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Blogs by Sharon Briscoe
Whistler Mountains 4/6/2016 3:03:49 AM
Rocky Mountaineer Shoutout Sea-to-Sky on up the Pacific Coast from Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
I found out you can do a lot in two days on the ground in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, but you really need four days on the ground to see the top 10 adventures. Of course, these days will be filled with non-stop fun. When I arrived in Vancouver, I headed to the top floor of the hotel. That's where you go when you book the city view room. I was fortunate because I got a room with a city view and harborview. Yeah! I took some fantastic pics of the sunset and sunrise on the city. The hotel provided complimentary bottled water and chocolate every day. I got up fresh in the morning and started my journey at 6:30am to Rocky Mountaineer locomotive to ride from sea-to-sky along the scenic Pacific Coast (75 miles). There I got to take spectacular pics of the waterfalls, Mount Garibaldi (saw five rock climbers), and the home Oprah sold for $40 million, but no wild animals. People who live or vacation off the trail waved to us. The host provided warm hand towels to wash our hands then proceeded to serve us breakfast (boiled egg, yogurt w/ granola, bagel with cream cheese, tea or coffee, juice, apples, bananas, pears, and I know I'm leaving something out). Along the tour, the host gave us vital information about the mountains, told us when to take the best pics, and introduced us to a Lil'wat First Nations (Indian) woman who told us a couple stories about her tribe. We had the opportunity to ride in the outside railcars to get a better view of some scenes. It was breathtaking to say the least. Once we reached Whistler high in the mountains, we toured this huge pristine village (with hundred of things to do. They even have an emergency hospital on the grounds). I spent most of my time at the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Center learning about the First Nations/Native American people. I donned the cougar headdress because I couldn't lift the bear. I also created cedar bark bracelets (First Nations people believe cedar is sacred and provides life). There are many things you can create with the cedar bark, i.e., baskets, toys, etc. I ate Bison and Wild Boar Smokey. You can ride the Gondola up Whistler and Blackcomb mountains and so much more. I spent four hours at Whistler before heading back by motor coach to Shannon Falls where the medicine people train and toured the small town of Brackendale. Twelve hours after it all began, I was off to my hotel. Next! In the morning, I was ready to go again. I had bread pudding French toast topped with bananas - oh so delicious... I wanted to walk to Robson Street where all the high fashion stuff is, but I said, "I can shop anytime." I ended up catching two different trolleys (red and blue loop) - red loop went to the Rose Garden, Tea House, Fish House, English Bay, Prospect Point, Aquarium, Totem Poles, Lions Gate Bridge, False Creek Ferries, and Canada Place. And, don't let me forget the seawall which circles around the water (you can walk, rollerblade, ride your bike, go to Second Beach). The blue loop went to the Vancouver Art Gallery, Maritime Museum, Granville Island, Yaletown, Edgewater casino, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden Gallery, Police Museum, and Gastown. I went to Granville Island which is off the Marina the last time I went to Vancouver (September 2011). It was a nice place to collect cultural art/jewelry and indulge in ethnic food and desserts. As you can see in two days, I had a blast. As I mentioned before, you'll need two days on the ground and two days for traveling from east to west coast and back via plane. What are you waiting for...get packing for this great adventure! Ciao! Thanks for letting me share.
P.S. On the plane, I kept myself entertained with When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago. It's a great memoir. I'll start her other books soon - Almost A Woman and Turkish Lover.
