Sun Peaks Resort – Skiing BC’s Finest

Sun Peaks Resort is a fairly new premiere skiing destination in the interior of British Columbia. If you’ve heard of Whistler, BC, you’ve probably heard of Sun Peaks as well. Al and Nancy Green were behind the scenes of the success of Whistler and now they call Sun Peaks their home. If you’ve heard of the legendary powder of British Columbia ski hills, Sun Peaks Resort should definitely be one of your major stops.

Sun Peaks is about 50 kilometres north of Kamloops, British Columbia. It’s a quick and easy drive up to the ski hill formally known only as Tod Mountain to the main Burfield lodge that has been there since 1961. Before 1993 when Nippon Cable bought the area, only the locals knew about the fantastic powder skiing. Now Sun Peaks caters to thousands of people in all seasons on three different mountains including Tod Mountain, Sundance Mountain and Mt. Morrisey. Read more

The Great Outdoors: Canadian-Style

Reasons to visit Canada aren’t hard to come by.  Its spectacular cities offer something for everyone.  Its natural wonders are an attraction for travelers from all over the world.  Locals and tourists alike take pleasure in the wide array of outdoor adventures available.  From the novice hiker to the experienced rock climber, Canada has just the activity for every level of outdoorsman.  The guide below will familiarize you with some of Canada’s most popular outdoor adventure destinations.

Skiing at Whistler

Perhaps one of the most well known places to vacation and ski in Canada, let alone the world, is Whistler, British Columbia.  Both skiers and snowboarders alike recognize this Canada resort destination as a powdery, snowy paradise amidst B.C.’s coastal mountains.  Whistler Village boasts several top-notch hotels such as the Four Seasons and the Westin Resort and Spa.  A standard daily lift ticket is around $80.

While there, take a zip line tour! Experience the sensation of flying through the air at tremendous speeds.  Companies offer tours that combine some hiking and some zip line rides with education and information about the surrounding ecosystems.  Most tours offer a safety training and orientation.

Hiking & Cycling in Saskatchewan

The Big Muddy Badlands have been formed by millions of years of environmental and historical happenings.  Today, thousands of tourists from all over flock to the badlands to witness the amazing scenery.  This area, located in south central Saskatchewan, just north of the Canada/USA border, has been punctuated with landmarks – both natural and man-made – that tell its exciting story.  Nature lovers and history buffs will enjoy a landscape that holds so many secrets.

While there, camp out in Coronach.  Comfortable campgrounds offer the experience of a lifetime.  Catch something special at one of the local fishing holes, and then take an interpretive tour.

River Rafting on the Ottawa River

Warm water all summer long combines with impressive rapids to make Canada’s premier river rafting destination – the Ottawa River.  The Ottawa is situated along the border between Quebec and Ontario.  Take a guided tour down the Main Channel or guide your own raft down the Middle Channel.  Serene scenery framed by waterfalls and artistic rock formations is balanced by challenging rapids and waves.

While there, go bungee jumping on the Ontario side.  You’ll enjoy stunning views of the Ottawa River from atop the 150-foot tower.  Plunging toward the sparkling waters of the river below will top off this experience of a lifetime.  Book your jump along with your river rafting adventure for a great deal on both.

Climbing the Canadian Rockies

There’s no greater adventure or better way to experience the Canadian outdoors than to climb the Rocky Mountains.  A mountain-climbing escapade to Canmore, Alberta can be a life-changing experience.  The amazing vistas are ones witnessed by very few.  Experienced and well-equipped climbers will enjoy the thrill of a lifetime.  Novice climbers can benefit from the safety of guided tours.

While there, stay at the Canmore Mountain Lodge and let the outdoor hot tub melt away the exhilaration while you take pleasure in views filled with snowy-peaked mountains.

Tips For Camping With Young Children

Sometimes children may feel intimidated with the thought of sleeping in a camper or tent out in the wilderness. However, things don’t have to be that way for them. Most children love the outdoors when it comes to playing. Camping with young children doesn’t have to be scary – and it’s something every child should get to do at least once.

More often than not, adults fear nature more than children do. Therefore, it may come as a surprise when your child takes to nature quite easily. If camping in the woods does not sit well with you, then why not pitch a tent in the backyard. You will find all the activities and crafts that usually come along with camping right in your own backyard, except the campfire. Read more

ATV Tours in Ontario

Just 2 hours north of Toronto, ATVs rider’s heaven is found at the Seguin Recreational Trail. In Ontario, the Park-to-Park trail system links many existing or once established trail systems for public use. Whether you are an ATV enthusiast, a hiker or a biker, the Trans Canada Trail system is a self sustainable network for the public. The Sequin Trail is the major east-west spine of this vast system and covers about 75kms from from Highway 11 to Highway 400/69.

Originally, the trail bed was a base for a railroad system used to haul lumber from the Ottawa river to shipping yards on the Georgian Bay. The Sequin Trail is now maintained by the Parry Sound District Ministry of Natural Resources and managed by Park-To-Park Trail. This means the trail is kept clean and safe year round. No matter what the season, ATV and snowmobile enthusiasts can ride the trails of Ontario. Read more

Spring Break in Ontario

Spring break, or March break, is a great time to visit Ontario and enjoy the winter wonderland of the province. There are plenty of winter sports activities to enjoy and lots of ski resorts to cater to your needs.

Skiing in Northern Ontario’s ski resorts is something that shouldn’t be missed. Skiing, snowboarding and other winter sport can all be part of your spring break. Blue Mountain is Ontario’s largest ski resort and it has over thirty trails for you to try out. The Blue Mountain inn offers many package deals for March break that allow you to hit the slopes for a low price. Read more

Spring Skiing in British Columbia

While many people associate spring break with surfing and sunning on the beach, others prefer a winter wonderland. If you want crisp weather, spectacular natural views and a wide variety of activities, look no further than British Columbia. The entire province is full of fun things to do during March break. Skiing is obviously the first thing you think about for your spring break vacation in British Columbia.

Ski season is in full effect until early April so try out the North Shore slopes while you are there. The Whistler-Blackcomb site will be the location of the 2010 Winter Olympics. You can catch a preview by staying in Cypress, the largest of the North Shore ski resorts. Cypress Mountain is full of activities for visitors of all ages. In addition to downhill skiing, there is a cross-country area, snow tubing and other activities during the evening. Read more

Some Great Star Gazing Tips

Cost can be a prohibitive factor in many interests but not star gazing, because in the beginning it doesn’t have to cost you a cent – so if you are interested, read on. Now that the thought of a free hobby has peaked your interest further, just what do you need to start it? Luckily there is nothing much but it could really help if you got yourself a Star Chart, available in books or any thing which talks about the Zodiac.

Initially you will need to obtain a star chart from a book or try the internet although some people just use a book that contains images of the astrological zodiac. Try to find a simple one to begin with as some can be very complex and may contain too much information when you are just starting. These are readily available from planetarium or any observatory and you need to get hold of the cheapest one if possible, as the only need you have of it is to locate the brightest star and the rest can be done by yourself.

If you intend to spend any money on a telescope, do not buy a cheap one – it really will be waste of money and won’t help you enjoy your new interest at all. Even if you buy one, the revolving earth would make the star disappear in such a split second that you would continue your search from the beginning all over again. This will frustrate you and before the night is over the telescope will be back in its box.

My second tip is a far cheaper option but one that will bring many nights of star gazing and all you need to do here is lend, borrow or buy a normal 10×50 set of binoculars. This could your viewing the complete constellation including star groups, the moon and other planets as well a reality. Luck is also on your side as almost every school, but certainly each town has a library and this is your best resource for free literature on the stars, star gazing, the Universe and the Solar System.

Look for books that contain star charts, preferably pull-out versions and don’t worry if the book is quite old because the stars won’t have changed. Before you go into too much depth, locate the Southern Cross or Scorpio in the book and then see if you can find it in the night sky. As it’s name suggests, the Southern Cross is situated in the south while Orion can be found moving from East to West as the night progresses. Remember that it may not always be noticeable because it may appear early or later in the morning.

Do you need to read a lot I hear you ask? Not really, but the moment you start to explore the stars, you will want to know more about them, where they come from and probably where they are going. Strangely, some of the best books to study with in the beginning are those written especially for children as they do not overcomplicate the subject. So in reality all you need to start start gazing is a star chart in the early days which should present you with enough to peak your interest. Do not buy a decent telescope until you are sure about your interest but once you do it will open up a whole new world for you.