The BC Travel Tuesday series has returned this summer as I partner up once again with Backyard BC to highlight properties and destinations around the province. We’re now half way through our six week campaign with six different getaway packages for BC hotels.
Featuring a variety of hotels and resorts located throughout the province, Backyard BC provides residents of British Columbia with free access to exclusive discounts on accommodation. If you live and travel in BC, we’ll make sure you pay less than the lowest rates available to anyone else. Travel local. Save big. Visit Backyard BC online, on Twitter, or Facebook and see more of BC!
The winner of the second giveaway of the 2012 BC Travel Tuesday campaign is Linda! If you haven’t already, you can still enter to win the grand prize which includes stays at every property we’re showcasing over the full six weeks.
The third getaway of this summer series takes us up the Sea to Sky to the picturesque community of Whistler Creekside:
Evolution Whistler Creekside
Website, Twitter, Facebook, Backyard BC listing
Location: 2020 London Lane, Whistler, BC
About: Evolution is uniquely designed and furnished to give you the best of both worlds. Tastefully balancing comfort and style, sophisticated Whistler Creekside Hotel accommodations offers open floor plans that create versatile living spaces perfect for both relaxing with family and entertaining your friends. Evolution is consistently ranked in the top 10 hotels to stay in Whistler on TripAdvisor.
Prize: 2 nights accommodation, complimentary parking and a $50 gift certificate to the Creekside Market.
Value: $650
I love Whistler in the summer as much as winter with options like the TreeTrek tour, ziplining, hiking, the Peak2Peak gondola, farmers markets, and outdoor dining. You can also learn to stand up paddle-board on a nearby lake like I did earlier this season.
To enter to win the weekly contest:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Contest is Now Closed
Weekly winners will be announced every Tuesday on the latest BC Travel Tuesday contest post until the six weeks are up. Gift certificates for hotel and resort stays will be sent directly to each weekly winner so they can arrange their visit personally with the property. Some restrictions apply, based on availability.
View all posts in the series by following or subscribing to my BCTravelTuesday tag. Open to residents of BC. Backyard BC’s grand prize draw for stays at all 6 properties will take place September 4, 2012.
Last week Beerthirst, an independent agent of craft beer, hosted a pairing dinner at Ensemble Tap in downtown Vancouver. A fan of a good beer pairing dinner, John and I signed up for the event that featured four courses with four American IPAs.
I had been to Ensemble Tap before for events but never to dine so I was looking forward to Chef Bradley Hendrickson’s creations. Before each course, the Beerthirst team would introduce the beer and Chef Brad would follow up by explaining his dish and why it is a good fit for the brew.
IPAs (India Pale Ales) branch off of pale ales and are typically packed with more hops — along with a higher alcohol content. The first one poured at the dinner was the Elysian Avatar Jasmine IPA, which John and I had sampled at Elysian Brewing in Seattle during one of our recent trips. Floral notes dance around your tongue and soften with a hint of citrus. Chef Brad’s pairing was a dungeness crab salad with canteloupe, zucchini, lime, and jasmine cream. Fragrant, light, and crisp from both the glass and the plate.
The second beer was Green Flash Brewing Company‘s Le Freak. Malt and yeast playing a bigger role, it was paired with Chef Brad’s roasted potato gnocchi with smoked pork belly, mushrooms, and tomato concasse. The pairing was spot-on with the earthy tones of the potato gnocchi and mushrooms playing perfectly with the full bodied brew.
Bear Republic‘s Racer 5 was paired with the main course. Smooth, mellow, with hints of grapefruit and caramel. It was paired with Fraser Valley braised pork cheeks, crispy tofu, ginger confit, pork-dashi broth, and green onion. This was a million miles away from a typical “burger and beer” combination. I love broths and combinations of meat and tofu. The ginger played with the grapefruit notes in the beer, and the tender pork melted in your mouth.
Last but not least, the Alameda Yellow Wolf Imperial IPA led us into dessert. In case you’re wondering, beer does in fact pair with dessert. If you don’t believe me, a Howe Sound King Heffy and a slice of banana cream pie will change your mind. A simple lemon mousse with fresh raspberries and candied zest on a lemon Szechuan pepper cake rounded out the meal. The lemon was pucker-worthy but was instantly subdued the Yellow Wolf.
Following the meal there was a raffle prize draw with t-shirts, coasters, and big gift bags handed out to attendees. Tickets for the event were $50 — for the full four course, four pairing experience. The Beerthirst crew hosts dinners quite often with the next one (Craft Beer Patio Party at Fogg N’ Suds) coming up August 11, 2012. Follow them on Twitter for more information.
Beerthirst has a list of places that carry “Beerthirst” brands such as these and you can find all of the beers from the dinner at Ensemble Tap and many other restaurants and pubs. There is also a variety of craft beer available at Brewery Creek Liquor Store, Legacy Liquor Store, and Viti Wine and Lager.
Visa is currently sponsoring a handful of Canadian Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls (and some who have become champions already) as they have done for the last 26 years. They have partnered with me to showcase members of their team like Brent Hayden of Mission and to do a giveaway this week. The next Team VISA athlete that I am proud to feature is Emilie Heymans. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
It was announced this morning that the team from Italy took the top prize at this year’s Honda Celebration of Light, the world’s largest offshore fireworks competition.
“Italy deserved the win” said Patrick Brault, Honda Celebration of Light producer, “the choreography and their use of color was simply spectacular. The judges and the public had a hard time deciding the winner because it was so close but in the end it was a few points and a few extra public votes that made the difference.” [Source: Press Release]
This was the first time that the public was given the opportunity to vote through the Honda Celebration of Light mobile application, which also played the synchronized soundtrack to each country’s show. The public votes were added up and treated as one judge on the panel that included Nasir Kamrudin from Surrey Honda, Kaitlyn Herbst from Global BC, Councillor Raymond Louie (head judge) from the City of Vancouver, Bob Kronbauer from Vancouver Is Awesome, Councillor Heather Deal from the City of Vancouver, and Stirling Faux from AM650.
Expect to see three different countries competing next year as Pyrotechnic Producer Patrick Brault told media on the first barge tour this year that their goal is to branch out and have nine different countries over the next three years.
You can donate to the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society to ensure that this free event continues each year.
London has done quite an admirable job with the Summer Olympics so far and it’s been heartwarming to hear all the cheers for Canada echoing from the venues. Back at home, friends, family, and spectators are gathering at homes, pubs, and restaurants to support Team Canada from afar. There’s just one week left at the Games of the 33rd Olympiad and Canadians have made quite a splash already. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
