OUR SMALL GROUP ARRIVED IN VANCOUVER IN LATE October aboard Alaska Airlines for a unique one-week FAM (familiarization) journey to British Columbia – specifically, Victoria, Whistler and Vancouver. We rented a van with a GPS (global positioning system) to lead the way from the airport to the BC Ferries-Tsawwassen terminal in Vancouver for a pleasant 90-minute trip through coastal British Columbia to Swartz Bay Terminal in Victoria.
Victoria, Royal BC Museum, Butchart Gardens and Chemainus
Our first hotel stay was at the lovely Executive House Hotel in downtown Victoria. Its spacious guest suites and rooms overlook Victoria’s grandest scenery. It was an excellent beginning. The next day, a trip to visit the Royal BC Museum was arranged, where we experienced the natural and human history of British Columbia and its First Peoples through unique displays. I felt my age when I saw a “double” of my first slide projector – which I still own – in an exhibit of the history of the 1950s.
A short journey to Butchart Gardens, which dates from 1904, followed. After walking over 55 acres of floral finery with meandering paths and expansive lawns, one gets the feeling of stepping back in time. The bright fall colors along with the wide variety of offerings – including the Sunken Garden and the charming Italian Garden – followed by the lovely tradition of afternoon tea made this a highly pleasant experience.
The following day, we were met by Kathy McAree, owner and operator of Travel With Taste, who has blazed culinary trails around the world and is extremely proud to show off the culinary and vineyard riches in her own backyard.
Our walking tour of some of the finest culinary experiences in Victoria included Silk Road Tea, Café Vieux Montreal, Dutch Bakery & Coffee Shop, Roger’s Chocolates Ltd., Artisan Wine Shop and Tasting Room and Café Mela – only a few among Kathy’s 22 offerings.
Next we visited the Merridale Estate Cidery, where we sampled their tasty cider, and the Cherry Point Winery, for another learning experience in wine tasting.
That evening, we drove about one and one-half hours north to the Chemainus Festival Inn for dinner and an evening performance of Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House,” one of the many plays performed throughout the year at the Chemainus Theatre Festival.
The seaside village of Chemainus is a popular arts and culture destination featuring more than 36 murals and 12 sculptures depicting the town’s history. One can follow the footprints for a self-guided tour or view what is billed as “the world’s largest outdoor gallery” via horsedrawn carriage or steam train.
Off to Whistler for Olympics and Zipline Adventures!
The following day, moving onward with our GPS, we were guided from Chemainus to the Departure Bay ferry terminal in Nanaimo. This was about a 23-mile drive taking approximately 25 minutes.
A BC Ferry crossed over the Horseshoe Bay for a one-hour-and-35-minute ride. We drove on to Whistler where we overnighted at the lovely Holiday Inn Sunspree in Whistler Village, which will be home to the 2010 Winter Olympics and where construction for the event has already begun.
We took advantage of the thrilling Zip Trek Ecotours, Whistler’s Zipline Adventure, in which custom-made climbing harnesses allowed us the freedom to maneuver while soaring through the treetops of an ancient rainforest.
There are several options, including Tour #1, good for beginners, and Tour #2, which takes two-and-one-half to three hours and features five zip lines, including a 2,000-foot long, awe-inspiring monster that drops over 20 stories, pumping the adrenaline through one’s veins. There are also walks for those who prefer a more leisurely way to tour from various observation platforms about 200 feet above the waters of Fitzsimmons Creek, which divides Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
Highlights in Vancouver, BC
A 37-mile GPS drive led to the Sutton Place Hotel in central Vancouver. Our days in this lively city exposed us to the following fascinating sights, all well worth a visit: West Coast Railway Heritage Park, BC Museum of Mining, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain, Stanley Park, Vancouver Aquarium, Granville Island Public Market, Dr. Sun-Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver Maritime Museum and the Vancouver Museum.
All in all, we had a wonderful and enriching experience visiting these three great British Columbia destinations. Everywhere we went, the welcome mat was always extended, with friendly and cheerful hosts.
Our GPS made navigating a snap. Tell your clients to be sure to use one when they explore British Columbia.
The BC Fam Trip was coordinated by Tourism Victoria, Tourism Vancouver and Tourism Whistler. They set up the itinerary for the seven travel agents and the FAM was coordinated by Maggie Morgan, Morgan’s Travel Service, Sequim, WA.
Dick Slaker works for Adventures in Travel, San Diego, and also owns a cruise agency, Cruisemart of California.
Photography used with permission from Alice Gerschler, photographer and travel agent for Travelwise International in San Diego.
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