Tazim, Author at Celebrate Life's Adventures!

Britannia Mine Museum: Vancouver Excursion

January 15, 2020 by Tazim Leave a Comment

The Britannia Mine Museum is beautifully situated on the Sea-to-Sky Highway just south of Squamish. It’s about a 45-minute drive from Vancouver on a very pleasant stretch of road.

I’d driven past it many times before, not sure exactly what the giant structure jutting out from the side of the mountain was. Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was a mine – no longer operational – turned in to a museum. Most people who drive the Sea-to-Sky Highway north from Vancouver are heading to Whistler.

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11 Exciting Festivals to Enjoy and Celebrate Winter in Canada

November 28, 2019 by Tazim Leave a Comment

When does winter start in Canada? Pretty much as soon as summer ends. And winter often doesn’t end until May or June in much of the country. With such a long winter, why spend your time huddled inside getting cabin fever? Sure, I like bundling up with a mug of something warm and a good book as much as the next person, but getting outside is not only good for one’s health and wellbeing, it can also be a lot of fun.

I’ve recently gotten into snowshoeing in order to be able to get outside more often this winter and plan on taking at least one skiing lesson – just to try it out. Another (perhaps less active) way to enjoy and celebrate winter is to head out to one of the many winter festivals happening across the country. So, don’t just stay inside and watch the snowfall and wonder when spring will arrive – enjoy and celebrate winter in Canada!

Here is a list of 11 festivals in order of the date they occur:

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Insider’s Guide to Whistler’s 2019/20 Season

November 5, 2019 by Tazim Leave a Comment

Whistler is something of a gleaming jewel in the Canadian winter crown. Luring thousands of snow-worshippers each year from across the world, the famous winter season is upon us once again. Running from late November through May 2020, skiers and snowboarders will pound the slopes, apres-ski in style, and embrace everything that’s great about British Columbia in winter.

Ahead of the winter 19/20 season, we check out what’s new and trending in Whistler this winter in this guide to Whistler

Late November will see the first day of skiing and snowboarding. The new 10-passenger Blackcomb Gondola was unveiled last December. This gondola keeps guests warm and dry as it ascends from the base of Blackcomb Mountain to the top of the mountain adjacent to Rendezvous Lodge and the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola.

Together – the Blackcomb Gondola, PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, and Whistler Village Gondola – form the first three-gondola connection in the world. Additional lift upgrades last year provide quicker, easier access to all levels of terrain including a six-passenger high-speed chairlift in place of the old four-passenger Emerald Express chair in the Family Ski Zone on Whistler mountain and on Blackcomb Mountain. [Read more…]

Have More Joy and Challenge your Imagination at Heritage Park, Calgary

September 21, 2019 by Tazim Leave a Comment

Getting outside and experiencing a heritage village is way more fun than reading about history in a textbook, am I right? Heritage Park in Calgary is a step back in time in Canada’s largest living history museum.

Experience the joy of discovering how people lived way back when as you explore 1860 all the way to 1950. Unlike other museums where you walk through an exhibit and look at objects behind glass, Heritage Park is interactive, with costumed interpreters, historic buildings to peak into and wander around in, and working antiques to touch, smell, taste, hear and see.

The Park is set-up in four main areas:

Heritage Town Square: This is located before the admission gates, which means it is free to enjoy. There are a few restaurants and cafes, little shops with all kinds of fun things to check out and a 2-acre nature park to enjoy. You can also step inside to Gasoline Alley Museum, home to one of the world’s largest public collections of antique trucks, cars and gas pumps from the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s.
The 1900s Living Historical Village: This main area is open between May and October. The village is home to many of the exhibits including an antique midway with lots of rides, steam train, a working printing press and blacksmith shop, ice cream parlour, a very popular bakery, and costumed interpreters.
The 1880s Pre-Railway Settlement: Also open May to October, experience the homes, businesses, and lifestyles of the first new settlers to Canada’s West.
1860s Fur Trading Fort and First Nations Encampment: Also open May to October. First Nations, Métis, explorers, settlers, and traders, as well as others who travelled through Western Canada, are represented in this area of the park.

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Vancouver Staycation Guide

June 8, 2019 by Tazim Leave a Comment

Let’s face it – Vancouver is the best place to be during the summer months. A Vancouver staycation is a fun way to explore the city and surrounding areas while keeping the budget down.

While I fully support wanting to escape the city to go to far-flung locals or simply wanting to get some of that vitamin D that we all want and need by going to sunny places like Mexico, I think staying in and near Vancouver during summer is a great idea.

You can fill your summer calendar with fun, cheap or free activities to do every day of the week, if you’d like – or you could be more intentional with your time by designing your summer.

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