One of the best ways to enjoy Nanaimo is also one of the easiest, least expensive and healthiest: take a hike. The town is located on Vancouver Island between Victoria in the south (110 km – 68 miles) and west of Vancouver on the mainland. It affords beautiful vistas and offers paths to suit those who want to break a sweat as well those who prefer a gentle stroll.
If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk. ~Raymond Inmon
An Earthquake Fissure And Petroglyphs
It’s known as “The Abyss” among locals, and while you wouldn’t want to fall into it, the earthquake fissure is fascinating evidence of the earth’s power to reshape itself. This neat slice into the ground seldom is a meter wide; mostly so narrow you can step across it.
Nearby petroglyphs (drawings or carvings, usually on the surface of rock or caves) probably predate the fissure and offer another source of awe. You’ll find both on Extension Ridge, between the communities of Harewood and Extension, in south Nanaimo.
My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing. ~Aldous Huxley
Falls And Fossils
“The most dramatic waterfall around Nanaimo vancouver island is also one of its most secret ones,” according to The Nanaimo Information website. Visitors who navigate the steep, muddy approach will be rewarded with the double treat of a stunning waterfall and a profusion of oceanic fossils, for which the falls are named. The fossils, embedded in the sedimentary bedrock, are common talismans from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic oceans, 400 to 65 million years ago.
I have two doctors, my left leg and my right. ~G.M. Trevelyan
Get Up And Go
Hiking through Nanaimo’s natural beauty can cultivate your creativity, provide spiritual solace or fortify your fitness. So awaken your senses with a hike around Nanaimo.
Link For More Information
You’ll find 14 hikes detailed on the “parks” section of the Nanaimo Information website, complete with slideshows, maps and links to forums.
Nanaimo Accommodations
There are a number of hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts to pick from including our sponsors, Best Western:
The BEST WESTERN PLUS Northgate Inn is located at the hub of Vancouver Island and offers incredible value and an ideal location to area sights and businesses. Guests enjoy beautifully appointed rooms, fully equipped with high-speed internet, refrigerator, microwave and satellite television. Select rooms feature king size beds or Jacuzzi® suites, and the BEST WESTERN PLUS Northgate Inn features meeting and banquet facilities that can accommodate up to 75 people.
Contact info: BEST WESTERN PLUS Northgate Inn, 6450 Metral Drive, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9T 2L8, CA. Toll Free: (800) 661-0061; Local: (250) 390-2222; Fax: (250) 390-2412. Email: info@bestwesternnorthgate.com
Enjoy all that Nanaimo has to offer and please tell your friends.
Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.
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Once upon a time, long ago, there were no machines to record sound and moving pictures. In order to gain an audience, singers, dancers and other entertainers would perform on street corners for gratuities from passersby. That’s how the tradition of buskers was born.
Not surprisingly, since the advent of personal electronics means we can now carry an entire orchestra or theater troupe in our pocket, street performers have become a rarity. But that will change July 15-24, 2011 as the first Victoria International Buskers Festival comes to downtown Victoria, British Columbia. Look for event stages along the downtown Inner Harbour, and in Bastion Square. Additional daily lunch time stage performances will also be presented at the Bay Centre.
SEEN ANY GOOD CONTORTIONISTS LATELY?
Entertainment on vancouver island will come in the form of comedy juggling, mime, audience participation, eccentric dance and magic. Award-winning performers from Australia, the US, Europe, and from across Canada include a blues singer, a Frisbee expert, a team who dances with fire, a woman who contorts herself into a tiny 16” box and another who does bewildering things with multiple Hula Hoops. It’s all free and appropriate for the whole family. And in keeping with tradition, tips will be appreciated!
LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION
To learn more about the Victoria International Buskers Festival, visit their website or email them for more information.
VICTORIA ACCOMMODATIONS
There are a number of hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts to pick from including our sponsors, Best Western:
The BEST WESTERN PLUS Carlton Plaza Hotel is proud to offer the finest in accommodations and friendly customer service at an affordable rate! The convenient downtown location of this Victoria hotel is ideal for guests visiting the Royal British Columbia Museum, Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria’s IMAX® Theater. Butchart Gardens is just a short drive away.
Guests looking for things to do in Victoria will enjoy being close to local attractions, theaters, golf courses, and whale watching expeditions. Favorite attractions also include Antique Row, the Royal London Wax Museum and the Maritime Museum of British Columbia.
Contact info: BEST WESTERN Plus Carlton Plaza Hotel, 642 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC Canada, V8W 1M6, CA. Toll Free: (800) 663-7241; Local: (250) 388-5513; Fax: (250) 388-5343.email: mailto:reservations@bestwesterncarltonplazahotel.com
Enjoy all that Victoria has to offer and please tell your friends.
Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.
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The names of wildflowers can be as intriguing as their designs and colors. Does a coltsfoot (Petasites Frigidus) really look like the hoof of a young horse? (Supposedly.) Does peppercress (Cardamine Hirsuta) smell like pepper? (No, but this “noxious perennial” is a relative to the mustard plant.) Does a toothwort (Cardamine nuttallii) prompt mouth lesions if eaten? (I’m not going to find out.)
Minutes From Lake Cowichan
If you’re a flower fancier, you’ll want to check out the Sutton Creek Wildflower Reserve. Because the area is west of Honeymoon Bay vancouver island, it’s also known as Honeymoon Bay Ecological Reserve. You’ll find it on the southeastern edge of the Cowichan Lake, about 13 minutes southwest the community of Lake Cowichan, on Provincial Route 18.
Protected in Perpetuity
Admission to the six hectare Reserve is free. In 1983, the park’s founder, Western Forest Industries, turned it over to the non-profit National Second Century Fund of British Columbia, who then offered the 99-year lease of the Reserve to the Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing at a cost of $1.00. So the Reserve is protected in perpetuity and future generations will be able to enjoy the flowers’ vibrant colors and unusual shapes.
Pink Fawn Lillies
The Reserve’s real claim to fame is the rare pink fawn lily (Erythronium revolutum), a downward-facing beauty with brilliantly pink petals. Each spring, Canadians flock here to see the largest-known, naturally occurring collection of pink fawn lilies in British Columbia. But spring isn’t the only time to visit. The Reserve’s more than two dozen other varieties of wildflowers bloom in other seasons, as well. And if you look closely, you can find coltsfoot, Pepper Cress and toothwort, too.
Link For More Information
Here are more details about accessing the Sutton Creek Wildflower Reserve. Here are photos of the several varieties of wildflowers on display at the Reserve throughout the year.
Duncan Accommodations
There are a number of hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts to pick from including our sponsors, Best Western:
BEST WESTERN Cowichan Valley Inn is a quiet sanctuary at the foot of Mount Prevost and conveniently located near the Cowichan Commons Mall and BC Forest Discovery Centre.
The hotel features 43 well-appointed guestrooms and the convenience of onsite dining at Choices Restaurant and Station Pub Bar and Grill. The friendly, helpful staff at the BEST WESTERN Cowichan Valley Inn is ready to ensure a comfortable and memorable stay in Duncan, BC.
Contact info: BEST WESTERN Cowichan Valley Inn, 6474 Trans Canada Highway, Duncan, British Columbia V9L 6C6. Toll Free: (800) 927-6199 Telephone: (250) 748-2722 Fax: (250) 748-2207.
Email: mailto:info@cowichanvalleyinn.com.
Enjoy all that Lake Cowichan has to offer and please tell your friends.
Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.
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One of Vancouver Island’s best aviation museums is just outside Courtenay and it’s the perfect stop on a family holiday. Despite its name, the Comox Air Force Museum is dedicated to both military and civilian aviation history. It’s composed of a thriving and well-equipped museum, a hangar devoted to ongoing restoration, and an air park. With plenty to see and do, it appeals to young and old alike.
Comox Air Force Museum
The Museum is located at 11 Pritchard Road in Comox, near the main entrance to the Canadian Forces Base Comox, which overlooks the Strait of Georgia. It’s open to the public by donation, on Tuesdays through Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Museum is open nearly year ‘round, with the exception of the holidays in late December and early January.
Its mission is “is to preserve Canadian West Coast aviation heritage, both civilian and military.” You’ll find intriguing displays of aircraft models, history and aeronautical-related personal items from residents of the Comox Valley and Vancouver Island. The Museum’s staff and volunteers good work to preserve the history of the Canadian Air Force recently won them a Wing Commander’s Commendation.
Are you a fan of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds? Check the Museum’s website or Facebook page, as the Snowbirds occasionally practice in the area.
Y2K Spitfire Hangar
Just south of the Museum on Little River Road (also known as “Military Row”) is the Y2K Spitfire Hangar, dedicated to the restoration of a 1945-era Supermarine Mk 1X Spitfire, the celebrated World War II airplane. Since 2000 (and thus, the “Y2K” designation), a large team of volunteers has dedicated their time, skills and funds to making the plane “flight-ready,” down to the original paint colours. That’s quite a feat, considering that the aircraft arrived at the Museum disassembled, in numerous boxes.
The restoration is a joint project between Vintage Wings of Canada and the Comox Air Force Museum. The hangar is open most Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., but call first to make check: 250-339-8162.
Heritage Air Park
Slightly farther south on Little River Road (also known as “Military Row”) and just 500 meters from the Museum, you’ll find the Comox Air Force Museum’s Heritage Air Park. You can walk among a handful of vintage aircraft, getting a good look at an Avro Canuck and Canadair Argus, Silver Star, Starfighter and Tutor, along with a Douglas Dakota and Grumman (de Havilland) Tracker. You’ll even find some heritage vehicles. It’s open from May to September, on Tuesdays through Sundays, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and admission is free.Comox Air Force Museum’s Heritage Air ParkComox Air Force Museum’s Heritage Air Park
LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Comox Air Force museum has a lot to offer to vacationing families. For more information about the Comox Air Force Museum, visit
http://www.comoxairforcemuseum.ca/Home.html and follow them on Facebook.
Courtenay Accommodations
There are a number of hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts to pick from including our sponsors, Best Western:
The Best Western PLUS Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre in Courtenay, British Columbia is the only full-service hotel in the Comox Valley. Its Convention Centre offers meeting space and banquet facilities for 225. This full-service property features 142 well-appointed guest rooms; two on-site restaurants, the Greenhouse Restaurant and Snookers Lounge; free high-speed Internet and more.
Contact info: Best Western PLUS Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre, 1590 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, British Columbia, V9N 2K4. Toll Free: (800) 668-7797 Telephone: (250) 338-7741 Fax: (250) 338-5442 Email: info@bestwesternbarclay.com.
Enjoy all that Courtenay has to offer and please tell your friends.
Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.
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We’ve all seen photographs or illustrations of lighthouses. But it’s a rare treat to step inside a real lighthouse. That’s exactly what you can do when you visit the Maritime Discovery Centre in Port Alberni.Constructed from an actual coastal lighthouse, the Maritime Discovery Centre and its companion Hutcheson Gallery look right at home on the waterfront, adjacent to Port Alberni’s deep sea harbour. Together with the historic Banfield Lifeboat, they tell the stories of the area’s maritime culture and history through artifacts, maps, models, photographs, illustrations and descriptions. The non-profit Port Alberni Maritime Heritage Society opened the Centre in 2001, the Hutcheson Gallery in 2005 and restored the Banfield Lifeboat. The Society maintains and operates all three on vancouver island.
Open Every Summer
The Port Alberni Maritime Discovery Centre is open every summer. For the 2011 season, the Centre is open from June 25 to September 5, 2011, from 10:00am to 5:00 pm, seven days a week. Admission is by donation. The museum is located at 2750 Harbour Road, Port Alberni, in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Their phone number is 250-723-6164.
Something New Every Year
Each summer, the Centre presents a new exhibit, with related special events and activities. Visitors to the 2010 exhibit got a multi-media glimpse into the world’s largest cable-linked seafloor observatory. The groundbreaking project from the University of Victoria, called the North-East Pacific Time-series Undersea Networked Experiments (cleverly shortened to “NEPTUNE”), extends the boundaries of ocean exploration. Details of the 2011 exhibit will be announced soon. Check the Maritime Discovery Centre website or call them at 250-723-6164 to learn their latest news.
“Maritime Mondays” For The Little Maties
Nothing quite beats an experiential approach to helping children learn, so the Centre offers fun learning experiences for wee ones on specific Mondays. Past programs have included “Pirate Day,” “Tub Boat Day,” and a demonstration of police and fire boats. Tell the truth; don’t those sound like fun? So ahoy, Matey! Again, check their website for the latest info.
WEBSITES WITH MORE INFORMATION
Here is more information on Port Alberni’s Maritime Discovery Centre. It’s a part of the Alberni Valley Heritage Network, which includes the Alberni Valley Museum, Alberni Pacific “Steam” Railway and McLean Steam Sawmill.
Port Alberni Accommodations
A message from our sponsors.
BEST WESTERN PLUS Barclay Hotel
This full-service hotel in Port Alberni, British Columbia is located in the heart of the city and is ideally situated halfway to Vancouver Island’s west coast. You will be minutes from Alberni Valley Multiplex, Glenwood Centre, Log Train Trail, McLean Mill, Alberni Mall and Cathedral Grove, as well as Victoria and Harbour Quays, Lady Rose Marine Group, Alberni Railway and North Island College. And it’s just a short drive to great fishing, hiking, golf, boating, kayaking and drag racing. The hotel is a favorite for those attending the Alberni Valley Bulldogs hockey games and minor hockey tournaments.
The Best Western PLUS Barclay Hotel is rated three diamonds by the AAA-CAA and offers spacious, comfortable accommodations in warm, tasteful décor. This full-service property offers room service and free, high-speed Internet. They welcome most pets; just check with the front desk for specifics. All of the property’s 86 rooms are non-smoking and include seven suites. Just steps from your room are the property’s restaurant and Sport Bar. Stamps Café and Pastimes Bar and Grill have a seasonal patio. Stamps Cafe is open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 7:00a.m. to 9p.m. and 8p.m. Saturday and Sunday respectively. Unwind in the outdoor pool (heated May through October), hot tub, whirlpool, steam room and full fitness centre. Relax with a cold beer, wine or spirits from the onsite store. They even offer truck parking.
With meeting space and banquet facilities for 200, the Best Western PLUS Barclay Hotel’s meeting rooms and ballroom are perfect choices for your company’s conference, your group’s big event or even a special birthday party or wedding reception. The hotel’s business center helps corporate travelers stay connected .
The friendly hotel staff will be happy to help you schedule a fishing tour, tee time, scuba dive, eco tour or kayaking expedition.
Contact info: Best Western PLUS Barclay Hotel, 4277 Stamp Avenue, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 7X8 Toll Free: (800) 563-6590 Telephone: (250) 724-7171 Fax: (250) 724-9691 Email: Email: info@bestwesternbarclayhotel.com
Enjoy all that Port Alberni has to offer and please tell your friends.
Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.
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Surprise Mom with a Mother’s Day experience she’ll never forget: an outing on the Steam Train in a tour of the vineyard in Port Alberni!
The historic Alberni Pacific Railway and Chase & Warren Estate Winery are again delivering a stellar experience with their “Wine & Steam Train Ride.” Tickets for the ride on May 8, 2011 are $25 per person and include a ride on the authentic steam train and once you arrive at the winery, wine tasting and seasonal appetizers. The train leaves the Port Alberni Harbour Station at 1:00 pm and returns from the Chase and Warren Winery at 3:30.
The Chase & Warren Estate Winery
Chase & Warren Estate Winery is one of the only wineries in North America that is serviced by a steam train that stops right at the vineyard. Mom is sure to enjoy the ride, as the train winds along the escarpment formed by glaciers thousands of years ago, offering views of our beautiful valley and the mountains that surround it through stands of fir, maple and balsam.
Don’t Forget Your Camera
From the platform there are spectacular views of Mount Klitsa and Nahmint and off to the right, Forbidden Plateau and the Comox Glacier. A short stroll takes you down through the vineyard on vancouver island to the winery where you can sample some wine and observe how Chase & Warren crafts their Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris and Merlot.
Make Your Reservations Now!
Reservations are required. Call Jann (250) 730-4390 or winery (250) 723-WINE or email jtrudell@chaseandwarren.ca
Port Alberni Accommodations
A message from our sponsors.
BEST WESTERN PLUS Barclay Hotel
This full-service hotel in Port Alberni, British Columbia is located in the heart of the city and is ideally situated halfway to Vancouver Island’s west coast. You will be minutes from Alberni Valley Multiplex, Glenwood Centre, Log Train Trail, McLean Mill, Alberni Mall and Cathedral Grove, as well as Victoria and Harbour Quays, Lady Rose Marine Group, Alberni Railway and North Island College. And it’s just a short drive to great fishing, hiking, golf, boating, kayaking and drag racing. The hotel is a favorite for those attending the Alberni Valley Bulldogs hockey games and minor hockey tournaments.
The Best Western PLUS Barclay Hotel is rated three diamonds by the AAA-CAA and offers spacious, comfortable accommodations in warm, tasteful décor. This full-service property offers room service and free, high-speed Internet. They welcome most pets; just check with the front desk for specifics. All of the property’s 86 rooms are non-smoking and include seven suites. Just steps from your room are the property’s restaurant and Sport Bar. Stamps Café and Pastimes Bar and Grill have a seasonal patio. Stamps Cafe is open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 7:00a.m. to 9p.m. and 8p.m. Saturday and Sunday respectively. Unwind in the outdoor pool (heated May through October), hot tub, whirlpool, steam room and full fitness centre. Relax with a cold beer, wine or spirits from the onsite store. They even offer truck parking.
With meeting space and banquet facilities for 200, the Best Western PLUS Barclay Hotel’s meeting rooms and ballroom are perfect choices for your company’s conference, your group’s big event or even a special birthday party or wedding reception. The hotel’s business center helps corporate travelers stay connected .
The friendly hotel staff will be happy to help you schedule a fishing tour, tee time, scuba dive, eco tour or kayaking expedition.
Contact info: Best Western PLUS Barclay Hotel, 4277 Stamp Avenue, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 7X8 Toll Free: (800) 563-6590 Telephone: (250) 724-7171 Fax: (250) 724-9691 Email: Email: info@bestwesternbarclayhotel.com
Enjoy all that Port Alberni has to offer and please tell your friends.
Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.
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Planning a successful and effective conference is as much about selecting the right location as it is about managing the many details. The charming town of Courtenay has made itself a perfect meeting venue, and here’s why:
You’ll Have Resources and Assistance
The Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Centre offers a free group planner that outlines listing of possible locations to hold your important event, and includes a roster of local caterers. Courtenay’s largest hotels have staff with extensive event planning skills. Learn more.
You Can Make Your Meeting Different
Help bring a little magic to your meeting, and let your guests create fun memories by offering a group event that your attendees don’t expect. How about a scavenger hunt at a farmer’s market? Or an eco-tour? Perhaps absorbing some lessons in leadership from a tour of the Comox Air Force Museum on vancouver island, dedicated to the accomplishments of the brave soldiers of the Canadian Air Force on the West Coast?
You Can Create a Memorable Spouse Program
Spouse programs can run the gamut from dining, shopping and gallery visits to a culinary tour through the region’s local farms, vineyards and fishing docks.
You Can Make it Easy for Them Stay and Play
Keep your attendees happy by selecting a venue that makes it easy for them to vacation in the area with their family before or after the meeting. The Courtenay area’s unique geography and temperate climate year round makes it the perfect setting for whole-family activities including hiking, horseback riding, boating, fishing, swimming, mountain biking, diving and camping. And only 20 minutes away is an alpine playground that receives some of the deepest snow in North America.
Courtenay Hotels
A message from our sponsors.
The Best Western PLUS Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre in Courtenay, British Columbia is the only full-service hotel in the Comox Valley. It offers easy access to Mount Washington Ski Resort and Crown Isle Golf Resort.
The Best Western PLUS Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre is rated three diamonds by the AAA-CAA. This full-service property offers free, high-speed Internet, a complimentary full breakfast and room service. The Hotel’s new Mountainside Wing offers guest rooms featuring 37-inch flat screen televisions and walk in showers. All of the property’s 142 rooms are non-smoking and include and four suites.
Just steps from your room are the property’s Greenhouse restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Snooker’s Lounge, where you can sink into one of our big comfy leather chairs for a fireside chat or enjoy a game of billiards with friends. For pub fare and evening entertainment be sure to check out our new Flying Canoe West Coast pub, opening in the Spring of 2011.
Traveling with your four-legged pal? Pets allowed based on the availability of pet friendly rooms. Up to two dogs are allowed per room, with an 80-pound weight limit. Other pets, including cats and birds, may be accepted at the hotel’s discretion. The pet rate is 10.00 CAD per pet per day with a 100 CAD per week maximum.
Unwind in the indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and full fitness centre. Other amenities include locker rooms, a games room and even a ski storage room.
With meeting space and banquet facilities for 225, the Best Western PLUS Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre’s meeting rooms and ballroom are perfect choices for your company’s conference, your non-profit group’s big event and especially a wedding or special birthday party. The hotel’s business center helps corporate travelers be more productive.
The friendly hotel staff will be happy to help you schedule a variety of packages including golf packages from March to October and ski packages from December to April.
Contact info: Best Western PLUS Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre, 1590 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, British Columbia, V9N 2K4. Toll Free: (800) 668-7797 Telephone: (250) 338-7741 Fax: (250) 338-5442
Email: info@thewesterlyhotel.com
Enjoy all that Courtenay has to offer and please tell your friends.
Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.
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If hockey is your game and you’re looking for a vacation getaway, consider the charming town of Port Alberni on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Because tucked away between the stunning mountain vistas and thriving, historic port, you’ll find the Alberni Valley Multiplex, home to more flying biscuits, lasers and natural hat tricks than you can shake a branch at.
Port Alberni has focused on sport tourism, and it’s paid off in a big way. The town hosted the 1998 British Columbia Senior Games, the 2004 British Columbia Winter Games and the 2009 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge.
In addition to those big competitions, the Multiplex is constantly busy with games and skill-building programs.
Port Alberni Bulldogs
Keep current on the Port Alberni Bulldogs, including their statistics, game calendar and to purchase tickets.
Alberni Valley Junior Prep Hockey Camp
Vancouver island’s Port Alberni’s two programs are tailored to helping kids sharpen their hockey skills. The Alberni Valley Junior Prep Hockey Camp is exclusively open to players playing a high level of Rep/Travel/Junior hockey between the ages of 13 and 20. Learn more here
Alberni District Hockey Canada Skills Academy
This academy is a district-wide program that offers instruction to students from, EJ Dunn and AW Neill Middle Schools, and Alberni District Secondary School, Grades 6 through 12. Find out more
Alberni Valley Minor Hockey Association
Keep up with the Alberni Valley Minor Hockey Association.
Where is the Alberni Valley Multiplex?
You’ll find the Alberni Valley Multiplex at 3737 Roger Street in Port Alberni, BC V9Y1V8. Their phone number is (250) 723-2146.
Port Alberni Accommodations
A message from our sponsors.
BEST WESTERN PLUS Barclay Hotel
This full-service hotel in Port Alberni, British Columbia is located in the heart of the city and is ideally situated halfway to Vancouver Island’s west coast. You will be minutes from Alberni Valley Multiplex, Glenwood Centre, Log Train Trail, McLean Mill, Alberni Mall and Cathedral Grove, as well as Victoria and Harbour Quays, Lady Rose Marine Group, Alberni Railway and North Island College. And it’s just a short drive to great fishing, hiking, golf, boating, kayaking and drag racing. The hotel is a favorite for those attending the Alberni Valley Bulldogs hockey games and minor hockey tournaments.
The Best Western PLUS Barclay Hotel is rated three diamonds by the AAA-CAA and offers spacious, comfortable accommodations in warm, tasteful décor. This full-service property offers room service and free, high-speed Internet. They welcome most pets; just check with the front desk for specifics. All of the property’s 86 rooms are non-smoking and include seven suites. Just steps from your room are the property’s restaurant and Sport Bar. Stamps Café and Pastimes Bar and Grill have a seasonal patio. Stamps Cafe is open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and 7:00a.m. to 9p.m. and 8p.m. Saturday and Sunday respectively. Unwind in the outdoor pool (heated May through October), hot tub, whirlpool, steam room and full fitness centre. Relax with a cold beer, wine or spirits from the onsite store. They even offer truck parking.
With meeting space and banquet facilities for 200, the Best Western Barclay Hotel’s meeting rooms and ballroom are perfect choices for your company’s conference, your group’s big event or even a special birthday party or wedding reception. The hotel’s business center helps corporate travelers stay connected .
The friendly hotel staff will be happy to help you schedule a fishing tour, tee time, scuba dive, eco tour or kayaking expedition.
Contact info: Best Western PLUS Barclay Hotel, 4277 Stamp Avenue, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 7X8 Toll Free: (800) 563-6590 Telephone: (250) 724-7171 Fax: (250) 724-9691 Email: Email: info@bestwesternbarclayhotel.com
Enjoy all that Port Alberni has to offer and please tell your friends.
Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.
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It’s hard to beat the selection of world-class spectacular golfing at Vancouver Island’s southern tip. There are four major courses in or near Victoria, BC, and it’s easy to see why each is ranked as a major golf destination in its own right.
Victoria Golfing With City Views
With the practice range designated by Golf Range Magazine as one of the Top 100 Ranges in North America – only one of two so designated in British Columbia – for three years running, it’s no mystery why Highland Pacific Golf is a dream-come-true for so many enthusiasts of the game.
And with its spectacular views and accessible location close to the island’s family vacation destination of Victoria, Highland Pacific is ideal for a morning or afternoon getaway round when visiting the city on business, for conventions or with the family.
The lush bent grass fairways weave through forest and natural water features and yield nonstop panoramas of Victoria, the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, prompting Island Golfer Magazine to rave that these are “some of the best looking holes on Vancouver Island.”
An award-winning practice facility featuring covered and heated stalls, CPGA instruction, lighted evening practice and real terrain targets – including a water hazard – rounds out the range’s allure.
The club includes a clubhouse serving Vancouver Island microbrews, and the facility even has spaces for meetings and banquets on-site, as well as Victoria’s largest golf shop.
Spectacular Mountain or Valley Golf Courses
Not only does Bear Mountain Resort boast meeting and banquet facilities as well; but it also includes their pro shop, clubhouse and five different restaurants – even a swimming pool for relaxing after your relaxation!
Host to the 2010 Telus World Skins Game, their Mountain Course is Vancouver Island’s first Jack and Steve Nicklaus co-designed course: a full 18 hole, 7,212-yard, 72-par range meandering over jutting rocks, winding rivers and valleys featuring dramatic changes in elevation and views of nearby Victoria. This is another don’t-miss for serious and amateur golfers alike.
As if that weren’t enough, Bear Mountain offers yet another course: their newly 2009-opened Valley Course, a gorgeous 18 holes sprawled across forest, lakes, creeks and rivers. Elevated tee boxes, generous fairway widths with fewer bunkers and larger greens add to the enjoyment of this beautiful range.
Collectively, Bear Mountain represents the only 36 holes of Nicklaus Design golf in Canada.
Magnificent Waterfalls, Mountain Splendor, Roaming Deer, And Soaring Eagles
To say this course is special is an understatement. Just a short drive from Victoria, Olympic View Golf Course showcases its 17th hole with a natural waterfall. Olympic View consistently rates among the top courses on Vancouver Island, garnering a four star rating from Golf Digest as Best Places to Play in 2009. Its GBC Golf Academy instructional team has been distinguished by PGA and BC awards, and even offers corporate clinics.
Their restaurant offers fresh, mouth-watering cuisine served on a wraparound patio with views of the first, tenth and eighteenth holes. Nature’s beauty is a hallmark of this facility, and one of the premiere attractions for the visitor; any visiting golfer can expect an unrivalled experience of tranquility.
As such, Olympic View is a dedicated member of the Audubon Society, taking a serious interest in environmental preservation. This and a caring, top-notch staff distinguish Olympic View as an exceptional destination for any golfer.
Vancouver Island Golf Trail
For the truly dedicated golf enthusiast, Vancouver Island has much,
much more to offer. Victoria is situated at the southern tip of the
Vancouver Island Golf Trail, a tour of eleven amazing courses
situated along the island’s eastern coast from Victoria to Campbell
River, 264 km (158 mi.) to the north.
Voted #1 island destination in North America and #3 in the world by Travel and Leisure Magazine, and #2 island destination in the world by Conde Nast Travler Magazine, Vancouver Island is a vacation paradise by all standards. From the spectacular golfing near Victoria, to the serenity and near-perfect golfing of Cowichan, to the massive opulence of Crown Isle in the north, Vancouver Island is a golfer’s paradise.
Accommodation Vancouver Island
A message from our sponsor
The BEST WESTERN PLUS, Carlton Plaza Hotel
642 Johnson Street, Victoria, BC Canada, V8W 1M6, CA
Toll Free: (800) 663-7241
Local: (250) 388-5513 Fax: (250) 388-5343
Email:
The BEST WESTERN PLUS Carlton Plaza Hotel is proud to offer the finest in accommodations and friendly customer service at an affordable rate! The convenient downtown location of this Victoria hotel is ideal for guests visiting the Royal British Columbia Museum, Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria’s IMAX® Theater and is a short drive to the Butchart Gardens.
Guests looking for things to do in Victoria will enjoy being close to local attractions, theaters, golf courses, and whale watching expeditions. Favorite attractions also include Antique Row, the Royal London Wax Museum and the Maritime Museum of British Columbia.
Additional amenities include a fitness center, guest laundry, business center, meeting facilities and pet-friendly rooms.
Enjoy your golf and let us know about your favorites.
Re-published from www.amazingvancouverisland.com under creative commons license.
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Today Long Beach Radio will be doing the annual LB Radioathon to help raise awareness and funds for the important functions and support that the Pacific Rim Hospice Society provides to all residents on the West Coast.
Numerous, almost countless donations have been made by Tofino and Ucluelet business in support of this society, including a few donations from us here at the Tin Wis Resort.
There are so many amazing aspects of being a resident of the pacific rim. Not only do we have Canada's best beaches, the most amazing rainforests and incredible landscapes out of every back door, but we also all share the same ideals and values; support those in need and spread the ideals of charity and good will.
The Pacific Rim Hospice Society and all its amazing volunteers, provide support in families most difficult times. To learn more about the Hospice Society, please visit the following website: http://pacificrimhospice.wordpress.com/ .
Our friends at Long Beach Radio have been working with the Hospice Society for the past 4 years to help raise funds so the PRHS can continue provide these invaluable services to the residents of the coast. This radioathon will highlight the services of the PRHS as well as provide some incredible stories from residents who have received support from the PRHS.
The support of all the Tofino and Ucluelet Business, private donors, local surfing hero and even an NHL star, are sure to make this years radioathon a smashing success!
Please visit http://www.longbeachradio.ca/ to learn more, view a list of donation items and kindly make a donation, large or small, every donation will make a huge impact in our small communities.
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