Forage for Fungi in Northern BC

Plucking mushrooms from a fallen tree might seem like an odd afternoon in the wilds. Not in Northern British Columbia. Beginning the end of September until early November, forests are rife with golden buttons perfect for picking – a season set to showcase the local Nisga’a First Nations and their skill for harvesting the fruits of nature. With the Nisga’a Mushroom/Herb/Botanical Tours, operating daily, fellow foragers will learn first-hand which colourful gems are safe for consumption, which morsels provide a delicious and nutritious snack, and which herbs and botanicals were favoured by the elders when they had – interestingly enough – an upset stomach. Peeking through tangled moss that blankets the forest floor, seasonally-dependent species include pine, chanterelle and lobster mushrooms, while many edible herbs are also housed in abundance in BC’s north. Situated just north of Terrace, tours take place in the Nass Valley and include a lunch of traditional foods supplied by Nisga’a Elders, a recipe book to tantalize the tastebuds and your prized bounty plucked from its lush forest setting. For the Nisga’a, unearthing these rare botanical finds marks only one element of exploration: Lava Bed Cone Tours and investigation of intricate historic contraptions, Nisga’a Fish Wheels, are also available – all within a natural landscape boasting First Nations villages, cultural centres and traditional practices. www.ncgtourism.ca

Eagles flock to Vancouver, Coast & Mountains

November marks the annual arrival of bald eagles to the region’s riverbanks – a yearly gathering in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region that shelters thousands of feathered wonders along the Fraser and Harrison rivers. While the sight is sure to draw the masses, it will also mark an opportunity to celebrate the winged phenomenon during the 2009 Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival, November 21 – 22. Set in a variety of locations between Mission and the District of Kent, spectators will congregate for views of some 1,200 eagles supping on salmon (figures have been tracked by local renowned biologist, lecturer and environmentalist, David Hancock). And while eagles can shift locations from early morning to late evening, an array of ideal viewing spots can be had: the Chehalis Estuary, just a single kilometre in width, is so concentrated with bald eagles it has the distinction as one of largest gathering places of a single predator anywhere in the world. A gentle glide with Fraser River Safari, complete with snacks and cosy comfort, affords awesome vantage points to spot birds of prey dotted along the trees; land lubbers can relax at Tapadera Estates, nestled within a tent, complete with a roaring fire, refreshments, and a bird’s eye view. Additional attractions include walking tours, environmental presentations featuring naturalists and interpreters, views of historic and ancient First Nations sites, display of works by local artists and plenty of hands-on activities and entertainment. Just make sure you pack your binoculars. www.fraservalleybaldeaglefestival.ca

Sun Peaks: Top Spot for Olympians

So where do Olympians – past, present and potential – hang out between Games? One popular spot is Sun Peaks Resort, just five hours from Vancouver in the province’s Thompson Okanagan region. It’s here that Nancy Greene, an Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist, Canada’s Female Athlete of the Century, Canadian Senator and the resort’s Director of Skiing, leads mountain tours most weekends during the ski season and even offers private lessons. Other Olympians regularly seen about the mountain village are Albertville Winter Games Olympic speed skiers Kenny Dale and Lark Frolek. Present-day Olympic hopefuls living or training in Sun Peaks and nearby Kamloops include alpine skier Elli Terwiel, who’s currently training with the national development team; top-ranked snowboarders Matthew Morison and Carly Thorp; and speed skater Jessica Hewitt. And it’s not just locals making the most of Sun Peaks’ great slopes. The Austrian Ski Team, for example, has trained at the resort since 2004, and will base at least part of the team here during the 2010 Winter Games. Members of BC’s First Nations Snowboard Team regularly train at Sun Peaks’ terrain park and, in March 2009, Paralympic hopefuls tested the resort’s slopes during the TELUS Para-alpine Canadian Championships. Of course you don’t have to be an Olympian to enjoy Sun Peaks. Come winter, there’s 122 runs of fluffy powder, 40 kilometres of groomed Nordic trails, one terrain park (complete with three sections suited for varying ability levels), a tube park, outdoor skating, sleigh rides, snowshoeing, dogsledding, snowmobile tours, and even Sun Peaks’ own brand of nine hole fun: snowshoe golf. www.sunpeaksresort.com

The Torch Starts Here

On October 30th, 2009, the Olympic Flame will arrive in Canada from its home in Olympia, Greece. The first stop? Victoria, BC. To welcome the flame and see it off on its cross-Canada journey – the longest domestic relay in Olympic history — Victorians are throwing a party. After an arrival ceremony in the city’s Inner Harbour, the Olympic Torch will travel through most of Greater Victoria’s municipalities before returning downtown for an evening celebration. Details are still under wraps, but watch for top local musicians, dancers, artists, athletes, celebrities and even acrobats, as well as a multi-media show, interactive characters, thousands of hand-held torches, and a grand pyrotechnics finale – all on the harbour-side lawns of BC’s Legislative Buildings. The whole show, running 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., is free and open to the public.

Here’s how to join the party:

Where to stay
Most of Victoria’s grand harbour-side hotels are promising torch-warming deals: for $149 a night, you can choose from The Fairmont Empress Hotel’s Light My Fire package, the Hotel Grand Pacific’s From Greece with Fire rate, or the Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort and Spa’s Ignite the Flame deal.

Other options include the Queen Victoria Hotel and Suites’ Let the Games Begin package, which includes accommodation, parking and a welcome gift for just $89; and Accent Inn’s Fuel the Flame deal, which offers two nights at $79 each and a third for just $20.10.

Dates vary, but most of these packages will run from late October to early November; many also include such extras as breakfast deals or an Olympic-themed welcome gift.

Where to eat
Tricky this – given that Victoria claims more restaurants per capita than almost any city in North America (after San Francisco). Some ideas: if all that running makes you peckish for something healthy, check out Mo:Le on Pandora Street for local, organic and vegan fare. In a hurry? Noodle Box, with two locations, can throw together a cashew curry or teriyaki box to go. For a pre-launch party dinner out, reserve a table at the Pacific Restaurant in the Hotel Grand Pacific or the Empress Room in The Fairmont Empress Hotel — both are just steps from the party zone.

What to see
Victoria’s pedestrian-friendly scale and genteel pace are instantly beguiling, especially in the autumn, when visitor numbers are low. Late October is a great time to visit the Royal British Columbia Museum — one of Canada’s leading cultural sites — and check out the Sacred Arts of Tibet exhibit at The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Or, since Halloween looms on the horizon, you can join the festivities during the Ghosts of Victoria Festival to learn all about the city’s darker side.

Getting there
Sail Free: That’s right. If you book a two-night package through Tourism Victoria’s promotional website (www.itsvictoria.com), they’ll throw in a return BC Ferries sailing from the Vancouver area for a car, driver and passenger. (This offer is available until October 31, 2009.) Pressed for time? Check out Harbour Air, the world’s first carbon neutral airline.

For more Victoria hotel deals and visitor information, see www.tourismvictoria.com
For details about Victoria’s Torch Relay celebration, see: www.victoriaspirit.ca