It was the summer of 2010 and we wanted to escape our city life in Austin, Texas and visit the Pacific Northwest. We had ten days off and decided to drive from Texas, to Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia (3000+ mile car trip). We had just bought a new VW and thought it would be fun to drive it across country and have an adventure along the way (and, boy did we ever)! We entered BC the "round-about" way by ferry from the NAS base on … [Read more...]
Pacific Northwest Trips
Pacific Northwest Trips by Lonely Planet is one of 6 books in Lonely Planets new "Trips" Series covering select locations in the United States. These books are ideal for those looking to make a domestic road trip or even for International visitors trying to figure out some of America's top road trips. This particular book highlights 52 unique themed trips ranging from 2 to 7 days; each trip includes family and pet friendly attractions, easy to … [Read more...]
Global Scavenger Hunt
Los Angeles, CA (October 20, 2009) - The Global Scavenger Hunt is EXACTLY what it says it is: A treasure hunt that takes you around the world! The one catch is, you have no idea where you are going until you get there! But when you are done, you will have circumnavigated the globe and done more than in a lifetime of vacations. The media has compared The Global Scavenger Hunt to The Amazing Race. The big difference between The Global Scavenger … [Read more...]
Exploring Richmond’s History, then Taking the Highway to Heaven
From modern Asian malls to the 'Highway to Heaven' with its churches, mosques, temples and historical landmarks, British Columbia's Metro-Vancouver's suburb city of Richmond, the only Canadian city surrounded by dykes, is a place worth visiting. Emitting the sounds ands aromas of the mysterious Orient as well as a religious aura and structures oozing stories from the past, the city of 188,000 is made up from 17 islands, half of which are still … [Read more...]
The Nanaimo 50-Kilometer Holiday – It’s Smart to Travel Locally
GoNanaimo.com announces the creation of the Nanaimo 50-Kilometer Holiday with seven self-guided tours within a 50-kilometer radius of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. As gasoline prices continue to rise, vacationing locally becomes more attractive and Vancouver Island has so much to offer. The 50-Kilometer Holiday includes two walking tours within Nanaimo and five driving/bicycling tours to nearby mid-island destinations. Each tour is carefully … [Read more...]
Mount Benson Signature Mountain of Nanaimo
Magnificent Mount Benson is one of the scenic wonders of Nanaimo, British Columbia, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. Mount Benson is the city's backdrop rising 1,019 meters above the Strait of Georgia. The mountain's green forested slopes are favorites of hikers and wildlife, and there's a sweeping view of the Coastal Mountain Range across the water from the rocky summit. Unfortunately, this paradise is threatened. Forestry … [Read more...]
Go Nanaimo, British Columbia
Boomtown Nanaimo, British Columbia, is currently one of the hottest housing markets in Canada. Baby boomers all across the country are casting their aging eyes west in their quest for a retirement haven, and the many advantages of Nanaimo, BC, are becoming known. First off, there's the mild climate moderated by warm Pacific currents arriving from Japan. Nanaimo only gets a couple of weeks of snow a year, quite a contrast to central and … [Read more...]
All the Anglers Are Covered – Ucluelet is a Sport Fishing Paradise
The destination is the large La Perouse Bank off Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island, where halibut, salmon, ling cod and rock fish dine on the smorgasbord of herring, sardines and other bait fish that make the banks their home. "Ucluelet is in a unique spot geographically being very close to offshore banks," says Matt Olcen, of Westcoast Fishing Expeditions in Ucluelet. "You are not going to find a more consistent place for … [Read more...]
AFS Peaks of Patagonia & Chilean Vineyards
Dramatic landscapes provided us a continual Kodak moment throughout. It is late spring in the region and the weather was cooperative with a lot of sunshine. This however is a land where the unexpected is the norm, so we came prepared for occasional wind and rain. After a rest at the lovely Hotel Neruda and a city tour in Santiago, we flew south to Punta Arenas. There we transferred 2 hours by coach to Puerto Natales at the Patagonia steppe. We … [Read more...]
Mt. Rainier, WA
In every inspiring natural creation there is a realism that speaks to you. In every moment on a mountain you find it more and more. You discover yourself in ways not possible through other means. This stays with you and guides you for the rest of your life. May everyone have this chance at least once. ~ Dave Mt. Rainier is the crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest and the 700 mile long Cascade range spanning from Mt. Lassen in the south, all … [Read more...]