Rowena’s Inn – A nearby country style getaway within 2 hours from Vancouver!

Have you ever thought about taking a country-side retreat in a luxurious manor or cozy log cottage? Occasionally, we all crave for that calming and mesmerizing getaway to that home away from home for some time to relax. This past November, we took advantage of some awesome sunny weather and did just that! As Realtors and full time parents, my wife and I don't have many opportunities to take the day off; especially not without the kid (and our dog for that matter). Luckily for us, we have a great support network and we were able to drop off our son for one night while we set out to recharge.

It is hard to imagine a more peaceful, magical setting which is comfortable and well-equipped for any couple to stay – Rowena’s Inn on the River in Harrison Mills offer the kind of accommodation that you only find in story books. Owned and operated by the Pretty family, the resort features an 18th century style Manor with 4 cottages spreading over a 160 acre estate that overlooks the Harrison River and offers dining, spa and golf.

Coincidentally, we were there for the same weekend as the 20th annual Fraser Valley Bald Eagle festival which was sponsored by the Pretty Estates (I know, cool name for an estate right?). As novice bird watchers (we have never been to a bird watching event before), we got to experience bird watching at an epic level as we saw up to 14 Bald Eagles soaring above us at any given time. It was estimated that between 50 - 100 of these majestic birds were in the area at that time. People came from all over to this festival! We even saw a couple with matching falcons at one of the event booths!

After our short drive over, we had dinner at the resorts own River`s Edge Restaurant, which offers fine dining with a focus on west coast cuisine and a rotating menu with the chef`s freshest ingredients. We felt like we took a step back in time as the dining room had the feel of an old western movie mixed with a great view of the surrounding nature. The friendly staff recommended their special seafood chowder, salmon flatbread and salmon and crab cakes. Saving room for dessert, we had their customer favorite, chocolate mousse. Needless to say, we were stuffed and ready to check into our cottage, which has no wifi or TV, and check out of our busy lives for the night.

We stayed in one of the cottages, situated in the middle of the Sandpiper golf course just off the signature 15th hole beside the Harrison River; the view was spectacular! These cozy little cottages are warmly decorated and are fit for 2 people. The biggest feature for us was the wood burning fireplace, where we kicked back and chatted for hours in front of the warm glow of the dancing flame atop the log. Its spacious bathroom has heated tile floors, standup shower, skylight, and a jetted tub with multiple settings and speakers. The south facing private deck offers plenty of sun and expansive views!

Being just 2 hours’ drive away from Vancouver; I highly recommend this resort to anyone looking for a short trip away from the city. After our overnight stay, we felt rejuvenated and inspired with a newfound passion for comfy log homes, burning firewood and elegant country decor. We hope to have another opportunity to visit the Pretty family at their beautiful resort!

Hockey Day in Coquitlam (April 23, 2015)

On March 25, 2015, Realtors from the BNT Division of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver​ got together and spent the day playing in a hockey tournament with net proceeds going to Auntie Leah's Place benefiting kids in foster care and teen moms to achieve a brighter future. This is the 5th year that I have participated and for the 2nd year in a row, I was fortunate to be a part of the winning team, playing with some great local Realtors and having a lot of fun.

(Saluting the vending machines during the halftime break with my biggest fan)

(Doing some stretches)

There were 4 teams consisting of 14-15 players playing in a round robin tournament to determine the ranking. Each team was sponsored by an awesome and generous professional who are closely related to our industry. Special thanks go out to Spagnuolo & Company Real Estate Law Firm, Kim Matick from TD Canada Trust Mortgages, Peter Pasula from Dominion Lending Center as well as the host rink Planet Ice in Coquitlam. Teams play a minimum of 3 games with the 2 top teams competing in a do or die 4th game to determine the champion. Most of us on the winning team were dying during this 4th game anyway so it was actually more like a death match for everyone! We were 2-1 entering the 3rd period but finished strong with our tenacious forecheck, short shifts and timely goals. We scored the winning goal with less than 30 seconds left in the game to take home the hardware with a 3-2 victory over Team Planet Ice.

As mentioned earlier, the tournament was played at Planet Ice in Coquitlam, which is a 4 rink complex with a gym and physio center and a vibrant restaurant upstairs and conveniently located nearby highway 1 in the Cape Horn industrial park. There are also many drop in programs for the public, such as public skating, lessons and rink rentals. If you are needing a good ice surface and friendly staff, this rink offers that and more!

  (Our trophy)

(Team TD - Kim Matick)

Aside from the joy of playing for the winning team, the biggest thrill for myself was seeing how impressed our little guy was to see that I was on the ice and celebrating a victory like I was actually playing for his favorite team, the Vancouver Canucks! He had a hundred questions for me on the car ride home like "Did it hurt when that big guy ran into you?" "How come you didn't hit him back?" "How come you keep falling?" and so on and so on. Although I wasn't voted the MVP of the tournament, at least one little guy thought I was one and that is more than enough for me. 

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!