My plan was to get out on the water, my sister’s was to do a hike. We booked a girls getaway to Maui in October with the Kaanapali Beach Resort Association (“KBRA”) and while we already had an outrigger canoe tour with Maui Paddlesports on our itinerary, my sister needed to find her perfect hike to check off her Maui bucket list.
We Googled, checked TripAdvisor and some blogs, then we asked a local – our contact at the Hyatt Regency Maui. She confirmed that one of our top picks, the Waihee Ridge Trail, would be just what my sister — who loves the Grouse Grind, Coquitlam Crunch, St Mark’s Summit, Jug Island, and more — was looking for in a hike.
Waihee Ridge Trail
Basic Info: It’s a 5-mile round trip trail (8km) that ascends 1,500 ft (457m) through a lush forest with views of Maui’s north coast and distant West Maui Forest Reserve waterfalls. It’s quite the climb, but living in Metro Vancouver we always know that the toughest climbs usually have the best, most rewarding views — and the same goes for Maui.
Located in the West Maui Mountains, also known as Mauna Kahalawai, you’ll start the hike from the parking lot by going up a 200ft cement road next to pasture with grazing cattle. On the way up you might already start to regret your decision – it’s steep! But, once you catch your breath at the top the real hike begins. The trail heads into a lush forest of kukui, aromatic guava, ohia, and ferns. There are a few lookout points from the forest section, which cycles between flat and steep areas, before you get out onto the ridge’s series of dusty and muddy switchbacks. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Burnaby Village Museum has been transformed into an old fashioned Heritage Christmas, with vintage-themed displays, live entertainment, crafts, a scavenger hunt, delicious baked treats and more. With free gate admission, this attraction has been a favourite this season and your photos reflect its magic. Here is a roundup of Instagram and Flickr images from Burnaby Village Museum that will inspire your next visit:
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by the City of Vancouver Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
I opted for rain boots on a sunny autumn morning, as a Vancouverite may tend to do with a chance of showers in the forecast, as I headed out for my morning coffee. Walking the leaf-covered West End sidewalk I found my boots suddenly splashing through puddles. Water was ferociously bubbling up from between some cracks in the sidewalk in what I would imagine would be a water main break.
I pulled out my phone, clicked on the VanConnect app, selected Submit a Service Request, then Streets and Sewers then reported the issue as a sidewalk repair. I uploaded a photo, pin pointed the location. Later that day I walked the same route over to the market and there were City of Vancouver cones around the soggy sidewalk spot. I tracked the progress of the repairs and could see when the work was complete.
VanConnect App
You can report all kinds of issues on the VanConnect App, from graffiti to broken street lights or litter, all on the go from the palm of your hand. Abandoned mattress in the alley? Snap a photo and report it for cleanup. You can view a full list of current VanConnect service issues and requests on the app too so you can avoid street flooding, street repairs and more.
The app also connects you to emergency alerts and services, facility maps, road closure information, and the latest City news. Find a skate park or stream a live City Council meeting.
In the fall, you can Adopt a Catch Basin or find out when leaves will be cleared. Come winter, when the snow starts falling again, you can get the latest updates on snow removal and sidewalk clearing.
It’s a handy city guide to have, reference, report-on, and use day-to-day in the City of Vancouver. The free app can be downloaded for Android and iOS, and Blackberry at any time.
Ring in the new year with your loved ones with these family friends New Year’s Eve events and attractions happening around Metro Vancouver.
*Some of these events are ticketed and may sell out, so be sure to act fast and book as soon as possible.
Concord’s New Year’s Eve in Downtown Vancouver
When: December 31, 2017 from 7:00pm to 1:30am Where: Canada Place Way, Vancouver Info: Website/Tickets »
A free outdoor festival with ticketed VIP upgrades. Enjoy entertainment on the 102.7 THE PEAK Main Stage, YVR World Stage, Coast Capital Savings Stage, JR-FM Party Stage, and in the RE/MAX Family Zone where there will be a Kids Can Dance Party followed by a balloon drop prior to the fireworks. Family fireworks countdown will be at 9:00pm, and a NYE fireworks countdown will follow at midnight.
Grouse Mountain New Year’s Eve
When: December 31, 2017 from 5:00pm where: Grouse Mountain (6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver) Info: Website/Tickets »
On top of Grouse’s NYE Snowshoe Fondue and their NYE Gala, their Family Friendly New Year’s Eve will be packed with fun for everyone. Glide on the 8,000-square foot mountaintop Skate Pond, take a sled down our Sliding Zone and be awed by the magical outdoor Light Walk around Blue Grouse Lake. Enjoy performances throughout the night as well as a special 9:00pm countdown with fireworks.
Mt. Seymour New Year’s Eve
When: December 31, 2017 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm where: Mt. Seymour (1700 Mt Seymour Road, North Vancouver) Info: Website/Tickets »
Mt. Seymour’s legendary Family First Night returns this year with laser tobogganing, snoeshoeing, s’mores, a Snowquest Scavenger Hunt, live entertainment, party favours, face painting and crafts, food vendors, shuttle service, fireworks and more.
Robson Square New Year’s Eve
When: December 31, 2017 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm where: 800 Block Robson (Vancouver) Info: Website »
Free skating and live music from Rumba Calzada. The ice rink will be open for skating until 11:00pm on New Year’s Eve.
Winter Ice Palace
When: December 31, 2017 at 10:00am to 3:30pm where: Cloverdale Ice Arena (6090 176 St, Surrey) Info: Website »
Skate the 20th annual Winter Ice Palace in Cloverdale, open on New Year’s Day as well from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.
Winter Wonderland
When: December 31, 2017 at 10:00am to 4:00pm where: Minoru Arenas (7551 Minoru Gate, Richmond) Info: Website »
Skate to festive music surrounded by thousands of sparkling lights, real snow banks, decorated holiday trees and more.
Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Variety Show
When: December 31, 2017 at 8:00pm Where: Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St, Vancouver) Info: Website/Tickets »
Celebrate with family and friends at Vancouver Cabaret Theatre’s New Year’s Eve Variety Show, with circus acrobats, magic, live music and one of Vancouver’s biggest balloon drops. Appropriate for all ages, yet not just for kids.
New Year’s Eve Toonie Skate
When: December 31, 2017 from 10:30am to 2:00pm Where: Kensington Recreation Complex (6159 Curtis Street) Info:Website
$2.00, includes helmet and skate rental. Enjoy ice skating, face painting and crafts to celebrate the New Year.
For the fifth consecutive year, Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria is partnering with Mealshare to help end youth hunger in Canada, one jar of tomato sauce at a time. On now through December 31, 2017, one meal will be provided to a Canadian youth in need for every jar of Famoso’s famous hand-milled Campania Tomato Sauce purchased, right in the community in which the sauce was sold.
Mealshare’s mission is to enable and inspire people to join the fight to end youth hunger. Funds raised from last year’s Campania Tomato Sauce sales provided 16,115 meals to in-need youth across Western Canada and Ontario. Since Campania Tomato Sauce sales began in 2013, 22,368 jars of sauce have been purchased to support the 17 local communities in which Famoso operates.
Made from only the finest vine-ripened plum tomatoes, picked from the rich soils of Mount Vesuvius in Naples, Famoso’s Campania Tomato Sauce is hand-milled and jarred to capture authentic Neapolitan flavour. Available only once a year during the holiday season, Campania Tomato Sauce retails for $8 per 500mL jar.
Win a Gift Card
To help promote this campaign, I have a $100 gift card for you to use at one of Famoso’s locations in BC, including Guildford Town Centre, Morgan Crossing, Commercial Drive, and High Street in Abbotsford. Here’s how you can enter to win:
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Click below to post an entry on Twitter
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I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, December 22, 2017. Follow Famoso on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter for more info.
