Jetsettersblog

WestJet will start daily non-stop service between Chicago and Vancouver and between Chicago and Calgary May 14. It will also market the flights it codeshares with American Airlines from Chicago to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Introductory fares start at $149 from Calgary and $169 from Vancouver.

Whistler Blackcomb’s Fire & Ice Show – every Sunday

This legendary family-friendly outdoor show is held every Sunday at the base of the mountains and is completely free. Dress warm, grab a cup of hot chocolate and prepare to be amazed by the live entertainment including big air, fire spinners, live DJ and fireworks display.

Roxy All-Star Snow Camp – February 11 – 12

These camps are the best way to improve your skills and hang heavy with a group of female snowboarders or skiers. From park to pipe to all mountain, from beginner to advanced, these two-day weekend camps accommodate all styles and levels of riding and feature Roxy All Star coaches and special guests.

Performance Series: Portland Taiko – February 11

Portland Taiko is a premier Pacific Northwest drum ensemble. “Taiko,” meaning drum and an art form, is deeply rooted in ancient Japanese tradition and combines rhythm, movement, energy and culture into a single art form. Portland Taiko’s aspiration is to create a taiko performance of the highest artistic quality with a strong and beautiful voice for all to enjoy. The show starts at 8 p.m. at Millennium Place and tickets can be purchased at Millennium Place.

The Yeti Snowshoe Series – February 18

The Yeti Snowshoe Series provides an exciting outdoor outlet for participants of all skill levels, from beginner through to advanced level athletes. Taking place at the Whistler Olympic Park, the Yeti offers a six kilometre sport lap and 12 kilometre enduro course over flat undulating cat-track, double track and single track

Sigge’s P’ayakentsut Cross Country Ski Event – February 25

The second annual P’ayakentsut returns with traditional loppet races of varying distances for adults and older teens, ski cross event for younger teens, and fun ski tournament for kids.

Winemaker Après Series: Osoyoos LaRose and Nk’Mip at Steeps Grill – February 29

Come and sample locally inspired menu paired with wines from the best that B.C. has to offer during the Winemaker Après Series at Steeps Grill atop Whistler Mountain.

The afternoon includes five course meal paired with five glasses of wine.

No one knows a country better than a local. Travellers to Canada can now access real local knowledge and tips via social media with the new Explore Canada Like a Local online travel tool.

Social media has given everyone a voice for honest, tell-it-like-it-is recommendations on bars, restaurants, shopping, events and more. The Canadian Tourism Commission gives travellers direct access to real traveller voices by combining information from local users of Foursquare, Yelp and Gowalla.

The result is a one-stop-shop website where travellers can create their own online itineraries based on recommendations from Canadians and Canada devotees and then carry them on their smart phones for instant access.

Itineraries can be developed on the Explore Canada Like a Local website by themes based on interests or by destination. Users can also access other travel itineraries and lists developed by fellow travellers.

Whether you’re looking for culinary hotspots of Montreal, ski resorts of British Columbia or shopping in Toronto, it is all there at the one site including real time reviews, comments, images and videos from other travellers who have ‘checked in’ at the destination.

No marketing hype, no brochure speak, just real traveler to traveler reviews.

First time users simply view a how-to video then Canada’s your oyster.

For more information on Explore Canada Like a Local visit www.explorecanadalikealocal.com 

Sea Kayak Adventures is offering four- or six-day, fully guided paddling trips through the wilds of British Columbia’s Johnstone Strait off northern Vancouver Island, where whale sightings are common. It is rare for people to view the whales in their natural environment, unfettered by motorized propulsion. Whaling nearly destroyed the Pacific Northwest population of humpbacks in the first half of the 20th century. In 1967, the last remaining 13 humpback whales of Vancouver Island were killed. For 15 years, humpbacks avoided the area until a lone wanderer drifted toward Johnstone Strait in 1982. This humpback became the forerunner of a slow recovery of a devastated population.

Humpback whales are active and acrobatic, but are particularly known for their “whale songs,” long and complex underwater vocalizations that can last for hours at a time.

Despite the tentative recovery of the species, the whales of Vancouver Island remained quiet for decades. Then, in 2007, researchers recorded the first true whale song that shattered 40 years of post-whaling silence and indicated a landmark for the population’s recovery.

While still threatened by foreign whaling practices, humpbacks have become frequent visitors in Johnstone Strait, with greater numbers every summer from June through September as they return from their winter grounds of Hawaii.

The Humpback Whale Kayak Odyssey will explore old growth forests, pristine waters, and experience the presence of the peaceful whales.

The non-invasive, sturdy sea kayak offers a unique, respectful glimpse into their underwater world. Watch the humpbacks breach or listen to their underwater serenade while eagles soar overhead, dolphins frolic, and seals delight, all in the stunning backdrop of the Vancouver Island wilderness.

This narrow sheltered “whale freeway” is also known for its summer congregations of hundreds of killer whales following the salmon runs funneled from the sea into this specific area.

Canada is the first and only country in the world to establish and maintain an orca preserve there. The Michael Biggs Robson Bight Orca Preserve is set aside specifically for these unique northern resident orcas, found nowhere else in the world. Researchers flock here to study these orcas.

Participants will paddle two-person sea kayaks through the glacier-carved waterways between Vancouver Island and the rugged mountains of mainland British Columbia.

Along the way, they’ll get close to humpback whales, orcas and porpoises, as the strait is a traditional gathering place for these whales. Guides scan the calm waters for spouts and point out whale behavior. Bald eagles dot the towering trees along the shore, feasting as do the orcas on the prolific salmon runs here.

The group will also explore the area’s rainforest on foot, visit the ancient First Nations village of Memquimlis to view its totem poles and remains of a traditional longhouse, visit orca researchers and hopefully glimpse a black bear from their kayaks. Each night, they’ll camp on secluded island beaches where they can also watch orcas from their tents.

Trips depart from Port McNeill on northern Vancouver Island, BC Canada weekly mid June through mid July 2012. Four or six days of paddling are priced at $1,195 to $1,450 per person. The price includes all camping and kayaking equipment, meals, kayaking instruction and guide services. Youth get 10 percent off. Tax and airfare not included. For more information, call 800-616-1943.

Award-winning Rocky Mountaineer invites travellers to spend a little more time exploring Western Canada with its Stay and Play offer. Guests who book a Rocky Mountaineer rail vacation of six nights or more from January 15 until April 15, 2012, can extend their stay in Vancouver, BC with a free additional hotel night and a complimentary day trip adventure on the West Coast or a dinner for two in the Canadian Rockies. Choose from a delicious dinner in Banff, Jasper or Lake Louise, AB or explore Vancouver on a city tour. GoldLeaf guests can also choose a Victoria Day trip with the Butchart Gardens tour, Whale Watching tour or North Shore Tour in Vancouver.

“We are thrilled to give our guests the opportunity to discover more of Western Canada and stay longer in the beautiful coastal city of Vancouver, BC,” says Hubert Wat, Vice President, Global Marketing of Rocky Mountaineer.

“Whether it is a day trip excursion on the West Coast or a memorable dinner for two in the Rockies, our Stay and Play offer adds an authentic Canadian experience to our exciting rail journeys through British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies.”

A popular package option is the Canadian Rockies Highlights, a six night/seven day vacation, which includes a two day, all daylight rail journey onboard the Rocky Mountaineer, between Vancouver and Banff.

Guests enjoy delicious gourmet cuisine and panoramic views in GoldLeaf and the new SilverLeaf Service while travelling in comfort and style through the stunning scenery of British Columbia and the spectacular Canadian Rockies.

The package includes two nights of accommodations in Vancouver and two nights at iconic Canadian Rockies properties in Banff and Lake Louise.

Several day trip adventures are included such as a Glacier Helicopter tour in Banff National Park, Summit Helicopter Flightseeing tour as well as a Columbia Icefield Excursion.

The trip ends with an overnight stay in Calgary, Alberta. This exciting journey can also be done in reverse, travelling from Calgary to Vancouver.

The Stay and Play offer is only valid on new 2012 bookings for trips of six nights or more, made between January 15 and April 15, 2012 and must be requested at the time of booking. RedLeaf and SilverLeaf Service offer will be limited to a one night stay in Vancouver and either a Vancouver City Tour or a dinner for two in Banff, Jasper of Lake Louise. Offers are based on availability and may be modified, withdrawn or travel dates may be substituted without prior notice. Further restrictions may apply.

For more information on the Stay and Play offer or to receive a copy of the 2012 Rocky Mountaineer brochure, please contact your local travel professional or Rocky Mountaineer directly at (800) 665-7245, or visit rockymountaineer.com. For the latest news and offers, follow us on Twitter @rmountaineer  or become a fan on Facebook.

For more information about Rocky Mountaineer, please visit www.rockymountaineer.com

VIA Rail is offering discounted packages of up to 50 percent off. The package allows for travel anywhere in Canada on VIA Rail’s network in any of their quality service classes. Those who book a train trip between eastern and western Canada or Quebec and Ontario will receive 50 percent off the adult regular fare from VIA’s most popular Canadian destinations. The deal is available for travel until May 31, but must be booked by Jan. 26.

VIA Rail is also offering discounted business and economy class trips between Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal until April 3. One-way trips departing from Toronto to both Ottawa and Montreal are $39 for economy class and $79 for business class with free Wi-Fi included.

Whistler, B.C. – Ski and snowboard enthusiasts are abuzz with talk of Whistler’s enviable snow conditions (nearly 18 feet of snowfall so far this season) and the resort wants to share its snow bounty with visitors by offering a special limited time offer.

From January 17 until midnight on January 19, visitors can take advantage of special offers on accommodation and lift packages (best availability through March and April) by booking online or calling 1.800.WHISTLER.

A variety of accommodation options are available, from moderate to luxury. Add lift tickets for the number of days you want to be on the slopes, and you’re all set to experience Whistler’s spectacular snow conditions, courtesy of La Nina.

Last year, a La Nina weather system dropped record-breaking amounts of snow on Whistler Blackcomb (52 feet of cumulative snowfall) and 2012 is shaping up to be another white winter, with twice the snowfall of most major US ski resorts. Already hosting the best snow conditions on the continent, Whistler’s forecast is calling for up to 100 centimetres (nearly 40 inches) of snow this week.

Not only does Whistler have the snow, it also has the terrain to enjoy it: Whistler Blackcomb is 100 per cent open, offering 8,171 skiable acres of terrain – more than any other destination in the US and Canada. The resort offers two mountains that rise one vertical mile from the valley floor, more than 200 trails, three glaciers, 37 lifts, 16 alpine bowls and the world-record breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola – plus one of the longest seasons in North America, running through late April with summer glacier skiing and riding until late July.

Visitors to Whistler also have several new activity options this winter, including: new public ride programs for bobsleigh and skeleton that provide guests with the thrill of gliding down the track at more than 100 kilometres per hour at the Whistler Sliding Centre ; and a new outdoor skating surface, free to the public, in the heart of Whistler Village.

Also new this winter, is the Whistler Sabbatical Project, Tourism Whistler’s winter-long promotion offering weekly prizes in addition to the ultimate grand prize of a month-long Whistler stay – including accommodation, lift tickets, equipment, transportation, a salary and a series of unique Whistler experiences.

Contest closes January 31, 2012.

Visit the Whistler Sabbatical Project at

www.whistler.com/wouldyoudoit

Whistler.com offers the largest selection and one-stop shopping with no booking fee for accommodation, lift tickets or activities.

Whistler-based reservation agents at whistler.com can also customize a vacation package, taking care of flights, transportation, accommodation and activities.

Here are five more activities to put the wonder back in winter. Click here for the first five:

1. Poles fit for a prince

Cross-country skiing, Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta

Lake Louise is for lovers. Ski lovers, that is. You can check out tree-lined cross-country trails or fly downhill in waist-deep powder, all under gorgeous blue skies. And if you’re up for more rustic adventure, try the famous Skoki Lodge, where Prince William and theDuchess of Cambridge visited in the summer.

TIP: Bring a camera to take great snaps of deer and elk as you shush by on your Nordic skis.

Lake Louise area cross-country ski trails

The Lake Louise Ski Area

2. Get seriously soaked, Radium Hot Springs, Kootenay National Park, Alberta

You can get me into hot springs at any time of year but on cool, crisp winter days, just try to get me out. Surrounded by snow-covered trees and the icy Mount Rundle, I love to wade shoulder-deep into the soothing mineral-rich waters and just smile.

TIP: For more warmth, try Banff Upper Hot Springs in Banff National Park.

Radium Hot Springs

3. Mush ado about winter

Dog sledding, Kluane National Park and Reserve, Yukon

Here’s one for the bucket list. A chance to mush a team of gorgeous huskies through Kluane National Park and Reserve. Contact a local dog sled tour operator for itineraries.

TIP: Canada’s highest mountain, Mount Logan (5,959 metres; 19,545 feet), is located within the park.

4. Go waterfall ice climbing

Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks, Alberta and British Columbia

If you were born with a silver pick-axe in your hands, here’s news. Some 1,000 waterfalls exist through the Canadian Rockies, making it one of the world’s premier waterfall ice climbing destinations. Experienced climbers have easy access and incredible options.

TIP: Massey’s and Pilsner Pillar are classic climbs near the village of Field in Yoho National Park.

5. Plan a family below zero family boil-up

Winter picnicking, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
Bundle up the family and head out for a picnic along the lake, stopping at one of the park’s enclosed camp kitchens. Cook lunch over a wood stove, seasoned with a dose of the stunning Rocky Mountains.

TIP: Snowshoe up and over the Akamina Pass and have a picnic on the continental divide.

with softest footprint possible

Described as the Canadian Galapagos, Haida Gwaii is located at the western edge of North America and is a place teeming with wildlife and First Nations heritage. For more than 20 years, Maple Leaf Adventures has led authentic explorations aboard a classic 28-metre (92-foot) schooner into the Gwaii Haanas National Park Marine Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, an area rarely travelled and explored.

Recognized as a Signature Canadian Experience by the Canadian Tourism Commission, the nine-day, eight-night Haida Gwaii eco-cruise departs from Masset, BC (returning to Sandspit, BC) on five separate dates in 2012: May 7 – 15, May 16 – 24, May 25 – Jun. 2, Jun. 4 – 12 and Jun. 13 – 21.

Cost per passenger is $4,640.00 Cdn (includes all shore excursions, meals, accommodations and use of onboard equipment).

Masset is located at the northern end of Graham Island – the largest of the more than 150 islands that comprise the Queen Charlotte Islands, now known as Haida Gwaii.

Typically, guests fly into Masset, BC aboard Pacific Coastal Airlines out of Prince Rupert, BC.

“It’s a real privilege to be one of the few tour operators permitted to travel into Gwaii Haanas,” said Kevin Smith, president of Maple Leaf Adventures. “We guide our guests into this maze of islands and waterways, a world class natural environment that made the Haida who they are. Now modern Haida watchmen welcome us into their Haida village sites, as our voyage takes us through this landscape forests, rugged cliffs, beaches and natural hot springs. All the while, we are surrounded by wildlife, from tufted puffins to bears and massive humpback whales.”

As a co-founder of Gwaii Haanas Tour Operators Association and co-author of its renowned Code of Conduct, Maple Leaf Adventures operates its Haida Gwaii sailing tour with the permission and respect of the Haida and Parks Canada. During the trip, guests embark on a number of guided land and sea explorations, including a visit to the UN World Heritage Site Ninstints (SGang Gwaay).

Here, Haida guides share stories of the still-standing totem poles (some dating from the mid-19th century) and house remains, and the Kunghit Haida people who carved them so many years ago.

Other highlights of the sailing cruise include naturalist-led treks to islands that feature thousands of nesting seabirds, hikes through forests with centuries-old trees and soaks in natural hot springs. And after each day of adventure, guests return to the tall ship to enjoy gourmet meals prepared by the onboard chef, relax in the comfortable sleeping cabin or spend time in the above-deck wheelhouse where they can try their hands at steering the ship.

To book a tour or learn more about Maple Leaf Adventures, visit www.MapleLeafAdventures.com.

About Maple Leaf Adventures

Maple Leaf Adventures has provided conservation travel experiences aboard a classic tall ship since 1986. With a reputation as one of Canada’s top sustainable tour operators, its multi-day excursions give guests one-of-a-kind experiences in some of the most beautiful and rare places in the world, often in areas that were once under threat of destruction or in dire need of protection. As a long time practitioner of ecotourism, Maple Leaf Adventures pioneered travel in BC’s Great Bear Rainforest and northwestern Vancouver Island and has made significant contributions in the field of conservation. For more information, visit www.MapleLeafAdventures.com

(Harrison Mills, British Columbia) — A shroud of secrecy surrounds Pretty Estates Resort-home to Rowena’s Inn on the River, Sandpiper Golf Course and River’s Edge Restaurant- since rumours of burning passion have engulfed the Fraser Valley’s most romantic boutique resort.

Imagine arriving to a luxurious, rustic waterfront cabin-a real wood-burning fireplace is stacked and waiting to be ignited, a bottle of bubbly sits on a bed of ice alongside a fruit and cheese platter while a dozen long-stemmed roses aromatize the room.

The final touches are a souvenir bottle from Domaine De Chaberton, a gift-wrapped box of handmade chocolates and a welcome card containing $50 worth of ‘Romance Rewards’ to be used at River’s Edge Restaurant.

The Valentines Weekend Getaway Package runs from Thursday, February 9th to Sunday, February 19. At an all inclusive price, Cedarview rooms at the Inn are $250, Riverview rooms are $275 and the cabins are only $350 per couple.

For guests that are staying at the Inn, a complimentary, Valentines-themed breakfast will be served at the Solarium, and for cabin guests breakfast is delivered right to each guest’s doorstep.

However, there is so much more to see and sweethearts can keep on Valentining by adding a variety of experiences to their overnight stay in-cabin massage treatments, Afternoon Tea at the best prices in the province, golfing at Sandpiper Golf Resort, winter adventures at Hemlock Valley Resort, private wine tastings and cooking classes. Customized to suit each guest’s individual taste and budget, tastings range from $30-125 per person and the cooking classes are between $125 and $500.

At Rowena’s Inn on the River, indulgence is a way of life. Secluded on a lush 160-acre estate, Rowena’s evokes an atmosphere of understated elegance. The rooms feature waterfront and garden views, and sumptuous king-size beds, dressed in deluxe duvets, feather pillows and crisp linens.

Large windows bathe the European-infused elegance in natural light and the furniture exemplifies a timeless stylishness. The cabins have heated-slated floors, deep-soaker jacuzzi tubs for two, glassed-in showers and wood-burning handcrafted river-rock fireplaces.

Rowena’s outstanding personalized service and attention to detail has become an unquestioned hallmark of Pretty Estates Resort.

By car, Rowena’s Inn on the River is only 1.5 hours east of Vancouver and 35 minutes north of Abbotsford. Complete with its own 2100 ft air strip, Rowena’s Inn on the River is a 20-30 minute flight from downtown Vancouver. To learn more about Pretty Estates Resort, visit www.prettyestatesresort.com or follow us on Twitter at @RowenasInn. Pretty Estates Resort- You’re unique. Your escape should be too.