Things To Do

Wild Canyon Adventures, Los Cabos by Jenn Chan

Only 20 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas lies a small, adventure-filled oasis in the middle of the Mexican desert. While the competition must truck their clients an hour each way outside of Cabo, and chooses to never breathe a word of these logistical challenges before their clients sign on, Wild Canyon chooses not to tout their clear locational advantage. That humility and goodwill resonate throughout the grounds. 

 

Their incredibly friendly staff greet you curb side at your resort and your adventure begins. It's a short ride to their 100 acre park along the pristine coastline most of the way and then inland past large, multi-pronged cacti, roadrunners and coyotes.

Wild Canyon Check in Area

Wild Canyon Check in Area

1,082 Ft long Los Cabos Canyon Bridge

1,082 Ft long Los Cabos Canyon Bridge

 

Upon arrival at the Wild Canyon welcome desk you are met with a plethora of adventure options: ATV tours, zip-line adventures, animal sanctuary, bungee jumping, camel rides and a 200 foot tandem swing suspending 400 feet in the air. For a full day fee you can partake in all the activities and save hundreds of dollars!

Suspended Glass-bottom Gondola

Suspended Glass-bottom Gondola

 

The full day's activities start out with a majestic camel ride through a dried out river bed. The journey winds through a sun-parched desert passage atop a mythical beast few get a chance to touch let alone ride. Keen eyes are kept sharply on the look out for roadrunners and wily coyotes. After the ride, a friendly visit with the camels is next. There are pets and kisses and feedings and bonds are made.

Camel Rides

Camel Rides

Camel Ride
Camel Ride

 

Next on the agenda is a walk through the animal sanctuary. First stop is a walk through the lovebird cage where, with a handful of bird seed, you are descended upon by dozens of brightly coloured birds who gently pull the seeds from your palms. From there it is an interaction with almost 100 Iguanas, pregnant mothers and dozens of babies scamper about their habitat. After that a visit with their reptile cousins the crocodile and alligator beacon from an adjacent pool. Best friends, companions and lovers with hybrid crocogator offspring swim peacefully in a still pool. The small foot bridge places you in the center of the action, close enough to make eye contact with the prehistoric beasts.

Love Birds

Love Birds

 

There are ATV tours and then there are Wild Canyon ATV tours. Zig zagging through sand dunes and along hillside paths it is easy to get lost in time. After hauling along several straight aways and meandering through winding, custom made ATV trails you find yourself... At the ocean! Careening along the beautiful, white sand beach and past the crystal blue water you stop on a small cliff for a well deserved water break. After a short while, and with your adrenaline starting to come back to Earth, you jump back on the powerful Honda machines and it's back into a gated-off, custom ATV course. Unlike other Cabo ATV tours Wild Canyon's take place completely on private property ensuring you won't run into 2-3 other large groups as is the case with their competition. This makes the journey safer and more exclusive. The end of the adventure is absolutely breathtaking! You finish the excursion by traversing a 500 foot long, 400 foot high suspension bridge. Don't look down!

ATV Rides in the dessert

ATV Rides in the dessert

Riding ATV on the beach

Riding ATV on the beach

ATV Riding on Terrain

ATV Riding on Terrain

ATV Riding Across Los Cabos Canyon Bridge

ATV Riding Across Los Cabos Canyon Bridge

 

Wild Canyon boasts the best cable-based adventure options in Los Cabos. Justin Beiber can attest to the quality and quantity of the attractions having been one of many celebrity guests! You start with 8 high speed zip lines zooming past vultures circling in anticipation of your high altitude demise. Beer and water stations are scattered throughout the scenic course.

 

Last, but not least, is the jewel of the Wild Canyon experience! After a few cervezas at the famous Lion's Den restaurant to build up your courage you are ushered to a small, open-air gondola which transports you to the large, cable-suspended, glass bottom gondola. There are 2 options from there to further invigorate your spirit: a 200 foot long, tandem swing suspended 400 feet in the air and an intense bungee jump straight towards the white marble valley floor.

Gondola transported us to the suspended Glass-bottom Gondola

Gondola transported us to the suspended Glass-bottom Gondola

Gondola Ride
Free-falling on the Sling Swinger - never been more scared in my life!

Free-falling on the Sling Swinger - never been more scared in my life!

Screaming at the top of my lungs

Screaming at the top of my lungs

The moment before jumping off - Bungee Bomber

The moment before jumping off - Bungee Bomber

Leap of Faith

Leap of Faith

Wild Canyon Bungee Bomber

Wild Canyon Bungee Bomber

Filled with adrenaline after the jump

Filled with adrenaline after the jump

 

Thank you Wild Canyon Adventures for your hospitality and showing us an incredibly fun & thrilling day!

Words By: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Winter in BC 2015/16 - Mt Seymour by Jenn Chan

The sun was shining as we wound our way up the Seymour Mountain Parkway. The snow seemed to double with each switchback up the mountainside and my excitement grew in turn. 

On the way up to Mt Seymour

On the way up to Mt Seymour

Lots of snow

Lots of snow

Sunset at Mt Seymour

Sunset at Mt Seymour

I pulled up to children laughing and a bustle of activity; a small swarm of pre-teens swirled by nipping at the heels of their ski instructor and a group of seniors cheerfully chatting and tucking their skis away into their station wagon after an early day on the mountain.

Beautiful Blue Bird day

Beautiful Blue Bird day

Heading up the Chairlift

Heading up the Chairlift

Sunset on Mt Seymour

Sunset on Mt Seymour

Skiers heading down a run

Skiers heading down a run

Sunset on the Chairlift
Beautiful views of Northshore Mountains

Beautiful views of Northshore Mountains

Boarders heading up the chairlift

Boarders heading up the chairlift

Mount Seymour Sunset
Sunset on Mt Seymour
Mount Seymour
A boarder enjoying the view before heading down

A boarder enjoying the view before heading down

Riding high above the city

Riding high above the city

 

 

Even after the sun went down the enthusiasm amongst the Seymour faithful did not die down noticeably.  To say Seymour is family friendly would be an understatement!  There was ample terrain for the novice through expert riders and enough surprises to make the day fun for the Olympian or armchair quarterback.

Nighttime on Mount Seymour
Nighttime on Mount Seymour

 

Thank you for having us up Mount Seymour! Happy Family Day weekend everyone! 

photos: Jenn Chan Photography
words: Scott Allan


WINTER IN BC 2015/16 - WHISTLER by Jenn Chan

Happy Pride Weekend up at Whistler!  My weekend was filled with fun, adventure, and relaxation - sounds pretty perfect to me! 

Whistler was named the best ski resort on Earth by Ultratravel for 2015 - 2016; Earth. The 30 year old bible of snow sports, Ski Magazine, named it best in North America and it takes all of 10 minutes to see why! With over 110 different runs you would have to go once a day, every day, forever, to learn them all by name. Even the charming Australian Lifties will scratch their head if you ask by name, "what does it look like?" they'll reply. The terrain is so diverse, the snow, especially in the alpine areas, so fluffy and inviting and the energy of the mountain so uplifting you will wish they stayed open past 3 PM so you could soak it in a all day and night. 

Whistler Village

Whistler Village

Blackcomb Mountain

Blackcomb Mountain

Fitzsimmons Chairlift

Fitzsimmons Chairlift

Looking down from the Chairlift towards Whistler Village

Looking down from the Chairlift towards Whistler Village

Lots of Skiers & Snowboarders came out for some fun on the mountains!

Chairlift Lineup at Whistler
Roundhouse Lodge & Peak2Peak at the top of Whistler Mountain

Roundhouse Lodge & Peak2Peak at the top of Whistler Mountain

Statue
Getting ready to hop down the Mountain

Getting ready to hop down the Mountain

 

The Peak 2 Peak is a 4.4 KM long Gondola that connects Whistler & Blackcomb mountain.  It's the longest and highest lift in the world with breathtaking views.  The Peak 2 Peak Gondola isn't only built for the skiers & snowboarders, but also for sightseers in the winter and summer. There is 1 cabin every 49 seconds, and takes about 11 minutes to travel from one mountain to the other.

Peak 2 Peak Station

Peak 2 Peak Station

Gondola through the fog & snow

Gondola through the fog & snow

Snowing heavily on the Peak 2 Peak ride through the valley

Snowing heavily on the Peak 2 Peak ride through the valley

Rendezvous Lodge at the top of Blackcomb Mountain proudly adorning a Pride flag

Rendezvous Lodge at the top of Blackcomb Mountain proudly adorning a Pride flag

White-out at Blackcomb Mountain

White-out at Blackcomb Mountain

A snack hut brings many Whiskey Jacks close, hoping to dive in for a snack.

Whiskey Jack 

Whiskey Jack 

Whiskey Jack Bird Feeding

 

When night falls, the vibe of the village changes, and transforms into a vibrant town filled with party-goers. 

Speaking of night... Even before the accolades for terrain and ski conditions were raining, sorry snowing, down on Whistler it was ranked, and high, in nearly every ski and snowboard publication on Earth for après ski activities. As soon as the sun goes down the music goes up and the sleepy town filled with charming shops gets a little bit Vegas - In a good way! Free community events, this past weekend Whistler's Gay Pride festivities, light up the public squares, bars and pubs glow with light and the action is taken indoors (when it's not also on many pubs' massive, heated, snow-licked patios).

Overlooking the hot tubs & pool at Cascade Lodge, looking towards the Village.  The little light spots at the top of the photo are Mountain Groomers heading up and down the runs.

Overlooking the hot tubs & pool at Cascade Lodge, looking towards the Village.  The little light spots at the top of the photo are Mountain Groomers heading up and down the runs.

Christmas lights are up in Whistler - creating a fewtiv

Christmas lights are up in Whistler - creating a fewtiv

After a night of partying, there's no better way to recuperate than to go up to the famous Scandinave Spa for a day of relaxing in their baths & massages.

Welcome to the Scandinave Spa

Welcome to the Scandinave Spa

Tranquil trail leading to the Scandinave Spa

Tranquil trail leading to the Scandinave Spa

Blending in with Nature

Blending in with Nature

Thanks for having us, Whistler! It was fun to play outside for the weekend for a mini-getaway! Happy Golden Anniversary, Whistler - Here's to another 50 years!

 

words: Scott Allan
photos: Jenn Chan Photography

Sea To Sky Gondola: Winter Edition by Jenn Chan

I'm so happy to finally have the chance to check out the iconic Sea To Sky Gondola! The $22 million Gondola began their operations in May 2014, and has been popular with tourists & locals since! There are 20 gondolas on the line and rises 885m from the base area to the Summit. On the ride up, you can see views of the Northshore Mountains, Shannon Falls, and the Sea to Sky Hwy & Howe Sound below you.

 

Gondola Views

Gondola Views

Heading Up

Heading Up

 

Once you get up to the Summit, there's a Summit Lodge with a large outdoor deck, complete with amazing views of Squamish.

Summit Views

Summit Views

Tantalus Mountain Range

Tantalus Mountain Range

Sky Pilot & Co-Pilot Mountain

Sky Pilot & Co-Pilot Mountain

The 110m long Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge connects the First Nations Spirit Deck to various walking & hiking trails. 

Looking Down from the Suspension Bridge

Looking Down from the Suspension Bridge

Crossing the Suspension Bridge

Crossing the Suspension Bridge

Looking back at the Summit Lodge

Looking back at the Summit Lodge

Taking in the Views

Taking in the Views

 

There are a few walking & hiking trails once you're up there, like the First Nations Spirit Trail and the Panorama Trail. We took the Panorama Trail, which is about 1.6km towards the Stawamus Chief Viewing Platform.

Looking out on the Chief Viewing Platform

Looking out on the Chief Viewing Platform

Stawamus Chief & Squamish City

Stawamus Chief & Squamish City

Stawamus Chief

Stawamus Chief


It was so nice to be able to head out into nature and explore! It was great taking in some breathtaking views & fresh air! Thanks for having us, Sea to Sky Gondola!

Suspension Bridge

Have a great weekend everyone!