Tag: adventure

  • The Rocky Mountaineer – The Grand Départ

    The Rocky Mountaineer – The Grand Départ

    The day had finally arrived for us to experience the iconic Rocky Mountaineer train. Our entire Western Canada adventure had been planned around the specific dates the train runs from Vancouver in September.

    Originally, we had booked the Journey Through the Clouds route, taking us from Vancouver to Jasper. However, due to the devastating wildfires that caused significant damage to Jasper and the surrounding area, our itinerary was changed to the First Passage to the West, which instead took us from Vancouver to Banff.

    The day before departure, we checked in at the Rocky Mountaineer guest centre desk at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel, where we collected our boarding passes and luggage tags — we were all set. It was an early start the next morning, as the bus picked us up just down the road from our hotel on West Hastings Street at around 7 a.m.

    At the station, we found ourselves among a crowd of equally excited passengers. We grabbed a coffee and listened to the warm welcome address. Then, after the sound of the train whistle and the stirring notes of a bagpiper, it was time to board. As the train slowly pulled away from Vancouver station, the entire Rocky Mountaineer staff lined the platform to wave us off — it was a fabulous and moving sight. I have to admit, I felt quite emotional as we departed Vancouver. This journey on the Rocky Mountaineer was the pinnacle of our Canadian adventure, and the sense of excitement and anticipation was almost overwhelming.

    We had booked seats in SilverLeaf Service, which turned out to be fantastic. Meals were served at our seats in the carriage, which was ideal, as the seats were spacious, with ample legroom, and could recline without impacting the person behind you. The food was excellent and generously portioned. The team of three onboard our carriage were exceptional — friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely attentive. The panoramic views from the large domed windows, which extended into the roof of the carriage, were simply breathtaking.

    Our journey on the first day took us to Kamloops for an overnight stay. We opted for a budget hotel, as the stop was short — we were there for little more than nine hours, just enough time for a shower and a sleep. The train runs only during daylight hours so that you don’t miss a moment of the incredible scenery.

    I can’t recall exactly how many carriages our train had, we were close to the middle,   but it was somewhere in the 20s. With the full crew, including hosts, managers, chefs, maintenance staff, and of course, the drivers, there must have been close to 90 staff onboard. The level of service provided by the Rocky Mountaineer team is truly world-class and easily the best I’ve ever experienced.

    On arrival in Kamloops, coaches took us to our hotel, and as we were already checked in by Rocky Mountaineer, we were handed our room keys and straight off to our room, where our luggage was already waiting in the room. The next morning, we simply left our luggage in the room, and when we arrived in Banff, there they were again- neatly placed outside our door. It is a very slick operation, and I just cannot fault a single part of the experience. The entire Rocky Mountaineer team was wonderful, and the journey itself was everything we had hoped for, and more.

    Tips

    • The Rocky Mountaineer experience was exceptional; you won’t be disappointed- book it.
    • For the short time you will spend at your stopover hotel, go budget. Ours was clean and warm and had all we needed.
    • Check out the various videos on the Rocky Mountaineer website for more info and to get a feel of this wonderful experience.

  • Whale Watching in Victoria: A Bucket List Experience We’ll Never Forget:

    Whale Watching in Victoria- An Experience We’ll Never Forget

    When planning our tour, we had a bucket list, and one of the top items was whale watching, something we had never experienced before. While there was a chance we might spot whales during the BC ferry crossing, we didn’t, and we were determined to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

    We booked a whale watching trip with Orca Spirit Adventures, conveniently located just a five-minute walk from our hotel at Laurel Point. Thankfully, the morning was calm — I’m not sure how well I’d have managed if the sea had been choppy! After a thorough safety briefing from the team, we set off. The journey to the area where whales had been sighted took around 30 minutes, near Race Rocks. This gave us time to enjoy the stunning Vancouver Island coastline along the way.

    Race Rocks is a nature reserve, and we saw masses of seals and sea lions on the main island where the Race Rocks Lighthouse stands. The noise was incredible! One of the crew members told us she’d spent a week conducting marine research there — though how she coped with the constant barking, I’ll never know.

    Several boats were already in the area, sharing updates with each other on whale sightings. And then, we saw them! In the distance, humpback whales appeared. The skipper set the engines to idle, and for a few moments, there was complete silence as we waited, holding our breath. Then came the unmistakable mist of the whales’ blowholes as they exhaled.

    What a moment! We watched as these majestic mammals moved gracefully, almost in slow motion, through the ocean. We followed from a respectful distance, and before long, more whales appeared. A pair of humpbacks even came close to our boat, clearly unbothered by our presence. Occasionally, we were treated to a dramatic tail flick. It was a magical experience, one that will be forever etched in our memories.

    We managed to snap a few photos and videos, but we were grateful that one of the Orca Spirit team had a professional DSLR with a powerful telephoto lens. This meant we could fully immerse ourselves in the moment without worrying about capturing it all ourselves. The team uploaded their photos later that day, making them available to all guests,  a brilliant touch.

    We spent a good amount of time observing the whales, but eventually, it was time to return to Victoria Harbour as the tour drew to a close. It was a truly unforgettable outing with Orca Spirit Adventures, and the next time we find ourselves in Victoria, we’ll definitely be doing it again.

    Tips:

    • Dress accordingly to the weather and remember, it can get cold out on the ocean.
    • It’s great to take photos, but enjoy and savour the moments too.
    • Orca Spirit Adventures really looked after us, and we would certainly book with them again.