There is nothing more awe-inspiring then spring in Victoria, British Columbia. While the rest of Canada is still suffering through cold and snow in March, Victoria is already getting a jump on spring as the small pink cherry blossoms are starting to bloom and the daffodils and tulips are up and showing their wonderful colors. And of course the grass is already green! ... Read More

 From the Q&A mailbox:
Question:  Shannon from Ohio writes, We're following our hockey team through Calgary, Vancouver & Edmonton this season. How do we find the places to stay, that favorite local eatery & the "must see" attractions and the best ways to get around town?

Answer:  Check out our online travel guides to Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton. Map your route online using TripTik Travel Planner – you can use the 'Places' tab to zoom into the cities you are going to visit to see ... Read More

From the Q&A mailbox:
Question: E. L. McLean writes: We live in Washington State and wish to spend ten days driving in western Canada, with emphasis on the mountains. Please suggest a route.
Answer: (from AAA Washington travel counselor Jeff Howe):  Choosing where to drive in western Canada is about as easy as selecting the best option on a dessert buffet; it’s all beautifully presented and will leave you immensely satisfied at the end, but how to attack it? I've put together a TripTik routing for you, complete with maps, directions and distances between places, click on the map below to see it and here are my observations and advice regarding this route: ... Read More

These observations of the final day of the Winter Olympics come to us from Gail Screaton, AAA/CAA Account Manager for western Canada.

Well, the games are really over - I think that I'll be going through 'Olympic withdrawal' this week!

Wasn't the hockey game a nailbiter yesterday?  ... Read More

Knowing I have to get up at an unconscionable hour invariably means that I'll wake up every hour to check the time.  The night before the Men’s Giant Slalom was no exception.  Combine that with knowing it's a travel day . . .  well, I probably shouldn't have tried to sleep at all. 
 
As I wrote in my first blog in this series, the only way to get to the venue (Whistler's Creekside) for the Men's Giant Slalom was by purchasing a ticket from the Olympic Bus Network.  With the event starting at 9:30 a.m., it was suggested that... Read More

There’s nothing like the Olympics for sheer excitement. If the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat and the sheer spectacle and pageantry are gripping on your TV screen, imagine yourself in the middle of it all. Instant adrenaline rush! Here are some... Read More

It was hard to believe that the day had finally arrived.  My Olympic experience was going to begin. The hockey game I was scheduled to attend started at 9 p.m., but I had already decided to spend the entire day in downtown Vancouver soaking in the atmosphere.

The first challenge was transportation.  Everything I read or heard about visiting Vancouver during the 16 days of the Olympics was to take public transportation.  So, at about 10:30 a.m. my cousin dropped me off (city maps in hand) at the Braid Avenue SkyTrain station.  The SkyTrain is a brand new, easy to use, efficient, inexpensive light rail system.  In 20 minutes I disembarked at the Stadium-Chinatown station.... Read More

I hate to be redundant, but Friday was ANOTHER beautiful day in Seattle.  One of the locals I spoke to said "don't think about moving here . . . it's not usually like this in the winter."  Temps were in the mid 50s and the sun was shining brightly. It was take off to Vancouver day, but I had a couple of last minute things on my list that I hoped to enjoy before leaving Seattle. 
 
A friend recommended the Underground Tour.  I initially thought it meant it was something not mainstream or not in the open.  And essentially this was... Read More

 
Less than 24 hours out from heading west to Seattle, I think I’m just about ready to go.  Since I’ll be away from home for a week, there are a few more details to check off my mental to-do list.   (I really should write things down; as I get older I tend to forget things.) 

I’ve stopped my mail.  Did you know you can do that online?  Just visit USPS.com and in just a matter of minutes you can pick a date to stop and start delivery.  It’s a great service.  I have my passport, extra battery and memory cards for... Read More

 

It always has been a dream of mine to attend the Winter Olympics, but I’m also relatively frugal when it comes to what I spend on lodging and entertainment when I travel.  I passed on the games in Salt Lake City in 2002 because my kids were young enough to want to go along (probably another reason why I’ll never win the Mother of the Year Award).   When Vancouver was chosen in 2003 to host the 2010 Games, I knew my window of opportunity had opened.  My cousins lived in Vancouver and they would be willing to share their home with me.

When tickets went on sale in June 2009,... Read More