Get re-acquainted with your city or explore it for the first time with these walking tours that are being offered by various groups, businesses and organizations. The best way to experience a city is on foot and these guided walks, with a variety of themes, will get you out and about, entertain, and educate — some will also be delicious.
6 Vancouver Walking Tours to do This Summer
Stanley Park History Tour
“Old Money: West of Denman Historical Walking Tour” / Website
Tours run: Sunday, June 26, 2016 (and various other scheduled times throughout the year)
Duration: 1:00pm to 2:30pm
Price: $10 cash
Meeting Place: Beside the little Buchan Hotel at 1906 Haro St. (at Gilford Street)
Vancouver Heritage Foundation Tours
“Art Deco architecture, to the PNE Fairgrounds, False Creek Flats, and Mountain View Cemetery” / Website
Tours run: Various dates throughout the summer
Duration: All walks begin at 10:00am
Price: $15
Meeting Place: Various meeting places with either Maurice Guibord or John Atkin as hosts
“In partnership with Forager Foundation, SPES is offering foraging tours through Stanley Park now to September. While there will be no collecting on these tours, there will much to learn about the ethnobotany of our region” / Website
Tours run: Thursdays to Sundays, until September
Duration: 2 hours, 10:00am to 12:00pm
Price: $39
Meeting Place: Stanley Park Bus Loop, Rose Garden Lane
Of course there are always sightseeing tours too. Whatever you choose, take some photos along the way and share them with the #Photos604 tag on Instagram to let me know how your tour adventures went this summer.
A taco is the best summer snack. It’s a hand-held pocket of bright, tongue-tingling flavours served up with fresh, local ingredients that you can take on the go — as long as you have enough napkins handy to soak up whatever juicy, saucy goodness your taco purveyor has served up.
John and I area always on the lookout for a good taco selection and until recently, the best the folded and lime-drizzled creations have been few and far between. Lucky for us, Vancouver Foodster just released the results of their recent Vancouver Taco Challenge, a judged competition with a people’s choice element.
The Best Tacos in Vancouver
The Vancouver Foodster Taco Challenge included restaurants in Vancouver, New Westminster and Richmond. Each restaurant featured their creation on their menu from May 12th to June 5th, 2016 and their customers voted for their favourites daily throughout the challenge.
1st Place: Little Mexico Cantina
Taco Canauhtli
Price: $10*
Description: Duck Confit (Carnitas) mashed comate, toasted seasoned pecans, on a handmade guajillo chile tortilla “a la Potosina” from the region of San Luis Potosi presented with a Pitaya brunoise dusted with jamaica (Habisus) flower petals, served with a black bean mousse and avocado mousse topped with a piloncillo chipotle sauce and a sprig of organic thyme.
Created by: Chef Roberto Lopez Lara
Offered: Available for Dinner only
Little Mexico Cantina (3131 Chatham St #150, Richmond)
2nd Place: (tie): Las Tortas
The Abu Yosuf Fish Taco
Price: $13*
Description: As the Sharwarma: is the Taco al pastor’s culinary ancestor, I decided to make a fusion mix of traditional Lebanese and Mexican flavours. Red Snapper marinated in a mix of zattar, sumac spices & pomegranate molasses, panfried & served on top of fresh spinach, red & green cabbage, chipotle infused tajine, and crowned with fattoush pico de gallo & fresh avocado.
Created by: Chef Moises Toyber
Offered: All the time (11:30am-7:30pm Monday-Saturday)
Las Tortas (3353 Cambie Street, Vancouver)
2nd Place: (tie): Los Cuervos Taqueria
Tamarind Glazed Pork Belly
Price: $4.25*
Description: Tamarind glazed pork belly with lightly pickled cabbage and chicharrón.
Created by: Chef Gilles_L´Heureux
Offered: All the time.
Los Cuervos Taqueria (603 Kingsway, Vancouver)
Description: It is a simple taco but complex in flavors, since we used traditional Mexican techniques to elaborate the sauce. The tender and lean beef tongue blends really nice with the nutty and lightly spice of the sauce. We found that it was a good way to mix tradition with an odd part ingredient.
Created by: Chefs Berenice Balbuena & Rafael Flores
Offered: Monday to Saturday from noon to 7pm
Molli Café (1225 Burrard Street, Vancouver)
3rd Place: (tie): The Pressure Box
Pacific North West Tacos
Price: $12*
Description: aka salmon and bannock tacos with salt curred/cold smoked Ocean wise Keta Salmon, whipped citrus cream cheese, pea shoots, pickled onions.
Created by: Chef Scott Lesko
Offered: Tuesday to Thursday lunch; Friday/Saturday nights.
The Pressure Box Food Truck: Tuesday to Friday lunch at Georgia and Burrard and Saturday nights at 33 acres brewery. 5th and Quebec Wednesday lunch, 33 acres Wednesday lunch.
In the People’s Choice Awards category, the public who tried the Taco dishes were the ones who had the opportunity to cast their vote throughout the challenge.
1st Place People’s Choice:
Taco Canauhtl: Little Mexico Cantina
2nd Place People’s Choice:
The Abu Yosuf Fish Taco: Las Tortas
3rd Place People’s Choice:
Taco de Borrego en Mole Ahumado: El Santo
* Prices are those quoted by Vancouver Foodster at time of publishing. Restaurant prices on location are always to be taken as the real price should they defer from those published here.
Begin the first weekend of summer with the 3rd Annual Sea to Sky Gondola Summer Solstice Celebration on Saturday, June 18th. From sunset yoga in the mountains to listening to live music on the scenic deck, there’s a little something for everyone including a full solstice experience with a natural vibe.
Sea to Sky Gondola Summer Solstice Celebration
Where: Sea to Sky Gondola (Summit) When: Saturday, June 18, 2016 12:00pm to 11:30pm Tickets: Purchase a regular day pass, or upgrade to a summer pass
There’s a music line-up that is sure to impress, featuring Cam Salay, The Walkens, Badgerchild and Ruckus Deluxe. For the evening, enjoy socializing with friends while listening to DJ’s as they spin to the magical skies of the setting sun. Other daytime activities include summer solstice arts and crafts such as wildflower crowns, crafting with Visuals, free guided hikes, axe throwing with THROWN and a painting demonstration on our Spirit deck. In the evening, Sea to Sky Gondola will host its first guided headlamp hike on the Wonderland Loop Trail.
Photo credit: Paul Bride
Win Tickets
I have a prize pack available for one lucky Miss604 reader and a guest to enjoy the Summer Solstice Celebration in this gorgeous location. The prize includes two day passes for Saturday, June 18th and a $50 food & beverage credit to the restaurant.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win a @seatoskygondola Summer Solstice Celebration prize pack from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/sxSy300Z21D
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, June 13, 2016. Follow the Sea to Sky Gondola on Facebook and Twitter for more information about this beautiful attraction and special events.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — This post is sponsored in partnership with FestivalSeekers and Tourism Prince George. I am a part of the FestivalSeekers influencer & correspondent networks. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
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Prince George has this funny way of surprising you. The city known for fur trading, railways and sawmills has reinvented itself as a vibrant centre of commerce, shopping and festival spirit. What has never changed though is it’s stellar setting. It is still the gateway to wilderness adventure. FestivalSeekers sent a crew of writers — including me — up to discover what’s in store this summer. Put the canoe on the car and head north to see for yourself what we’ve all been missing (or… enter the contest and fly up instead). Here’s some inspiration on what’s waiting for you up there – search #TakeOnPG and explore:
Enter the Prince George Contest and win beer!
Okay… there is more than beer but that got your attention didn’t it? Prince George and our friends at FestivalSeekers are jumping into the summer season in a big way. They have thrown open the doors to the city to the lucky winner of the Summerfest Festival Contest. The winner along with a guest will fly in from YVR, YYC or YEG and stay for two nights and enjoy gifts and meals and entertainment from the local businesses. Check out the details and enter here.
Forget the snowman, do you want to build a skateboard?
Have you ever thought you could build a skateboard? At the MakerLab in Prince George it’s a possibility. Enjoy the story by Jeremy Derksen as he explores the artistic community hosting the BMO Kidzartz days coming up July 8-9. Find out what is planned for the kids during the free event. It may not be a skateboard but – who knows!
Dip in and paddle to the finish in Prince George
Ever wanted to see what it would be like to be a voyageur navigating the waterways of northern BC? Now’s your chance. To “test the waters,” Jeremy Derksen spent the day paddling the river into Prince George and wrote about his experience. Is he ready for the 67 kilometre race coming on July 10th? Read about the Northern Hardware Prince George Canoe Race and see if you are ready to sign on too.
Noshing through Summerfest sounds good
Food. Who can resist? Especially when its provided by chefs and restaurateurs who are the best at what they do. Traca Savadogo followed her nose through Prince George and sampled what will be offered at the July 17th Summerfest. Dig into her story here.
Take a tip of where to dine in Prince George
Summerfest in Prince George will be a big long party but hotdogs and root beer can’t be your only meal. Traca Savadogo shares her favourite locations in this FestivalSeekers story. Use her tips on where to find the best local beer, wine, fine dining and live entertainment.
Drag your body to the Zombie Fest in Prince George
Are you feeling a little undead? Do you need to unleash your inner zombie? Maybe a trip to the Prince George Zombie Fest will help you find your true self. Drag your body and drag your friend’s bodies to the July 23rd event. Find out what happened when I stepped into Ms. Lorea’s College of Esthetics for some “beautification.”
Paddle through the history of Prince George
Who says a classroom needs walls? I had a paddle and a canoe and learned so much about Prince George while floating down the Nechako River. The pioneers, the wildlife, the First Nations and the two rivers that meet at Prince George have had a major impact on the prosperous city. Read about my classroom on the river.
#TakeOnPG this summer, see what you are in store for by watching this short adventure reel showcasing Prince George’s summer adventures:
For all of these listings and more, sign up for the Festival Seekers newsletter and follow along on on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for more information.
The Metro Vancouver region includes 21 municipalities, one treaty First Nation, and 23 regional parks. This summer, you can enter to win some great local park prizes when you share your photos from a Metro Vancouver Regional Park online.
Metro Vancouver Regional Parks
Metro Vancouver’s regional parks system covers a total of 14,500 hectares, and includes 23 regional parks, 3 regional park reserves, 2 ecological conservancy areas, and five regional greenways. The system exists, first and foremost, to protect the region’s important natural areas and ecosystems. Within the context of natural area protection, the system provides opportunities for Metro Vancouver’s growing and diverse population to connect with, enjoy, be active within and learn about the region’s environment. Over 11 million visits are made to regional parks each year.
Aldergrove Regional Park
Barnston Island Regional Park
Belcarra Regional Park
Boundary Bay Regional Park
Brae Island Regional Park
Burnaby Lake Regional Park
Campbell Valley Regional Park
Capilano River Regional Park
Colony Farm Regional Park
Crippen Regional Park
Deas Island Regional Park
Derby Reach Regional Park
Glen Valley Regional Park
Iona Beach Regional Park
Kanaka Creek Regional Park
Lynn Headwaters Regional Park
Matsqui Trail Regional Park
Minnekhada Regional Park
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
Surrey Bend Regional Park
Tynehead Regional Park
How to Enter:
Upload up to 3 photos from a Metro Vancouver Regional Park via this contest page.
Prizes available:
Picnic Package (picnic blanket, ceramic tumblers, tote bag)
A group campsite for Friday and Saturday night
Private use of a picnic shelter for one day
Free registration for 4 to a Regional Park program
You have 85 days (from today) to enter your photo then a People’s Choice vote will be live September 1-15, 2016. Follow Metro Vancouver Regional Parks on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
