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Kid-Friendly Hikes Near Victoria, BC
To find out more about family-friendly hiking and camping near Victoria, BC I interviewed Kari Jones, a mom to one son and the author of the book “Hiking Adventures with Children: Southern Vancouver Island and the Olympic Peninsula†which you can order from Kari’s blog or from Amazon.com. Q: Is there a kid-friendly hike within Victoria’s city limits that you recommend? What do you like about it? There are so many walks within Victoria; it’s hard to choose just one. But if I have to, I’d say Mystic Vale is my favourite. The walk starts at the University of Victoria, which is easily accessible by car or bus, but once…
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Family Camps & Adventures in BC, Oregon & Washington State
If you haven’t yet firmed up your summer vacation getaway, consider a family camp, family-friendly ranch or a family adventure program. Yes, the camps are old-school:  rustic rooms and questionable food. But you know you’ll have fun anyhow, just like you did when you were a kid. If you’d rather enjoy a bunk-free stay, check out the aquarium or geology adventures or a family-friendly ranch summer getaway. British Columbia Family Camps BC Family French Camp. Okanagan, Gwillim Lake and Vancouver Island, BC. Say bon nuit to one another at this Francophone camp where all ages learn to speak and sing in French. Family Adventure Camps at Kumsheen Rafting Resort. Lytton, BC. For…
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Families Travel! Harrison Hot Springs with Kids
As you probably remember from last week, we interviewed Sarah Reese, a Washington mom to 11 natural, adopted and step-children. This week, she tells us what she loves about BC’s Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, located 90 minutes east of Vancouver, BC and three hours Northeast of Seattle. First Nations peoples discovered the springs thousands of years ago; The springs have been soothing tourists since 1886, after one of the region’s first resort communities was established. Tell me about how your family of 11 stays at Harrison Hot Springs? The older part of the hotel has the lowest prices. They also have family suites that have two rooms and…
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Bloom! June family festivals and events
June 1 – June 13. Portland, Oregon. All the best Portland Rose Festival events happen in June: The Starlight Parade is on June 5, Grand Floral Parade is on June 12 and “Circus City†runs with clowny antics from June 9-13. It’s Portland’s kid-friendly party. June 3 through September. Vancouver, BC. Enjoy an aria or an Antony at Bard on the Beach. Older children will particularly appreciate the setting (and seating) in Vancouver’s gorgeous Vanier Park. June 5-6. Nanaimo, BC. The Vancouver Island Baby Fair in Nanaimo offers cool products, performers and photo contests. I would love to see those baby races (I’m betting on any baby sporting teeth and steel-toed…
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East Meets West: Richmond’s Aberdeen Centre
Over the past 100 years, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodian, Filipino and Laotian immigrants settled in Washington, Oregon and BC. Often, families move back and forth over the U.S.-Canadian borders, so there’s a nice multi-generational, multi-cultural intermingling at this point. Cascadia kids grow up eating sushi, pad Thai and dim sum; they attend cultural festivals with roots in Japan, China or Vietnam. This cultural coalescence is obvious in Richmond, BC, where 60% of the city’s population is of Asian descent. You’ll find the Chinese-influnced Aberdeen Centre, the Taiwanese-style President Plaza, the pan-Asian Yaohan Centre (featuring a large Japanese supermarket) and the Hong Kong-style Parker Place. Aberdeen Centre offers many kid-friendly…
