Ancient Cedars Hike – Whistler, BC

I don’t know about you, but have you ever had one of those days when you all of a sudden you get a burst of energy (this always happens when the sun comes out!) and you think to yourself ‘Man, it would be great to get out for a hike today.” Well, this happened to me last week. Sadly however, after doing some much needed research on where to go for a scenic hike that I was allowed to bring my dog on, I started realizing I probably should’ve left at 6:00a.m. This didn’t help considering it was quickly approaching 1:00p.m. – What? No judgment, I like to sleep in on my days off!

Then it hit me; the Ancient Cedars hike it is.

The beauty about this hike, besides the hundreds and thousand year old trees, the loop itself is only 5km. Lets face it, its the perfect distance for those getting a late start to the day but still want to take in Whistler’s backcountry and get some fresh air. Even better? The access to this hike is a short drive up a bumpy service road, so not much travel time is needed from Whistler Village. There is a way you can extend the hike to last longer, if you choose to walk around the lakes as well.
Just because the hike is 5km, doesn’t mean you won’t work up a sweat. Right off the bat, after you park the car of course, you start a fairly decent climb over the valley. The trail is well maintained and my dog, Hunter, loves bouncing around the trees on the way up. Before you reach the “Ancient Cedars Loop” that takes you around the historic trees and offers sign boards to explain what you’re looking at, there is a very beautiful lookout that you should check out. It over looks the sue valley and out over towards the lakes below and gives a great panorama of a typical British Columbia forest. It’s moments like these that make me fall in love with this province all over again. The “loop” itself offers some up close and person with some very old, and very massive cedar trees. You can climb on them, walk around them and admire just how small you feel on this earth in comparison.

All in all, the Ancient Cedars hike is a great way to start off hiking in the backcountry, as the elevation gain is quite low, and it gives you a good sense of what to expect for more advance hikes. The views are beautiful, and the fact that you can bring your dog makes me (and him) happy!

Cheap Spring Date Ideas in Vancouver

When was the last time you took a day to appreciate a city for all it has to offer sans bill? Truly and honestly, I can’t even walk to work without dropping $5 for a half sweet, earl grey tea latte [damn, Starbucks for making them so tasty]. When I stopped to think about it myself, I couldn’t remember. So I decided to challenge myself by putting useless, often wasted  time on the internet to good use and made a ‘date day’ that I could do that was completely, 100% 98% free – you’ll see what I mean later.  I realize that there are a lot of unique things to do in Vancouver when you have money to drop, but as a working 24-year old living in Whistler, BC I don’t always have the luxury of spending $100+ when I want to have a day on the town. And I’m willing to bet I'm not the only one.

Not as strapped for cash? 

Well, no need to brag about it. But the good thing is, there are several ways you can throw a few bucks into this and make the day that much better, but for me, this day of bliss was exactly that.

Walk Lovers Lane in Stanley Park.

There are so many walking, hiking, running, wandering aimlessly [whatever you want to call it] trails in the Vancouver area, but none compare to those in Stanley Park. So do yourself a favour and take advantage of them on a sunny, spring-like day. We parked at the Tea House, near beach three – this is where the 98% free day comes into play. We did have to pay $5 for parking, but hey, that’s just one day’s worth of morning tea to me! Wander around the sea-wall, enjoy the salty sea spray of the Pacific Ocean and make sure you wander inland to admire the 100+ year old trees. Hold hands, get some exercise, throw a stick for the dog – just be mindful they do have a threatening ‘dogs on leash’ policy – just enjoy nature.

$$$:  Sneak into the Tea House for a mimosa or some mussels to share.  

Garden Hop. 

Spring wouldn’t be complete without a trip to visit some gorgeous gardens – especially if you have my type of green thumb, the one that kills all living plants by being near them. If you did the ‘Lovers Lane’ walk correctly, the signs for Lost Lagoon should have intrigued you to keep walking. Whilst getting lost on your way to the lagoon [they don’t call it that for nothing!] stop and check out the beautiful rose gardens near the golf course.

Or, if you’re like me, make your boyfriend drive around the city to find the best Cherry Blossom lined street in all of Vancouver. Ohmygoooosh is all I can say. This was the first time I had the pleasure of being in the city at spring, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. The smell, the look, the joy… to say these trees are beautiful is an understatement.  We found these beauties on 16^th Street and Granville.

Have a picnic at the beach.

Yes, it’s cheesy, I know. But a picnic is what you make of it. So grab a blanket, pack a lunch, kick off your shoes and enjoy this bit of relaxation. There are many beaches to choose from in Vancouver – English Bay, Third Beach, Second Beach, Jerico, Wreck, the list goes on and on. We chose to go to Kitsilano Beach, because the surrounding neighbourhood also boasts lots of boutique shops if you care to go for some window shopping afterwards!

$$$: Buy lunch and take it to go. There are some fabulous sushi shops just up the street, and the infamous Local Public Eatery.

Visit Art Galleries.

This is a great way to take in some culture and learn, without paying a dime. If you do your research, there are several random exhibits that take place around the city as well that change monthly. Go check them out, and ask each other questions about the pieces, or share your likes and dislikes about a collection – no matter how long you’ve been together, you’re surely to learn something about your partner in an art gallery, just saying. I am a Marilyn Monroe freak, so when I discovered that Andy Warhol was displaying a free exhibit in Yale Town, I had to go. If you haven’t been, check it out. Andy Warhol – A Different Idea of Love. It’s on display until March 30th – located on 1280 Homer Street.

Strangely enough, pictures are encouraged at this exhibit (that’s Andy Warhol for you!) #VanWarhol – but just a heads up, this rule is just that, strange, so leave the camera in the car for this part of the date.