Adventure in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a wonderful destination, especially if you like active adventures. Whether you’re planning on traveling on your own, with a friend or partner or going with the whole family, Costa Rica has something for everyone. Here are some of the top activities:


Mountains and volcanoes

Costa Rica has a number of stunning mountains and volcanoes to explore. Arenal and Irazu Volcano are quite popular and offer beautiful hiking trails and amazing mountain biking. The lush Monteverde cloud forest is an incredible destination for hiking and biking, horseback riding and zip lining. Monteverde is currently in danger of disappearing due to deforestation and climate change. If you have the chance, definitely go and see it before it disappears!

Water

Over time, Costa Rica has been shaped by winding valleys and canyons. This has made it a hugely popular destination for white water rafting and kayaking. Some of the most picturesque and exhilarating rivers include the Pacuare, Sarapiqui and Reventazon, which offer from 3 to 4 grade rapids. If you prefer surfing to rafting, be sure to check out Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. Puerto Viejo is a really popular surfing destination for everyone from beginners to experts. If you’re an advanced surfer, the Salsa Brava Reef is one of the best and heaviest surf spots in Costa Rica.


Animals

Costa Rica is crawling with all sorts of critters and is, therefore, a great destination for animal viewing. For bird watching the best regions are Sarapiqui, Turrialba and Cano Negro. If you’re fascinated by the unique and slow-moving sloth, visit the Sloth Sanctuary and rescue facility in Limon (located on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica). For tropical butterflies, visit the Butterfly Conservatory in El Castillo (near Arenal). If you’re really enthusiastic about nature and have a few weeks to spare, the Sea Turtle Conservation Project is a wonderful project to volunteer with in Costa Rica.

Have you been to Costa Rica? What were your favourite adventure activities?

Prickly Pineapple Daiquiri Recipe

from A Taste of Elegance, Rudi Sodamin)

Feeling the cold this winter? Well if you can't get away to the tropics, bring a little piece of the tropics to you. This drink is a lovely treat - not to sweet, not too sour.


Yield: 1 Serving

INGREDIENTS

• 2 wedges lime
• 1½ ounces spiced rum
• 2 ounces homemade sour mix (4 cups sugar, 1 quart water, 1 cup fresh lime or lemon juice)
• 1 ounce pineapple juice
• 1 ounce soda water
• Prickly pear puree, for drizzling

DIRECTIONS

In a pint glass, hand-press lime wedges with a muddler. Fill glass with ice. Add rum, sour mix, pineapple juice, and soda water. Cap with shaker can and shake vigorously. Pour into a pint glass and drizzle with some prickly pear puree. Serve with a straw.

What's one of your favourite summer drinks?

Touring Canada and New England

Our clients recently returned from a cruise tour of Canada and New England with a stay in New York and shared the highs and lows of their experience. The trip started with a seven-day coach tour that took them from Washington through Williamsburg, historic Gettysburg and onto New York. The couple had this to say about the coach portion of their tour:


“The bus tour was terrific - we thought it would be a bit of a drag, but we both enjoyed it! Washington is very interesting, Williamsburg is fascinating and Gettysburg was the highlight. We had limited expectations for the bus part but it was a VERY pleasant surprise. Most enjoyable.” They also commented that the tour guide was “very good - knowledgeable and helpful.”

After the bus tour, they embarked on a seven day Canada and New England cruise with Princess, visiting Halifax, Nova Scotia; St John, New Brunswick; Boston, MA and more. Unfortunately the weather was iffy and a few of the port cities were cold and wet, which dampened their experience. “Boston could have been great but it rained the whole day,” they shared. In addition, they didn’t enjoy the large ship experience, saying “I think we should stay with Crystal or Oceania or something around 1,000 passengers.”



The cruise disembarked in New York where they stayed at the Westin for a few nights, which was a real treat for the couple. “New York was fantastic - even though we arrived the day of the BIG storm,” they shared. “The hotel was well located and very good in providing service.” While they were in the Big Apple they caught two Broadway shows - Wicked and Memphis - which they both really enjoyed. “The theatre scene in NY is something special. There are nearly 30 shows on Broadway right now!!!”
 
Have you ever visited Canada and New England? Share the highlights of your experience below!

Berlin's East Side Gallery

The Berlin Wall's East Side Gallery is a 1.3 km long section of the wall and a memorial for freedom. The gallery has over 100 paintings by artists from all over the world making it the largest open-air gallery in the world. The artwork is moving, inspiring and powerful.

Here are some photos of the remarkable gallery.

Tips for Planning a Whistler Adventure

With 12 alpine bowls, 3 glaciers, 200 marked trails and one vertical mile, Whistler and Blackcomb are a must for skiers and snowboarders. Official opening day is just around the corner, on November 24, and many are gearing up for the new season. But if you have never been to Whistler before you may have a few questions. Should I bring my own equipment? Where should I buy my lift ticket? Here are a few tips to help you plan your Whistler adventure.


If you have a small car, renting your ski or snowboard equipment in Whistler might be more convenient than bringing your own. Its also quite affordable, especially if you book your rental early. There are numerous rental shops around Whistler Village. Price shop before you go and decide what the best option is for you. While rental shops rent equipment, don’t forget to pack the rest of your gear (gloves, jacket, hat, goggles, and snow pants).

There are several options for purchasing lift tickets for Whistler and Blackcomb. Tickets are available directly at the slopes, but are cheaper if you book in advance. Alternatively, you can buy your tickets online and receive a 10% discount. If you’re only skiing for one day, you can find single-day discounted tickets at 7-Eleven stores in Vancouver or Squamish. The 7-Eleven in Whistler does not sell discounted lift tickets, so make a quick pit-stop on the drive to the slopes. Other options for discounted tickets include EDGE Cards for BC and Washington state residents, and Season Passes.

Have we missed anything? Leave your own suggestions below.

Paris in November

Although it is much more traditional to visit Paris in spring, there are a lot of advantages to visiting in November instead. Paris in November is quiet, peaceful and reflective. As the temperature drops and the days grow shorter, the number of tourists drastically decreases. There aren’t as many crowds to fight and you have many of Paris’ treasures to yourself. In addition, November is not high season in Paris which means that flights and hotel rooms are much more reasonably priced.


November is a great time of year for visiting Paris’ many indoor attractions. The famed Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, Musée Rodin and Musée National du Moyen Age are all wonderful for art lovers and history buffs. Paris is also home to a number of wonderful theatres, churches and cathedrals. Notre Dame is the most famous and most popular cathedral, but no visit to Paris is complete without a trip to Sacre Coeur as well.


Shopping is another reason to visit Paris in November. Sales on fall items begin in early November and you can usually find amazing deals on shoes and boots. Later in the month, Christmas markets start cropping up all over the city. Market vendors offer all sorts of goods, such as jewelry, scarves, various crafts, leather goods, delicious treats and much more. Don’t miss the wonderful Christmas displays in the windows of Galérie la Fayette and Printemps (two of Paris’ department stores).

November is also a time of year when Paris has a lot of cultural events. Here are a few favourites:

Vin Chaud:

While this isn’t an event, we had to include it. Vin chaud is mulled wine served warm. Cafes and portable carts all over the city typically start serving this drink in November.

Beaujolais Nouveau Festival:

This festival begins at the strike of midnight on the third Thursday of every November. The festival celebrates Beaujolais Nouveau, a light, fruity wine that comes from a region south of Burgundy.

Festival d’Automne:

The autumn festival, which begins in November, is a festival of the arts. Throughout the month of November, as part of the festival, there is a number of film, music, theatrical and ballet performances.

Paris Photo Exhibition:

This year the Paris’ annual photography fair will be held from November 10-13 at the Grand Palais. For information on the exhibition, visit www.parisphoto.fr

Did we miss anything? What are your favourite November activities in Paris?

Train travel like you've never imagined!

Train travel is a wonderful way to view the outdoors in a comfortable, luxurious fashion. Rocky Mountaineer offers several tours, but one of their short trips is the Whistler Route. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the Sea to Sky region between Vancouver and Whistler.

During your three and a half hour train trip you’ll travel through the scenic Howe Sound and the Cheakamus Canyon and past the snow-capped peaks of the Tantalus Mountains. You can also include a city excursion of Whistler and/or Vancouver, extending your trip three to five days, depending on whether you choose one or both.

These trips are available in there levels of service, depending on what you'd like. Redleaf Service, Goldleaf Service and Goldleaf with Fairmont Deluxe service.

If you're looking for a longer journey throughout British Columbia's gorgeous landscape, there are lots of possible journeys, but only one possible response: Wow. No matter which trip you choose, I guarantee you’ll sit nose pressed to the window as the knowledgeable Onboard Attendants offer fascinating live commentary.

Oh and rest assured, the windows are cleaned thoroughly after each and every trip.

There's classic first passage to the West trips that include travelling through legendary Spiral Tunnels and passing by the the spot where the last spike on the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven. This trip is doused in history, and great for those wanting to retrace the steps of the 19th century explorers.

Westbound or Eastbound, from sea to shining sea, get to know Canada in the most unique and beautiful way possible. Dip your toe into the Pacific Ocean and end your journey in Toronto, or continue on to Halifax to dip into the Atlantic Ocean for a truly Canadian experience.

Combine rail and ocean with a Rocky Mountaineer trip and an Alaskan cruise. Classic styling, world-class amenities and more of everything the adventurous heart desires.

These are just a handful of what's available when booking a Rocky Mountaineer vacation. Give us a call and let us plan the perfect holiday for you!