Winter in British Columbia

If you are into ‘extreme’ winter sports, you should go to Whistler, Kicking Horse or Red Mountain.
But if you want to spend a winter vacation with your family, BC Interior may hold the answers.
Forget about BlackComb and think: Sun Peaks, Silver Star , Big White and Apex Resort .

Veteran ski travel writer Steven Threndyle wrote a story recently in the Vancouver Sun which extolled the virtues of the many fine family-oriented ski resorts in the Thompson Okanagan.
Reaching them may pose a challenge; it involves driving the treacherous Coquihalla. Depending on the road conditions allow yourself about 6 hours to reach the furthest resort.
Reasons for choosing any of the four resorts:
- After ski activities for kids
- Accommodations in the proximity so no need for a car
- No ‘attitudes’
- The snow is lighter and drier

Big White is a family oriented resort, offering a wide range of activities: skiing, skating, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dogsled tours ($175 for one hour and a half of tour, including unharnessing and feeding the dogs, horse drawn sleigh rides (it costs $10 per person for 30 minutes, and for kids under five it’s free). If you pay for the all-day lessons the kids will get lunch inside the cafeteria in the ski school.

Silver Star Mountain Resort offers tons of family activities. Also the resort offers more than a hundred kilometers of cross country trails. The Star Kids Centre is licensed to look after newborns.
And if you have an over energetic kid, the resort offers night skiing as well.
Right now the temperature over there is – 8°C, the snowbase: 80 cm and 6 cm of new snow.
Sun Peaks has the best-planned village and trails for all ability levels. Following are some Hot Deals:
Ski and Stay Free
Book before December 24, 2007, and save! Come and enjoy three nights of accommodation and three days of skiing for the price of only two at participating properties. For more information please call Central Reservations at 1-800-807-3257.’
Destination Sun Peaks
Come explore the endless terrain at BC’s second largest ski area, and wander the picturesque village of Sun Peaks. Your package begins with one night accommodation, and one day of skiing or riding on three mountains. Package prices start from $99.00* mid week and $109.00* weekend. Call Central Reservations at 1-800-807-3257 for more information, or book online.
Coast to Mountain Package: Air, Shuttle, Accommodation, and Lift $749
Enjoy a return flight on Pacific Coastal Airlines to Kamloops for three nights and three days of skiing at Sun Peaks Resort. Shuttle service between Kamloops Airport and Sun Peaks will be provided. This package includes return airfare, shuttle service, three nights accommodation in a hotel room or studio suite, and three days of skiing. Call Central Reservations at 1-800-807-3257 to reserve this package, or book online.
Source: http://www.sunpeaksresort.com/planyourtrip/packages.aspx

Useful tips offered by Sun Peaks:

How to Ski In/Ski Out
Upon check in ask your concierge what is the easiest way to get on the slopes in the morning. The Sun Peaks village has been designed to be ski in ski out.
Channel 2 and Channel 3
Once in your room check out Sun Peaks TV on Channel 2 and Channel 3 to find out everything that is happening in the resort from snow conditions and groomed runs to resort activities.
Get Equipment the Night Before
Avoid the morning rush by visiting any of the equipment rental shops located in the village the night prior to your first day on the slopes.
Save With Multi Day Lift Tickets
Multiple day lift tickets provide guests with a discounted rate.
Where to Find Breakfast
Breakfast is available at Mantle’s Restaurant, Macker’s Bistro, Bagg’s Café, Bollaco Café, Vertical Juice and Smoothies, the Sunburst Mid Mountain Restaurant, and Bento’s. If you’re looking to get out on the slopes early then check out First Trax Breakfast at the Sunburst Restaurant
Complimentary In Resort Shuttle Service
Take advantage of the complimentary in resort shuttle service. This great service will allow guests to leave their automobiles at their accommodations, and get to the ski area with ease
Source: http://www.sunpeaksresort.com/planyourtrip/resorttips/whilehere.aspx

Living Shangri-La in Vancouver

Hong Kong-based luxury hotel group, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts reinforced its expansion outside Asia Pacific with this intimate five-star deluxe hotel in Vancouver, Canada opening September 2008.  It is Shangri-La’s first venture in North America. The chain, with 42 hotel properties and 28 more in development, was attracted to Vancouver because of its reputation as an Asian gateway.

The new 646-foot high signature tower will be located one block from the city’s premier business address at West Georgia and Thurlow Street. Set in the heart of the city, the hotel is an easy walk to all downtown offices, shopping, restaurants, theatres, the convention centre, the world-famous Stanley Park, and a half block from the popular shopping district on Robson Street.

 Living Shangri-la is to be a a mixed-use building in downtown Vancouver and will be the tallest building when completed in 2008. The new 61-Storey “Shangri-La” tower will include:- A curated public sculpture garden.
- A 120-room hotel, including restaurants and spa, taking up the first 15 floors. General live-work homes (227 units) are on floors 16 to 42 and private access residential units on floors 43-59 (63 units) with penthouse on floor 60. Level 61 is a residential roof garden penthouse of 630 square metres with a swimming pool and 360-degree view, selling at $13 million. The hotel’s 6,500-square-foot CHI spa, inspired by Asian healing philosophies, is the largest in the city and first of its kind in North America. The hotel guestrooms, averaging 550 square feet, are among the largest in Canada Penthouse listed at $7.4 million (June 2005).Estimated cost of the development: CDN $350 millions  When completed in 2008 it will be the 12th tallest building in Canada.

Sonora Resort

Sonora Resort on Sonora Island has recently gone upscale. The old fishing camp located on a remote island, north of Campbell River, morphed into a deluxe escape, with Whistler-style lodges and upscale cuisine with offerings such as butter-poached lobster, roasted veal tenderloin and duck breast with seared foie gras.

As an all-inclusive luxury resort, Sonora offers world-renowned salmon fishing, glacier landings and golf, as well as a state-of-the-art, fully wireless business facility, and 5300 sq. ft. spa and wellness center.

The resort includes 11 uniquely themed lodges offering spacious rooms with comfortable queen or king sized beds, top quality linens and cozy goosedown duvets. Tasteful furnishings, sumptuous private baths, modern amenities, a fully stocked bar fridge (remember: it’s all-inclusive) and spectacular ocean views complete the picture.

Let take a quick virtual tour and see the offerings:

The Outdoors
For fishing aficionados, the resort offers fly and salt water fishing.

If you are not into fishing, you can join an Eco-tour on a custom boat to enjoy the breathtaking views, and maybe catch a glimpse of grizzlies and eagles in the wild or dolphins and Orca whales across the bow.

Or you can try the ultimate escape – a thrilling helicopter tour to a glistening glacier for a private picnic, or to remote inlets where there are no roads, just untouched, magnificent nature.

If you are in the mood, you can take in a game of tennis, or play a round of golf, or do some kayaking.

And at the end of day you can relax and rejuvenate in one of the outdoor mineral pools at the resort’s elegant Spa and Wellness Centre .

The Indoors

At Sonora, you get the perfect all-inclusive romantic getaway or honeymoon destination. Sonora is as peaceful as it is luxurious, providing serenity in the form of private suites, cozy common areas, inviting hot tubs, and peaceful meditation areas facing quiet forests.

The luxurious Wellness Centre was built with your health and well-being in mind. Guests can select from a full menu of massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures, or revitalize in the saunas, steam rooms, and state-of-the-art hydrotherapy tub.

Whatever spa treatment you choose, you’ll emerge refreshed, relaxed, and ready to savour a glass of wine from the extensive wine cellar or take in a movie in our private theatre.

Rates

Brace yourself for an expensive experience as well:

- Helicopter fly-fishing: $8916.00 per person, per day trip (8 hours)

- Helicopter glacier tour: $2100 per person, per hour (min. 2 hours)

- Guided grizzly tour: $425 per person, per day trip (5 hours)

- Accommodations: between $525 and $675 per couple depending on the season

Bhutan: The Kingdom of Himalayan Shangri-La

Shangri-La is a fictional place described in the 1933 novel Lost Horizonby British author James Hilton. In the book, “Shangri-La” is a mystical, harmonious valley, gently guided from a lamasery, enclosed in the western end of the Kunlun Mountains. Shangri-La has become synonymous with any earthly paradise but particularly a mythical Himalayan utopia—a permanently happy land, isolated from the outside world. The word also evokes the imagery of exoticism of the Orient. The story of Shangri-La is based on the concept of Shambhala, a mystical city in Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shangri-La

If your soul aches for a place where people are friendly and happy, where you can be mesmerized by the beauty and serenity of the ‘Roof of the World’ then you should go to Bhutan.

Bhutan, or Druk Yul (The Land of the Dragon) is probably the world’s most exclusive travel destination. It’s a country the size of Switzerland, nestled between India and Tibet. Beautiful mountains, crisp clean air and smiling people.
A quick reality check: the tourism is still in its infancy. There are only a few hotels, just a few cars and no internal air service to link distant communities.
In order to avoid negative impact of tourism on the culture and environment, the independent travel is not permitted in Bhutan, only pre-organized, pre-payed tours. For Canadians, an entry visa is required.
There is also a minimum daily spending for accommodations, meals and services ranging from $200 per person per day for groups of five or more – to $240 per day for individuals. There are no ATM’s and credit cards are not taken in many places, so it’s best to bring cash. No tobacco-related products are allowed in the country.
The most popular time to visit Bhutan is the spring, from March through May, and the fall, from September to November, when the weather is comfortable and the skies clear.
2008 will be marked by many celebrations as the King turns over the throne to his son.

Going there
Druk Air is Bhutan air carrier and flies to Paro from several cities, including Bangkok, New Delhi and Kathmandu.

Accommodations
The first Bhutanese owned luxury resort is Zhiwa Ling
Within the resort you are going to find: a tea house, temple, meditation hall, spa,waterfall, restaurant, conference facility, three presidential suites in the main building and within the perimeter of the resort another 44 junior suites.
Abstract of what the spa offers:
“Our spa, named after the Buddha of Medicine, is called ‘Menlha’ and features many Bhutanese and Himalayan treatments. The Menlha Spa creates a sanctuary where the mind, body and spirit are at ease with the elements. An extensive menu is provided to help you choose a therapy that will soothe and balance, leaving you with a relaxed spirit. Please click here for a full spa menu.

All treatments begin with the therapist invoking the healing energy of Tara, and conclude with the balancing resonance of the Himalayan singing bowl. Tara is the radiant goddess who embodies the virtues of compassion, healing, wisdom and fearlessness.”
Source: http://www.zhiwaling.com

While there
A must see is Taktsang Monastery (The Tiger’s Nest)

The monastery hangs from a cliff 700 meters above the valley floor and it is one of Bhutan’s holiest sites. As legend has it, Guru Rinpoche, regarded as the second Buddha, flew here on the back of the tigress and meditated in a cave now concealed by the building.

For more information regarding the trip, a company called Trek Escape, phone: 604-734-1066, can be contacted.