Cultus Lake

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Jennifer Miles Cassidy

For most of us living in the lower Mainland, Cultus lake is less than a 90 minute drive away. A reasonably quick trip  East on Hwy 1, through the valley and into the hills near Chilliwack, the Cultus Lake area has a lot to offer those seeking a one-day escape from the city or an entire week of relaxation.  A few of our family’s favourite things to do in the area include, a trip to the fantastic Cultus Lake Waterslides, mini golfing at Giggle Ridge, lunch at Tap-Ins, renting a canoe or paddle boat for an hour or simply enjoying an ice cream at the public beach.

While developments of quaint cabins and luxurious homes sprouting up all over the area, a large section of the lake is home to the extremely popular Cultus Lake Provincial Park, reserved for all to enjoy. If you are up for the day there are a few picnic areas to chose from. Maple Bay features a sandy beach area, pier, ropped off swimming area, bathroom facilities and bbq pits. The area gets very crowded on hot summer weekends, so it’s a wise idea to claim a spot early in the day. Cultus is also boating hot-spot  so expect to see many speed boats towing water skiers and jet skis whizzing around.Visitors to the area can also enjoy one of the parks hiking trails such as the  5 km round trip, Tea Pot Hill hike providing views of Cultus Lake and Columbia Valley.

The campgrounds are very popular and reservations for most weekends fill up early in the year. While reserving does provide peace of mind and your chance to preselect a great spot on the water, there is an additional fee and there are still plenty of first-come first-served spots. Spots become available at 1pm so just make sure to join the line up early so as to avoid disappointment (especially on a Friday).

Our family normally does a weekend camping trip to Cultus each year pretty early in the season. It’s a way for us to unwind from a busy school year and to prepare our selves for the coming Summer. The kids can run amongst the trees, kick a soccer ball around and of course roasting a few marshmallows over an open flame.



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Blackberries: Eating Local

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Jennifer Miles Cassidy

As a kid growing up on the Westcoast I loved picking wild blackberries. The delicious dark purple berries would seem to take over ditches,parks and trails during the latter parts of the summer. Our neighbours had a large bush that would grow over our fence allowing us to pick any that came our way as soon as they were ripe.

Never did we realize that we were doing our bodies an immense favour by indulging. In recent years science has bestowed the title of “Super Food” to blackberries meaning that they have a high amount of antioxidants and particularly polyphenol antioxidants. As a Mother it means a lot to me to know that what my kids are eating is not only nourishing their bodies but also aiding in prevention of diseases, such as cancer.

This week we walked to our local park where blackberry bushes line the forest and picked a container full of blackberries. It’s funny to think that something so simple really means so much to a child. It gives them such a great connection to their food, from where it comes from and the nutritional value to how it’s prepared. My kids  spent most of the time planning what we would do with the berries when we got home. Last time I checked, I believe they are making some sort of crumble.

There are so many places around the lower mainland to find blackberries growing in public places and take advantage of a free Super Food for yourself, your family and your friends.

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Live at Squamish

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Jennifer Miles Cassidy

Matt Good soundcheck @LiveatSquamish #LASFestOne of the highlights of Summer 2010 was the inaugural year of an amazing 2 day outdoor event – Live at Squamish.  The rugged mountains and pristine air held host to several stages where world famous djs and rock bands played into the night. Squamish, B.C. is located approximately half way between the bustle of Vancouver and the slopes of Whistler and is known as the outdoor recreation capital of Canada. This year’s event is gearing up  to be even more awesome with such bands as John Butler Trio and Weezer. I’m personally stoked to catch Bend Sinister, Metric and a local fave Kyprios. Not to mention the delicious food stands and beer garden in which you can enjoy a cold beverage and a view of the main stage.

This year Live at Squamish takes place from on Saturday August 20th and Sunday August 21st.

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Park Play Surrey

Posted on August 13, 2011 by Jennifer Miles Cassidy

surrey parkThis Summer, the city of Surrey is offering a free program called Park Play.  Staff set up for a few hours at parks around the city and provide games, crafts and other fun stuff. Parents or kids can download the schedule and the park play passport  which they can get stamped at the different parks, once they have received 3 stamps they can turn the passport in for a chance to win prizes.

The wrap up party will take place at Holly Park (10706 148th Street) on Friday, August 19th from 11am-2pm and will feature a bouncy castle, hot dogs for the first 500 people, a costume parade and more.

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