Adventure + Landscape – Limitations = an Excursion that is Distinctly Northern BC:  Meet

Horseback riding and pack trips are offered by Spatsizi Wilderness Vacations

the Collingwoods – Ray, Carrie, Billy and the rest of the crew.  For this tightly-knit, Northern BC-based brood, life is all about an all-encompassing appreciation for the great outdoors.  Not to mention location, location, location.  This winning combination has been the secret to success for the family, who has been offering up the adventure in the province’s northern reaches at Spatsizi Wilderness Vacations since 1969.  And what an adventure sampling it is.  Rod and reel.  Horse and pack.   Not to mention wildlife viewing, hiking, canoeing and workshops counselling would-be shutterbugs.  Whether you desire a family retreat with all the fixings or a gals’ getaway designed to inspire even the girliest girls to hit the trail with a vengeance, Spatsizi runs the gamut.  Also worth a mention is the adventure-provider’s locale.  Think pristine lakes, rugged peaks and not a soul for miles in this fly-in wilderness playground, situated just north of Smithers.  Indeed, Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park, a destination not accessible by road, inspires a gawk or two.  And proves the ideal locale for the Collingwoods to showcase all the area has to offer while tailoring each experience with delectable detail (groups are no more than eight in size).  Following your day of outdoor play?  An array of comfy lodges promises respite for the weary…or at least an opportunity to re-fuel before the next outing beckons.  www.spatsizi.com 

Cathedral Mountain Lodge Lobby

Yoho National Park shelters a Newly-fashioned, Luxuriously Rustic Destination: Situated against what is, without argument, one of the most naturally stunning and serene settings anywhere, a timber-framed, luxury lodge now calls Yoho National Park’s forested expanse home.  Open to guests in late May, Cathedral Mountain Lodge features re-claimed Douglas fir posts and beams, a 24-foot vaulted ceiling, soaring windows and indoor/outdoor river rock fireplace in the Riverside Dining Room and Grand Room.  Adjacent the main lodge, 29 luxury log cabins are tucked away in the wilderness setting, offering guests an opportunity to unwind amid rustic charm.  Wood burning fireplaces and deep soaker tubs provide a sanctuary…not to mention the restoration of sanity.  Architectural details aside, Cathedral Mountain Lodge offers up plenty for the eager adventurer.  Lace up and set out for Canada’s second highest waterfall, Takakkaw Falls, or take in a jet-boating excursion along the Columbia River.  Torrents of white water await the rafting enthusiast on the Kicking Horse River, while a sea of green provides the backdrop for the avid golfer on nearby championship courses.  No matter what adventure challenge awaits, the scenery is sure to thrill.  Yoho National Park along with Banff, Jasper and Kootenay National Parks, forms part of the Canadian Rocky Mountains United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, one of the largest protected mountainous regions in the world.  Not to mention one of the most spectacular.  www.cathedralmountain.com

Cultural Cycling Showcases Vancouver’s Uniquely Sculpted Cityscape:  When you give a collection of celebrated artists a whole lotta room to work, combined with two-wheeled touring of a picturesque cityscape, the results are, well, inspired.  Enter the works of the Vancouver

Lobby of the Listel Hotel

International Sculpture Biennale - a city-wide celebration of artists and their creations.  Officially launched last fall, the event poses the city’s largest exhibit, and is the only showcase of its kind in North America.  Those are some pretty big shoes to fill…or at least some fairly substantial spaces to encompass.  Twenty three massive and wildly creative sculptures (crafted by internationally-renowned artists) are still being installed throughout Vancouver where they will remain for 18 months.  Visitors and residents alike will be asked to “vote” for their favourite piece, and following the end of the display, the top two will remain, while the rest will be replenished by new designs.  Each year, two more will join the original choices (again by popular vote)…and the process will repeat for the next eight years.  The result?  A stimulating selection of artwork will grace the city skyline.  And should one wish to view these works in record time, there’s always an opportunity to see the sights by cycle.  Vancouver’s Listel Hotel provides just the occasion with their “ArtCycle” package, which features two nights in a luxurious Gallery Floor guest room decorated with art curated by the Buschlen Mowatt Gallery, a full day mountain bike rental for two guests (or rollerblades if you prefer), breakfast for two, two boxed gourmet picnic lunches, a Sculpture Biennale map, and, post cultural trek, an in-room massage for two.  See the sights.  Love the art.  www.vancouverbiennale.com , www.thelistelhotel.com 

Working Gals Channel their Inner Cowgirl in BC’s Cariboo Chilcotin Coast: Cowgirl Boot Camp.  While the mere mention of the words may not exactly inspire one to slap on a pair of

Outdoor adventure at its best!

spurs with record speed, an escape to the heart of British Columbia’s cowboy country promises to be anything but the same old horse and pony show.  Indeed, should downtown divas and uptown girls be seeking an opportunity to kick off their heels cowboy-style, Elkin Creek Guest Ranch houses an out-of-doors adventure that is truly out of the ordinary.  Under the tutelage of sergeant and cow boss Mike Hawkridge and his team of wranglers at the 28,000-acre working ranch, gals will learn first-hand what life on the range is truly all about.  There are no reports to be written.  No deadlines to be met.  Instead, city gals will learn the ropes from a different kind of boss as they ride, rope and wrangle in style.  Leaving the down and dirty day’s pursuits in the dust, there’s also plenty more fun with river kayaking, canoeing, fly-fishing, mountain biking, hiking, windsurfing.  And when the adventure’s been corralled for a day, it’s time to rustle up some grub…but there’ll be no pork and beans here.  Instead, cowgirls will nosh on West Coast Spring Salmon with Sweet Potato Puree and Grilled Ahi Tuna with a side of Summertime Risotto.  Then there’s the campfire, the stars and the opportunity to weave a tale or two of your own…now that you’ve got some stories to tell.  Guests to the ranch can take in the gals’ getaway with three nights accommodation, all meals, program and activities, June through September.  Saddle up.  www.adventurewestresorts.com 

While Luxury Lodges Receive a Primping, World-Class Angling Remains the Same: For the West Coast Fishing Club (WCFC), nestled within the awe-inspiring Queen Charlotte Islands,

Luxury and angling at its best

the time has come to angle for adventure.  And if salmon is your game, WCFC’s well-equipped, self guided boats will help you play.  To usher in the new season, the Club has introduced new Boston Whalers to their already impressive fleet, in addition to providing something of a makeover to its three luxurious fishing lodges.  Newly-renovated guest rooms, lounges and other common areas lend a “five-star-casual” look and feel, while proving to be more spacious, comfortable and functional.  This serves guests well as they relax in the lodge’s contemporary dining rooms (menus also prove to be first-class), take in the view indoors or out (an outdoor fire pit is sure to lure guests, regardless of what Mother Nature has in mind) or snuggle in a cosy corner to ponder the day’s spoils.  And while a refurbished indoor experience promises to inspire, there is little that can be written to capture the wonder that awaits along the shores.  The Queen Charlottes (also known as Haida Gwaii) are home to ancient old growth forest, clear streams and miles of un-touched beaches.  Wildlife sightings boast humpback, grey and Orca whales, sea lions, porpoises and otters, bald eagles and Peregrine falcons, as well as deer and bear.  And yes, the fishing is fabulous.  That is if you can take your eyes off of the scenery long enough to cast your line.  www.westcoastfishingclub.com 

A Beachside Arts Centre Stirs the Creative Spirit: Nestled along Vancouver Island’s expansive eastern coastline, visitors may just be inspired (thank you rugged scenery) to pick up

Old School House for beachside arts

a paint brush, wrestle with some pruning sheers or live the life of a free-spirited photographer.  Pick your passion, and put it into practice at The Old School House Arts Centre in the quaint community of Qualicum Beach.  Not your average art gallery, The Old School House welcomes over 30,000 visitors each year, while promoting a lifestyle rich with artistry in every form.  In-house professional artists provide the talent and know-how, showcasing every art form in their living gallery with pottery, painting, jewellery, photography and even bonsai.  Guests to the Arts Centre can view the talents at their creative best and are even welcomed to discuss techniques as the process progresses.  There’re also hands-on classes and workshops for the budding artist (or botanist).  Summer classes include digital photography courses, life drawing sessions, gardening workshops and a watercolour weekend.  Not to be left out, the little ones can take up the task with drawing, painting, doll-making and even a little production management.  Talented tykes can fashion props and design their very own set for “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” – all before taking to the stage to give a performance, following a week’s worth of work.  However you choose to channel your creative spirit, The Old School House can provide the outlet.  And an inspiring one at that.  www.theoldschoolhouse.org