Sipping my Woods Coffee on the way to Bellewood Acres and planning dinner in historic Fairhaven after a bike ride down the tulip-lined Main Street. This was my morning in Lynden, Washington, which is just 1 hour from Downtown Vancouver and 30 minutes from the border in White Rock. I stopped in for a visit last fall and discovered that although I was so close to home, I felt far, far away in a small town with generations of family farms, down-home cooking and craft beer, and it was simply lovely.
Learn its History
Learn about the area’s rich agricultural history at the Lynden Pioneer Museum. See how the pioneers lived in a replica town, browse displays, learn about local families, and if you’re a fan of classic motorcycles, cars, and horse-drawn carriages you’ll want to see their collection downstairs.
Photo by Laura Yee-Lim for Miss604
Shop for Gifts
The Bellewood Acres Apple Farm gift shop is one impressive retail destination! Shop for everything from kitchen wares, pies and preserves, to seasonal decorations, books, glasses, flowers, and of course local produce.
Another place to shop would by Lynden’s Front Street – voted the best Main Street in America a few years ago! Pop into Village Books & Paper Dreams in the Waples Building for anything books, paper, journal, and more including great gift ideas.
Photo by Laura Yee-Lim for Miss604
Appreciate the Arts
The Jansen Arts Centre is the cultural centre of Lynden. Through its Front Street doors you’ll find a cafe, grand piano (where you can catch someone playing it beautifully, often) and an artsy gift shop. There are galleries, meeting spaces, and exhibits upstairs and downstairs you can watch artisans at work making jewelry, painting, or try your hand at a pottery class. There are also yoga and dance studios, recording studios, and performance spaces. It has it all! Pop by to browse the art, book a class, or catch a show.
Craft beer, wine, cider, and charity! Overflow Taps is the little craft beer joint with BIG heart. $0.25 of every pint goes to Charity Water. Meet some friends, play some board games, enjoy the skateboard-themed decor and merch, and order in some take-out.
Stay a While
Lynden officially welcomed its first boutique hotel, when the 35-room Inn at Lynden opened its doors to travelers in the century-old Waples Mercantile Building at the corner of 5th and Front streets in the historic downtown district. It’s one of only a handful of hotels in Washington State on the National Registry of Historic Places. Right downstairs you have a bakery cafe, craft beer taphouse (Overflow Taps), and they have bikes for guests to use to get around town.
Explore by Sea
Whale watch with San Juan Cruises out of the Alaska Ferry Building in Bellingham, just a quick drive away within Whatcom County. Park for the day and hop on a narrated tour that will sail through the San Juan Islands, spot wildlife, supply lunch, and a walk around on San Juan Island via Friday Harbour. They offer a variety of themed cruises, full or half day, with craft beer, wine, picnics or full dinners.
It was around this time six years ago that John and I started packing for our first trip to Maui. Guests of the Kaanapali Beach Resort Association, we knew of Hawaii from pop culture and postcards our whole lives, but we didn’t know what to expect once actually travelled across the Pacific ourselves. What probably surprised me the most is how Maui is known as the
Now that I have completed a couples getaway with a foodie theme on Maui, as well as a girls getaway with a light adventure theme, I feel confident in my selections and can highly recommend each activity. Here are my picks for 10 Things to do on Maui:
10 Things to do on Maui
1. Outrigger Canoe Tour
This is my favourite activity! I get to head out on the water for a paddle, meet awesome guides like Delray and Mahe with Maui Paddlesports, learn local history, spot wildlife, and soak up the views of Maui’s southwest coast from the water.
2. Haleakala Volcano Sunrise
A must-do on Maui! Drive upcountry before dawn to the top of a sleeping volcano where you can look out across the crater at other Hawaiian Islands while the sun rises and bestows a new day while it feels like you’re standing at the top of the world. Since John and I first visited, they now limit the number of daily visitors for the sunrise so be sure to reserve well in advance of your trip. It’s also VERY COLD before sunrise so bring a sweater – even if it’s summer.
3. Coffee & Craft Beer Tour
Want to see how coffee goes from cherry to roasted bean to cup? Visit O’o Farm offers a Seed to Cup tour in the misting forest of Waipoli in Upcountry Maui. Craft beer lover? Then you have to stop into Maui Brewing Co for a tour.
4. Farm Tours
You can eat local, shop farmers markets, and take farm tours on this very agriculturally-focused island! Maui Country Farm Tours has several regional options like the Upcountry Tour that includes sugar cane and pineapple history, tea & scones at a lavender farm, Ocean Vodka Organic Farm and Distillery tour, and a ranch visit.
5. Hiking
You can stroll the beach, or head up to an intensive mountain ridge hikes in Central Maui like my sister took me on. The Waihe’e Ridge Trail Maui is a spectacular, panoramic hike is 8km round trip with a 475m elevation gain, but hiking through the forest, then along a ridge with valley and ocean views on either side was a pretty epic experience! You can find more hiking options, for all levels, here »
6. Sunset Sailboat Cruise
Board one of the Teralani Sailing Charters catamarans right from Kaanapali Beach and enjoy an evening of snacks, drinks, and sunset photo ops from the water as it sails along the Kaanapali coastline toward the island of Molokai and back.
7. Visit Lahaina
The former capital of the entire Hawaiian Kingdom (1820 to 1845). Lahaina is a great little town that mixes trendy tourist shops with history. Walk through Banyan Tree Park just off Front Street, which seems like a mini forest with tree trunks sprouting up everywhere, but it’s all ONE tree! You’ll also find the Old Lahaina Courthouse in Banyan Tree Park, which contains the Lahaina Heritage Museum. Spend some time inside, or take a self-guided history tour outside.
8. Zipline
Get above it all, without hiking and with a little more of an adrenaline rush with SkyLine Eco Adventures. A fun family activity, with 8-line or 11-line adventure tours.
9. Attend a Luau
Every tourist says: “I don’t want to do touristy things,” at one point during their trip planning. However with a luau you get an evening of entertainment, a history lesson of the Pacific island through dance, a multi-course meal (with a healthy side of poi), drinks, and you may even make new friends since many have communal tables for socializing. Check with your hotel to see if they offer a luau, and check the latest Trip Advisor ratings to find a luau that’s right for you ie. the theme of the luau, family-friendly, buffet vs plated meal etc.)
10. Road to Hana
This is one experience I have yet to do, but this drive along the northeast coast is legendary. Roadside food stands lead to lush rainforest hikes with refreshing waterfalls along the beaten path. The Road to Hana will be on my next Maui trip list for sure.
Of course you can also enjoy your hotel’s amenities like the spa, pool, (grotto pool with bar service like at the Hyatt), beachside bar, loungers on the sand, ocean swimming, snorkeling, selfies on the lanai at sunset, restaurants and shave ice).
One of our favourite down-time activities is getting some pineapple juice and Old Lahaina dark rum from the ABC store at the Whalers Village shopping centre and making our own Mai Tais to enjoy on our lanai watching the waves roll in at sunset. Whatever you end up doing, it’s hard to not have a good time on Maui. Maui Nō Ka ʻOi!
The Richmond World Festival will feature over 90 artists performing on 9 stages, serving up rich slices of African, Asian, North and South American, European, South Pacific and Caribbean cultures. Headlining the two days will be Lights (on Friday) and Magic! (on Saturday).
Richmond World Festival 2018
When: Friday, August 31, 2018 4:00pm to 10:00pm
Saturday September 1, 2018 11:00am to 11:00pm
Where:Minoru Park & Richmond Cultural Centre Plaza
(7191 Granville Ave, Richmond)
Other highlights include the FEASTival of Flavours with more than 50 food trucks presenting cuisines from all over the globe and the Culinary Stage featuring top local chefs. There’s also the Global Village with interactive cultural activities and performances; the Bamboo Theatre and Digital Carnival, both offering diverse and innovative performances; Africa Zone cultural pavilion, Artisan Marketplace and Imagination World at the Richmond Public Library.
Win a Meet & Greet, and More!
I have a prize package to give away that includes $80 to spend at food trucks at the festival along with a meet & greet with Lights for the winner and three friends!
Lights is a riveting performer and innovative songwriter. Always pushing boundaries, the alt-pop phenomenon has never shied away from a challenge. Through her first three records, Lights built an incredibly passionate fanbase, selling out tours around the world, earning 100 million US streams and two JUNO Awards, not to mention the more than two million rabid fans who follow her every move online.
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a #RichmondWorldFest experience including a meet & greet with @Lights plus food truck vouchers http://ow.ly/s8oQ30lr8tv @FunRichmond” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
Follow the Richmond World Festival on Facebook,Instagram and Twitter for more information about this festival and more events in Richmond.
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 6:00am on Tuesday, August 28, 2018.
Miss604 is the proud Social Media Sponsor of the Richmond World Festival
Variety – the Children’s Charity of BC has a tradition of honouring a philanthropist each year for their work in the community and for Variety. This year at the Gold Heart Gala they are proud to be honouring two people who are philanthropic leaders in the community: Bob and Barbara Stewart. The evening, chaired by Mary Zilba will also include live entertainment, a multi-course dinner and both a live and a silent auction.
Gold Heart Gala
Where: Fairmont Pacific Rim (1038 Canada Place, Vancouver) When: Thursday, September 27, 2018 6:00pm reception 7:30pm dinner Tickets:Available now online
A former Chief of the Vancouver Police Department, Bob served as Variety’s Chief Barker in 1994, 1995, 1996, 2007 and 2008. Barbara was Variety’s first woman Chief Barker and pioneered Variety’s hugely successful Gold Pin program that was launched in 1991.
They have both contributed to Variety in many ways through time, talent and treasure. Their passion for improving the lives of children is a global inspiration. Join Variety as they present Bob and Barbara with the 2018 Gold Heart Award.
Everything Wine invites you to join their first annual Everything Wine Festival in Langley on Thursday, September 13, 2018. The festival will showcase 100 wines featuring both local BC wineries and imported wines. Browse the selection, savour tastings, and check out the special tables featuring a selection of Rosé, Sparkling Wines, 90 point wines, and Iconic Greats to try.
Everything Wine Festival
When: September 13, 2018 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm Where: Coast Hotel & Convention Centre (20393 Fraser Hwy, Langley) Tickets:Available online now for $75
Spend the evening experiencing a wine fest in your own community, featuring very affordable wines to more prestigious wines, and tasty nibbles. Speaking of pairing, try a round of Stump the Expert – ask your toughest food and wine pairing questions to the expert staff.
A Look at Some of the Participants…
Bordertown
Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
Clos du Soleil Winery
Culmina
EJ Gallo
Hatch
Indigenous World Winery
Kalala
Lang Vineyards
Moraine
OCP
Road 13
Robin Ridge
Volcanic Hills
Wild Goose
Make a night of it and take advantage of a special rate for guests at the Langley Coast Hotel of $125 for the night when you mention you are attending the Everything Wine Fest. Call The Langley Coast Hotel at (604) 530-1500 to book your hotel stay.
And… if you bring your festival ticket to the Langley Everything Wine location after the event, you can receive 10% off your purchase (valid between September 14-30, 2018. Some restrictions may apply).
Win Tickets
I have a pair of tickets to give away to this event, here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Click below to post an entry on Twitter
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to the #EverythingWineFestival @EWineBC http://ow.ly/T25330lqZFa” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, August 27, 2018. Follow Everything Wine on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more info.
A former Chief of the Vancouver Police Department, Bob served as Variety’s Chief Barker in 1994, 1995, 1996, 2007 and 2008. Barbara was Variety’s first woman Chief Barker and pioneered Variety’s hugely successful Gold Pin program that was launched in 1991. 