Echo Valley Ranch and Spa
One of the best escapes from busy city life is Echo Valley Ranch and Spa in Clinton, a 4.5-hour drive from Vancouver or a mere hour by air. The ranch spans over 160 glorious acres and is home to an exceptional Thai spa as well as a world class chef who prepares three healthy, wholesome (and tasty) meals every day. Visitors may opt to spend the entire day out of doors, enjoying adventures like horseback riding through Echo Valley, river rafting, fly fishing or hiking. Hit the spa next for some sensational pampering or enjoy a hot tub on the deck which overlooks the valley and has the best view of the bright, starlit sky. Business retreats, romantic getaways,
family reunions and even weddings are all popular reasons for visits to Echo Valley Ranch, which provides the means of seeing the great Canadian wilderness in optimum comfort. City slickers get to give their cell phones a rest while enjoying comfortable cabin or log home living, but still have access to the latest in fun in the game and entertainment rooms.
Big White Ski Resort
Searching for the best conditions for skiing and snowboarding? Big White Ski Resort should be your next destination! Set in the picturesque Okanagan Valley and beaming with sunshine, this award-winning powder-covered resort is legendary for perfect conditions. Big White is home to 118 market runs fanning from the summit, 2,565 acres of ski-able grounds, and 16 lifts—there’s a great selection of terrain for everyone. Other activities include cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snow tubing, ice skating, sleigh rides and snowmobiling. Relaxing after a day on the hills is made easy with a choice of hot tubs and luxurious day spas, and world-class entertainment, dining and shopping are all available on-site as well. Big White is located just 56km (35 miles) southeast of the Kelowna airport, which features daily flights in from Vancouver.
Tofino
Tofino is known as a world-class nature resort. Whether you want to surf the wild waves, beachcomb or kayak, Tofino is a year-round resort with everything that makes the outdoors such a spectacular draw in super-natural BC. Visitors can take in the naturally warm waters of the hot springs, hike trails in the rainforest or relax on some of the most pristine beaches in the world.
The United Nations recognized Tofino and the Clayoquot Sound as an exemplary World Biosphere Reserve in 2000. There are about 20,000 gray whales and thousands of shorebirds who share the Tofino area and its surrounding waters with only about 1,500 residents, although up to a million visitors a year come to experience the rugged beauty of the area. With a collection of accessible local islands and beaches that stretch for miles, there are also lots of fun ways to explore Tofino—by boat, seaplane, water taxi or on foot.
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- Photo by Chenoa Akey
In 1988, Alexa Loo strapped a pair of old ski boots to a rental board and fell in love.
In 1997, Loo was in Colorado training with the US Pro team and working toward making the 1998 Olympic team. Soon after, she found herself on the Canadian Snowboard Federation. Loo hired a coach and trained with the national team. Fast forward to 2009—Loo is now looking forward to competing in her fifth World Championship and the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Vancouver View: What are some of the highlights from the past year of competition?
anadian songstress Eva Avila has been enjoying a steady stream of success this year. 2009 has seen her topping music charts and appearing on big stages all over the country—events which could very well become commonplace for this exciting local talent.
