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What's in Your Backyard?
Rebecca L. Looking back on some photos this weekend gave me an idea to write up a few of my favourite spots I’ve visited here in Canada over the past few years. Particularly, I was reminiscing on the time I’ve spent around British Columbia, as this is where I am lucky enough to live. It feels like a lifetime ago since we’ve been able to roam freely around our provinces, states, counties, districts and regions, and for me it’s been a great distraction to look back on some trips I’ve already taken. If, like me, you are eagerly anticipating the excursions you can take once the world starts to open back up again, then taking this time to plan a few road trips that you could take locally might be a good place to start. I hope this small insight into some of the quirky little locations I’ve been too might inspire you to start planning a trip of your own for the future. It’s not always about the magnificent scenery and the mountainous views, sometimes it’s the unexpected places where you find the most fun. Occasionally you don’t have to go too far to find something new, and if staying local is the best thing to do it might be a good idea to look into some places near you that you might be able to explore one day.Here are some cool spots I found whilst out exploring British Columbia…. DEMILLE’S FARM MARKET (SALMON ARM) Salmon Arm is a city along the Shuswap Regional District, which is upon a beautiful lake. Driving through this area will afford you some amazing views across the Little Mountain Park. I’ve stopped at this market several times, not just for the local organic produce and snacks, but for the petting zoo too. For a donation you can take yourself for a walk through the little farm where you can meet some pigs, sheep, ducks, miniature goats and some alpaca’s too. After a long stretch of driving, this is a great way to stretch your legs, make some new friends and even get a nice cuddle from a super friendly llama, if that’s your thing. THE GLASS HOUSE (KOOTENAY LAKE) Located around Boswell, British Columbia, just on the east shore of the Kootenay Lake lies an unusually beautiful piece of architecture. Construction of the Glass House began in 1952 by David H Brown, after retiring from 35 years in the funeral business. Built with thousands of discarded embalming fluid bottles, the house was constructed by hand. Originally built as a home for Brown and his wife, the house is now a visitor attraction. Upon entering the garden of the house, which is also surrounded by glass walls, bridges and towers; you will be guided through the house. With all it’s original decoration and furniture this place will really take you back in time, and seeing every intricate detail of how this home was constructed will leave you baffled. The views of the Kootenay lake from the backyard will really make you feel glad you visited and the staff are really keen to answer any questions and show you everything you want to see. OSOYOOS FRUIT STANDS (OSOYOOS) Osoyoos is a beautiful lakeside town in the Okanagan Valley of BC. The location is picturesque, with panoramic views of mountains, desert and vineyards. Typically, a go-to summer vacation spot for locals and Canadians across the country, this place is full of amazing wineries, beautiful beaches, desert trails, water sports and restaurants. I would recommend camping here if you go in the summer, as watching the stars in the warm evenings is pretty special. The one thing that enjoyed even more than tasting the local wine and dipping my toes in the chilly lake under the summer sun was picking my own peach from an orchard. Finding a local stall and purchasing fruit from the person who grew it, doesn’t get much better than that. BRITANNIA MINE MUSEUM (BRITANNIA Just outside of Vancouver on the Howe Sound, along the beautiful Sea-To-Sky highway lined with views of the gulf islands, is this spot where the mine used to operate. It’s one of those places that I often pass and think to myself, “I really want to check that out”, but never do. I finally got the chance to visit this place on a sunny but cold January morning, and it really was as cool as I thought it might be. Maybe you think that an old mine might not be an interesting place to visit, but it’s a lot more fascinating than you might think. The architecture of the Mill 3 alone is outstanding, built in 1923, this structure is moulded against the mountain face and once you get a view inside you will see how amazing it actually is. You can jump on the underground train and go back in time to see how the miners used to work, check out the museum and learn about the effects mining has had on the local environment and what the province has been doing to rectify the damage. You might just learn a few things you might never had if you’d not stopped to check it out. A little reminder to pull-in at that place you’ve always wondered about…when you can, of course. Hope this list of the little places I’ve kept in my mind inspire you to take a good look at what’s in your back yard, and hopefully find something a little local to visit when you can. Are there any spots local to you that stick out in your mind?
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My Perfect Afternoon in Victoria BC: Lower Johnson & Market Square
Bethany S. Victoria will always have a special place in my heart as it was the first home away from home that I made for myself. The people are friendly, creative, and generous and not to mention the scenery is breathtaking. I could spend hours on Dallas Road staring at the ocean or walking around downtown visiting with friends. Since moving to Vancouver, I still love going back to visit. So, for BC locals who can travel small, I’ve began to compile a list of places to check out starting with my perfect afternoon on Lower Johnson and Market Square. 1) Get your cup of coffee or comfort drink of choice at Hey Happy – A cozy little coffee shop connecting from Lower Johnson through the front door and to Market Square from the back. The creativity and dedication from the staff to an amazing cup of deliciousness is definitely proven once you have your first sip. My favourite drink has to be the Honey Latte! They also carry an array of baked goods and food if you’re feeling like having a nibble. 2) Next, if you’re anything like me, I love a good thrift shop and this area does not disappoint. My two favourite places to hit up are Flavour Upstairs and Vintage After Death. Both of these shops are the ones to thank for my most complimented-on pieces. 3) Once I’ve done my shopping and am feeling a little snacky I love to hit up Ayo Eat – an Indonesian street food stall in Market Square. My favourite item on the menu is the Satay Ayam (3 chicken satay skewers with peanut sauce, rice and pickle). After that you can finish off the afternoon with a beer in the courtyard at Whistle Buoy Brewing Company. There you have it. My personal favourite afternoon in Victoria BC. Pick and choose or leave it all to go explore. Victoria is an extremely pedestrian friendly city that never disappoints for delicious food, good shopping and incredible views. You could even take that coffee on a nice walk across the new Johnson Street Bridge and enjoy the ocean breeze. Have you ever been to Victoria BC? Let us know your favourite spots in the comments below!
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Vloggers to Live Vicariously Through
Bethany S. Living in the Pacific Northwest, I am lucky enough to be surrounded by gorgeous nature, gulf islands and forests. Normally, come summer my husband and I are able to take a couple of boat trips on our friend’s sailboat - which always brings lots of laughter, fun and adventure. Due to Covid-19 however, we’ve had to put those longer trips on hold. Instead, I’ve been loving to live vicariously through Sailing La Vagabonde’s YouTube channel. In these videos you’ll feel transported to salty waters and sunny skies. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do while also feeling a teensy bit jealous! Have you ever been on a sailing trip or to the Pacific Northwest? Tell us your experience in the comments - We’d love to hear them!
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Cider Mills of Somerset, UK
A rundown of 3 local, farmhouse cider mills in the heart of England’s ‘West Country’.
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5 Awesome Travel Movies
Rebecca L. It seems like a long time since we were able to travel, in fact, it’s been over a year since I have taken a real trip. This probably rings home for most people too with all the cancellations, restrictions, and risk weighing heavy on us all during this pandemic. January is never really the most fun month, and for a lot of us it’s a cold one too, which is usually why we start thinking about our next vacation around this time. But, this could be the perfect time to get down to watching some seriously amazing travel related movies, see what’s out there and maybe find some inspiration for where you could go when you finally can. These are some of my favourite inspirational travel movies that get me wanting to find the next place to explore. Get yourself comfy, pour yourself your favourite tropical beverage, and treat yourself to a little indoor screen time vacation…. 1. The Darjeeling Limited (2007) One of the funniest and most brilliant Wes Anderson movies of all time. Follow three recently bereaved brothers on a train journey through India, as they awkwardly try to reconnect with each other. Strap yourself in for some beautiful cinematic scenescapes, and of course, one hell of a soundtrack. This is a guaranteed way to give yourself the urge to buy a train ticket and go and experience it yourself. VIEW THE TRAILER 2. In Bruges (2008) Follow a couple of hitmen hanging around in Bruges, Belgium awaiting their fate after a big mess up. Take in some historic city sights, medieval architecture and some hilarious dark humour along the way. An unusual choice as far as travel movies go, but you won't be disappointed by the blend of two different attitudes - one finds himself in love with the place, and the other cannot see the beauty that surrounds him. May remind you of a trip you once took! VIEW THE TRAILER 3. Lost In Translation (2003) Set in Tokyo, Japan, you will follow a lonely woman and an old movie star getting to know each other in unusual surroundings, both unhappy and confused by the cultural differences they are faced with. You might find yourself wondering if travel is what you need to find happiness. VIEW THE TRAILER 4. The Beach (2000) A young Leonardo DiCaprio plays a curious backpacker on the prowl for something exciting, only to stumble upon a map that will lead him to an exciting and dangerous piece of secret beach. It is fantastic to see Thailand before it became as popular with tourism as it is now, and you might find yourself wanting to find your own secret bit of paradise too. VIEW THE TRAILER 5. Midnight in Paris (2011) This is a movie filled with nostalgia and will lead you through a time-warp of Paris. You can indulge yourself in the inspiration that guided so many influential authors, poets and artists of our past. It’s an unusual choice for a travel movie, but taking in the scenes and the experiences of the characters will leave you wanting to go get inspired yourself. VIEW THE TRAILER These are just a few of my favourite travel inspiring movies that I think will give you a boost of wanderlust and leave you wanting to find your next adventure. What’s your favourite travel movie?
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Veggies Taco's, Party of 1
Easy-breezy veggie taco and virgin margarita recipes for a taco fiesta de uno!
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Our TOP Picks: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Darryl M. We're a big believer that everyone should "live" the hostel life at some point. Some of our greatest memories, people and experiences we've had while travelling all started at a hostel. Here's some of our top picks of the experiences you've shared!
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Opening the Travel Industry in the Developing World
Darryl M. As we move into a new “phase” of COVID with vaccines rolling-out in many developed countries, we wanted to dive into what that means for travel. More specifically, travel in developing countries. Perhaps using broad brushstrokes here, but in many ways the developing world has fared much better than the West in their response to COVID. Countries with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths come from the Americas and Europe, while many of the lowest death rates can be found in Africa and Asia. But why is that? First, there may be some more obvious reasons. Things such as unreliable reporting and statistics, Africa’s younger demographic and warmer climates all certainly contribute, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. In a lot of ways, diseases such as Ebola, SARS and MERS are still in the recent institutional memories of these countries, and that has instilled a level of preparedness far beyond that of the West. Using scarce resources and creativity, many developing countries know how to stop outbreaks before they become wide-spread. In addition, swift and strong decisions were made early by many leaders knowing full well that their health infrastructure simply cannot handle a population with wide-spread infection. Economically though, many of these countries rely heavily on tourism dollars. Even more than developed countries, they’ve been faced with the incredibly difficult balance between their economy and the protection of their population. In our opinion, it would be a mis-step to erase the work they’ve done so well to date, by opening up their borders too soon and/or without a strong plan to effectively deal with increased tourism. Vaccinations will obviously help, but the unfortunate reality is the developing world does not have the money, infrastructure or geography to roll-out a mass vaccination effort as effectively as the West. Fortunately, there are new organizations such as COVAX that exist, where higher income economies work with manufacturers to ensure vaccines reach those in the greatest need, wherever they live. Our prediction is travel in developing countries will really start to ramp up by the Summer. A strong vaccine roll-out in the West, along with naturally lower-case rates in the warmer weather will provide enough reassurance for governments to relax their border restrictions in a meaningful way. Soon after we’ll see major airlines increasing the number of flights to these regions, hopefully at a discounted rate. One prediction is proof of either a COVID vaccine or a negative test within 36 hours will be required to enter many of these countries without a mandatory quarantine. It doesn’t matter how “developed” the country you live in, so many of us want travel to return. Either to go on a desperately needed trip, or to re-open a tourism focused business essential to a family’s well-being. We also all want tourism to return safely, both for ourselves, and those we come into contact with. What do you think travel in the next 12-15 months looks like?
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