My TripAdvisor Review No.471: Cheakamus River, Whistler, Canada.

Riverside Walk.

The Cheakamus River trail is about 5 km away from Whistler near the Function Junction. One side of the trail can be accessed from the trail which leads to the Train Wreck site. We walked along the trail till we reached a suspension bridge across the raging river. It was a beautiful sight to behold.

Be careful when you are walking along the trail as it can be lonely at times and there may be bears around. But the trail is well marked through the woods and not very strenuous. We enjoyed the trek to the river and looking at and listening to the gushing waters from the suspension bridge.

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Date of experience: June 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.470: Thunderbird Cafe, Whistler, Canada.

Hidden Gem

You will not find this restaurant at the Whistler Village or the Plaza. It is hidden away in the confines of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and it is a Gem of a restaurant in Whistler. It is located on the ground floor of the Cultural Centre and serves the traditional flavours of the First Nation’s recipes.

We tried the Salmon Chowder with Bannocks (the traditional bread of the Squamish First Nation peoples), and Wild Salmon Salad and both the dishes were well prepared and good to taste. Burgers and muffins were also available with salmon and veal fillings. The service was good and courteous and the food was served to our table. Prices were very reasonable.

We enjoyed our meal and would recommend a visit to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre to enjoy the exhibits, guided tour, gift shop and finally the a meal at the Thunderbird Café.

My TripAdvisor Review No.469: The Whistler Train Wreck, BC, Canada.

Good For A Trek In The Woods.

The start of the train wreck trail is located close to the Function Junction crossing about 5 km south of Whistler. Once you enter the forest portion it is about 2 km of trekking to the train wreck. It is an interesting but lonely trek so take somebody for company specially late in the evening as you may encounter bears.

There is a suspension bridge across the Chekamus River which makes it even more interesting. About 200 meters after the bridge you will see some fallen goods train wagons with a lot of graffiti on them. There are placards around the site explaining the why and when of how it happened.

Do not miss this attraction especially if you are staying nearby. We stayed at the HI Whistler Hostel and it was a 2.5 km walk from there.

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Date of experience: June 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.468: Whistler Visitor Center, Canada.

First Port Of Call In Whistler

Tourists visiting Whistler for the first time should go to the Visitor Center for guidance. It is located just opposite the Gateway Bus Loop where most of the buses coming from Vancouver stop for passengers to alight and board.

The staff are knowledgeable about the area and are very friendly and helpful. We were told about the local buses and how to get around. They even offered to give us change for the bus since you can pay the fare only with coins or bus passes. There is free literature about the sight-seeing places and a map of the village and surrounds. You can book your hotel and gondola rides here as well.

There is a Tim Horton's café and an oriental restaurant in the centre and a few tables and benches to sit. There is a clean travellers washroom as well.

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Date of experience: June 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.467: Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Center, Whistler, BC, Canada.

About The Culture Of Canada's First Nations.

This is a very interesting and informative place to visit in Whistler. We were taken on a guided tour of the centre by some of the representatives of the First Nations. They started with one of their traditional songs which was very good. Then we were shown a short movie which showed us their ways of sustainable living which they follow even today. We were shown some of their habitats and how they live in harmony with their environment and wild animals like bears, wolves and elk. We were then shown how they weave ropes out of the cedar bark without endangering the tree. It was all indeed very interesting.

There were many art and craft items, totem poles and wooden canoes on display. There is a shop where you can buy some of their traditional craft items, gift items and books about their culture, history and geology.

We had lunch at their Thunderbird Café, and we were served some delicious salmon dishes.

It is indeed a worthwhile place to visit and spend at least two or three hours here.

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Date of experience: June 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.466: Horstman Hut, Blackcomb Whistler, BC, Canada.

High On Hot Chocolate.

After reaching the Blackcomb mountain as part of the Peak 2 Peak experience, we went up further in the bus and chair lift from the 7th Heaven station. At the top of the skiing slopes there was this log hut serving food and hot drinks, known as the Horstman Hut.

It was drizzling on the slopes and that was making everyone feel cold. Their cups of Hot Chocolate was selling out before they could make the next batch. We had to wait in queue to get our cup filled. They also serve fast food like burgers, soup and goulash.

The views of the surrounding mountains are spectacular and on a clear day you can enjoy the outdoor seating.

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Date of visit: June 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.465: Whistler Suspension Bridge, Canada,

A Bridge Too Far.

The Whistler Suspension Bridge is included as part of the activities offered when you purchase a ticket for the Peak 2 Peak Gondola Ride. When you get to the top of Whistler mountain by the gondola you can go higher up to the Suspension Bridge by a chair lift.

Unfortunately, when we got to Whistler mountain it started drizzling. The chair lift is open and we didn’t have a rain coat, so we did not dare to go up to the dangling open suspension bridge for fear of the bone chilling cold and wind up there. Maybe we will do it on the next trip.

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Date of experience: June 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.464: Peak 2 Peak Gondola, Whistler, BC, Canada.

Spectacular Ride.

The Peak 2 Peak Gondola ride is an absolutely top-of-the-list must do in Whistler. The views from the gondolas are simply spectacular. The tickets are not cheap but you must know beforehand that you are getting not only a to-and-fro ride between the Whistler Peak and the Blackcomb Peak, but much more tan that. You get a ride from Whistler Village base or from Blackcomb base up to the starting point of the red P2P gondolas, and back again. Once at the top of Whistler you can get up to suspension bridge, or at the Blackcomb mountain you can take a free bus ride to the 7th Heaven chair lift and get to the top of the ski slopes. Furthermore you can ride the P2P gondolas as many times as you like for the day, as long as you don’t take the ride down to the base again.

At the peaks of either the Whistler or Blackcomb mountain there are restaurants and washrooms where you can enjoy your meals gazing at the beautiful scenery. You can also do some shopping for souvenirs or clothes.

The usual P2P gondolas are red in colour and there is no waiting required to get into one, but there are some silver coloured gondolas, fewer in number, which have a glass floor. You may have to wait around 15 minutes to get into one. There is a good chance of spotting wild bears on the slopes below from a gondola.

The gondolas are closed and cosy, but be prepared with your jackets at the top of the mountains. When we went up there was some rain as well, which chilled us to the bone.

It is well worth a trip.

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Date of experience: June 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.463: Cathedral Grove, Port Alberni, Canada.

Giant And Ancient Trees.

Cathedral Grove is located on Highway No.4 in Vancouver Island, very near to the town of Port Alberni. It straddles both sides of the highway and there is limited parking space outside the Park area. It is also known as MacMillan Provincial Park.

The wonders of this park are the giant Douglas Fir trees which inhabit this forest like silent sentinels from the past. The leader among them is an 800-year-old tree, 76 meters tall and 9 meters in circumference. It was over 300 years old when Christopher Columbus first came to North America. Other species of trees in this forest include the Western Hemlock, the Western Red Cedar, and the Bigleaf Maples.

The walk around the park can take between half an hour to over two hours, depending on how much time and interest you have. At the end of the North side are the banks of the Cameron Lake.

There are no benches is the park, but you can catch your breath sitting on the broad fencing or tree stumps of the old and fallen trees along the way. There are functional restrooms outside along the parking lot.

It is like an enchanted forest, only disturbed somewhat by the noise of the highway traffic.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.462: Flying Beaver Grill & Bar, Richmond, Vancouver, Canada.

Watch The Floatplanes With Your Fish and Chips.

We got a complimentary shuttle pick up from Vancouver International Airport to the Harbour Air Seaplane terminal at Richmond. Our seaplane to Vancouver Island was at 4 pm so we decided to have lunch at the Flying Beaver restaurant housed within the terminal building.

The service was very good, and we could watch the seaplanes take off from the Fraser River while dining. We had a beer and some fruit juice followed by Pizza and a Fish and Chips. Prices are reasonable and the quantity of the serving was adequate. The menu has other tasty grilled items and Canadian dishes.

We enjoyed our lunch and would definitely recommend this place to other flyers as well.

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Date of visit: June 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.461: Harbour Air Seaplanes, Vancouver, Canada.

Vancouver To Nanaimo Seaplane Flight.

A seaplane is a very good option to get from Vancouver Mainland to Vancouver Island. They have a complimentary shuttle bus service from Vancouver International Airport to their terminal at Richmond on the Fraser River.

We had booked a 5.30 pm flight but reached the terminal earlier than expected. The staff is very courteous and accommodated us on the earlier 4 pm flight. We waited in the lounge and had some complimentary cookies and coffee.

Our luggage was weighed and tagged. There is a limit of 50 pounds per person but extra luggage can be taken on a token payment of $1 per pound. Window seats can also be reserved on extra payment.

The actual flight time from Vancouver to the Nanaimo Harbour across the Strait of Georgia is only 20 minutes, compared to about two hours taken by a ferry. The take off and the landing on the water was very smooth, smoother than the huge Boeing take-offs from Mumbai and Hong Kong.

The scenic views from the window was very enchanting, and we saw a couple of BC Ferries crossing the Strait down below.

The pilot was very competent and the staff were very courteous. We quite enjoyed our first time experience on the seaplane.

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Date of experience: June 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.460: Della's Cafe, Port Alberni, Canada.

Refreshing Cafe On The Highway To Tofino.

Dellas Café is a nice pit stop on the highway from Nanaimo to Tofino at Port Alberni. One can stop here for some snacks and coffee while driving down either way. It is located about halfway between both Nanaimo and Tofino, right next to the Sproat Lake Landing Resort just outside Port Alberni.

We had some tasty Indian Samosas with Vegan and Tandoori Chicken fillings served with a piquant pickle. Other items on the menu included cakes, pastries, ice creams, cold drinks, a variety of coffees and hot chocolate.

Some cute little gift items are also available to carry as souvenirs for friends and family.

There is a nice lawn with some colourful tables and chairs and one can sit out in the open and relax for a while next to the lake. Kids can exercise their legs and the parents can stretch their limbs before driving on.

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Date of visit: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.459: Epic Rides Bus Service (Vancouver to Whistler).

Scenic Journey.

To get from Vancouver to Whistler and back we used the services of ‘Epic Rides’. It is a luxury bus service with 2X2 seating arrangement. It starts from near Burrard Station in Vancouver and delivers you to the Gateway Loop Bus Terminus in Whistler Village within two hours, barring unforeseen circumstances.

The round trip costs only CAD$35 and is very economical. It does not stop anywhere in between, so it is better to visit the restroom before you board.

The ride is very scenic as it travels along Highway No.99 which is also known as the ‘Sea to Sky Highway’. Try to get a seat on the left side of the bus while going to Whistler, and on the Right hand side while returning to take in the best scenery along the way.

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Date of experience: June 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.458: La Brasserie des Artistes, Whistler, Canada.

Alfresco Dining.

We saw this restaurant while walking down along the shopping plaza in Whistler Village, from the Peak2Peak gondola ride . The bright yellow umbrellas and the inviting atmosphere attracted us in.

We were quite hungry so we ordered a Brass Club sandwich. It had bacon and chicken, tomato relish, arugula, garlic, Parmesan cheese, mayo packed in a multigrain toast with plenty of French fries and salad. It was quite filling and we enjoyed the taste. Then we ordered Chai (tea) and relaxed for a while.

It is a nice place for open air dining on a cold day sitting in the warming sun, watching all the tourists, bikers, and skiing enthusiasts walking by on Village Stroll Plaza. Service is average and easy going.

It is open from morning 8 am till 9 pm in the night. Beer, wine, cocktails and desserts are also served.

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Date of visit: June 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.457, Tim Hortons, Whistler Visitor Center, BC, Canada.

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Good For A Quick Bite.

This is a small outlet of Tim Hortons located in one corner of the Whistler Visitor Information Center. It is a good choice of location because all the buses from Vancouver come and stop at the Gateway Loop Bus Terminus and the tourists first flock into the Visitor Information Center. Many then stop for a cup of coffee or a snack before proceeding to their hotel or for their activities.

We stopped here on our first day in Whistler and had some doughnuts and croissants with coffee. It is basically a takeaway snack and coffee stall. Other items available here include muffins, cakes, pastries, hot chocolate drink, cold drinks and tea. It satisfies your immediate thirst or hunger so that you are good to go again.

Service is quick and efficient but there are only two tables and a bench to sit in the Visitor Center.

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Date of visit: June 2019

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