The history of tea drinking spans thousands of years and crosses many continents. If you didn’t know Victoria, British Columbia had a thriving tea culture, get ready to sip it in. This gorgeous city on Vancouver Island’s southern coast is as tethered to tea as peanut butter is to jelly. The island’s First Nations people have utilized the native plants and berries that grow here so prolifically to make freshly foraged medicinal teas for … [Read more...]
Six Things You Didn’t Know About Beijing
“I speak and speak. But the listener retains only the words he is expecting." So cautioned Marco Polo as he left the court of the great Kublai Khan in Dadu (modern day Beijing) in the year 1295 C.E. Certainly this was a timely reminder for me as I stepped off the plane in Beijing for the first time. Over the years, I had heard lots about Beijing, most of which with a negative slant. Much to my delight, I encountered a wonderful and fascinating … [Read more...]
Best Free Things to Do in Canada
People love free things, and visitors to Canada are not exceptions to this rule. Vacationers are forever looking for ways to get the maximum fun at a minimum cost. Fortunately, Canada is a loveable city that offers plenty of free ways to have fun. The free things you can do in Canada may be outdoor or indoor, adventurous or relaxing, child friendly or adult only. In brief, there is something for everybody and visitors can take their time to … [Read more...]
Where Eagles Roam: Howe Sound, British Columbia
Perched on a rock in the middle of Howe Sound, less than a half hour from downtown Vancouver, was one of nature’s grandest flying creatures: a bald eagle. Though we could not see the bird in its entirety, we could not miss its white head gazing down imperiously on a pod of harbor seals snoozing in the sun below. Our 30-foot-long rigid hull inflatable boat, powered by twin 225-horsepower Mercury Verrado engines, motored slowly by as the six of … [Read more...]
Pampered Luxury at Hastings House, Salt Spring Island
I was recently pampered with a two-night stay at luxurious Hastings House Country House Hotel on Salt Spring Island. While I've been to Salt Spring several times, I had yet to enjoy this corner of the island, close enough to downtown Ganges yet far enough away to appreciate the solitude and nature that helps define this Relais & Chateaux property. The welcoming hotel grounds are filled with fragrant flowers and colourful birds, all with a … [Read more...]
Traveller Information For Visiting Kauai, Hawaii
Kauai is an idyllic and fascinating Hawaiian island which looks remarkably untouched, despite being a favourite with US tourists and also home to over 62,000 people. Part of the island's natural looking charm can be attributed to the rule that no buildings can be erected on Kauai that are taller than a coconut tree, so the luxury hotels, shops, homes and other buildings are never tall enough to spoil the view, with tourist accommodation taking … [Read more...]
Visit British Columbia’s Gulf Islands
Explore BC's Beautiful Gulf Islands Be sure to visit at least one of the beautiful Gulf Islands if you and your family are thinking about a vacation to British Columbia, Canada. A magnificent string of around one hundred small, large and mostly inhabited islands situated between the mainland of British Columbia and beautiful Vancouver Island. Located in the Strait of Georgia, the islands are easy to gain access to from either the mainland … [Read more...]
A Sea to Sky Journey, Vancouver to Banff with Rocky Mountaineer
In 30+ years the Rocky Mountaineer has created a memorable experience incorporating some of the Rocky Mountain's finest scenery. A trip on the rails is one to enjoy, savor and spend quality time with loved ones - a chance to truly escape from the hectic fast paced life of the "real world". Few train rides on the planet can deliver such inspiring and jaw dropping vistas as the Rocky Mountaineer. The train follows historical railways to and from a … [Read more...]
From Sea to Clouds, Vancouver to Whistler
With two days in Vancouver before jumping on the Rocky Mountaineer train on the way to Banff, we decided to visit the mountain town of Whistler. Greyhound offers a relatively affordable option by combining a round trip bus journey with unlimited tram/gondola rides on Whistler/Blackcomb Mountains. This makes it quite doable to see Whistler in a day with an early start from Vancouver. As soon as we arrived in Whistler Village (partly home to … [Read more...]
Dining on Vancouver Island
John M. Edwards, the only smoker ever allowed onto the premises of snooty “Sooke Harbour House,” visits Vancouver Island in the Pacific Northwest on his own terms. As a paying contributor to “The United Negroe College Fund,” for sage reasons of philanthropy as well as tax evasion, I was a little surprised to find in the maritime city of Vancouver, British Columbia, absolutely no black people—only Commonwealthy Europeans and Asians, plus a few … [Read more...]