This article highlights parts of Washington state, and western Canadian provinces including Alberta & British Columbia. Details and travel tips about our time in the Canadian Rockies is also covered as this is clearly one of the primary highlights of Western Canada, however, the overall focus of this guide is about Vancouver, British Columbia. Seventeen days is an ideal time to see all the sites and attractions mentioned in this guide. This … [Read more...]
Vancouver, Canada – Western Canada Trip
The total trip described on this page took 17 days including transportation from one's home airport. Suggested visit times and attractions are only listed as options for someone roughly following this itinerary. Any names of hotels or motels I stayed at have been included along with contact information. Day 1 : Stay at a motel near your home airport. This saves the hassle of driving to the airport on that same day that you are flying, unless … [Read more...]
Vancouver, Canada – Vancouver City
Vancouver was founded in 1886; today this very cosmopolitan city anchors the west coast of Canada and attracts visitors from around the world. Those who have never been to Vancouver will be surprised by its size when viewed from a distance. Vancouver can be defined by its surrounding natural beauty but more so by its international population. Vancouver is thriving and continually pursuing the future. This is evident when one sees all the modern … [Read more...]
Vancouver, Canada – Attractions
Bloedel Conservatory is located on a hill overlooking the entire city of Vancouver. The observatory is surrounded by lush gardens. This is a great spot to bring the family for a picnic lunch. The observatory contains a diverse garden of tropical plants and birds. During the dead of the winter months this can be an enjoyable outing to escape the frigid temperatures. For example, one can come up here and dream they are in Costa Rica or some other … [Read more...]
Vancouver, Canada – Hotels
Prices below are in Canadian dollars. We have tried to highlight some of the cheaper hotels along with the expensive ones in order to provide variety for various budgets. Prices range from the lowest (the off season rates) to the highest (holidays and weekends/ double person. Phone numbers are all in the 604 area code unless otherwise specified. Prices are *subject* to change. 2400 Motel is located at 2400 Kingsway Street. Their prices … [Read more...]
Vancouver, Canada – Victoria
Victoria is accessible via ferry from Vancouver or from select areas in the state of Washington. Victoria is the capital of British Columbia. It is a very quaint city. It also has among the more mild climates in Canada, and often times when the rest of Canada is covered with snow, Victoria is cold, but free of snow. The ferry ride from Vancouver to Victoria takes about 2 hours. It is a beautiful ride especially in the summer months and on a … [Read more...]
Vancouver, Canada – More Info
This is an important section. We cannot possibly cover all that there is too see in Vancouver or what we saw on the rest of our 17 day trip, however the following websites describe the locations we visited in Western Canada and Vancouver in particular. The Vancouver Convention and Visitor's Bureau can be reached at 1-800-888-8835 or (604) 683-2000. For more travel information about traveling in British Columbia call Phone Number … [Read more...]
Santa Rosa, CA – Nearby Towns
Santa Rosa is by far the largest city in Sonoma County - the hub if you will in which all the other towns radiate out on the 'spokes'. Along with Santa Rosa, the 101 corridor is home to the largest cities in the county including Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Windsor. Other towns in the county are generally small. There is a marked difference between the west county and the interior of the county (related to the frigid Pacific Ocean) which … [Read more...]
Lake Tahoe, CA – Ski Resorts
Alpine Meadows is located on the North Shore, on Alpine Meadows Road just off of Highway 89. This is one of the top 6 ski resorts in the Tahoe area. This resort is located 6 miles northwest of Tahoe City. Alpine Meadows is known for its long season and its diverse terrain. They have over 100 runs and 12 lifts. Their summit elevation is 8,637 feet with a vertical drop of 1,800 feet. Up until recently they had banned snow boarding but now snow … [Read more...]
Santa Barbara, CA – Shopping
We always love to mix a little bit of shopping into our travels, especially in Santa Barbara. The city features numerous boutique shops, historical shopping centers, and galleries. Paseo Nuevo is one of our favorites; it is located between State and Chapala Streets in downtown Santa Barbara. Look for the orange trees planted along the walkways near the entrance to Paseo Nuevo along State Street. Usually there are oranges on the trees and … [Read more...]