The Curious Incident of the Dirty Dog (December 6, 2014)

Today, I walked past the dog and he was intently staring out the window. He looked like he was deep in thought (although I am sure he was just wondering where his ball went). With the cold weather and rain just settling in these past couple of weeks, I caught myself reminiscing about the warmer days of summer. Particularly about the dog. In the summer, we generally spend a lot more time walking around outside but he is limited to just a few short walks a day through the winter.


A fond memory that popped into mind was early in July, when we decided that our Dog Boke (pronounced Ball-keh), an Australian Blue Heeler, is in dire need of a bath. But just a bath is not fun for anyone so we thought it was a good opportunity to take him out for a swim and a hike. We chose Buntzen Lake in Anmore for its close proximity to our home and also for the natural beauty that surrounds it. They also have a great off-leash area for dogs and easy trails that we specifically went for.

The walk up to the dog park involves a nice short hike, which it is always refreshing to feel the breeze through the branches of the shaded path on a hot sunny day. I recall that this particular day was in the low to mid 30s as I already shed my shirt a few minutes into the hike.

The dog park was crowded this day, filled with over 20 canines and many more of their 2 legged companions. Boke saw the water and was a bit worried at first but soon he was chasing other dogs and out swimming on his own. As he is obsessed with balls, he can't help but go out and retrieve it even though he doesn't swim often. It is pretty funny to remember that he lunges up before going into the water.

Our beloved furball was having the time of his life, until his eventual bath of course. Maybe that is what he was deep in thought about too.

Local Community Centers (November 28, 2014)

Having been raised in East Vancouver, my social circle mostly still reside there. However, I have been a resident of the Burnaby/Coquitlam area for almost 20 years and I often hear remarks about my neighborhood and surrounding areas being too far and that there is nothing to do out there etc. Today, I want to share my take on life in the "boonies" for families with young children.


My home is actually in a very fortunate spot being close to many complexes that offer good programs but the one we will introduce today is Poirier Community Center in the heart of Coquitlam. This newly upgraded Community Center has it all. It has a nicely stocked library, a brand new curling and hockey rinks, swimming pool and a fully equipped gym in the Sports Complex. There are also indoor & outdoor tennis courts and an activities center, where they also offer many nice programs that enhances your child's imagination and sociability.

We are lucky to have such good instructors that love what they do and are incredibly talented in bringing out the liveliness and creativity of the kids who attend the programs. Our son is enrolled in a baking class appropriately named, Healthy Little Bakers...

 and a crafts class called Little Carpenters.

The classes are structured very well and offers an interactive learning experience using techniques in play, song and dance. On a more serious note, they also learn how to crack an egg properly or handle a hammer. The best thing of all, because it is the "boonies," is that there are lots of classes available so we are never disappointed that we weren't able to get into a program. Life out here isn't so bad.

Sea to Sky Highway View points (August 5, 2014)

We recently had some family members visit from overseas and decided to take them to Whistler to see the Olympic venues and the lakes that are nearby the Village. We did not stay overnight as time was limited so we planned our trip carefully. The plan was to drive up in the morning and visit the Alexander Falls viewpoint, which is a quick 10 minute drive off the main highway at the entrance of Whistler very near the Olympic park.


Our next stop was Alta Lake just before the Village. We spent some time here enjoying the lake and views of the mountains and beautiful real estate that surround it. The lake was warm and filled with little fish that we were able to try to catch with our hands. The kids had a great time!
 

We decided to stop for lunch and get some rest before we went and explored the rest of Whistler Village. There are many great places to dine and you will most likely find something that suits your taste. For us, since our visitors came such a great distance to visit, we spoiled them with afternoon tea at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

After replenishing, we walked around and lets the kids play at the wooden playground at the Olympic Plaza. In the winter time, the Plaza also turns into an outdoor skating rink and the site of numerous outdoor concerts year round.

On our drive home, we made plans to stop at every view point we could to capture the natural beauty that our province is known world wide for. First stop was Tantalus viewpoint 10 minutes north of Squamish, which offered an impressive view of the Callaghan Valley.

Our favorite stop happened to be the last stop at Porteau Cove. If you have never heard of Porteau Cove then you must make a stop there on your next trip up to Whistler if not for the view then at least for the washrooms since there aren't very many on the way. What we liked about this stop was that it offered a beautiful view from a unique dock with elevated platforms, right on the Ocean and the variety of activities that it offered which made it a fun place to stop for a break. To the south of the dock was a camp ground, which we took note to come back for in the future as camping just off a beach sounds a bit too tempting for us.

The Sea to Sky Highway offers many other stops which we did not have time for but if you are planning your next trip to Whistler and want to make a few more stops, consider the Stawamus Chief for a hike up to the peak of Squamish or ride the new Squamish Gondola to get to the Summit for a real treat. Shannon Falls is another great Squamish stop and if you are looking to hit the links, Furry Creek golf course is an incredible golf course which offer breathtaking panoramic views from almost every hole. I hope you and your family enjoy your next trip up the Sea to Sky.

Squamish trip to see Thomas the Tank Engine (July 19, 2014)

Let's talk about some occasional events that happen around the city. The Greater Vancouver area attracts many big name performers who like to visit our side of the country for the weather, the scenery and the wide range of fanfare. Last month, my family and I made a trip to Squamish, which is rural town 45 minute drive from Downtown Vancouver and on the way to the world renowned, Whistler Resort. The purpose of this trip was give our little boy the chance to meet his idol, Thomas the Tank Engine!



Thomas was visiting the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in early June and stayed for 2 weekends. Prices for admission was $24 per person but for an event that kept us busy for over 4 hours, it was well worth it.

If you have never been to this museum, they have some really cool exhibitions of all kinds of trains and miniature train sets that is entertaining for kids young and old.

The event itself was a enjoyable. We got to ride in a train towed by Thomas, checked out all the exhibitions, ate some delicious carnival food like mini donuts, wrote a letter to Thomas to thank him for being awesome and played with the trainsets in the kids play zone. The kids also get face painting and tattoos just to remember their special day.

 

If you are into the great outdoors and have never been to Squamish, then I urge you to make the trip soon. Aside from a railway museum, they also offer Rock Climbing, Windsailing, hiking trails, biking trails, fishing and much more. If you like museums, then you can also stop at Britannia Mines on your way from Vancouver.

Did I mention the incredible views from the Sea to Sky Highway?

Skytrain adventure Part 1: Ferry to Granville Island (June 29, 2014)

One of the nice things about living in Burnaby is being far enough away from Downtown that it actually feels like we are going to a foreign country when we take the Skytrain. On a side note, the skytrain is good place to observe each area's demographics if you are unsure where you want to live. Each station has its own personality.



Because of all the places you can go by taking the skytrain, we will share with you in this first part of the Skytrain Series, our trip to Granville Island and the route we chose to take. We started off on a train towards Waterfront Station from Lougheed station where we parked our car. Waterfront station is the last stop on the Expo Line and this is where we switched trains towards YVR on the Canada Line to our destination, Yaletown. At Yaletown, we boarded the False Creek Ferries / Aquabus and crossed False Creek to Granville Island. The trip totaled 45 minutes and our little guy had a sensory overload from all the things he got to see along the way and talk about along the way.

The arrival dock at Granville Island couldn't have been a better place for us to have our picnic. We sat on a bench which overlooks all the boats at the marina and a breathtaking view of the city with its mountain backdrop. To our surprise, a street performer set up a few meters from us and play some soothing recorder music while we enjoyed our lunch boxes.

After replenishing, we went for a walk through the market and took in all the atmosphere that Granville Island has to offer. Just a sample of what caught our eye...

Hope you give this journey a try and enjoy your local explorations!

Fishing at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam (June 20, 2014)

This week we went somewhere and did something we haven’t done before. Fishing for rainbow trout at Lafarge Lake in the center of Town Center Park in Coquitlam. For those of you who have never been to this part of town, it is approximately 40 minutes from Downtown Vancouver and about a 15 minute drive from my home in Burnaby, which makes it a very convenient outing for my family! 

 

Lafarge Lake is known to locals as a fun fishing hole where the Fraser Valley Hatchery keeps the lake nicely stocked throughout the year. After reading some reviews, we decided to set up camp on the North side of the Lake closer to the playground and Volleyball courts for the simple reason that we can always retreat to a more familiar activity if the kid loses interest.

Speaking of familiar activities, I haven’t been inside this park for at least 10 years and I was pleasantly surprised by all the extra-curricular upgrades done to enhance the experience of the visitors. Besides the playground and volleyball courts, there is also a skate park, Water Park, track and field/soccer stadium and the main event, outdoor concrete ping pong and foosball tables!!! Remember to bring your own paddle and balls! 

Back to our feature activity, as fishing can be a complicated sport, I spent an hour the previous day preparing the boy for casting his reel for the first time. When he got the hang of it, he taught mom how to cast a line so that she was ready to go for her first time. He did an amazing job and sent the line at least 5 meters out on his first try. After about an hour of testing our patience, we decided to pull out the picnic lunch that the wife prepared and quickly ate so that we can try again. Another hour of catching nothing but seaweed we decided to go for a bike ride around the park instead.

I should have added a disclaimer at the beginning but it’s not too late to note that you shouldn’t take any fishing advice from me. I might be able to tie a knot on the hook but that is about all I can say about my fishing experience. If you plan to try this activity, remember to pack a lunch, bring some bait and an extra change of clothes as little kids tend to like splashing water. In our case, he jumped right in. I hope you enjoy your next outing at Lafarge Lake! Catch ya later...

U-pick Strawberries in Langley (June 13, 2014)

As a young boy growing up in the city, I had always had an interest in where our food comes from. One time, I discovered from a neighbor that his crop of snap peas occasionally offer seeds that grew in a pod. He taught me that if I opened up the pod and took out the pea, I could dig a small hole, drop it in, water it when needed and watch it grow into a tall, food producing stalk. It was magic!!!


Since the kid also shares a passion and curiosity for food we thought it was a good time to show him where his favorite fruit comes from. This past week, my family and I decided to participate in the opening day of Strawberry season at Krause Berry Farms in Langley, which is a 30 minute drive from our home in Burnaby.

Krause Farms has been a family favorite activity destination for the last couple of years. You come for the berries, you stay for the fun. This child friendly complex offers a playground, hayrides, petting farm and marketplace. There is even a nice winery for the adults which feature a nice wine selection from the crops on the farm. Make sure you have lunch here as they make a delicious corn pizza and the seasonal berry inspired dessert menu is worth the drive itself. Plan at least 2 hours for your trip as I am sure you will not want to leave once you arrive.

From past experience, I recommend asking one of the farm attendants to direct you to the best berries in the field. They are knowledgeable, friendly and observant about which row of crops has been untouched for the day. I hope everyone who visits enjoys this farm as much as we do!

Family fun in New Westminster (June 12, 2014)

As a resident of neighboring Burnaby, we frequently visit the Quay in New Westminster where there is a nice boardwalk beside the Fraser River that is similar to the Seawall in Vancouver or Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver. What I like about this location is that it is a safe place to bring the kids and let them run around or ride their bikes without worrying about the crowds, cars, dogs and cyclists. I first noticed the Boardwalk during my time delivering food for a local restaurant as a teenager but we truly discovered this hidden gem when we marketed and sold a listing on Renaissance Sq in early 2013 and have been visiting since.  

On our last trip there, we parked our car in the public pay parking on the East side of the Quay and trekked East towards Westminster Pier Park, which is a 2.5 km waterfront park built partially over water supported by pilings.

This relatively new park features 2 playgrounds with swing sets and slides, great for pre-schoolers, skate park, basketball court, 2 beach volleyball courts and a lounge area with lots of benches and adjustable lounge chairs. As this park is not known to the main stream, it is not crowded and very clean. I was pleasantly surprised by the public washroom when I walked in and it smelt of Lavender.

We spent 2 hrs enjoying all the sights and sounds of the Fraser River including watching the Trains going over the bridge, the Skytrain, tugboats hauling ships, people watching, airplanes flying towards YVR and more.

The kid got to ride his bike in a safe environment while I chased him on foot (getting my exercise in for the day, might I add) and the wife was in pursuit with her camera capturing all our precious moments.

If you are looking for a family outing that is both fun and affordable I highly recommend the New Westminster Quay. By the way, remember to check out the River Market while you are here! There is an awesome food court and familiar vendors to serve you.