The Vancouver Traveler

With just under a month to go until that special day, this weekend is the kick off in Vancouver for all the Christmas Craft Fairs and family fun….so make sure you do not miss out!!
The West Coast Christmas Pet and Craft Fair, is running on the 29 – 30 of Nov.  Kids and pets are welcome to the fair.  Be sure to get your pictures taken with Santa Claus, and visit over 30 pet related booths, there is on-going entertainment with agility fun match, dogwood pacesetters, K9 Drill Team performing between 12pm – 12:30pm both days.
Come out and support the …read more

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The Festival of Lights creates a magical wonderland throughout Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden.
Thousands of twinkling lights illuminate just about everything in the park and the Christmas carols that play in the backgound set the tone for the Dancing Light show.
But the highlight for everyone (especiallly the children) will be the stories told by Santa himself in his very own cozy living room, followed by special appearances by Christmas Elves or by the great Magician David Wilson.

flickr:keepitsurreal
The Festival of Lights will be running from December 5 until January 4 from 4:30pm til 9:30pm.
The VanDusen Botanical Garden will be closed Dec.25
Cost for addmission is adults $11; …read more

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Get swept away to 1960’s Baltimore with the smash hit musical Hairspray!
Playing at The Center for Performing Arts in Vancouver from November 18th to 23rd.
Showtimes: Tues – Sat at 8pm ; Sundays at 7:30 ; with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2pm
Tickets are $55 to $85 and can be purchase by calling 604.280.4444
The Center for the Performing Arts is located at 777 Homer St in Vancouver.
flickr:thesolaris5

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Join the fun at the 35th Anniversary of the Vancouver Chariot Festival on August 10.
The parade will start at 11 am with three gigantic carts being pulled on huge wheels along Beach Avenue, ending on Second Beach.
At the end of the parade, you will be able to enjoy a free vegetarian feast, drama, cultural dance, music, face painting, clowns and a lot more for the whole family!
Admission is free and there will be a free shuttle bus service available along Beach Avenue.
For more information on this great family event, visit http://vanchariotfestival.com
photo credit – magnetas

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The old wooden roller-coaster  at the PNE celebrated it 50th birthday last month.
The roller-coaster is the most popular ride at Playland, despite the millions they spend on new rides every year.
Since the coaster is made of wood, instead of steel, the duration of the ride fluctuates depending on the time of day and the weather conditions. Rides at the end of the day are faster then those at the beginning because the tracks heat up as the coaster is used. As a result, ride times can vary up to 6 seconds, not much of a time difference, until you consider …read more

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The Southern Gulf Islands make up one of the most ecologically distinctive and fragile areas in southern Canada.
They are beautiful, serene places, within relatively easy reach from Vancouver’s Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
Galiano Island- The skinniest, driest and least agricultural of the islands, Galiano retains most of its unspoiled characteristics. You can spend hours spotting bald eagles, cormorants and gulls, and when the herring are running, California Sea Lions and the Killer Whales appear.
Mayne- A leisurely hike up Mount Peake yields splendid views, and on most days, you won’t see another person in sight! It definitely isn’t one of the …read more

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Over the years, the legend of Ogopogo has gained credibility as more and more sightings are reported.
Long ago, the Indians spoke of “N’ha-a-itk” who they referred to as a fierce lake monster that resided in Squally Point which is just 20 km south of Kelowna, in Vancouver’s Fraser Valley.
Descriptions vary, but certain characteristics have been used to describe Ogopogo over the decades.
Ogopogo is green, with a snake-like body and is about 25 meters long. Some have said his head looks like a horse, while others have reported it being reptilian and even goat like.
Some have claimed to have photographed the lake …read more

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Since 1990, Vancouver has been the host to this spectacular international fireworks competition.
Formally known as Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire, competitions were held around the world, most notably in the Canadian cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
In 2000 the Canadian government restricted tobacco advertising and Benson & Hedges pulled out of their sponsorship of the million dollar event.
In 2001, the event was saved by HSBC Bank, BC Hydro Power Smart and the City of Vancouver.
The international event was renamed HSBC Celebration of Light, and this extremely popular event continues to light the skies over Vancouver’s English Bay, as three countries …read more

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The Greater Vancouver Zoois located in the Fraser Valley community of Aldergrove, just off the Trans-Canada Highway.
Hundreds of animals from all over the world are on exhibit including lions, tigers, hippos, leopards, giraffes and zebras. There is a North American exhibit with grizzlies, Vancouver Island wolves, bison, moose, elk and the world’s only albino black bear.
You can hop aboard the Safari Express Train which will give you a 15 minute full narrated tour of the park, and is great fun for the entire family.
It is easy to spend the entire day here and there is something that will excite every …read more

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Greater Vancouver’s only water-slide park offers advanced, intermediate and children’s slides. There is a slide there for everyone depending on your experience or your “scare” level.
Their advanced slides come with names like “Oliver Twist”, the “Kamikazi” or the “Corkscrew”, all which offer 425 feet of twists, turns and thrills.
If you like speed, give the “Whipper Snapper” a try, its 395 feet with less turns and a great straight down section where you can get some serious speed!
There is inner-tubing and children’s pools which have 5 slides available.
The water is kept at a temperature between 25 and 29 degrees.
Splashdown Water Park is …read more

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