Half-price lift tickets at most ski resorts for B.C. Family Day
So, let’s just switch the name of B.C.’s newest statutory holiday away from Family Day and call it what it is — a Ski and Snowboard Day (and even a snowshoe day, or ice-skating day, or ice-climbing day).
After all, the province’s tourism industry played a key role in getting legislation passed proclaiming Family Day when it was first announced in 2012.
Virtually every resort both large and small across B.C. (Cypress Mountain remains the local holdout, for some odd reason) will be offering half-price tickets on Monday, Feb. 9. If you’re staying for longer, destination ski and snowboard resorts such as Sun Peaks, Big White, and Revelstoke — to name just three — will be offering lift, lesson, and accommodation deals to mark this special weekend as well.
By that time, the snow switch will likely be turned back on, too.
Whistler luxury resorts on cutting edge of pet-friendly stays
Dogs and mountain towns go together like pickup trucks and country music. For many years, though, mountain resort accommodations weren’t exactly been Fido-friendly. Whistler, however, has been on the cutting edge of a trend that welcomes pet-owners with water bowls and dog treats. It’s a huge potential market; especially families who don’t want to leave their best friend behind — or pay exorbitant boarding fees at home.
And Whistler’s a great place for a dog to run. Tourism Whistler has a dedicated pet-friendly webpage, which states: “Nearly 10,000 people live in Whistler and a large number of residents have pets such as dogs. Whistler offers excellent pet-friendly resources including miles of trails, dog beaches and parks, pet-friendly hotels and condos and services including boarding, grooming and walking.”
Ironically, the trend to petfriendly digs started with some of the most prestigious properties in Whistler, notably the Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Now, virtually every luxury hotel — among them the Four Seasons Resort Whistler, the Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa, Nita Lake Lodge, Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre and the Westin Resort and Spa — welcomes dogs.
Christine Cowan, marketing and PR coordinator for the Fairmont Chateau Whistler, says “Often guests bring their dogs to stay with them while in Whistler. Dogs aren’t able to stay in the guest rooms unattended so often guests will bring their dogs down to The Lounge with them. Of course dogs aren’t allowed in the lounges, but they’re most welcome to sit in the lobby so we provide a little bed for them to sit in while they wait for their owners. We even offer a wonderful ‘Furrmont Club’ Menu which is quite popular with our furry friends!”
The Fairmont has its only dog-dedicated webpage as well, and Cowan notes that “we get a lot of guests who share pictures of their dogs staying at the hotel on Instagram and Twitter.”
Before you book, Tourism Whistler advises that most properties charge extra cleaning fees for pets which vary in cost. Check the property specific info for these charges or ask a Tourism Whistler travel consultant. Properties also ask that you do not leave your pets inside the rooms unattended. It can create problems with housekeeping and some dogs will bark. Please check with individual properties for details as some will allow you to kennel your pets while out of the room. In-room sitting services are also available in the resort.
Nancy Greene Raine: Tune into your feet
Ask Olympic and World Cup champion Nancy Greene Raine how to stay balanced and she’ll tell you: tune into your feet. The balls of your feet, to be exact.
“See if you can feel the body weight going from the ball of one foot to the ball of the other foot as you link your turns,” the Canadian female athlete of the 20th century writes on her website. “Try it first on a groomed blue run and then progress to steeper and steeper slopes. See if you can still feel the body weight landing on the ball of the new downhill foot. This sounds a bit complicated, but actually the concept is simple.
“If you are having trouble feeling the balls of your feet,” she adds, “check to see if you are holding your arms stiffly. Often just relaxing your arms lets you tune in to your feet.”
You might even get tips like this in person if you visit Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops, where Greene Raine is the director of skiing. Many weekend and holidays afternoons, she makes herself available to ski with anyone who wants to carve with a pro. It doesn’t matter what level you are, and it’s free.
If you’re intimidated, just remember her advice: tune in to your feet.