It can be a challenge to find a good lunch spot that serves a nice cup of coffee that compliments a good meal. I was strolling the streets of Kitsilano one afternoon looking for a place like this, when I spied a little cafe called Pane from Heaven. It was located on a nice, quiet street away from the main traffic, and there were tables outside you could sit at to enjoy the pleasant weather as you had your lunch. The lunch and coffee specials listed on the sign outside looked promising, and the prices looked reasonable, so I decided […]

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Cowichan Bay is a small coastal village on Vancouver Island that’s about a 55 minute drive from Victoria. The objective of our mini off season getaway was not to be in a city and not to feel hustle and bustled. We did however have Victoria obligations. But we were willing to do the drive. Speaking of timing, due to what seem to be normal traffic snarls around McKenzie Ave and the View Royal neighbourhoods, I recommend budgeting an hour to drive into downtown Victoria from Cowichan Bay. Since I’m on the tangent of driving tips, this route has the Malahat […]

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Cowichan Bay is a village north of Victoria and south of Duncan that is wonderfully off the beaten path. We chose to stay at Oceanfront Suites at Cowichan Bay because it was really the only hotel in town. And with a couple of children, the suite with a kitchenette was helpful as it’s just too expensive to eat out all the time. The kids also enjoyed the pool, even though the change area does need an upgrade. Perhaps the best part was the view from the restaurant. We had a great breakfast there and it was quiet and everyone was […]

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Robert Bateman is essentially the Canadian elder statesman of wildlife art. New as of 2013, at 470 Belleville Street, Victoria, I was pleased to find (at the former location of the Wax Museum) a gallery of Bateman’s works. The entire building was reno’d within an inch of its life. The facilities (super clean bathrooms) were completely updated. The gallery itself is on the 2nd floor. It’s worth watching the introductory 5-minute video. On film, Bateman himself talks about his environmental views. Subsequently when you step into the gallery you see some of his message in the paintings. For example, there’s […]

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For Vancouver Island school children, this museum has permanent exhibits that go a ways back and never become dull. It has been at least 10 years since I had been and to the BC Museum. It occurred to me that what differentiates it from other provincial museums, say the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, is that this museum is truly focused on its own province. We were lucky to have a quiet day on the off season and, due to having a 5-year-old, we thought it best to work on the 3rd floor that’s the most jam-packed with exhibits. We […]

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BC Ferries is a crown corporation that is charge of running the ferry system in British Columbia. Many British Columbians are not sure why. In the same way Torontonians complain about the 401, BC residents love to complain about the ferries. This may be because of continuous fare increases and schedule reductions. For example, a car and drive pays $67 one-way from Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay and in 2008 it was $56. (Source www.bcferries.com/travel_planning/fares/archive.html) Despite the cost, any of these ferry rides is a beautiful scenic trip. Most visitors to BC are likely to use either Tsawwassen or Horseshoe Bay, […]

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In Vancouver’s West End one of the beach concession stands is considered to have the best burger in town because burgers are grilled fresh to order with all the trimmings, reasonably priced (at least compared to neighbourhood restaurants). Only available in summer, but it’s hard to beat sitting on the sand with a log at your back and good company, enjoying your burgers as the sun sinks towards the horizon, watching the passing sailboats and paddleboarders and various bits of family life unfolding on this relatively quiet neighbourhood beach.

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This North Vancouver tourist attraction is well advertised, but is deserved. Capilano Suspension bridge also provides an excellent, comprehensive and well-presented explanatory material about temperate rain forest ecology — as well as a spectacular suspension bridge above the Capilano River, a canopy walk taking you high up onto the trunks of large ancient trees, and a vertigo-inducing cliffside walk on suspended glass walkways. Great for introducing out of town guests to the forest. Plus a single admission can be upgraded to a year long membership for no additional charge. For more information www.capbridge.com

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About a 40-minute drive from downtown Vancouver is this lovely park on a small island in the Fraser Delta — good place to view boat traffic on the Fraser River. Metro Vancouver Parks have carried the torch for local nature programs for families for some years; Deas Island has a heritage farmhouse on site with a large bat colony in the attic, and during the summer park naturalists host lectures and guided walks on bats which culminate in watching the colony fly out of the house eaves en mass to hunt insects at dusk. The park is also the site […]

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A local educator has this to say about Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver. “I love it because it overlooks the fabulous garden in the park, city and the mountains – even on a foggy day – and the deck is heated and covered so any time of year is great. Sadly, there aren’t many ways to save money there, but you can save $3.00 on Valet Parking if you go for lunch instead of dinner!” For more info consult Queen Elizabeth Park

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