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When it comes to finding the perfect family car, safety, comfort, and practicality are of utmost importance for us. Combining the elegance and luxury of a premium SUV with family-friendly features, the BMW X5 stands out as a versatile and reliable choice for families of all sizes.

We worked with BMW Canada to craft a beautiful getaway through Victoria, BC and enjoy family-time together while having a smooth ride. We spent a few days testing why the BMW X5 is great for families and how it delivers an unmatched driving experience that caters to both parents and children alike.

We started off our journey leaving Vancouver, BC and heading off to Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal to make our way to Victoria. We got on the ferry and it was a smooth ride.

Spacious and Versatile Interior

With 3 adults and a toddler in the car, we felt like there was plenty of space for our luggage as well as personal bags to keep beside us. As we are only about 5’7, there was plenty of leg and head room.

Driving long distances, it was great to have the driver seat with power adjustable lumbar support as the lower back can get tired.

Ease of Parking and Getting into Tight Spaces

The front and rear parking sensors as well as the rear view camera are essential features for our family especially getting into tight spots like the ferry or narrower parking stalls. We were always able to make sure we had enough space to get in and out of the car. Especially with my round pregnant belly. I needed some extra space to get in and out of the car.

Right off the ferry, we headed to The Butchart Gardens as that’s were I really wanted to see as I haven’t been back since I was a kid. It’s an exquisite garden, which you can spend hours adoring through all the different seasons. It has over 100 years of history and it’s a must for locals and tourists.

We spent a good amount of time at The Butchart Gardens, so it was time to head to Prestige Oceanfront Resort in Sooke, BC. Traffic on the highway was pretty bad during rush hour, so Google Maps too us on some smaller side roads and we loved how the BMW X5 handled on high turns through the forest. It was very smooth and even our toddler fell asleep.

We picked Prestige Oceanfront Resort because it was very affordable and was away from the city, so we could relax and enjoy the views of the water. Our toddler loved seeing the seals basking in the sun on the rocks without a care in the world.

We had dinner close by at Stoked Pizzeria and wow, their pizza was so crispy and flavourful. The place was bumping in the evening. For breakfast, we checked out the new cafe inside Prestige Oceanfront Resort called Island Tarts Cafe & Catering, which is a local small business selling the most amazing coffee and treats.

As we checked out, we packed up our bags and put everything in the trunk. We loved the 2 piece tailgate was great to quickly grab items from the trunk, but if there was something that started rolling around in the back, nothing would fall out.

The rear window sunshades were fantastic for the kiddo in the backseat as it would be very sunny and having it up would help her relax and take longer naps on this road trip.

For the second day of our trip, we focused more of kid friendly activities since the kiddo wanted to get out of the car to see some animals. First stop was Beacon Hill Children’s Farm. It’s by donation and there’s even lots of goats to pet and brush. We stayed about 30 minutes and then headed off to brunch at Eva for some German cuisine.

We needed to get a bit closer to the Ferry, so we stopped at Sydney, BC which was a few minutes away from the Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal. We all made sure we did something a little different so we can enjoy the sights and sounds of Sydney. My husband went to visit Victoria Distillers for a gin tasting and they are best known for their Empress Gin. The kiddo spent some time at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Seas to learn more about the local animals in the area. The rest of the time, we spent wandering the pier before it was time to head to the ferry.

Getting to all these locations was easy because of the Apple CarPlay feature. We just connect our iPhones and we have our music and maps all ready with a touch of a button.

Final Thoughts

A family road trip with the 2024 BMW X5 is an exciting and comfortable adventure to help us get to our different destinations with ease. It’s known for it’s performance, spacious interior, and advanced features. Our family had a great little getaway and felt very safe. Definitely check out the vehicle if you and your family go on local getaways throughout the year.

This blog post was sponsored by BMW Canada but the opinions are all my own.

Spring is just around the corner and it’s not too early to have a pair of sunglasses in your bag to keep you protected from the sun. SmartBuyGlasses is an online retailer that has been around for over 10 years providing a large range of authentic designer eyewear. They were founded in Australia back in 2008 and provide over 24 months of warranty if there are any manufacture defects of glasses or sunglasses without exception for free.

All you need is your prescription handy if you need it and their in-house optometrists can create glasses and contacts to order.

I wanted to go with something out of the ordinary, so I ordered the Prada PR64TS. These are sunglasses but I loved how they are polarized and gives and nice look when walking around town.

It’s definitely not your standard sunglasses and make people wonder where you got them. Protecting your eyes from the sun with style.

Sunglasses were sponsored by SmartBuyGlasses but all opinions are all my own.

I’ve begun my maternity leave and I have a few weeks of rest before the little human arrives. For the first week of ‘Matirement’, we decided to go Hygge with Ford Canada and good timing too because it has finally hit below freezing in Vancouver with patches of heavy snow. Not quite the Polar Vortex weather, but cold for the West Coast.

Hygge is a Danish word used when acknowledging a feeling or moment. It can be alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary. No tight rules, but to just enjoy.

As it is the middle of Winter, Hygge was created to survive boredom, cold, and dark times to break up the day, months or years. As it has been pretty cold in Vancouver, I planned my days to have time for myself and with others to raise my spirits.

Staying Warm and Toasty

We began this adventure with the 2019 Ford Escape Titanium. The perfect vehicle for getting around town with the icy and snowy roads.

Before we begin, we gotta utilize the remote start function. With a push of the remote, it’s a great way to get the car started and warmed up before you get in. Don’t let the sunny skies deceive you, it was really cold at -7c.

Getting in the vehicle, I was so happy to crank up the heat, turn up the heated seats, and the heated steering wheel too. I was warm and toasty in no time.

Rest and Relaxation

I like to stay home in the evenings and how I relax is with a good podcast, a warm coffee and snacks of course. Sometimes it’s good to just have quiet time to myself. Enjoying all that time to myself before I won’t get any in a few weeks when Baby E arrives.

Even reading The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking gave me some inspiration to get through this cold week and enjoy it as much as possible.

Finding the Best Sights

I love getting out of the city and see my home from far up on a mountain to really appreciate the beauty. Burnaby Mountain is one of my favourite spots to just gaze off into the distance. On a good clear day, you have great views of the Lower Mainland with many opportunities for photos. There are some wildlife in the area like deers, eagles, woodpeckers, black bears, and blue herons roaming around so keep your eyes open.

The park is home to Ainu totem pole carvings to commemorate the relationship with Kushiro, Japan – it’s sister city.

Removing any Anxiety

Truth be told, I absolutely hate parallel parking and not being able to see those pesky blind spots. Although I have a spotless driving record with zero accidents, I always have this fear of taking too long to parallel park or just doing a terrible job. I’m sure you can relate. During the week, the sensors and rear camera helped me to swoop into any spot with ease.

Getting Together over Food

I love hanging out with others over food. We have to eat at least 3 times a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so what better way to enjoy those moments than with friends and family.

I planned my week so I could get out of the house every day and catch up with someone so I am not cooped up at home. It’s good to have a balance of alone time and socialization.

Throughout the week, I’ve been to so many cafes and restaurants because that’s the best way to connect with people. Plus, it’s so delicious. I plugged in my phone and utilized my maps so I can punch in previous locations or new locations to get to my destination the fastest. I love how it tells you how long it will take to get to the location, arrival time, and options for other routes. Very handy to get me where I need to go with the fastest route so I’m not late.

There were a few times where I did end up going to cafes alone, but that didn’t bother me. Something about people watching is eerily therapeutic as I observe them walking by.

Cozy Up to a Classic Movie

There are a lot of good movies out in theatres right now, but we opted to stay in with one of my favourite classics – Beauty and the Beast. We are really just big kids and even though I’ve seen this movie so many times, it never gets dull. Surprisingly, they don’t have this on Netflix Canada but only the live action with Emma Watson. We paired the movie with root beers, chocolate, popcorn and some dried fruit. One of the best ways to enjoy the cold winter weather while staying indoors.

Entertainment in the palm of your hands

I am on my phone constantly and its always at arms length. Apple Car Play makes it very convenient to keep my settings on my phone and customize my entertainment options in the vehicle like my songs. I secretly like to jam out to classics of Kelly Clarkson and Backstreet Boys when no one else is listening.

If anyone calls or texts me, I get notified hands-free when I’m on the road. It’s more important than ever just in case the doctor calls as I hate missing calls because getting a hold of them again is a pain. This feature is a great way to stay connected will making sure I adhere to traffic laws.

Final Thoughts

I had a great week with the 2019 Ford Escape Titanium to enhance my Hygge experience and we were impressed by the comfort and technology of the SUV. Even simple things like the adjustable lumbar support really helped especially when I’m less than 2 weeks away from my due date.

The first week of mat leave was relaxing and just what I needed to de-stress and have time to myself before Baby E arrives.

Let us know in the comments below what little things you do to live the Hygge lifestyle during these cold dark months?

Website:
https://www.ford.ca

This blog post was sponsored by Ford Canada but all opinions are all my own.

Earlier this month we were invited by Healthy Family Expo to join them on the “Cheese and Chocolate Fondue tour” tour at Cypress Mountain. Four hours in the tranquil forest at night and a belly fully of cheese and chocolate later, I was left thinking life is pretty sweet in BC.

The Nordic Area at Cypress Mountain offers a selection of guided snowshoe tours that are all unique from each other. Rather than differing by intensity level, as you might expect from a sport, they vary by what activity you might want to do at the midpoint destination such as visit some bears, listen to some live music in a cozy lodge or fondue. While I say “sport”, snowshoeing can by done by anyone who enjoys walks. Modern snowshoes are nothing like the feet rackets I had pictured in my mind. Walking around in them feels just like normal walking.

About an hour after sunset, just over a dozen of us gathered in a little cabin to put on our head lamps before heading out with our friendly and extremely seasoned guide Paul. He took us through winding paths within the trees and taught us more than just a thing or two about staying safe in the wilderness, fun facts about the forest and told stories of his adventures. There are some surprise activities along the road to the 90-year old Hollyburn Lodge too that I won’t spoil.

At the lodge we were stuffed with hot apple cider and both cheese and chocolate fondue. I learned a new term that night. “Cheese leather”, that delicious crunchy pancake of cheese that forms at the bottom of the fondue pot. Is that a real term? I don’t know, but mmm cheese.

The meal starts off with a big plate of salad served family style. Part of the fun of the tour is getting to sit at a big table with a bunch of people, be it stranger or friends, and bonding over a meal after doing a fun activity together. It’s the kind of warmth that scenes in Christmas puzzles are made of.

The cheese fondue dinner comes with meatballs, potatoes, roasted veggies and bread. Well deserved after the trek so don’t be shy with that cheese!

I’m told the cheese is made from a blend of Gruyere and secrets.

To finish it off, chocolate fondue is served with fresh fruit and of course ingredients for smores.

What to wear

Head: I recommend bringing a toque since you’ll be wearing a head lamp. Keep that hair cute and forehead free of a weird impression.

Top: Waterproof jacket for sure. Warmth wise, it is only a little bit colder on the mountain and plus you’ll be moving so whatever you would wear in the city on a winter night should be fine. If in doubt, layer up and have a zip-up layers so you can unzip if it gets too hot.

Bottoms: Waterproof pants that you are comfortable walking in.

It’s boot-ception!

Shoes: Waterproof hiking shoes or boots are ideal. I wore lace up leather boots and was given a special boot that I could wear over to make sure no water got in. Sounds like a strange idea but it was really no problem.

Other: Mittens are helpful!

The 6th annual Healthy Family Expo comes to town on March 24th.  There will be tons of activities for kids and samples and tastings of lots of different healthy foods. Children under 16 get in for free!

The 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In is a sleek hybrid vehicle that gives customers more options to save on gas consumption while relying on electric power. Personally, I’ve been looking for a good hybrid or electric vehicle in the near future, so test driving this vehicle was very exciting. With the EV rebate for some Canadian provinces, it makes the price points more appealing. As a Honda owner myself, I have a Civic and has been very reliable so far.

There are 3 power trains available for the Honda Clarity – hybrid plug-in, EV and Fuel Cell. All great options, but it really depends on your driving habits and weekly routes.  The hybrid plug-in gets about 75 kms before it runs out of battery and switches over t0 gas. You’ll need a dedicated place to charge your vehicle whether it be at home, work or some other location.

Exterior

At first glance, the exterior is very sleek, modern and edgy for a sedan. The lines and shape of the curves are nice.

It is a mid-sized 4 door sedan with beautifully designed headlights.

Interior

The drivers and passenger side is very nice with the design on the dash and materials used.

When driving around in electric mode, it’s very silent and you don’t hear too much noise from the outside.

The back seats have a good amount of head space as well as leg room

Tech

The 8 inch screen comes with my favourite features of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and rear view camera when backing up. There are also lots of safety features to give you a better view around the car as well as keeping your family safe.

Drive

When the vehicle is using electric power, it is so quiet and and accelerates with good force. Very good first impressions.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it’s a pretty solid vehicle that won’t disappoint. It is comfortable and  has a great range when driving along highways.

Website: https://www.honda.ca/clarity/

The Dumpling Trail is still on-going with new restaurants that have been added this year, this collection of 20 restaurants serves up some delicious dumplings. You can go to one restaurant or up to as many as you want depending on what your stomach can handle. Richmond, BC is home to over 800 restaurants, most famous for having North America’s best Chinese cuisine, but exceptional Asian cooking is just the tip of Richmond’s culinary iceberg. These restaurants offer everything from burgers to banh mi and fine dining to family fare.

Did you know, The Dumpling Trail is listed among CNN Travel’s list of 12 of the world’s most enticing food and drink trails?

Today, we embark on hitting up 5 restaurants to try different types of dumplings from Xiao Long Bao to Bánh Bột Lọc. We would have loved to go to more, but there is only so much stomach space we have.

Parklane Chinese Restaurant:

Dumplings: Har Gow, Chiu Chow Fun Gor, Sui Mai, Wu Gok, Ham Sui Gok

Parklane Chinese Restaurant was our first stop for Dim Sum, a Cantonese style meal of steamed dumplings prepared in small, almost bite-sized portions. These dishes can be pan-fried, deep-fried, and baked as well, which are designed to be eaten communally and washed down with tea. You will normally have dim sum in the mornings or even into the early afternoon.

With any Dim Sum restaurant in Richmond, I would highly recommend reservations ahead of time as it can get very busy.

Har Gow (Steamed Shrimp Dumpling)

Chiu Chow Fun Gor (Steamed Pork & Raddish Dumpling with Peanut)

 Siu Mai (Steamed Pork and Shrimp Dumpling)

Wu Gok (Deep Fried Taro Root Dumpling)

Ham Sui Gok (Deep Fried Minced Pork Dumplings)

Tsim Chai Noodles

Dumplings: Wonton

Tsim Chai Noodles is located in Richmond and serves Cantonese cuisine, but specifically specializes in wonton noodle in soup. These wontons are filled with ground pork and shrimp, or a mix of ingredients.

No reservations needed, but if there is a line up, the turnover is quite quick.

 Pigs Knuckle and Wonton

Sui Kau in Soup with No Noodle

Fresh Prawn Wontons in Soup with No Noodle

Fresh Prawn Wontons in Soup with Noodle

R&H Chinese Food

Dumplings: Xiao Long Bao, Wontons, Guo Tie

R&H Chinese Food is a unique food stall inside the Lansdowne Food Court. This casual quick stop features a diverse selection of dumplings from crispy to chewy to all types of textures.

You can watch them make the dumplings by hand as you wait for your order and see them made by scratch.

Guo Tie (Grilled Pork Dumplings with Chives)

Xiao Long Bao (Soup-filled pork dumplings)

 Wontons in Chili Sauce

Bánh Mì Très Bon

Dumplings: Bánh Bột Lọc

A unique addition this year to The Dumpling Trail is Bánh Mì Très Bon with their Vietnamese dumplings.

You’ll want to avoid the busy rush as the space is small and they don’t take reservations.

Bánh Bột Lọc are thin tapioca-skinned dumplings with sweet chili fish sauce and must be eaten fresh. These dumplings are filled with shrimp and pork belly, they’re the perfect appetizer to any meal.

Pepper Lunch

Dumplings: Gyoza

Pepper Lunch is an international Japanese chain specializing in Japanese-inspired beef, chicken, fish and pork on sizzling plates.

There are over 350 locations worldwide. What’s great about Pepper Lunch being in Canada is that we have high quality beef, chicken and fish available. Pepper Lunch Canada uses Certified Angus Beef and BC Steelhead Salmon.

Gyozas are on the menu and pan-fried on their hot sizzling grill.We ordered 12 pieces and it comes with 6 chicken gyozas and 6 beef.

Final Thoughts

What I love about self-guided tours is that you can go about your own pace and order whatever you want. Richmond is home to some of the best dumplings in North America, so get started by doing some research by exploring the restaurants that are taking part in The Dumpling Trail. Some restaurants are cash only and some may require reservations during peak hours.

Website:
https://www.visitrichmondbc.com/food-and-drink/dumpling-trail/

Sandpiper Resort is home to their Sandpiper golf course, Rowena’s Inn on the River and the Clubhouse Restaurant. It’s a great place to get away from the city and disconnect. There are views of Harrison River and the mountains surrounding the area. Popular for weddings too as it has a rustic vibe and if you luck out with the weather, pictures are going to be amazing.

Sand Piper Golf Course

Their award winning golf course has 18 holes and they have weekly specials if you are looking for some good deals throughout the week. You can essentially spend all day out there on the green.

Rowena’s Inn on the River

Rowena’s Inn on the River is home to 4 luxury cabins that transports you back to the cottage. The space is very restful and relaxing and has a unique charm to it.

You are surrounded by nature. You, your family or friends can really disconnect from your busy lives and slow down a bit. Each cottage is named after the Pretty Family– Fenn, Nelson, Phyllis, and Carol Anne’s, which are the original owners.

We stayed in the Carol Anne Cottage and this room has garden views and a huge king-sized bed with clean and durable linens.

The windows surrounding the cabin give in a lot of natural light in additional to the lighting inside.

Depending on the time of year, you you might be able to turn the fireplace on. As we went during a fire-ban due to the wild forest fires, we were not permitted to use the fireplace. Unfortunate, but if you come during Winter and Spring, it won’t be an issue at all.The fireplace really makes this place shine and feel extra cozy. There isn’t a TV in the space, but the really forces you to talk to each other and spend more quality time together.

The cabins feature heated-slatted floors, deep-soaker jacuzzi tubs for two, glassed-in showers and woodburning handcrafted river rock fireplaces.

A relaxing time inside and outside of this cottage.

Dinner at Clubhouse Restaurant

There is one restaurant on the property – The Clubhouse which serves up West Coast fare using local ingredients. They are open 364 days a year, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

There is plenty of seating inside and outside on their patio.

Drinks

On the menu, they have alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. I went with the ginger beer and my friend had the Sandi Piper cocktail, which has vodka, ginger ale, cranberry and a hint of lime.

Wings

You can get a pound of wings in hot, whiskey bbq, honey garlic, mango habanero, or salt and pepper. We went with the salt and pepper as it’s classic. It comes with some veggies and dip on the side.

Baja Salmon Salad

The baja salmon salad comes in 2 sizes – half or full size. We went with the full sized version for dinner. It has a seared cajun Harrison Select Sockeye Salmon fillet, mixed greens, house spicy dressing, tomato, spanish onion, red peppers, tomato, cucumber, jalapeños, and fresh tortilla chips. It was an interesting salad, but we felt the dressing was a bit heavy handed.

Salmon Wellington

One of the popular items on the menu is the salmon wellington. It has wild Sockeye Salmon wrapped in puff pastry and paired with spinach artichoke farce lemon dill cream, and seasonal vegetables. Very delicious.

Complimentary Breakfast

For every guest’s stay, you get vouchers for complimentary breakfast, which is a nice touch before you check out for the day.

We came early in the morning and it comes with a beverage and one dish. We started off with some hot tea to get our appetites going.

Bagel and Lox

There is smoked salmon lox, cream cheese, pickled onion, and a toasted sesame bagel. A fun item to eat any way you want. Either on its own or you can stick all the lox into the bagel.

Eggs Benedict

You can get your egg benny with either traditional back bacon or veggie with tomato and spinach. I went with the traditional back bacon and it has two poached eggs on a toasted english muffin, hollandaise, and hash browns. I asked for the egg to be poached soft and they did a good job making sure when I cut into it, that all that delicious egg yolk oozed out.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a quick stay at Rowena’s Inn on the River at Sandpiper Resort. We enjoyed the nice scenery and quiet time together as the day went on. Very restful and relaxing.

Address:
14282 Morris Valley Rd, Harrison Mills, BC

Website:
https://rowenasinnontheriver.com/

Abbotsford is located about an hour away from Vancouver and is situated right by the Fraser Valley with the Cascade Mountains, so there are stunning views as far as the eye can see. You get to take in the views of beautiful British Columbia and enjoy the cheaper prices as it’s away from the major city centre. In the past few years, lots of hidden gems have popped up in Abbotsford due to the in-affordability in Vancouver, which caused more families and small businesses to take root in Abbotsford.

We got to spend a few days exploring small businesses that are transforming the landscape of Abbotsford.

How to get to Abbotsford

There are many modes of transportation to get in and around Abbotsford. As we are from another subburb in Metro Vancouver, we opted to drive as it was more convenient from point A to B.

There are alternative options like taxis and buses too.

Where to stay: Brookside Inn

Abbotsford is home to a handful of hotels, but a unique experience is something you may be interested in. Brookside Inn is a boutique hotel, which is known for their hospitality, creativity, and comfort. They have several themed rooms based off famous movies like – Thomas Crown Affair, Midnight in Paris, and Secret Garden to name a few. In 2018, they were voted #1 romantic hotel in Canada by Trip Advisor.

They are located 5 minutes from Abbotsford International Airport and is close to most attractions in Abbotsford. You won’t be driving very far.

Owners – Chris and Sandi Buis make sure you have everything you need during your stay and it includes a complimentary breakfast in the morning made by Sandi. We felt like a guest in their home and breakfast was very refreshing to have something made at home. A lot of guests rave about her great cooking.

Historic Downtown Abbotsford

Historic Downtown Abbotsford is home to charming boutiques and eateries. In the past few years, more cafes have popped up offering locals and visitors more variety when dining and shopping. It is pedestrian-friendly and if you are lucky enough, you might see them filming TV shows or movies in this charming neighbourhood.

There is also free 2 hour street parking on most of the blocks.

Polly Fox: Gluten-Free Bakery

The Polly Fox serves up 100% gluten and allergen-free baked goods paired with delicious coffee. They also have savoury treats too if you don’t have a sweet tooth.

The cafe is very cute and quaint, a perfect spot to meet up with a friend and have a good chat. It’s great that the pastries were amazing as well. We had the Apple Fritter, Cashew Bar and Raspberry Rhubarb Crumble Bar with a latte.

Very impressed by the quality and the dedication of the owners and staff to cater to those with varying dietary needs.

Habit Project: Juices and Bowls

Right beside The Polly Fox is The Habit Project for cold-pressed juice, smoothies, bowls, and other treats.  Beside nourishing their customers from the inside out, they are dedicated to promoting a balanced life to improve overall wellness.

A lot of their produce comes from the Fraser Valley, so it can be traced back to the producer. What I found interesting is that they are zero waste, so all their juice pulp is returned to farmers to become compost. Plus, all take out containers are compostable too.

Their fresh pressed-juices fly off the shelves as well as their smoothies and açaí bowls are very filling and delicious. We really enjoyed their bowls.

Dions Table

Dion’s Table focuses on healthy food for those on the go. They believe in what the community eats and the environment in which it is grown and fed, which makes Abbotsford a perfect location as it’s situated close to a lot of local farms producing exceptional produce.

On the menu, they are known for their not so traditional stir-frys, paninis, sandwiches, soups and salads. All the items were fresh and has a great taste. A good option in the area if you want veggies. All in a very comfortable and casual setting.

Taves Family Farms: Pumpkins, Corn, and Baby Goats

A trip to Abbotsford isn’t compete without a trip to a local farm for some fun. At Taves Family Farm, there is a lot to do for the whole family. They have U-Pick apples, a pumpkin patch, hayrides, pony rides, corn maze, and a petting barn to name a few.

Their U-Pick apples have a few varieties, so depending on what your favourites are, check on their website to see which ones are ready for picking. I personally love Honey Crisp and Gala. When its fresh, it’s so damn crisp and sweet.

We picked 5 lbs and then bought another 10lb bag of Honey Crisp. Clearly, we really love apples.

Take a hayride into their sunflower patch as it spans 1/4 acres. This is their newest attraction and you can take a hayride to this area and its just beautiful. A lot of great photo opportunities.

My personal favourite part of Taves Family Farm is the petting barn. The little baby goats are so cute and adorable.

If you want to get a little lost, the corn maze is awesome because it can start playing tricks with your mind as you can’t see the end. I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would. We live to tell the tale of the corn maze as we made it out in one piece.

To treat yourself to something delicious, their apple cider slushies are delicious. A little sweet and tart but good for a treat if you need to cool down.

They also have other fresh produce on the farm. Right now since its approaching Fall, they have a lot of pumpkins.

Campbells Gold Honey Farm and Meadery

Campbell’s Gold Honey Farm and Meadery is another gem in the Fraser Valley. Owners – Mike & Judy Campbell run their operation on their 8 acres of land with their colony of honey bees crafting up delicious honey and mead varieties. Besides having great products, they are advocates for a sustainable ecosystem for bee colonies as well as educating the community through workshops.

Mead is an ancient wine and can be traced back to 7000 BC and was recently popularized by medieval TV shows, movies and games. It is created with honey, water, and other spices to create a signature taste. Melomel on the other hand is mead with fruits or berries.

During the wine tasting, we tried:

  • Merry Mead
  • Ruby Slippers
  • Black Beauty
  • Poet’s Passion
  • Spice is Nice

Each wine had its own unique taste from sweet to dry. It’s definitely a treat and something unique to bring over to friends or family’s house.

Besides honey wine, they have a large selection of honey available in all sizes. Their honey bees collect nectar from sources like lavender, berries, and wildflowers to name a few.

They have natural honeys and creamed honeys that can incorporate different flavours like lemon ginger, pumpkin, orange, etc. A good combination if you want to sweeten your cup of tea or to do some baking.

Brambes Bistro at Tanglebank Gardens

 Tanglebank Gardens is home to a boutique plant nursery as well as Brambes Bistro  which creates a farm-to-table lunch to their customers. A lot of the ingredients that go into their dishes comes right from their garden.

As the growing season creates an abundance of produce, they try their best to savour the ingredients and incorporate them into their lunch specials.

Their iced teas are delicious and refreshing. It was nice to know that the mint leaves are source from their garden just a few feet away.

Their heirloom garden tomato soup uses up the tomatoes that were harvested a short while ago to create this yummy special.

Their lunch options are nutritious and very fresh like The Orchard Salad and The Gardeners Sandwich. It has a lot of flavour and good portion sizes too.

When you’re done eating lunch at Brambles Bistro, you definitely want to have a walk around their property to see their fruits and vegetables growing.

Singletree Winery

Singletree Winery is family operated occupying 12 acres with their VQA whites, reds & blended wines since 2010. Mt Lehman Road is home to a handful of local wineries and producers crafting something special in the Fraser Valley.

In 2014, they opened their tasting room and offering a taste of each variety of wine they produce as it overlooks their vineyard. During the Summer, they get busy for wedding season as they have a good space to host an nice outdoor rustic wedding.

During the wine tasting, they help you discover an array of new wines or match wines as close to your taste preference as much as possible. We did partake in trying their sweeter white wines like 2017 Victory, 2015 Late Harvest Kerner, 2015 Siegerrebe, and 2017 Gruner Veltliner.

Definitely take your time with the tasting to really understand the taste profile, history, and potential pairings with the wine.

What is great about Singletree Winery is their commitment to their customers to have a good time at the winery. You can build your own cheeseboard and eat it out in their picnic area. They have worked with local producers like Mt. Lehman Cheese Co. and Chef Pieter to have some delicious accompaniments that go with their wine.

If you walk along the vineyard, you’ll notice several different grape varieties planted like Siegerrebe, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner and Pinot Noir.

Say hi to the Estelle family while you are visiting. They will soon open their second winery in Naramata in the Okanagan, so watch out for that.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I loved the few days I spent in Abbotsford exploring the sights and sounds of the area as well as visiting local small businesses that are changing the community for the better. There are more options to explore the backyard of BC and taste such great produce as well. If you are in the area, I would highly recommend making a quick stop to visit Abbotsford with family and friends.

Looking for more recommendations?

A big thanks to Tourism Abbotsford for helping us make the most out of our trip. Check out their website to help plan your trip to Abbotsford. There is a plethora of activities to do.

Websitehttp://www.tourismabbotsford.ca/

Castello di Amorosa was highly recommended as one of the must see wineries in Napa Valley. It’s not everyday you see a 13th-century Tuscan castle as the backdrop for a winery. We made the long drive to come visit for the experience. They offer guided and self-guided tours of the castle and finishing off with tastings of their Italian-inspired wines.

This is the sister winery of the Sattui Family, which also operate V. Sattui Winery in Napa Valley, which is also another great winery to visit.

Outside the Castle

You can walk outside of the castle towards their rows and rows of grapes before they get harvested. It’s beautiful to see them on the vines.

Animals

There are a lot of animals around Castello di Amorosa like pigs, chickens, sheep, goats, and other animals. It’s great for visitors with families to check out the space as there is more than just the castle tour and tastings.

Into the Castle

To walk into the castle, you follow a long fight of stairs up towards the drawbridge and go through the doors.

Once you walk through, you can sign up for tours and tastings. You can’t wander about the castle without paying.

General Admission Tasting Experiences

They have guided tours, but we opted for the General Admission Tasting Experiences as they are cheaper.

  • Premium Wine Tasting – $30 per person
    (Premium Tasting of 5 wines)
  • Reserve Wine Tasting – $45 per person
    (Reserve Tasting of 6 wines, including Reserve wines)
  • Wine Club Member – Complimentary Premium Wine Tasting for Club Member and Guest
    (Limit 2 per active membership. Additional discounts apply to higher club levels when member is present.)
  • Child Admission – $20 per minor (ages 5-20)
    (Includes grape juice. Children and Young Adults ages 0 to 20 may enter the Castello only when accompanied by an adult over the age of 21.)

This includes a map of the winery, wine tasting, and access to the upper levels of the Castello, including the Main Tasting Bar and Knight’s Hall.  What you miss out from the guided tours are access to the lower levels of the Castello, including the Torture Chamber, Armory, or The Grand Barrel Room. If you don’t mind that, General Admission is the way to go.

Self-Guided Tour

We climbed up and down the towers of the castle and we were really impressed by the size and the details. No wonder it took them so long to build this space.

We followed the map and wandered throughout the castle and it was great to be at a higher vantage point so we could see the vineyard from above.

This room is The Great Hall and the details are really just stunning. You can’t walk into this area but you can take photos.

Main Tasting Room and Knight Hall

Entry get you a visit to the tasting room. Remember to keep your tickets that you got when you paid, and then present it to the staff to being the wine tasting experience.

With our tickets, we were able to choose 5 different wines to taste on the list.

The staff are very knowledgable and can guide you through a few based off what you normally like.

Of the ones we tried, La Fantasia and it’s a sparkling rose slightly deeper in colour than normal. Sweeter for those who don’t drink a lot usually, but not as sweet like a dessert wine.

The Gewürztraminer was another interesting wine too. It is different from German or Canadian ones that we’ve had before. It is sweeter and more fuller bodied. Probably due to the warmer climate compared to the other countries.

We enjoyed the tasting and learned more about Castello di Amorosa.

Once you’re done the tasting, you can walk around the vast area to buy some bottles of wine or other gifts.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was worth the self-guided tour and tasting. Kids and young adults can still partake in the experience but have grape juice instead of wine during the tasting.

Address:
4045 St Helena Hwy, Calistoga, CA

Website:
https://www.castellodiamorosa.com/

Remai Modern Art Gallery is a newly established museum of modern and contemporary art in Saskatoon. When we were visiting town for a few days, a lot of friends and locals told us we needed to come here to check out the space as well as the Pablo Picasso exhibit.

We got our tickets at the main level and was $12 for general admission.

Four Times Sol LeWitt UpsideDown, Version Point to Point

When you walk in, there are a lot of seating areas and a beautiful installation by Haegue Yang called “Four Times Sol LeWitt UpsideDown, Version Point to Point”. It’s huge and made of Venetian blinds, which is an awesome material to use.

Untitled Curtain 7

This is located on the third floor by Daniel Steegmann Mangrané. It is a curtain made out of aluminum and the shape was quite unique. It looks great, so make sure to walk through it.

Lucky Charms

One of my favourite installations was by Pae White titled “Lucky Charms”. The neon lights are presented in fun shapes and its illuminating the stairwell.

Pablo Picasso

When we were here, Pablo Picasso linocut prints were on display and it gave visitors a glimpse of one of his many passions – bull fighting.

At the age of 70, Picasso began working in the linocut technique, creating posters for bull-fights in Vallauris, France.

Jimmie Durham: At the Center of the Universe

Jimmie Durham has a detailed eye for materials and textures that go into his art pieces. He has an interesting approach to putting pieces together that speak to the complexities of historical narratives and notions of authenticity.

Whether it be an old shirt, pipes, rocks, or a tire, these all the equal weight and he bends them into a way that it gets incorporated into his work.

It’s simple yet complex with a bit of humour in some pieces.

As they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.

Final Thoughts

Those were a few of the exhibits that we saw at Remai Modern Art Gallery in Saskatoon. $12 is not a bad price to pay for entry, but the Art Gallery isn’t as large as I would have expected. It is 11,582-square-metres, so not as big in comparison to the ones in Vancouver and Toronto. On the plus side, there are some good artists and pieces curated as part of their exhibits.

Address:
102 Spadina Crescent E, Saskatoon, SK

Website:
https://remaimodern.org/

We drove around Edmonton, Alberta for 3.5 days in and out of the city to explore sights, sounds and of course eats with the 2018 Buick Enclave Avenir. It’s a little larger than vehicles I normally drive but I always love to get outside of my comfort zone to experience a wide range of vehicle options. It can seat up to 7 people in the car with adjustable seating configuration to have more or less storage in the trunk.

We drove around the city and into Elk Island National Park about 40 minutes away from Edmonton to go find some bison in their natural habitat.

Sleek Interior

I love the interior and it has such a luxurious feel. The leather, the wood, and the chrome accents. As we both got into the car, we were very impressed with the look and feel. This full-sized SUV has it all to make you feel comfortable.

Passenger Seating

The 3rd row of seating is a little bit narrow, so a full sized adult will have trouble sitting in that row. It’s best for people under 5”0 or children.

The 2nd row is very spacious and the arm rest make sitting comfortable. Best for adults to be in the front and second rows.

 

Lots of USB Charging Ports

There are plenty of USB charging portlets in the vehicle, 2 in the back, 2 in the middle and 2 in the front row. Paired with the wifi network in the car, no one will be complaining about keeping connected to the internet or dying phones. It’s pretty awesome.

Whether you’re on a short trip or a longer road trip, you’re all set.

 

Smart Entertainment System

I’m not a fan of the default entertainment system, but with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, plug in your phone and the whole dashboard changes to suits you needs – navigation, calls, texts, Spotify, etc.

Safety and Visibility

I felt very confident that I could get in and out of any parking spot with ease. The front and rear facing cameras, with the 360 camera view made the areas surrounding the vehicle easy to see so you can judge how much distance you have between other cars, people or other objects.

Parallel parking in tight spots usually makes me nervous but I think I actually became a better driver having the cameras around to help me see and judge distance.

With that being said, you can’t say the same about other vehicles on the road. On the last day of our trip, another vehicle in our hotel parking lot decided to scruff up a side of our rear bumper. A sad end to our trip, but we did everything possible to prevent such a situation.

 Final Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed the 2018 Buick Enclave Avenir. It handled well on paved roads and even off road at Elk Island National Park. Being inside the vehicle was very comfortable and looks very stylish. I was so proud to show this off to my friend and introducing her to features that you wouldn’t find common in older vehicles.

If you’re looking for an upgrade for a full-sized SUV that gives you a feeling of luxury, comfort and reliability, definitely take a look into the Buick Enclave. I would highly recommend you check this out with a test drive.

Website:
https://www.buick.ca/enclave-large-luxury-crossover.html

Looking for something fun to do with friends this Summer? Hastings Racecourse is open for horse racing with a great backdrop of the North Shore mountains and the Burrard Inlet. There is more to this place than just betting of horse races and the nice view.

There are special events throughout the Summer, so you can catch some pretty interesting things here like Corgi Races, Paint Nite, and Buffets.

We came here during industry night to check out the space and experience the races since it’s been a long time.

Craft Cocktails

On this particular day, Vancouver’s best bars came together to create exclusive cocktails.

There were a lot of local bartenders serving up tasty cocktails like the Furlong by Granville Room. It has Bacardi 8, lime, grapefruit, simple syrup, ginger beer, pepper and mint.

The Boxcar crafted up a Dill Spritz made with dill-infused cazadores blanco tequila, luxardo bitter blanco, lemon, honey, lem-marrakech bitters, soda and bubbly.

The Diamond, a popular bar in Gastown created The Front Runner. It is made with a mixture of Bombay Gin, Bianco Vermouth, Strawberry bell pepper syrup, lavender bitters and soda.

Mamie Taylors created the Wild Horses cocktail, which is the best name for this event. It is made with buffalo trace bourbon, peach, mint and bitters.

If you’re not into cocktails, they have Good Company Lager, Lonetree Cider and Nude Vodka Sodas. What better way to enjoy the races than with a drink in hand to cool off from the hot sunny weather.

Eats

Depending on the event that you go to, you could have a wonderful buffet full of finger food like us.

Pretty great to have a drink and chow down on snacks as the races played out in front of us.

There are also food trucks around if you want a few different options. Some other places to eat at the racecourse are Jerome’s Silks Buffet, and Furlong’s Eatery.

Final Thoughts

Whether you are new to hourseracing or an expert, Hastings Racecourse makes a fun activity for the Summer. You can dress casual or be glammed up. Sip some drinks and have a few bites with friends and try your hand at betting on horses.

Address:
188 N Renfrew St, Vancouver, BC

Website:
http://www.hastingsracecourse.com/

Every Saturday from May Long Weekend to Thanksgiving at 9am to 3pm, you’ll find the City Market Downtown on 104th bustling with lots of local vendors selling quality produce and goods delivered direct by friendly, local farmers, growers and artisans.

This farmer’s market has been an integral part of Edmonton’s downtown for more than a century.

This market does run for all season, so during the colder months, they can be found indoors at City Hall (Sir Winston Churchill Square) from October 13 to May 11 at 10am to 3pm.

After we landed in Edmonton, we checked into our hotel and made a stop here to stroll around and grab a snack before heading off to our next adventure. What I noticed immediately was the size of this farmers market. It runs for a few blocks and there are so many vendors all in one spot.

There is a small area with food and drink vendors serving up coffee, tacos, green onion pancakes, meat pies, Malaysian food and a few other options. Make sure you bring cash and most vendors only take cash.

There are ATMs as well, but you may incur a fee.

One of the most popular food vendors is Meat Street Pies as they have 11 different pie options.

I went with the Jamaican Patty and it was so delicious. The peppers, herbs and spices mixed with the ground beef was spicy but worked so well. Highly recommended if you want a bite from the market.

A lot of the produce is seasonal and fresh right from the farm. When we were here, the 2 biggest items were BC cherries and asparagus.

A lot of the booth let you sample the items before buying, which is nice.

There were a few beer and spirits booths too, which is a very good balance for this kind of market.

Final Thoughts

This market is pretty darn awesome and I was impressed by the size of it. Definitely rivals some other markets I’ve been to in Western Canada. There are a lot of great vendors with awesome produce, so check it out.

Website:
https://city-market.ca/

When visiting Edmonton, I was very surprised that there were tours like these as I mostly recognized them from Portland. Biking around a table with a bunch of strangers over food and drink for a few hours. Urban Pedal Tours operates from both Calgary and Edmonton and offer different types of tours daily.

They currently offer 3 different tours in Edmonton:

  • Old Strathcona Tour
  • Downtown Tour
  • Early Riser Tour

All of them are 2 hours long except the early riser, which is 2.5 hours. Either way, you get to explore the neighbourhood , exercise, meet new people, and explore new eateries.

Edmonton Early Riser Tour

We all arrived at 9:45am and we began promptly at 10am to begin our tour to 3 different locations for coffee, donuts, and drinks in the Old Strathcona neighbourhood.

The bike fits about 14 people and some seats have pedals and some don’t. People switched on and off certain seats to get a break from pedalling. It’s an easy bike ride and isn’t not very difficult at all because you are all working together to move the bike.

The Holly Roller

The Holy Roller was our first stop on the tour for coffee. As you walk in, the space is so eclectic with so many trinkets on the wall. I spent a lot of time admiring the look of the space.

The seating is very antique and very instagrammable.

The golden antique scale, candy maker and the chalkboard menus add so much to the look of the space.

I put in my order ad watched them create my order with their beautiful espresso machine. They use ACE Coffee Roasters for their beans and its a local Edmonton Coffee Roastery.

My latte came out delicious with a good ratio of espresso and milk.

If you look carefully, they have a lot of comic books and unique coffee table book in their bookshelf.

Ohana Donuterie

Ohana Donuterie makes fresh donuts inspired by Hawaii. The building is a bit hidden but you’ll find them on the east side of the Planet Organic building near the McDonald’s parking lot.

All their donuts are made in-house and made to order. There is even a window into the kitchen to see how its made.

The space is rustic with lots of seats which reminds me of weathered boats of Hawaii.

You can also park your bike inside, which is a nice feature. plus free wifi.

I got an original cinnamon sugar donut with chocolate cream filling. Tt was very similar to malasadas, Portuguese donuts which can be found in Hawaii at the popular Leonard’s bakery.

Have Mercy Southern Table and Bar

The last stop of the tour was at Have Mercy for some drinks on the patio since it was a nice sunny day.

The specialize in all things Southern, so you’ll find a lot of Southern inspired dishes on the menu. We didn’t stop for food on this tour, so we just drank.

I got a caesar a it was still before noon. It has vodka, caesar mix, clamato juice, celery bitters and topped with a lime and pickled asparagus. A good way to end this tour.

Final Thoughts

After the 3 stops and a good amount of biking through Old Strathcona, I had a really good time connecting with the others on this tour as well as checking out a few new places in town.

Remember to bring cash as it is easier to settle up the tab, but most places do take credit cards too.

We were done at around 12:30pm, so I still had lots of time to explore Edmonton.

Address:
#100, 10004 79 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB

Website:
https://www.urbanpedaltours.com/

When deciding to travel to Edmonton, we went with WestJet as it was one of the cheapest options at the time. I don’t get the chance to fly with them that often, but when I do, it’s always a great time. We flew out of Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to Edmonton International Airport (YEG) at 9am from gate B14. The flight was an hour and 15 minutes and was a quick and comfortable flight.

Interior

As we got on the plane, we noticed it was a 3 and 3 seat configuration. The flight wasn’t very full, so there was tons of space for carry on luggage. The overhead bins were large, so it fits all sizes of carry on luggage unlike some other airplanes.

This particular plane did not have an entertainment system built into the seats. There are some reading materials, tray and an outlet. You can tell this is a newer plane on the fleet.

The outlet has lots of inputs, so whether you have a cellphones, tablet or laptop, you can charge it all without worrying about battery life.

WestJet App

For this particular plane, we had to use the WestJet app on our phones to connect to the flight information and access movies and tv shows. It’s pretty useful, but you just need to know ahead of time to download the app as each plane is a bit different. For their movies and shows, they have current and older options. As the flight is so short, you won’t have time to finish a movie.

Complimentary beverages and snacks

The great things about WestJet is that they still provide complementary snacks onboard. They will ask you if you want cookies or pretzels, but you can ask for both. Biscoff is delicious!! They have partnered with McDonalds to offer coffee on all their flights, which is great because their coffee is not bad at all. On the cup, don’t forget to grab the sticker and card if you’re already a regular customer.

Onboard Menu

If you are still hungry, they have a few other options to purchase food onboard.

Final Thoughts

Overall, it was a good flight. Very simple, comfortable and no delays. For me, the biggest decision factor is price for a flight and glad we were ale to fly with them this time. I like how they haven’t cheaped out completely and give you some snacks on the ride.

Website:
https://www.westjet.com/

Regina Rolling Robot Tours was highly recommended to us on our trip to Regina. It’s not like everyday we get to ride in style along Wascana Centre on Segways. I’ve been on similar tours around the world and it’s a great way to see the city. For those with mobility issues, it’s actually a really good option as all you need to do is gently lean forward to move straight ahead.

Historic Sites of Wascana Tour

They currently offer 2 tours that last 1.5 hours that are attractive to both locals and tourists – Nature Conservation Tour and Historic Sites of Wascana Tour. As first time visitors to Regina, Historic Sites of Wascana Tour suited us better to learn more about the history of Saskatchewan’s Provincial Government and it’s home in Regina.

This tour would take us to:

  • Saskatchewan Legislative Building
  • Pine Island
  • Albert Street Memorial Bridge
  • Speaker’s Corner
  • Wascana Bandstand
  • Lakeshore Park Kwakiutl Totem Pole
  • Holodomor Statue

As we were on a private tour with the 2 of from Foodology, Jamine made us feel very comfortable and would make any stops if we were wanting to see something in-particular.

Training

Before we began the tour, Jasmine – the Owner and Tour Guide gave us a crash course on how to operate the Segways. My friend was very nervous at first as it was a completely new experience. Within 10 – 15 minutes, she was able to get a hang of operating it but still wasn’t too comfortable going full speed. Jasmine was very encouraging and help her gain more confidence.

Let’s Go

On the other hand, I just observed the training as this wasn’t my first time on a Segway. I ended up trying the Ninebot, which is more compact than a Segway, but it felt great. Safety is a #1 priority, so using cellphones or cameras while on the devices are prohibited. There are plenty of stops on the tour to grab great photos in and around Wascana Centre.

It was actually really nice to keep the devices away. We just enjoy the natural beauty of Wascana Centre and learned more about Regina’s rich history. Did you know, this entire lake is man made? Neither did we!

We lucked out on the weather when we arrived. Our tour was originally on a day where there were thunderstorms and strong wind, so it was cancelled for safety reasons. Fortunately, we were able to be rebooked for the next day before we headed out of town. It was worth the wait.

Lots of great sights along the way especially by the legislature building and garden.

Wrap Up

As we finished our tour, we were given pouches of bird seeds if we wanted to feed the birds around the area. Overall, it was a really fun tour and I would highly recommend it. Great for beginners and expert level Segway riders.

Website: https://rrrtours.ca/

Looking for more recommendations?

A big thanks to Tourism Regina for helping us make the most out of our trip to Regina. Check out their website to help plan your trip to Regina. There are a plethora of activities to do.

To get from Vancouver to Regina, we chose to fly with Air Canada for their price and timing to make the most out of our days in Saskatchewan. Our flight was at 8:55am on a Friday and it was a full flight.

Boarding

We waited patiently as we boarded the plane at 8:25am. They checked out boarding passes and looked at our ID. As Canadian Citizens, we showed them our drivers license. If you are from another country, a passport is required. Boarding went smoothly and got to our seats.

The Flight

The 2 hour flight was on their Air Canada Express plane, which was a 2-2 configuration for seats. The overhead compartments are smaller than other flights I’ve been on, so getting my carry on to fit was a bit of a challenge and needed some pushing. Alternatively, you can store your carry on under the seat in front of you. Then you can put your personal bag up top.

The leg room had ample space, but then again, I am 5”3. So, I’m a bit on the shorter size.

Meals

We were offered a complementary beverage, so I went with my usual sparkling water with the full can as I get pretty thirsty. I always ask for the full can.

Menu

Entertainment

The entertainment system has some of the latest Cineplex movies, TV shows, games, song and flight information. There are wi-fi options available too.

If you need to charge devices, there is a USB port.

In-Flight

As for timing, the flight arrived and landed on time with minimal turbulence. Everything was as expected.

Final Thoughts

Even though people complain about flying with Air Canada, I’ve never had any issues with them and also the price is very good in comparison.

As we descended upon Regina, our Saskatchewan journey begins for the next 5 days.

I love seeing tasteful graffiti up on public walls, it’s like an outdoor art gallery that captures the fun and joyfulness of a city. When visiting Regina, we wanted to take a look at Cathedral Village for their cute shops and vibrant graffiti that line the alleys of the neighbourhood.

Where is it?

On 13th Avenue between Albert Street and Elphinstone Street are alleyways and buildings covered in a multitude of murals created by local artists. There is tons of free public parking in the area to stop and wander around. Most spots were 2 hours maximum.

How much time to spend here?

We spent about 45 minutes in the area walking up and down both sides of the street as well as going down alleyways.

What Can I See?

Once upon a time Cathedral Village wasn’t a vibrant art community. It was riddled with graffiti from gang rivalry. Of course this didn’t look very appealing on businesses, churches, and even homes. The locals took it upon themselves to curb their behaviour by commissioning artists to craft murals. The murals are lovely and you can see many different types of techniques and artistry.

We wandered up and down the street to find the murals hiding between buildings and in alleys. If you blink, you might just miss one. Keep your eyes open as there are quite a few.

From animals to abstract trees, there is something that will catch your attention.

If you’re looking for an Instagrammable mural, you’ll find it here to pose with.

One of my absolute favourites is this brick wall with individually painted bricks that reveal a big image of a laughing person. Very creative.

Final Thoughts

If you love public art, you’ll enjoy wandering around Cathedral Village in Regina especially with the beautiful Summer weather.

Website: http://www.cathedralvillage.org/