries and since that's indicative of a heavy winter to come, the Games should have snow. Thank goodness.

But that's 2010, and we've still to celebrate the end of 2009 ....

So happy holidays from Travelink's scribes, video-masters and photographers all of who have some pretty nifty new ideas to keep you hot-wired to some of the neatest travel experiences.

Olympic Anticipation

2009-11-23T16:28:00.001-08:00

When I see my last blog was in the height of summer, and it's now a dark, pouring wet, November afternoon, it's perhaps testimony as to my 'nose-to-the-grindstone' status.
But now, at the end of contributing to the http://www.hellobc.com/ website, updating many of the communities in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Region for all those 2010 Olympic visitors, I've come to fall in love with British Columbia all over again. Communities like Delta, White Rock, Port Moody, Hope, Abbotsford and others may seem like quiet suburbs but wow, have they got a lot happening - birding, kayaking, wilderness hikes, fishing, extraordinary dining ... the list goes on.

Be sure to take the time and discover Vancouver's outlying areas. And if you're Whistler bound, drive another 20 minutes and you'll find Pemberton which many say is what Whistler used to be 25 years ago, before urban chic gentrified the mountain resort. From Pemberton, head across to the Fraser Canyon in a circle trip back to Vancouver.

If you're islands bound, tripAdvisor rates the current Frommer's guide to Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands as among the best resources to pack in your knapsack.

With the Winter Olympics fast becoming a reality; the tempo of anticipation is just now kicking in. It started with the torch relay that's currently criss-crossing the country via canoe, horseback, carriage, surf board - you name it, the flame's travelin' it!

Meanwhile, local mountains have a ton of snow already (in spite of the rain at lower levels); athletes are vying for practice time at the different venues (yes, the USA participants are getting their time alongside everyone else); security manouvers are putting air, sea and ground teams through their paces; transit rehearsals are about to hit the city streets, and everyone's beginning to wave red Olympic mittens with a white Canadian maple leaf emblem in the palm.

It's a whole new interpretation to 'catching the wave'!

HITTING THE YOU-TUBE WAVES

2009-08-25T17:31:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy time over the summer, gathering video materials to create travel moments. Check out our (fishyracer) videos on Wolf Creek, Utah; Van Dop Gallery with Chris McBeath; Grouse Mountain with Chris McBeath and others that producer/director Bill Vanderford is whizzing together.

Las Vegas - Gateway to Desert Escapes

2009-06-27T15:51:00.000-07:00

My number one ‘back-country’ choice has always been the Valley of Fire – amazing desert canyons with petroglyphs and colors that epitomize the rocky beauty of the desert. See my article on greatestgetaways. And Red Rock Canyon offers panoramic 13-mile scenic drive as well as trails for bikes and hikes.

In my most recent trip to Nevada, however, I’ve a discovered a couple of back-country rivals where you can dump the car and tune-in with a totally different pace.

The first is white-water rafting down the Colorado River, below the Hoover Dam to Willow Beach near Boulder City (the only township in Nevada where gambling is illegal). Black Canyon River Adventures hold the license to manage the limited number of craft allowed to launch at the Dam, and do a crack-up job in maneuvering you through the adventure of riding the gentle rapids. Canyon walls that rise 2,000 feet from the water’s edge. Piping hot mineral spring water. Pretty darn cold river waters – actually a refreshing spray in the high-noon heat. And finding big horn sheep clinging with ease to the vertical rock face.

While most folks often gravitate to Lake Mead for the terrific fishing, I suggest you chill out on a Forever Resorts houseboat on Lake Mohave. Although based at Cottonwood Cove Resort & Marina, your floating home-away-from-home can be towed to any secluded spot with a sandy beach and hiking trails into the desert. The craft are geared to comfort – you gotta love the water slide off the top deck, and if you include add-on options such as a water ski boat, you have a zippy run-about to explore the fissured backwaters and coves, not to mention zipping along on a ski run, or being towed in a skimming donut.

Along the shore, you can expect to see Mountain Sheep and wild burros, evidence of desert creatures that awake in the cool of night – cougar, coyote, lizards and snakes, as well as crystal clear waters full of catfish, gar and even soft-shell turtles.

Cottonwood is only a half-hour boat ride from Willow Beach, so transfers from river raft to houseboat are seamless – and that includes any luggage that travels separately aboard by van. And because Cottonwood will also provide a ride back to the airport, the entire backcountry experience is worry-free of nitty-gritty details.

Win or lose in Las Vegas, combining the neon-city with desert waters delivers one of the most textured, sensory, and refreshing Nevada experiences around.

LAS VEGAS - Always In Motion

2009-06-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

I’m always intrigued with Las Vegas and while we all know it’s gambling central of North America, I always look for the unexpected -- something to restore balance after the neon-lit, show-time, slot-machine sensory overload. But since it’s the shows, shops and slots that make this over-the-top city tick, here are some must-dos to create that thirst for ‘balance’:
· Catch a Cirque du Soleil show – there are four to choose from including Mystere to the company’s most sophisticated production O. The first exits just in time for Treasure Island’s swash-buckling, street-side Pirate Show; the latter coincides with the night-time spectacular of Bellagio’s musical fountains.
· The Crazy Horse (MGM-Grand) incorporates clever choreography and light combinations for a titillating show of tame eroticism -- a fun tease without any obscenity.
· Make time for comedic magician Nathan Burton (Flamingo). He has a reputation for pulling Houdini-style publicity stunts and the late afternoon show is a terrific transition from day to evening entertainment.
· Ride the monorail to one end of the strip and start the long trail back via all the landmark hotels which are theatre spectacles unto themselves. The Pyramid and Pharoahs at Luxor, Ellis Island rides, the Eiffel Tower at Paris, The Venetian’s Gondolas. And so it goes … with names such as Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, Tom Jones, Donny and Marie, Cher (didn’t she retire?) Come to think of it, aren’t they all getting near the big R? They’re still packing them in, though.
· If you’re a shopper, The Fashion Show is a must-mall (a recent shopping survey noted Las Vegas was the 3rd most popular US city for shopping); if you need a restorative hand, spa out at the Bellagio, Caesars, the Mandalay, or the Venetian as top choices. Wynn has a quality spa, as does Donald Trump’s gleaming gold tower. The Trump, incidentally, doesn’t have a gaming unit anywhere on site which in this town has rather a rogue panache – much like its celebrity owner.

Suffice to say that Las Vegas continues to evolve, grow, and sprawl. Even though current economies have put some expansions on hold, cranes still litter the skyline, traffic is standstill ghastly, and people populate the tables 24x7. Perhaps they’re General Motors executives in disguise – after all, wasn’t it a black jack do-or-die bet that got Fedex airborne? Hmm, it seems more likely that those die-hard players are from government!

Before politics starts to intrude, this blog is done. Catch my next Las Vegas entry for back country options which really are the antithesis of this desert metropolis.

2009-05-23T15:30:00.000-07:00

HOTEL HAPPENINGS IN YVR
The Wedgewood Hotel, one of my city getaway favorites, celebrates its 25th anniversary with 25% discounts off various guest stuff: off website guestroom rates, off Bacchus restaurant and lounge items (this is the BEST place for afternoon tea and a late night tete-a-tete), off spa treatments (it’s one of the smallest, most gracious spas in existence) and even meeting room rentals if gatherings are on your agenda. Offer is good through September 25th, 2009.

Meanwhile, the Four Seasons has just unveiled its $20 million renovation which revamped the restaurant – the new YEW is very contemporary and very chicly urban, its 372 guestrooms and the meeting areas.

And thirdly, the St. Regis Hotel, has added an artsy touch. The Hotel re-opened early this year after a ginormous renovation that turned the heritage Edwardian hotel into a hip and happening place. The collection comprises 22 pieces from five different artists that blend Native, Hispanic, Asian, Irish and American influences. Eclectic? Yes. Does it work? You be the judge!

LOVE the Loden Vancouver

2009-04-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

When it opened last year, Loden Vancouver was set to rival Opus for trend-setting chic. Well, Loden has just won a greatly coveted International Star Diamond Award so it's mission accomplished!

The Award is the most prestigious emblem of achievement offered by New York based American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (AAHS). Loden Vancouver is the only hotel in Western Canada to receive this award, and joins the Diamond ranks of worldwide properties including: Hotel Plaza Athenee, New York; Le Place D'Armes Hotel & Suites, Montreal; The Dorchester, London; The Ritz Carlton, Hong Kong. That’s pretty good company by anyone’s standards.

Congratulations to the Loden Vancouver team; I know them to be among the most professional in the business. The award is well deserved. Check them out the next time you’re in Vancouver (604-669 5060 or toll free 866- 332 1673).

Vancouver's new convention centre has WOW factor

2009-04-05T22:18:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for WOW factor, the just-opened, phenomenally designed, expansion of the Vancouver Conference and Exhibition Centre has it in spades! The "sails" of the original centre are still an iconic city landmark, but its sparkling new, all-glass sister takes your breath away.
It may have arrived on the scene waaaay over budget and almost 10 years later than first planned, but Vancouverites should be deservedly proud of this spectacular addition to an already beautiful city.

The building rises three storeys high, topped with a living garden, complete with beehives, and floor to ceiling walls that are angled so that the views of the water below are as dramatic as the mountains beyond. The interior design features natural BC woods, the best of high-tech gadgetry and one enormous reflective orb, representing the earth, that spins slowly above the exhibition foyer. Oh yes, did we mention we're talking about one million square feet of event space?

An adjoining tunnel links the two centers and outside, each structure has a perimeter promenade that either takes you almost half a mile out into the harbour or down and around to the water's edge, and continues on all the way to Stanley Park. So even if you're not delegate at an official meeting, both buildings invite exploration, especially if you're a photographer.

It's little wonder that the various world media are already bargaining hard for broadcast spots when they arrive to cover the 2010 Winter Olympics. Every one of them wants that mountain skyline as a backdrop to interviews.

With the waterfront so much more accessible, you'll need to add a couple of hours wandering time to any itinerary you might have been planning. But, with the new Canada Line (rapid transit) set to open in September, three months earlier than anticipated, you'll probably want to add at least a day to your visit because more of the city will be so much more accessible. Check out greatestgetaways.com for places to stay in Vancouver, and beyond.

Spring is in the air!

2009-03-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

True to the adage, March came in like a lion and today, is going out like a lamb. The flowering cherry trees have been hunkering down beneath the cold, cold temperatures but, if the sunshine continues to warm the air, the streets of Vancouver will very soon be lined with magnificent blossoms. This is the prettiest time of year to visit Vancouver. Besides, with so many locals in shorts, t-sirts and running gear, you can even make believe that summer really is around the corner. Already, sidewalk cafes are packed with folks sipping lattes and nibbling through organic granola bars. It's as if the city is coming alive ..... That's because Spring really is in the air!

And, just as Spring celebrates fresh starts, what better time to reintroduce you to Travelink Publishing's new website design and content. Check it out: you'll discover a thriving company that represents the very best if writing, writing services, travel, and much more.

2009-03-21T17:46:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog where you can catch up on my news and find out the latest up-to-date insider scoops on my travel destinations.

If you are looking for great places to visit, you can also take a look at my travel web site, Greatest Getaways and if you want to find out more about me - it's all at another of my websites, Travelink Publishing.