I have a bit of an affinity for historic places, museums, and walking tours thanks to family outings as a child and treasures like Fort Langley. On a recent media trip to Whatcom County in Washington State one of our stops was at Pioneer Park in Ferndale, home to a collection of eleven pioneer log cabins.

Pioneer Park was created from 4 acres of uncut Western Red Cedar trees purchased by the Whatcom Old Settlers Association in 1901 for the purpose of holding its annual pioneer picnic, a continuing tradition that is today considered one of the oldest celebrations of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. In 1925, a dance hall building and a headquarters building were constructed at the entrance to the park. [Ferndale Heritage Society]

With an interest in preserving local pioneer history, the Old Settlers Association has gradually moved abandoned pioneer structures to the park beginning in 1935. The slab cedar houses at Pioneer Park, built in the late 1800s, have all been relocated here from their original sites of construction at various locations around Whatcom County. Today these preserved cabins are the most important assemblage of this distinctive regional style of rustic pioneer architecture. [Ferndale Heritage Society]

Sitting along the Nooksack River the cabins have been strategically placed to form a village of sorts, including a Post Office, General Store, School House, homes, and more. Greeted by costumed guides, visitors can get a glimpse at pioneer life (tours are just $5 for adults, $3 for kids) and enjoy special heritage-themed events throughout the year.

Pioneer Park is located in Ferndale, Washington just off exit 262 of the I-5 highway and across the river from the Hovander Homestead. It’s only about one hour from Vancouver and just 15-20 minutes from the border crossing.

Follow @CityofFerndale or @WhatcomCounty on Twitter for more information about Pioneer Park and other parks in the region. Read more about Whatcom Country parks and attractions by following my tag: Whatcom.

Before you get to Whistler to enjoy the shopping, outdoor recreation, and cuisine, you’ll first come across the Creekside community along the Sea to Sky. Home to some Olympic and Paralympic alpine events during the Vancouver 2010 Games, families love the local restaurants and the activities you can enjoy along a string of fresh lakes.

Located between Alta Lake and Alpha Lake in Creekside, Nita Lake Lodge sits along the wooded shores of quaint little Nita Lake. The only hustle and bustle you’ll find at this seemingly secluded refuge is from the nearby walking and cycling trails. Paddles from stand-up boards and canoes break the glassy surface of the water as you sit out on the balcony of your room or enjoy a glass of wine on the lodge’s patio.

On a recent trip with media, I discovered the laid-back pace at Nita Lake and the fresh, local, mindful ingredients they use at their dining establishments.

On the patio at Cure

The boutique hotel with 77 cozy suites has plenty of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fix Cafe is great for a morning coffee, pastry, or breakfast sandwich. Cure Lounge‘s lakeside patio is ideal for fresh summer salads and a craft cocktail. Aura Restaurant offers a full menu with an extensive BC wine list that will satisfy every craving at dinner time.

North Arm Farm White Sunchoke & Potato Soup
Black Garlic Cream, Roasted Bread Crumbs

Grilled Bison Flat-Iron Steak with Turnip & Spring Onion Churros
Beat and Bacon Salad, Arugula Black Pepper Jus
(one of the best salads I’ve had this summer)

(Left) Cedar Sour cocktail
(actually tasted like roasted wood, evoking memories and warm fuzzy feelings)
(Right) Ice Cream Sandwich (giant macaron with chocolate mousse)

I stayed overnight in a studio suite, which was very spacious at about 500 square feet and our group toured the hotel to check out a few of the other rooms. Layouts included the impressive Rainforest Suite and Glade Suites which we heard were ideal for large families, events, and honeymoons.

There are soaker tubs in every room, free WIFI, flat screen televisions, hidden mini bars, and iPod alarm clock docks. The only thing missing is a full kitchen however the sinks and fridge plus all of the dining options in the lodge will leave you with plenty of options. A breakfast credit is also given at time of booking online or by phone. Rates right now (looking online today) start at just $149 a night.

I love boutique hotels and what impressed me the most about Nita Lake Lodge was how spacious it was, how beautifully it stood between mountain slopes and the lake, the free WIFI (still, this is always a bonus), the dining options, and the knowledge of our server at Aura Restaurant. She could tell us which farm our vegetables came from and the backstory of almost every Okanagan winemaker.

You’ll be outside of Whistler Village but Nita Lake has a free shuttle that can take you into town for the day and pick up you again. You can head out and do a TreeTrek Tour or the Peak 2 Peak, or stay in your room enjoying the tub and the views. Follow NitaLakeLodge on Twitter for packages, information, and the latest news from the lodge.

Until August 18, 2012 you can book a full summer getaway package from $659 per person that includes round-trip rail journey onboard Rocky Mountaineer’s bi-level dome on the Whistler Sea to Sky Climb from Vancouver, a $180 food credit for Aura Restaurant, a one-hour paddle boarding session with REO Rafting on Nita Lake, and two nights accommodation at Nita Lake Lodge.

This week I have gone back to school, kind of. The world-renown Vancouver Film School has invited me into their Summer Intensives classes, which are brief crash-courses, each representing a slice of a full multi-month program and course load. The intensives run for eight hours, five days this week and should they desire, students can then sign up for the full program in the fall. I’m getting a sneak peek (a few hours a day) in a different Summer Intensive each day this week. My course on Tuesday was Voice & Movement for Actors.

Introduction

View from the VFS campus on Hastings

As today was the second day of class for those participating in the Summer Intensives, there was no rundown of course content or introduction to all of the instructors. Instead I walked up to the 7th floor of the campus at 182 West Hastings and got right to work.

The class was lead by Adam Henderson, whom everyone was meeting for the first time. From what I gathered during the “what did you learn yesterday” question period, students had some time in front of the camera, did some improvisation, and already formed a bond between them. One student who appeared to be a bit timid said that after the first day, he was more comfortable with everyone and ready to break out of his shell. By the way the group interacted and inquired about one another’s ambitions, goals, and experience, you could tell they were becoming a supportive unit.

Participation

I wasn’t a fly on the wall for this class, I was fully immersed — stretching my shoulders, groaning, and literally clowning around with the other students. To pull out a random reference… it’s like that episode of Friends when Monica and Rachel are at a dance studio spying on a woman who stole — and is using — Monica’s credit cards. They position themselves at the back of the room and when the instructor asks what they’re doing they say they’re just observing. She replies: “You don’t observe a dance class, you dance a dance class!” So abandoned my notebook on the floor and acted, in the acting class. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

Cameras are falling from the sky and they’ve been seen all around Vancouver. If you find one, keep it and follow a few simple steps to win a free ticket to Playland. You’ll also be entered to win tickets to any PNE concert in 2013.

Here’s a video recovered from one of the cameras, the fountain at the end is a clue to where a camera can be found:

You’ll need to pay attention to clues like this to find more and they’ll all be posted on Lost Camera YVR website.

Find a camera, enter it’s pin on the website, and you’re a winner — and you can keep the camera. There will be a new lost camera location every few days from now until mid-August.

To promote the Lost Camera Phenomenon happening all around Vancouver, I have two pairs of tickets to an upcoming PNE concert to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win ticket to see Skrillex this Sunday at the PNE Forum during his Full Flex Express tour.

• Leave a comment on this post naming your favourite Playland ride (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw two winners at random from all entries on Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 3:00pm. Follow the tag #lostcamerayvr on Twitter for more clues and information.

Update The winners are: @TinaMash91 & Brittany Roche!

When the summer sun shines, people love to dance outside in this city and the Vancouver Swing Society wants to help you with your moves. Bringing the sounds of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s Big Band music to Granville, they’re hosting free swing dancing this Sunday, July 22, 2012.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

With the support of Viva Vancouver, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association, and Dave Henderson Sound, you can take free introductory swing dance lessons and dance all you want from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Royal City Swing’s Kyle MacDonald & Natsuko Murao will teach beginner steps as participants move to the music of DJ Alan Cheung.

The next event will take place Sunday, August 5th at the same time but with DJ Professor Smack (Joel Schwarz). On August 19th and 26th, Company B Jazz Band and the Brothers Arntzen Jazz Band will be performing a live soundtrack for the dancers.

All events are free (July 22, August 5, August 19, August 26) and take place on Granville between Robson and Georgia. The road will be closed to traffic and open to all dancers – no partner or previous experience is required.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Up for more free dancing and dance lessons? There’s also Friday night ballroom dancing at Robson Square this summer and Dance at Dusk in Stanley Park on Mondays and Tuesday.