CRAVEvancouver Coffee Chat

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Next week I will be speaking at the CRAVEvancouver Coffee Chat, discussing “Back to School: Social Media”.

CRAVEvancouver

When: Monday September 14, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Where: Pure Smile Studio (Suite 303-1110 Hamilton St)

CRAVEcompany focuses on three core models, the first being their book series. The printed CRAVEguide books have been issued for various North American cities and have been dubbed the “Urban Girl’s Manifesto”. These guides are business listings featuring companies that are locally run by women. The pages feature beautiful photographs along with company profiles and a quick Q&A.

They also host CRAVEparty, which are events in CRAVE cities that have entertainment, shopping, and networking opportunities. Finally CRAVEbusiness is a blog, online resource, and host of the coffee chat series.

My talk will be pretty informal and depending on the crowd it will feature either Twitter / Blogging 101 tips, or more intermediate lessons on how to use these social media tools in business. Tickets are still available for $25 (although selling out quickly) and the event will take place in Yaletown. For more information you can follow CRAVEvancouver’s own Arpen Thandi on Twitter @CRAVEvancouver.

Hiking on Blackcomb

Comments 6 by Rebecca Bollwitt

A few weeks ago we came to Whistler and rode the Peak to Peak gondola which runs between Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain.

When we got to Blackcomb we had done the quick Alpine Walk trail, which is a 60 minute loop we ended up completing in about 20 minutes. We had an appointment in the village so that’s about all we could do however John spotted a few other trails he wanted to conquer.

Blackcomb Trail Walk

Yesterday we set out on Blackcomb and headed over to the Overlord Trail, which branches off from the Alpine Walk. It’s longer, some parts are more steep, and the views are equally breathtaking.

Blackcomb Trail Walk

Blackcomb Trail Walk

Since it rained that morning everything was glistening and you could smell the alpine vegetation as it dried out.

Blackcomb Trail Walk Blackcomb Trail Walk

Blackcomb Trail Walk Blackcomb Trail Walk

We didn’t spot any bear but we did find some grouse as well as a marmot that was sunning himself on a big boulder.

Blackcomb Trail Walk Blackcomb Trail Walk

We reached our peak at Blackcomb Lake and looped back towards the lifts. It took us about 45 minutes to get out that far and if we had more time (the lifts shut down at 5pm in the summer) we would have kept going once again.

Blackcomb Trail Walk

Blackcomb Trail Walk

We’re heading back home today on the train and as always, I wish our stay would last a bit longer. Blackcomb keeps us wanting more and more each time we venture across its alpine trails, which I suppose is a good thing. It gets us out and about while exploring more of the region.

Blackcomb Trail Walk

We haven’t gone over to Whistler Village at all this trip as we’re staying on Blackcomb as well. It’s been really nice (thank goodness the rain stayed away an extra day) and I’m glad we got to spend more time on this side.

If you’d like to head to Whistler, visit my previous post to see how you can enter to win 2 round trip passes on the Whistler Mountaineer.

Whistler Mountaineer Train Ride

Comments 96 by Rebecca Bollwitt

This morning we woke up at dawn to head to the Rocky Mountaineer / Whistler Mountaineer train station in North Vancouver.

Whistler Mountaineer - N. Vancouver to Whistler Whistler Mountaineer - N. Vancouver to Whistler

I haven’t been on a big train since I took a commuter to Salem with my mom when I lived in Boston. Before that, I rode on the Royal Hudson when I was wee.

Whistler Mountaineer - N. Vancouver to Whistler

When we set out from the station we glided through the backyards of West Vancouver, spotting mega tree houses and unique views of the city.

Glacier Dome Car Glacier Dome Car

A tradition on the train is to have a toast when we set out on our journey. Mimosas at 8:30am were followed by a fresh fruit plate and then a full breakfast, which was delicious.

Breakfast

Along the way our hosts highlighted points of interest and let us know when we could wander to the observation car (which was built in 1914).

Whistler Mountaineer - N. Vancouver to Whistler

Horseshoe Bay Whistler Mountaineer - N. Vancouver to Whistler

Whistler Mountaineer - N. Vancouver to Whistler Squamish

Below the Sea to Sky and above Howe Sound, we slinked smoothly through tunnels, over bridges, and across roads.

Whistler Mountaineer - N. Vancouver to Whistler

Whistler Mountaineer - N. Vancouver to Whistler

The journey was so lovely and the hospitality was superb. I instantly fell in love with train travel.


Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

The Whistler Mountaineer takes about 3 hours to get up to Creekside but it’s the most relaxing and scenic trip you’ll make between Vancouver and Whistler. You can book round trips, take the train one way (and fly or drive back), and day trips are also possible, giving you a few hours in the village before returning home.


Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

From the station in Whistler we were whisked away by motorcoach directly to our hotel where we checked in and went exploring (I’ll have a seperate post about our afternoon adventures). I’m looking forward to our trip back home tomorrow but in the meantime, you can check out all of my photos from the train on Flickr and John has some amazing shots in a set as well.


Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

I am pleased to announce that Whistler Mountaineer would like one of my readers to experience this as well. They’re offering 2 round trip passes in the Glacier Dome car (where we rode today) valid at the end of this season or next year. If you would like to see all this for yourself simply leave a comment on this post or re-tweet this link including @miss604 and @rmountaineer.

Update: There was such a great response to this contest, I’d like to thank all 167 participants however I have just drawn one winner…. and that is Coach T.I.A. – congratulations!

Mud Run Ride in North Vancouver

Comments 2 by Guest Author

The following guest post has been contributed by Jane Victoria King.

Not that I really enjoy basking in the mud, but being I’m always up for a challenge and am open to trying out new adventures, I signed up for a team building adventure race known today as the Mud Run Ride (formerly the Mud n’Bud, and before that Muddy Buddy Canada). The new owners, Double Deuce Events are a fun group of guys that do all sorts of events. And let me tell you, this was crazy FUN.

When I arrived at Inter River Park in North Vancouver early on Saturday morning, still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes I received a text message from my teammate, Shawn saying she’d be there at 9:20 a.m. The race was due to start at 10 a.m. and we were using Shawn’s bike. Since I had never done the race before I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. All I knew was we shared a bike. One of us runs while the other bikes, you switch a couple times and there’s some mystery challenges in between. Oh, and you have to wear the bike helmet at all times while on the bike. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

Vancouver History: Before and After Photos Part Four

Comments 4 by Rebecca Bollwitt

This is now the fourth week of my Vancouver then and now photo series thanks to the resources available at the City of Vancouver Archives. To celebrate what’s left of summer in the city alongside the launch of the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, the theme this week is beaches.

English Bay
1912-1925


Photo credit: Private Collection

2009


Photo credit: Tyler Ingram on Flickr

1930s


Photo credit: Royal Canadian Air Force

2006


Photo credit: ecstaticist on Flickr

Second Beach
Unknown


Photo credit: Major Matthews Collection

2008


Photo credit: worldofjan on Flickr

Kits Beach
1920


Photographer: Stuart Thomson

2009


Photo credit: thelastminute on Flickr

Should you have any theme suggestions for next week, please drop me a note in the comments of this post.