The official grand opening of the Sea to Sky Gondola will take place May 16th but this spectacular attraction, that makes the wild of the sea to sky corridor accessible, is up and running right now as a preview. I attended a media tour last week where we met with locals and got a tour of the trail network. Everyone is excited about the opportunities that the gondola has opened up for the region, making Squamish even more of a destination than before.
Sea to Sky Gondola
The Sea to Sky Gondola is located just 45 minutes north of downtown Vancouver in Squamish, BC — the outdoor recreation capital of the world. You’ll find the parking lot turn off just past Shannon Falls, along with the visitor centre, shop, Basecamp Cafe, and your lift up the mountain.
The ten minute gondola ride to over 885 metres above sea level provides easy access to incredible coastal mountain terrain, making it accessible to families, hikers, walkers, and strollers and wheelchairs.
Sea to Sky Gondola Trails
Our media group followed two walking trails after leaving the Summit Lodge and crossing the suspension bridge. From The Spirit Trail Viewing Platform we then took The Spirit Trail along a 400 meter loop with interpretive signs detailing the natural and First Nations history of the area. The muffled drum-like calls of a grouse echoed through the trees as our boots crunched the freshly-laid gravel.
We came full-circle a few minutes later and returned to the back side of the Summit Lodge where we then walked over to The Panorama Trail.
This 1.6km loop leads you past white pines, hemlock, red cedar, and lush carpets of moss before you come across the dramatic Chief Overlook Platform. From here you can’t help but look down at the legendary Stawamus Chief, one of the largest granite monoliths in the world, and attempt to spot hikers and rock climbers ascending its popular rock faces.
If you’re up for more adventure, you can skip the gondola ride on the way up and take the Sea to Summit Trail, which connects to the Wrinkle Rock Trail. Winding its way up from neighbouring Shannon Falls, it eventually reaches the Summit Lodge where you can take the gondola down. Please note these are backcountry trails so be sure to read up on all of the hiking information available and be prepared for the length of the trip and the elements.
Sea to Sky Gondola Summit Lodge
The crisp new post-and-beam Summit Lodge hosts a cafe, bar, dining area, large patio and outdoor dining area, viewing platform, event space, restrooms, gift shop, and more. It’s also where you can sample Howe Sound Brewing’s latest creation, Sky Pilot Northwest Pale Ale, brewed specifically for the Sea to Sky Gondola.
Sea to Sky Gondola Tickets
As a local, your best bet is a season pass, available for $99 or a family season pass for $249. If you’re a hiker, you can also get a ‘download only’ pass starting at $39.95 for the season. Individual tickets are for sale inside the visitor centre for $34.95 adults 19+, $32.95 seniors 65+, $22.95 youth 13-18, $13.95 children 6-12, and children under 6 years old are free. Family day passes are available for $89.95 and single day ‘download only’ passes are $9.95*.
Sea to Sky Gondola Hours
The gondola will be running from 9:00am to 5:00pm daily until the official opening on May 16th when it will remain open until 9:00pm. Summer hours will follow, from May 17th until October 13th, opening 9:00am to 5:00pm, remaining open with special sunset hours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sunday until 9:00pm. Winter hours will be in effect after that time.
Any other questions you might have can be answered online, and you can check out the live webcam for current conditions. Follow the Sea to Sky Gondola on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
*All prices are sourced from the Sea to Sky Gondola website as of May 12, 2014 and are subject to change.
The Pemberton Music Festival will host nearly 100 performances on 300 acres in one of the most idyllic settings on earth this summer and you can win your way in!
The festival will take place on Friday, July 18th through Sunday, July 20th, 2014 in the mountain-side community of Pemberton, at the top end of Sea to Sky country. This will be a three-day contemporary music festival, near the foot of Mt. Currie in scenic Pemberton, is produced and promoted by HUKA Entertainment in collaboration with the Sunstone Group and the Lil’wat Nation.
Pemberton Music Festival Lineup
The full list of performers includes Nine Inch Nails, Outkast, Deadmau5, Soundgarden, Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Metric, Modest Mouse, Snoop Dogg, Above & Beyond, Empire of the Sun, TV On The Radio, Blondie, Cage The Elephant, Girl Talk, Grimes, The Flaming Lips, Young the Giant, Baauer, Matthew Good, Schoolboy Q, St. Vincent, Tyler, The Creator…
…Violent Femmes, Earl Sweatshirt, Gord Downie, The Sadies, The New Pornographers, Sloan, Stars, Best Coast, Big Gigantic, Clockwork, Flying Lotus, Hayden, Matt Mays, RL Grime, Shlohmo, Delta Rae, Dinosaur Jr., Fucked Up, Griz, Hey Rosetta!, Kaytranada, Purity Ring DJ Set, XXYYXX, Dan Deacon, Lettuce, Metz, Rich Aucoin, Wild Belle, ZZ Ward, Aer, Gold & Youth, Flash Lightnin’, The Tontons, Tory Lanez, Yukon Blonde, Hallelujah Train featuring Daniel Lanois, Will Sexton, Brian Blade, Brady Blade Sr., Anders Osborne, Chris Thomas, and Malcolm Burn with Gospel Choir…
…and comedy from Trailer Park Boys, Bob Saget, Lisa Lampanelli, Nick Swardson, Norm MacDonald, Doug Benson, Hannibal Buress, Tom Green, Brian Posehn, Jim Breuer, Natasha Leggero, Brian Scolaro, Kyle Dunnigan, and many more.
Pemberton Music Festival Tickets
General Admission tickets are on sale starting at $299, plus a choice of camping or shuttle privileges for $89. Further information on complete festival ticket pricing and the confirmed lineup can be found online. VIP, Super VIP, RV Camping, and Comfy Camping (aka Glamping) packages are also available.
Win Tickets to Pemberton Music Festival
If you would like to win your way into this incredible experience, I have one pair of General Admission tickets plus a camping OR shuttle pass (winner’s choice) to give away thanks to HUKA Entertainment. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment here naming a festival performer you can’t wait to see (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Don’t miss out on Pemberton Music Festival updates! Sign up for the Pemberton Music Festival newsletter here and follow along on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more information leading up to the big event.
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, May 26, 2014.
Update The winner is rachel (comment May 21, 2014 at 3:39 PM)
The Surrey International Children’s Festival presented by Envision Financial is thrilled to be celebrating their 10th Anniversary this month.
This year’s Surrey Children’s Festival will take place May 22nd to May 24th at Bear Creek Park and the Surrey Arts Centre and it’s the only arts-based international children’s festival south of the Fraser River, providing an opportunity for children to become the creative thinkers of tomorrow.
Surrey Children’s Festival Highlights
Eric Litwin, author of the first four Pete the Cat books from Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
Interactive Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo from Australia
World music and dance Language of Rhythm
Shiamak Bollywood Jazz Dance Team all ages workshop
Moving theatre performance Jake’s Gift
The Nylon Zoo dress up and storytelling
Beautiful puppet show Little Old Man
The Marimba Station Learn to play the marimba in this fun and easy workshop
There are 5 performance venues, with 3 inside the Arts Centre (Main Stage Theatre, Studio Theatre and Lily Pad Stage) and 2 in Bear Creek Park (Leap Frog Stage and Community Spirit Stage).
Arts Activities (some free, some ticketed) include clay, face paint, mehndi, chalk, family tree, art cards, animation, and more. There will also be workshops and a procession each day. A full schedule of events is available online.
Surrey Children’s Festival Tickets
School group prices:
Please remember every person (student, teacher, and adult helpers) will need a ticket to see a performance.
Show ticket: $8.00. Includes Arts Activity Wristband
Arts Activity Wristband: $4.00. Valid all 3 days. Free for adults supervising children
Site Entrance: Free
Regular ticket prices:
Regular Ticket: $10.00. Includes Arts Activity Wristband.
Under 3 years: $6
Arts Activity Wristband: $5 Valid all 3 days. Free for adults supervising children.
Family Pack (4 tickets): $36.00
Saturday All Access Pass: $12* limited number available
Site Entrance: Free
Tickets are on sale now at Surrey Art’s Centre box office. The Arts Centre Box Office can be contacted at 604-501-5566.
Community Outreach
Envision Financial invites teachers and students to help raise awareness about childhood hunger by bringing a non-perishable food item to the Surrey International Children’s Festival. Envision Financial has committed the next ten years to raising $1 million for food banks in each of the communities where we live and work. Their community-based program, The Full Cupboard, was launched in March 2013 and since then has raised over $90,000 and collected more than 10,000 pounds of food.
Each month more than 30% of BC’s children access their local food bank. In Surrey, 42% of the 14,000 individuals served by the Surrey Food Bank are children. Drop off your donations at the Envision Financial marquee tent and fill our Full Cupboard shopping carts. Your school will be entered into our draw–five teachers will win a healthy and nutritious lunch for their whole class.
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the Surrey Children’s Festival
Festival times are 9:00am to 2:30pm on Thursday, May 22nd and Friday, May 23rd; 10:30am to 7:30pm on Saturday, May 24th. The Surrey Arts Centre and Bear Creek Park are located at 13750 – 88 Avenue (King George Boulevard at 88 Avenue).
This post has been contributed by Ben Hill, Communications Volunteer with the Stanley Park Ecology Society (“SPES”). I have been following SPES since I moved into the West End almost eight years ago and I recently became a member. I wanted to offer the team an opportunity to share their news, events, and work so I have created “SPES Saturday” where they will be contributing stories with my audience once a month.
Celebrate our City’s Birds
Vancouver is for the birds! Not only is our city’s location a major stop along the international Pacific Flyway migratory route, but Vancouver also leads Canada when it comes to celebrating our feathered friends.
Today is the last day of Vancouver Bird Week, which saw exciting events, presentations, workshops, art exhibits at the Roundhouse and Hillcrest Community Centres, and walks all over the city to celebrate the fantastic variety of birds we have here.
Because of its unique mixture of coastal habitats and lush forests, our city is a haven for both weary migrants and birds that live in the region year-round.
Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) played a big part in this year’s celebrations, hosting four events during the week that were all FREE to the public — everything birdy, from eagles, to art and even taxidermy.
There is one free presentation left today at the Central Library — Saturday, May 10th at 7:00pm: Why Birds are Important with author, biologist, and birder, Dick Cannings. The announcement of Vancouver City Bird will also be made. Seating is limited so get there early.
Also today, there will be walks all over Vancouver Parks organized by Nature Vancouver. Come and join walk leaders in a park near you and learn more about birds in your neighbourhood with local bird experts on this World Migratory Bird Day, the inspiration for Vancouver’s Bird Week. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Vancouver Craft Beer Week is heading into its 5th year and to celebrate the best in local brewing, they’re hosting 9 Signature Events, 12 Feature Events, and some weeklong specials.
VCBW allows you to get to some exciting venues, try new or familiar favourites, and enjoy all the facets of craft beer’s goodness right here in Vancouver. Here are just a few of the Signature Events on the VCBW schedule this year, from May 30th until June 7th.
Vancouver Craft Beer Week: Signature Events
Friday, May 30, 2014
What: Signature The Peak Presents VCBW Opening Night Hosted by Prevail
Where: Gossip Night Club, 750 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver
Tickets: Available now for $49 (plus fees/taxes)
Saturday, May 31, 2014
What: New Belgium vs Steamworks Collaboration Throwdown
Where: The Bimini, 2010 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
Tickets: Available now for $49 (plus fees/taxes)
Sunday, June 1, 2014
What: Hoppapalooza V
Where: Alibi Room, 157 Alexander St, Vancouver
Tickets: SOLD OUT
Monday, June 2, 2014
What: Biercraft Belgian Showcase
Where: BierCraft Cambie, 3305 Cambie St, Vancouver
Tickets: Available now for $65 (plus fees/taxes)
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
What: Battle of the Bartenders Beer Cocktail Competition III
Where: The Blackbird, 905 Dunsmuir St, Vancouver
Tickets: Available now for $20 (plus fees/taxes)
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
What: Cicerone vs Sommelier
Where: ARC Restaurant at the Fairmont Waterfront, 900 Canada Pl, Vancouver
Tickets: Available now for $115 (plus fees/taxes)
Thursday, June 5, 2014
What: Brothers in Hip-Hops
Where: The Butcher & Bullock, 911 West Pender Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Available now for $49 (plus fees/taxes)
Friday, June 6, 2014
What: VCBW Beer Festival Presented by CRAFT Beer Market
Where: Olympic Village Event Grounds, 215 West 1st Ave, Vancouver
Tickets: Available now for $35 (plus fees/taxes)
Saturday, June 7, 2014
What: VCBW Beer Festival Presented by CRAFT Beer Market
Where: Olympic Village Event Grounds, 215 West 1st Ave, Vancouver
Tickets: Available now for $35 (plus fees/taxes)
Vancouver Craft Beer Week Charity Brew
In celebration of BC’s largest craft beer festival, the province’s finest breweries banded together to brew “PrevAle” the 2014 VCBW charity beer.
Last year the VCBW charity beer produced a cheque for $3,500 to Mark Brand’s A Better Life Foundation in support of the Save On Meats Meal Token Program. This year, the Music Heals Foundation, a charity close to the heart of VCBW 2014 host Prevail (Swollen Members), will benefit from the sale of this beer with a purpose, which will be released prior to the start of this year’s festival.
The beer, a double California Common-style ale, is a unique brew that Gary Lohin (Central City Brewers + Distillers) and Matt Phillips (Phillips Brewing Company) dreamt up while attending the inaugural Victoria Beer Week earlier this month. With these two brewmasters at the helm, expect a balanced full-bodied beer rich in flavour that is sure to be talked about for years to come.
For more information about these events and the lineup of feature events, follow Vancouver Craft Beer Week on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. All events are 19+. Please enjoy responsibly.
