This weekend John and I are on a new media press trip courtesy of Coast Hotels. Along with Ianiv & Arieanna, Duane, Anny, Karen, Lorraine, April, and guests we’re experiencing some of the best summer treats and events Victoria has to offer.

We started out early this morning aboard the Spirit of British Columbia as we enjoyed the Pacific Buffet brunch offered up by BC Ferries. It’s a nice alternative to the cafeteria and has an ideal location right at the front or back of the boat. The brunch is $19 for all you can eat throughout the 95-minute crossing.

We went for a photowalk along the deck of the boat before disembarking at Swartz Bay and piling into a mini bus to head over to Sea Cider (for which I’ll have a dedicated post later on).

We then checked into the Coast Victoria Harbourside & Marina where we’ll stay for the rest of the weekend and enjoy the 15th Annual Wine & Oyster Fest tonight.

I’ll have a separate post up about each of our adventures this weekend (with photos), which should prove to be a really fun getaway for the entire group.

Last year John and I were able to fully cover the Dragon Boat Festival, from land and the water. We’ll be out of town this weekend however it’s a fantastic free event for all happening June 20-21st in False Creek that is definitely worth checking out this year.

The races are fun to watch, participants are up-beat, there are entertainers, food vendors, a marketplace and there are tons of activities on the shore for the whole family. As a side note, if you’re interested in following someone who lives the Dragon Boat lifestyle, check out @PaddlingGeek on Twitter, or check out her blog.

The 11th Annual Whalley Community Festival is happening this Saturday from 10:00am until 6:00pm. There’s no shortage of activities happening this weekend, from the Ride to Conquer Cancer, to Chip’s Not Dead Yet, and Vancouver’s first ChangeCamp however, this one’s special for me. I’m proud of my hometown, and to say that I’m a former West Whalley Trojan, so I think community events like this are great.

Highlights include entertainers, bands, crafts, magician for the kids, a strawberry tea, silent auction, and a barbecue. The City of Surrey has plenty of fun, free, family events this summer and this is just the first of the season. I’m a media partner and official blogger of Surrey’s Canada Day celebration as well as the Fusion Festival so stay tuned for updates about these festivals in the coming weeks.

I was inspired to create an entry for my Metro Vancouver Park Series after my recent kayaking trip so here’s what you’ll need to know about exploring Belcarra.

Metrics: 1,100 hectares (2,718 acres) with 22 km of hiking trails and 9.5kms of bike trails.

Lake Sasamat – Photo credit: jkaneda on Flickr

How to Get There: There are three main destinations in Belcarra Regional Park that include Buntzen Lake in Anmore, White Pine Beach at Sasamat Lake, and Belcarra beach / day-use recreational area.

If driving, head into Port Moody and take Ioco Road North/West, continue to 1st Ave and turn right following 1st as it becomes Bedwell Bay Road where you’ll find White Pine Beach (often crowded since it’s so popular). Continue on Bedwell Bay Road to the three-way stop, turn left, then keep right to the picnic area parking lot. By transit you can take the C26 community shuttle from Port Moody Station to Belcarra Road right down to Midden Road or hop off earlier if you have another destination along the way.

Belcarra Picnic Area & Ocean Beach – Photo credit: bchow on Flickr

Features: Dogs are allowed on-leash, there are picnic areas (two covered), concession, swimming, tour bus access, boat launch, and many more facilities.

History: On August 22, 1979 the Village of Belcarra was incorporated but the history of the region runs far deeper. “Belcarra was a traditional camping area for the Tsleil-waututh, the First Nations people whose territory it is in.” [wiki] Mr John Hall from Ireland purchased the a land in 1882 (Lot 229), which included the entire present-day Belcarra picnic site, more than half of the Belcarra Peninsula and all of the Turtlehead and Whiskey Cove areas [pdf]. Hall got caught up in a murder and promised his attorney, William Norman Bole, all of his land in exchange for his defense. “William Norman Bole gave Belcarra its Celtic name that means “the fair land on which the sun shines”. In 1886 he became an MLA and in 1889 a judge of the County Court of New Westminster. In 1908, he subdivided Lot 229 and it was registered in the name of Belcarra-Bedwell Bay Land Company.” [pdf]

Photo credit: Cheryl_J on Flickr

Notes: When I was little I used to affectionately call Belcarra’s picnic area the “goose poop” park because of all the Canadian geese that would hang out on the lawn. There’s plenty of wildlife, from geese to sea stars, and it’s the ideal beach for an afternoon nature walk. Take a stroll along the water’s edge, making discoveries in tide pools, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

If you’re a long-time reader of Miss604.com you’ll probably know that the band Death Cab for Cutie has a special place in my heart. John introduced their music to me when we were dating and a song by Ben Gibbard will forever remind me of him. We even played Death Cab at our wedding and we walked out to the receiving line to a song by The Postal Service (one of Gibbard’s side projects).

It just so happens that Death Cab for Cutie will be playing the Pacific Coliseum on July 16th, and we’re going to be there. Here are some tunes from their latest album, Narrow Stairs, that you might have heard on that fine local radio station, The Peak.

Ra Ra Riot from Syracuse, NY along with Vancouver super-group The New Pornographers will be opening up the show.

The New Pornographers are comprised of solo artist Neko Case, members of Limblifter, Age of Electric, The Evaporators (I swear that’s Nardwuar in the video above) and other talented individuals. Tickets are still available for the concert on July 16th so if you’re planning on attending I’d be all for a Death Cab Tweetup.