Audrey and Dan in the Valley of the Whales (Wadi Al-Hitan)

I’m quite excited as at the end of the month I get to share these sassy cats with my hometown of Vancouver, as they roll into town to speak at the Future of Tourism Talk being put on by G Adventures and Planeterra. Aside from loving listening to Audrey and Dan talk, the event looks like it should be an interesting one with thought-provoking ideas around culture, travel and sustainability, shared by Bruce Poon Tip, Paula Vlamings, David Suzuki, and my friends Audrey Scott and Daniel Noll.

On May 31, 2012 G Adventures invites you to the Future of Tourism—an evening of discussion, debate and creative exchange between visionaries from across the tourism spectrum.

Together we’ll explore the roles travel and sustainable tourism play in the world today, and set the agenda for the future of our industry and our planet. Join Bruce Poon Tip, Paula Vlamings, Daniel Noll & Audrey Scott and RSVP for this special FREE event. Space is limited and will sell out fast!

Here are the details:

• Date: Thursday May 31st, 2012
• Time: 6:45 – 9:45 pm
• Location: The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (777 Homer St.)
• Registration: By Donation on Eventbrite (tickets are going fast)

Hope to see you there!

Emme

"Me Time" at Le Chamois Whistler

To put this to the test, Richard Yearwood and I escaped the hustle and bustle of the city Easter weekend for some fun in the sun in Whistler, thanks to Whistler Tourism.  It was exactly what I needed.  While we didn’t exactly slow down, we did have a huge amount of fun and discovered all sorts of new aspects to Whistler from music and art to learning to snowboard in the Spring sun to zipping through the trees with Ziptrek Ecotours.   Best part for a Van City Gal, was this kind of escape can be planned stress free at the last minute or simply on a whim.

Richard and I, in what I like to think of as Ewok Village Whistler

For a full account of all of our Whistler Weekend Adventures over the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival, you will have to stay tuned to Roamancing as we launch the site and our social media feeds over the next month and put up a variety of posts from A Morning in the Life of an Ewok to the first in a Le Chamois inspired series on the World’s Best Tubs to Snowboarding Tips from Whistler Blackcomb Ski & Snowboard Hottie Sean Matthews.

In the meantime, a few tips for those looking for a highly recommended escape from the daily grind:

• If you, like me, fantasize about leisurely soaks in the tub with a good book and a glass of wine, the tub at Le Chamois was an absolute dream come true for me, jets included.  And now sadly, while I didn’t get the opportunity to try this, I’d harbour a guess that it fit two comfortably.  Richard, similarly enjoyed his roomy shower.

Tub Heaven at Le Chamois Whistler

• There’s ART in Whistler!   And really good art – inspired by the mountain culture and the natural surroundings.  When you’re taking a break from the mountain, go search it out.  I really enjoyed what I saw.  Had to give Richard my credit card to curb the spending cravings.

TWSSF State of the Art

• If you give the techno music in the clubs a pass (unless of course that’s your thing) there is actually some good music in Whistler.  The Mountain knows its acts and will bring them in, often for free. We caught both Broken Social Scene and Marianas Trench for free on Easter Weekend.  I’ll be keeping a close eye on the new Jazz Festival coming to the mountain in September.

Marianas Trench at TWSSF in Whistler

• Even though the snow is not at it’s best in the Spring, the skiing is still immensely enjoyable, especially if you go with the layered look and salaciously strip down throughout the day.  It’s a great way of building that tan for the summer, especially if it is not limited to the goggle region.  Blackcomb Mountain is open for the season until May 30th, so there is still time to grab a few runs.  To find the best runs and ski conditions, test out the Whistler Blackcomb Live App.  It’s free.  Oh and think Preventable: wear a helmet (and possibly a bum pad, if you’re snowboarding) and get lessons if it’s your first time.  The Whistler Blackcomb Ski & Snowboard School are excellent and they have a hottie or two working for them (HELLO Mr. Sean Matthews).

Sean Matthews, Snowboard Instructor & Whistler Hottie

• If you’re like me and like to geek out a little, while taking in the mountain air and getting that Whistler adventure rush on, then I’d recommend checking out the Ziptrek Ecotours. We did the Ziptrek Bear Tour, which made me feel like I’d joined a band of Ewoks.  It was awesome!  Being someone that was initially terrified, I had fun and felt in safe hands with our knowledgeable and humorous guides.  Thanks Peter and Edwin!

Richard Showing off on the Ziptrek

Now I should also note that some of the art and music mentioned about is one of the advantages to hitting Whistler when an event is on.  We were there for the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival, which included one of my favourite art exhibits, State of the Art, and a series of free outdoor music concerts, including Broken Social Scene and Marianas Trench.  You have to wait a year until TWSSF is back, but in the meantime, there are some other cool festivals in Whistler coming up, including:

• Outstanding in the Field ~  July 9th, 2011
• Konkanee Crankworx ~  July 16 – 24, 2011
• Slow Food Cycle Sunday ~  August 21, 2011
• Jazz on the Mountain ~  Early September, 2011

Now to answer the age old question (or at least mine), can you find love in Whistler?  Don’t laugh.  Yes, I have been told that I can find plenty of love there for a night (which really isn’t what I’m looking for just now), but actual love.  Despite the chuckles and scoffs that I can hear as I write this, I do believe you can.  Whether it is taking someone you are building a relationship with on a weekend escape to take time for each other or you seriously connect with someone on a weekend escape, it happens.  We met a couple from the States that actually met in Whistler (video to come on Roamancing) and despite the transient lifestyle of Whistler, there are folks that stay and are looking for that special someone.  This is especially true for the gals, as lets face it Whistler is a bit of a sausage fest.  Ladies – you just have to be somewhat discerning in your selection (ie. give the married men on a weekend romp a wide pass.  If they are treating Whistler like Las Vegas, they are probably not the fellow to be batting your eye lashes and tossing your hair at).

So did I find love?  Too soon to tell, but I did get a phone number or two.

~ Emme xoxo

Whistler Vacations

Photo by James Mockett

Just to fire up your imagination as to what could be possible, here are a few Earth Hour suggestions to the couples out there, whether it’s a first or second date or the person that you have been living with for 20+ years:

1. Enjoy a candle lit dinner for two (remember to turn off the oven by 8:30 pm).
2. Go for a starlit walk.
3. Run a bubble bath for your loved one and read to them by candlelight.
4. Cuddle up to a campfire under the stars (just don’t forget to get the fire permit).
5. If you are blessed with musical abilities, enjoy an hour serenading your partner (and if this is the case, yet you’re single, my number is ….).
6. Curl up under a blanket outdoors and do a little stargazing together.
7. Candle lit scrabble (best of all, no one can cheat by using their iphone or blackberry).
8. An hour long massage by candlelight, or better yet, two hours – one hour each.

Remember Earth Hour is between 8:30 – 9:30 pm tonight (March 27th, 2010), so power down. Oh and there is absolutely no reason why you and your lover can’t make your own Earth Hours on a regular basis throughout the year.

Special thanks to @ClareSaxon, @nugglemama, @lizzieh84, @airdrie, and @EatsShootsEdits, who shared their Earth Hour romance ideas with me on twitter.  Would love to hear more ideas on how to generate a little romance into your Earth Hour tonight in the comments below.

NowPublic

Now, I must admit there was a catalyst to my change in spirit that came in the form of a rather scrumptious beer that was introduced to me on Monday at the CW Asia Fund Fundraiser. The beer in question? Karpackie from Poland.  Fantastic stuff!  I tried three of their beer – the Premium Lager, Super Mocne Piwo Jasne, and a third beer whose chicken scratched name I can’t read off of my ‘yummy list’ (Okay – found it’s name online – Zlaty Hrad Strong).  All very good, but the true delight came in the cultural banter.  You see I discovered that in Poland, you pour the Super Mocne Piwo Jasne in a pot and heat it up until the fluid begins to move, and then you dissolve a teaspoon of honey into the beer and enjoy it hot.  All I can say ….bloody fantastic!  Where’s Poland House????

Gives me a whole new goal to the Olympics – sourcing out a whole list of yummy recipes.  If your lucky, I might decide to share them.

Oh – and you can find Karpackie and Zlaty in the BC Liquore Store, just don’t go sticking your grubby little paws on the ones in my neighbourhood liquore store.