SEA TO SKY
British Columbia in the Summer
We drove quietly through Highway 99 better known as Sea to Sky highway. We were in awe of the magnificent surroundings of this road; bodies of water crowned by mountain ranges whose peaks kissed the sky, and their feet caressed by the waves.
We came in from Salt Spring Island and now proceeding to Whistler, the second part of our trip. As a family, we decided to embark on a yearly month-long journey to different cities to learn about different cultures and breakaway from Manila's bubble.
All seven of us decided that Vancouver will be our first destination. It's a perfect backdrop to be domesticated, enjoy the outdoors, and we had relatives there who can save us just in case things get hairy.
Vancouver is a west coast city in British Columbia with a diverse population and bustling economy. A mainstay on the “World's Best Cities to Live in” list, Vancouver boasts the great outdoors and Canadian hospitality. My husband spent his grade school years here and had fond memories that he wanted to share with us. Although the downside is that it rains most of the year, the two months of sunshine show astounding views and the area's high quality of life.
ISLAND RETREAT
We came to Salt Spring Island to celebrate Canada Day. This Idyllic island retreat has fast become the next "IT" destination. Famous for its Saturday farmers' market, artisan population, and laid back lifestyle. Salt Spring is like living in a hip and healthy Utopia with its own cheese company, fresh pasta shop, winery, and abundant art galleries, what more can you ask for.
One of the gulf islands in the Strait of Georgia; it is between mainland British Columbia and Vancouver Island. It is accessible by ferry from Tsawwassen Port for about an hour and a half or a 30-minute Sea Plane ride from Downtown Vancouver. It's a perfect setting for mindful living, abundant outdoor activities, breathtaking views, and less than two hours away from civilization.
We joined the festivities of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, which included a chili cook-off, street hockey, corn husking, and ax throwing. We also drove to the Salt Spring Island Cheese Company, where they make handcrafted artisan goat and sheep cheese. We spent the afternoon at their small café that serves pasta, pizza, and ice cream, all made from goat cheese.
MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE
After a few days, we loaded ourselves to the ferry back to the mainland to start our drive to Whistler. We were lucky to see a bunch of Orcas or Killer Whales that populate the colder waters surrounding Canada. It was a surreal experience seeing animals usually just seen on TV.
Whistler is popularly known as a ski destination. The resort municipality is the home of the Blackcomb and Whistler Mountains, which is part of the Pacific ranges of the coast mountains. It is the largest ski resort in North America and was the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
After arriving in our villa, we headed into the village to get some supplies. The award-winning pedestrian village consists of clusters of hotels, restaurants, and shops ranging from couture stockists to Canadian outdoor gear. In the middle is the Olympic park, where you can hang out; eat your pain au chocolat with hot chocolate from Pure Bread, a bakery so famous that at 10am, most of the goodies are gone.
There are also limitless dining options. For casual family dining, we thoroughly enjoyed Earl's and Portabello at the Fairmont. We had a date night at the Araxi, where Canada's leading "farm to table" and cookbook author Chef James Walt whips up gourmet delights from local ingredients.
FROM SNOW WHITE TO DIRT
During the summer, skis and snowboards are traded to mountain bikes and hiking shoes. The immaculately dressed skiers are replaced by dirtladen, adrenaline pumped adventure seekers.
Activities include a zip line from the peak of Whistler to Blackcomb; there is also downhill, in this case, "down mountain" biking, where they use the ski slopes as a bike trail. It's a haven for thrill junkies. I opted to go on chill bike rides while my more adventurous brood decided to go on All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) and mountain biking deeper into the forest. One thing that also comes out during the summer are bears who are usually hibernating in the winter. Numerous signs of possible bear sightings are scattered everywhere, I guess it's also their time to come out to party.
The kids have their own playground as well. An adventure park which included go-karts, rock and rope climbing is situated at the Upper Village.
We usually rate places we go to or eat at whether we will come back to them or not. Whistler is on the top of the list of places we want to return to. As much as we enjoyed seeing this part of Canada in its summer glory, I can’t wait to see it when it's a winter wonderland.