2016

5 Fantastic Things You Need to Do in Squamish in the Rain

5 Fantastic Things You Need to Do in Squamish in the Rain
"It's a rainforest!" I said to my well-tanned, L.A. friend. "But it rains so much!", he said again.

My So-Cal friends can't seem to wrap their heads around the idea of rain for a better part of the year - especially the winter months. I'm often asked, mockingly, "You must go crazy having to stay inside all that time. What do you with yourself?! "

Seriously? 

So with my family in tow, we set out for a short 3-day excursion from Vancouver to the " Outdoor Recreation Captial of Canada " to showcase just what we do, rain-or-shine, in beautiful British Columbia.



Vancouver to Squamish: Getting from A to B


We picked up our rental car from Avis , grabbed a couple Starbucks roadies and were on our way. And, if you are like me, you'll fast agree that one of the best parts of getting to Squamish is the drive. To get to Squamish by road, you'll have to navigate the Trans-Canada Highway, otherwise known as the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

To get to Squamish by road, you'll have to navigate the Trans-Canada Highway, otherwise known as the Sea-to-Sky Highway. The stretch of highway from Vancouver to Whistler underwent massive infrastructure improvements a number of years ago in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics, resulting is one of the most breathtaking (and fun) scenic drives, period. I could talk about it at length, but a video does so much more. Below is some footage from a springtime day trip we had earlier this year.

https://youtu.be/RUJ_TGvNpiQ

There's 2 must see pit stops on your way to Squamish


The first is a little coffee shop nestled in at Brittania Beach. Galileo Coffee Company is situated in the "Matheson House" established in 1905, which was once the manager's home of the nearby Britannia Copper Mine. Galileo's not only roasting their own coffee beans but they also have some incredible homemade food options. They cater to the daily morning commuters, and the hours of operation reflect this, so make sure you get there before 3pm on any given day.

https://twitter.com/daimanuel/status/801516606165630976

The second stop is Shannon Falls Provincial Park. Composed of a series of cliffs 2 kilometers south of Squamish along the eastern shore of Howe Sound adjacent to the Sea-to-Sky Highway, this park is a perfect pit stop any time of the year.

https://twitter.com/daimanuel/status/801533590005641216

As soon as you park you'll undoubtedly hear the roar of BC's third highest waterfall. This spectacular falls spreads itself over a series of cliffs standing over 335 meters high. Its beauty is one that needs to be witnessed in person, and whether you make a day of it, or a quick 15 minute stop like we did, it's worth it.

[box type="note" align="" class="" width=""]Shannon Falls Provincial Park provides picnicking, hiking and access to the trail in Stawamus Chief Provincial Park. AND, if you are into ice climbing, take special note, every once in a while these falls freeze over and ice climbers can be seen clamoring their way from base to top and back down again.[/box]

Next stop Squamish! (but how will I know I've arrived?)


Of course, this question is a bit tongue-and-cheek. No matter where you find yourself in Squamish, you can't help but see the 700-meter,  Stawamus Chief towering above. As one of North America's largest granite monoliths, it's Squamish's unique signature.

https://twitter.com/daimanuel/status/802249179196030976

First Stop in Squamish should always be...


...the beautiful Adventure Centre. It's the proud home Squamish Tourism (the Visitor Information Centre), cafe , a 36-seat movie theater, local shop, and the Little Squids play area. We loaded up with maps, brochures, and a handful of tips, tricks, and hacks from the local tour guides, before making our way across the street to load up on a few hotel supplies.

[caption id="attachment_24808" align="aligncenter" width="405"] TIP: Be sure to download the Tourism Squamish app to plan your visit.[/caption]

From  Nester's Grocery store , we were off to our home for the following 3 days, the  Executive Inn Suites. We tend to opt for suites as we love the flexibility a full kitchen provides us, along with in-suite laundry and the added space to accommodate our family of 4 is a nice bonus too. (And after a long day of hiking and exploring Squamish, the heated outdoor pool, and hot tub are great for winding down the day... check out the view from our room below.)

https://twitter.com/daimanuel/status/802187984665575424

Our next 3 days were jammed with a ton of fun-filled activities. To list them all would take 5 articles, so to make things simple, here's the... 

5 Fantastic Things You Need to Do in Squamish in the Rain (or shine)


1. Hike, bike, and climb


Quite literally you could hike, bike, climb, windsurf, paddleboard and golf in the same day. Now that would be a full day, to say the least, but in Squamish anything is possible. It rained incessantly for the first 2 days of our stay in Squamish, but that's the Wet-West Coast and if you aren't ok with that, you're going to spend a lot of time looking at the world pass you by in the Pacific North West, period.

https://youtu.be/8J7ewuSk62Q

Our family was one a mission to experience 3 distinctly Squamish, casual hikes... and we did it! We took in Mamquam River Trails , Alice Lake , and the Chief . All are family friendly, with the exception if you have really small kids, ascending the top of the 3 peaks may not be in the cards. But the river trails and Alice Lake fantastic alternatives no matter the fitness level or age.  TIP: Check out the full list of hiking options here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNQqvnpD3ff/

2. Eat, dine and be merry


Looking for a little reprise from the rain, there's no shortage of unique food offerings in Squamish. Throughout our stay, when not cooking in our room, we visited 3 uniquely Squamish community hang-outs: The Crab Apple Cafe , Howe Sound Brewery Pub, and Restaurant , as well as the  Zephyr Cafe.

The Crab Apple Cafe was off the main drag and is a well-loved restaurant by the locals. If you are looking for a nice place for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, this is a definite must visit. The food was great and equally matched by the top-notch service.

[gallery link="file" size="large" type="slideshow" ids="24815,24814,24816,24817,24818,24813"]

The Howe Sound Brewery Pub and Restaurant are more than just a local watering hole - it's an integral part of the Squamish community. Based on some recent licensing changes the pub area allows for kids to join their parents. We popped by for a quick lunch before going eagle viewing, and fortunately for us, were able to make the 1pm daily tour of the brewery. Definitely, ear mark this one as a MUST see and be sure to try the Pork Porterhouse --- I still dream of that one!

https://twitter.com/daimanuel/status/801890651969232896

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNOHUrTj9Qz/

And lastly, if you find yourself downtown, the Zephyr Cafe is a nice a warm coffee shop with an eclectic flavor uniquely it's own. We loved the espresso and the nice mix of vegan baked goods were fantastic. I have yet to meet a vegan cookie I haven't loved!

https://twitter.com/daimanuel/status/802250237863555073

3. Eagle Vision on!


Bird Watching has never been so fun! Especially when watching birds of prey like the majestic eagle. At one point a number of years ago, Squamish was home to one of the largest Eagle populations in the entire world. No better place to see them than along the Squamish River within the borders of Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park which spans 755 hectares. The best time to view the wintering bald eagles is during the peak season from December to February.

https://twitter.com/daimanuel/status/801940344300412928

Unfortunately, it didn't work for us this time, but if you have time, be sure to book the Eagle Float and get up close and personal with the eagles.

TIP: The main viewing area of the Eagle Run viewing shelter is located on the municipal dyke across from the BC Easter Seals Camp Squamish on Government Road. There, you’ll find an interpretive display and information on our eagle population as well as, the salmon lifecycle.

4. The Airhouse


The Airhouse , located just outside of downtown Squamish, is a "progressive, freestyle training centre offering a wide range of trampoline and conditioning programs for everyone."

We needed a little break from the outdoors, so make our way to the Airhouse to spend a couple hours of all out jumping! It was epic. Just go... seriously, I don't think it is possible to bounce and not smile at the same time. (believe me, we tried and failed and have the videos to prove it)

https://youtu.be/YRHqTjuq5ZU

https://www.facebook.com/CoachDaiManuel/videos/10157935467110454

5. Britannia Mine Museum


https://twitter.com/daimanuel/status/802263870605815809

Our last stop on our last day was Britannia Mine Museum. I like to say we went for our kids based on their love of Minecraft, but truthfully, I think Christie and I had more fun!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNQbDoaBVlg/

As parents who home school (aka 'life school') their children, we visit a lot of museums and historical sites as part of their on-going education. I'm embarrassed to say that this was the first time we ever made our way to Brittania Mine. It's a Canadian gem and is also recognized as an award-winning historical site.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNP8An4h31a/

Between the underground tour, the interactive exhibits and cool equipment, it was a great afternoon of discovery for all of us.  You may recognize the building or some of the scenes from some of the original X-Files TV series.

https://twitter.com/daimanuel/status/802290101229264897

I think we're ready to #MoveToSquamish


https://twitter.com/daimanuel/status/801916590090391552

We couldn't help ourselves. While touring downtown Squamish we saw the signs talking about "The Main" , a new development being built in the heart of downtown. We took an hour out of our trip to tour the display/sales center. Talk about spectacular! We've become so used to Vancouver pricing, so were amazed at the affordability especially since commuting to Vancouver is fast and easy.

The proposition to move to Squamish is a hard one not accept. Between the multi-cultural community, a strong public school system (and 2 universities! ), the diverse arts and culture offerings, and the balance between active living, lifestyle and the passion for sustaining the ecosystem which is uniquely Squamish - it's now on our hit list of places we want to live in the coming years.

We'll see you again soon Squamish!

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Squamish in 113 words...


Seriously? WHY NOT, Squamish?!  Located on the ocean at the tip of the Howe Sound fjord, offers the world’s most epic outdoor adventures from Sea to Sky, all within 10 minutes! In Squamish, you can play on the ocean and explore the mountains all in the same day. The Sea to Sky Gondola opens up easy access to expansive alpine hiking and sightseeing. Located on the doorstep of eight Provincial Parks, Squamish boasts more than 3,500 rock climbing routes and bouldering problems including the famous Stawamus Chief , more than 200 kilometers of world renowned mountain biking single track trails and access to some of the best kiteboarding and windsurfing conditions in North America.

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Dai Manuel - The Moose Is LooseThis is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Jelly Marketing. The opinions and text are all mine.


And to be absolutely clear, this is my disclaimer: “Just so you know, I have been compensated to share my ideas on this topic. Sometimes it is in the form of products, or services or even money… But here’s the thing; I won’t  share anything with you that I don’t fully support. It doesn't matter what it is, or how much they are willing to give me, if I don’t believe in it, It won’t be on my site. Seriously. You’ll just have to trust me on this.”   ~ Coach Moose

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