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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Unpaid, Personal Opinion — This is not a paid post. I was under no obligation to post this article. Our tour was compliments of Allegiant Airlines and the Las Vegas Conventions and Visitor Authority as a part of a blogger contest/trip that I won earlier this year. Stay tuned for more information about my Las Vegas trip including an exciting announcement... Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
“If you wanna get rich, make little people feel like big people… good food cheap, good whiskey cheap, and a good gamble. That’s all there is to it, son.” Our guide repeated part of this Benny Binion quote as we stood on a dirt path in front of precarious light bulbs clinging to a Binion’s Horseshoe sign.
We were on the 11 o’clock tour at the Las Vegas Neon Museum and I before we even stepped into the visitors’ centre, which is the original lobby building of the La Concha Motel, the history buff in me was beaming with excitement.
You’ve probably seen the “Neon Boneyard” on television or in movies before, it’s right behind the main entrance of the Neon Museum and there along the stone-lined dirt path sits pieces of Las Vegas’ most interesting history. There are about 150 signs in the museum’s collection and many more are over at YES Co.‘s private boneyard. The Young Electric Sign Co. has been in business for 94 years and is responsible for many of the famous Vegas illuminations known in popular culture. I couldn’t help but think about the famous faces that once looked up at these beacons as they hummed with life.
The Neon Museum was founded in 1996 and is a non-profit “dedicated to collecting, preserving, studying and exhibiting iconic Las Vegas signs for educational, historic and cultural enrichment.” The two-acre campus includes the outdoor exhibition, where you can enjoy a guided tour like we did, and a Googie style visitors’ centre and gift shop.
Dedicated individuals from the private sector, as well as corporate and government entities, worked collaboratively to promote the preservation of these national treasures as significant pieces of artistic and historical importance. Each of the nearly 150 signs in the Neon Museum’s collection offers a unique story about the personalities who created it, what inspired it, where and when it was made, and the role it played in Las Vegas’ distinctive history. In addition, the Neon Museum collection chronicles changes and trends in sign design and technology through pieces ranging from the 1930s to the present day. Public education, outreach, research, archival preservation and a grant-funded neon sign survey represent a selection of the museum’s ongoing projects.
The Neon Museum has also partnered with the Las Vegas Signs Project, which I think is such a great way to extend the life of these icons. They are supporting the restoration of casino, restaurant, and landmark signs and placing them throughout the city. There are several already up along Las Vegas Boulevard and the Silver Slipper is perched just outside the museum. It makes me wonder if a program like this would work around here, pulling the signs out of the Museum of Vancouver’s Neon Vancouver exhibit to display as public art downtown.
The Silver Slipper, part of the Las Vegas Signs Project.
I know traipsing around a museum isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of activities in Las Vegas but the designs, the history, and the fascinating life story of each bulb, tube, and painted figure is worth checking out. I hear that the nighttime tours fill up rather quickly so be sure to book your tour in advance.
The guided tours are one hour long and time just flies. Our guide was not only very knowledgeable about Las Vegas and Clark County history, he was first and foremost a neon enthusiast so he added something extra to the wealth of information we were presented with.
The Neon Boneyard is outdoors so make sure to bring a hat and lather on some sunscreen. All of the signs are also copyrighted so no commercial photography is allowed, but you can take photos for social media (and I’ve been given the green light for this blog post).
The Neon Museum is located at 770 Las Vegas Boulevard North, and online on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
You can’t miss the giant Muskoka chairs along Highway 1 and Highway 3 if you’ve driven throughout Southern BC over the last few years. Big, white, perked on the side of major thoroughfares these symbols of lakeside relaxation all advertise The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake.
With over 30 residents moved into their customized cottages already, this development is part of a project that will give rise to 280 homes over the next decade, in the heart of the South Okanagan. I was recently invited to the Osoyoos Cottages to check out the property, the custom offerings, and the scenic vistas offered along the shores of Canada’s warmest lake — and to offer up a getaway for my readers.
The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake offers residents and visitors access to 1,800 feet of waterfront amongst some of the nation’s most climactic scenery and desirable weather, along with direct access to walking trails, several boat-slips, a 7,000 square foot clubhouse, nearby wineries and more.
The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake
Heading north on the Okanagan Highway from Osoyoos to Oliver, turn onto Road 22, which will guide you to Black Sage Road — one of the most popular wine country routes in the region. But before you loop past the old barn on Black Sage, turn onto Radio Tower Road and follow a 3.1km trail through ranch land and vineyards with wild horses and free-roaming cattle flanking your drive.
Radio Tower Road curves up and around hillside corners, revealing a spectacular view of Osoyoos Lake from the north. After rumbling over a few cattle guards, watch for osprey circling overhead, quail crossing the road with babies in tow, and even turtles as you pass marshland. You’ll see a tell-tale overside white Muskoka chair guiding you to the gated entrance of Osoyoos Cottages and you’ll feel right at home.
I took Michelle along with me for a three-day stay, where we setup in one of the Meadow cottages complete with our own Club Car golf cart to get us around, although the site is very walkable with paved paths.
We met with Wilf Lethbridge and Florence Lethbridge, who make up the marketing team, and they filled us in on all the project details. Wilf also picked Michelle and I up in a golf cart and we toured some of the various cottages to get a feel for the variety in layouts.
There was an emphasis on customization — basically that once you pick your layout, they will fulfill any request you have to make your cottage your home in terms of features, finishings, and anything from fireplaces to balcony sizes. You want it, they will make sure you have it built into your vacation, retirement, or family home.
Facts About The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake
The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake is a spectacular gated lakefront community of detached homes ranging in price from the low $300’s to over $1-million, in the heart of the South Okanagan.
The 70-acre property sits in the heart of the Okanagan’s stunning wine country, near some of the region’s best known wineries such as Black Hills and Burrowing Owl.
Balcony view from the hillside cottages.
The project has 1,800′ of waterfront, over 500′ of sandy beach, two swimming pools, a 7,000 sq. ft. clubhouse, 20 acres of green-space for all to enjoy, boat slips, walking trails, and many other amenities. The Clubhouse and pool amenities will be ready this July.
The lakeside home offer a luxurious lifestyle suitable for year round living and vacation escape. The affordable Waterfront living of The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake is the only offering of it’s kind in the Okanagan. The spacious homes consist of large open floorplans, customized interior design with high-end finishings, and top of the line appliances; a true home away from home.
Life here allows for access to a warm climate, incredible amenities such as local wineries, award winning restaurants and golf courses, water activities, biking, walking and beach trails, boat slips and access to all that Lake Osoyoos has to offer.
Michelle and I shopped at the market and local wineries during the day, then came home to cook in the spacious kitchen followed by dining at sunset in our enclosed patio. In the mornings we brewed some coffee and sat out on (regular sized) Muskoka chairs on the patio as we stretched our toes to touch the lush green lawn.
The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake Getaway
To spread the word about this exciting development, The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake have offered up a 1-week stay (with all the comforts Michelle and I experienced) to one lucky Miss604 reader to enjoy in September of this year. Have a last taste of summer near the lake in wine country! Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment here naming what you would do with a week-long stay at the Osoyoos Cottages (1 entry)
All entries will be collected and one winner will be selected by The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake on Friday, May 23, 2014 at 5:00pm. The winner will enjoy complimentary accommodation for one week in September, 2014 with exact dates to be arranged between them and The Cottages on Osoyoos Lake. Must be 19+ to enter. Prize does not include transportation to/from the cottages and cannot be exchanged for other dates or other prizes/values.
It’s Mining Week in BC and to celebrate, the Britannia Mine Museum — our favourite Sea-to-Sky mining attraction — is hosting their annual Family Fun Day.
Activities throughout Family Fun Day include: An all-day Lego scavenger hunt for minifigures; yummy chocolate chip cookie mining, where kids can learn about exploration, extraction and remediation while enjoying a tasty treat; EPCOR water treatment experiment; face painting and temporary tattoos; costume photo booth; a special display by Finning; and fan favourites like the underground mine train, the 20-storey Mill building and gold panning.
John’s photos from our first visit to Britannia Mine
Family Fun Day will also feature two special Japanese taiko drumming performances by Sansho Daiko inside the Mill building at 11:00am and 2:00pm. A blacksmith will also be on site demonstrating his craft as he forges and shapes metal into interesting objects.
It’s fun for kids to explore and get hands-on, while I personally love the local history lesson and learning about the area’s past.
The Britannia Mine Museum has an important role in educating the public about the contributions of mining and minerals to society, the 110-year history of the storied Britannia Beach community and the ideas and practices of environmental renewal and sustainability. The Britannia Mine Museum is open seven days a week from 9:00am to 5:00pm with guided tours throughout the day. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
Last month was the City of Vancouver’s 128th birthday, this weekend we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Vancouver Whitecaps, and Science World is celebrating its 25th anniversary over the next few days. April and May have always been active months in the region, with projects taking off new doors opening, and of course the jump from spring to summer.
The following happened in the month of May in Vancouver’s history…
May 1, 1942: Canadian Pacific Airlines, a new national airline, was organized on this day with BC bush pilot Grant McConachie’s name was most associated with it.
May 2, 1986: Expo 86 opened, predicting 14 million paying visitors by the end of the event in the fall 22 million had visited.
1984: City of Vancouver Archives# CVA 780-505.
May 6, 1959: Oakridge shopping centre opened in Vancouver.
May 7, 1927: The Hotel Georgia opened for business.
May 11, 1907: Eight graduates of UBC, headed by Mrs. J.W. deB. Farris, founded The University Women’s Club. Their home today is Hycroft Manor.
May 12, 1954: Columnist Jack Wasserman began a daily items column in The Vancouver Sun. Virtually everyone read it over the next couple of decades.
May 13, 1907: A chunk of the District of North Vancouver broke away to form its own city, the City of North Vancouver.
May 15, 1943: Six paintings by Emily Carr went on sale for $50 a piece.
May 16, 1982: The night that “White Towel Power” was born when the Vancouver Canucks were defeated in their quest for the Stanley Cup by the New York Islanders.
May 21, 1934: The first sod was turned at the Marion Malkin Bowl, which was paid for by former Vancouver Mayor Malkin as a tribute to his late wife.
1940s – Photographer: Jack Lindsay, Item #: CVA 1184-1963
May 23, 1914: The Komagata Maru incident began with a ship’s arrival from India.
May 24, 1912: Charles Saunders made history of a sort at Richmond’s Minoru Park when he went up in a plane and performed the first parachute jump in Canada.
May 25, 1868 the capital of British Columbia was moved to Victoria from New Westminster.
May 29, 1939: The Lions Gate Bridge opened to traffic in November, 1938 but the official opening was on this day by this royal couple, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
1939 – VPL Accession Number: 3036. Photographer: Leonard Frank
May 29, 1964: The “Last Spike”… of the Stanley Park Miniature Railway was hammered into place.
It’s Emergency Preparedness Week in Vancouver (May 4 to May 10), which is part of a national campaign to encourage Canadians to get prepared for disasters. To spread the word, the City of Vancouver supplied the following information for me to share:
Vancouver Emergency Preparedness Week
Vancouver is in an earthquake zone–just two weeks ago, you may have felt the effects of an earthquake near Vancouver Island. Massive destructive earthquakes have occurred here in the past, and since we can’t predict when they might come next, it is important to be ready ahead of time. What can you do to be prepared? It’s not as hard as you think. The top three steps to getting prepared:
1. Know the risks: Understand the emergencies that you might face and what the risks might be.
2. Make a plan: Learn how you, your family, and your pets can stay safe during an emergency, and how you can communicate and find each other afterward.
3. Get a kit: Emergency kits can help you survive for up to three days if you are evacuated or if you lose services like electricity, water, or communications.
And this week, make sure to take the City of Vancouver’s survey on how prepared you are for an emergency, to help the City better support you in an emergency.
Experience shows that people who are prepared for disasters survive and recover more quickly. Taking a few simple precautions could make all the difference for you and your family when disaster strikes. Plan ahead for peace of mind, knowing that your loved ones are safe, and be prepared to weather life’s uncertainties.
We’re always working hard to prepare for disasters: the City of Vancouver just completed an earthquake preparedness strategy, and maintains a team of highly-trained rescue professionals. But mobilizing a rescue effort takes time, so all Canadians need to be ready to survive on their own for 72 hours (three days) following a disaster.
Additional Info
Did you know that the City of Vancouver offers free disaster planning workshops? Sign up here.
