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The Fairmont Palliser Calgary

Canada, ROAM By March 25, 2014 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , No Comments

Fairmont PalliserWhen you have the opportunity to travel with just one child, magic things can happen. As a huge fan of Canadian history, I chose to stay at the Fairmont Palliser on a recent mom-son trip to Calgary.

Entering its 100th year, the Palliser is an icon – how I wish the figures framed on the walls could share their secrets!

We arrived during the holiday season and my son’s eyes bugged out at the stunning lobby displays. Then he saw the hand-painted cows used to fundraise for Ronald MacDonald House Charities, which UrbanMommies supports wholeheartedly. Moo-ing (of course) ensued and he was desperate to bid on a cow in the silent auction.

Fairmont Palliser CalgaryOpening the door to the room he exclaimed, “Now THIS is a good hotel room!” He then proceeded to jump on the bed and approved of the bounce. As a Fairmont President’s Club member, complimentary sneakers and workout gear in my size are automatically delivered to the room. One less thing to pack and worry about. Oh – and internet is complimentary as well.

Palliser 1The highlight of the whole experience was the gold floor lounge. At the top of the hotel, it mixed tradition with new cuisine and comfort. The hors d’oeuvres in the evening were not only kid-friendly, but delicious and healthy. My son was able to mix his favourite concoction of juices (in a wine glass) and grinned at the stunning view as snow fell in the heart of the city.

My favourite memory was teaching him how to play cribbage on an antique brass and wood board. After an successful outing to the Glenbow Museum directly across the street (they had exhibits on rocks and gems as well as military uniforms from all era which thrilled both of us!) we came back to the hotel and my son made a beeline for the cribbage board. We will forever be joined in cribbage and I will smile and think of that night every time I think of the Palliser.

Disclosure: UrbanMommies was not compensated for this review though we received a lovely welcome basket in our room. As always, our opinions are our own.

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The People and the Snow at Big White Resort

Canada, ROAM By February 21, 2014 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments

Big White ResortToday Kelsey Serwa took Silver at the Sochi Olympics in ski snowcross, and I am willing to bet the Bullwheel at Big White Resort is packed already. Kelsey’s grandfather was a founder of Big White Ski Resort, and I can’t imagine a better hill to breed an Olympian.

Apres Ski Big WhiteLast month I visited the resort with Kimberly Clayton-Blaine to film a ski show for TheGoToMom.TV. Though I had been to the hill before, I feel as if it became part of my soul during this trip. I can’t quite pinpoint why. So many reasons, but more than anything, it was the people. Kind, helpful, happy residents and employees who love life and adore their hill took my breath away every day. There was an aura of gratefulness for being gifted with the snow and the facilities that was felt by all – especially the visitors.

It didn’t hurt that there were blue skies, incredible apres ski and kickass coffee in the Village Centre Mall (VCM) every morning. After darting through the trees caked in snow, the kids and I would warm ourselves in the open fire pits at the new outdoor venue called ‘The Woods’ as a DJ played. Telus fed us all hot chocolate and gave us funky glasses as the sun shone on world ski day. The new kids’ gear and candy shop in the village was a daily hit – and we even got a new ski suit for our picky son. In Happy Valley, a quick gondola ride away, both boys scaled the ice tower using ice climbing equipment while they were tethered to a rope. The younger son was a few months off from being the youngest person to ever scale the tower and ring the bell at the top. (My mother saw a photo on facebook and thought I had let them scamper up on their own. I assured her that Big White is incredibly responsible and safe.) Early on our final morning, the boys borrowed hockey sticks and a puck and hit the Happy Valley ice rink. I stayed by the fire taking photographs with tears in my eyes at the beauty of this magical Canadian experience.

Kids at Big WhiteCarnival nights happen twice per week, where kids can play games and do fun musical activities in the VCM. It felt as if the entire staff of the resort is involved somehow, and they live to get smiles from the children. The Loose Moose made an appearance when we were there and the children squealed. He’s just as recognizable to them as Mickey Mouse!

Al Reid The BullwheelMany a lunch, dinner and apres ski were spent at The Bullwheel. Al Reid is one of the most personable managers I have ever met. Plus he serves Nova Scotia donairs making The Bullwheel the only place outside of Halifax that makes them correctly. (Believe me – I’m a conoisseur.)  During our visit, Al and other fun-loving gentlemen had flooded an area at the top of the mountain and staged a hockey game on Hockey Day in Canada in order for skaters at Big White to play the ‘Highest Hockey Game in Canada’. Lovely, crazy and wonderful.

Whether it was the (cute) guy on the snowmobile who took the kids and I home after a wrong turn, the babysitter who made an everlasting impression on the boys, John Mooney, owner of a few great Big White restaurants who drove the kids and I home when their legs were too tired to walk, or Jim Lloyd, Director of Sales whose elegant care and attention left us wonting for nothing – it’s the people. No wonder Kelsey Serwa grew into a powerful athlete with the stamina to medal at the Olympics. She has incredible support in her Big White community. And wicked champagne powder.

Disclosure: UrbanMommies was hosted at Big White Resort for three nights. As always, all opinions are our own and are only biased based on of love of skiing and delight with the resort.

Want other BC Ski Resort roundups? Here you go!

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Kid-Friendly Ski Resorts in BC

Canada, ROAM By January 15, 2014 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Kid friendly Ski Resorts in BCPicking the perfect ski resort for families in British Columbia is tough – because there are so many incredible options! I am a pretty avid skier and haul the kids everywhere in order to truly test the slopes and activities. Over the past year we have traveled the province to learn about the kid-friendly ski resorts in BC. I think you’ll love the options!

Big White Resort

Near Kelowna, Big White has more powder stashes that I’ve ever seen.  A fab place for intermediate skiiers and boarders, there are wide glades and fast lifts. The Village Centre Mall -“VCM” to locals – is the main lodge which houses equipment rentals, Beano’s awesome coffee, ticket sales and the ski school. Everywhere you look throughout the resort there are family activities, play spaces off runs and instructors gently guiding kids. Last year, Big White introduced the Flaik system to track every child in the moment via GPS. One staff member in the ski school watches the lighted map that indicates if any child it too far away from their instructor. That’s peace of mind for parents!! During the holidays kids can visit with Santa, in March there’s a festival to ‘Cruze the Blues’, encouraging visitors to check out intermediate runs over the entire hill and receive prizes. In my experience the music and vibe was addictive and Big White felt like a true community for young and old.

Kids Pizza Making BullwheelThe food on the mountain is exquisite. From the famous breakfast egg benedict at the Sante Grille to a higher-end gourmet and wine experience at Six Degrees, Okanagan wines and an internationally inspired menu may have you thinking you are on a continent other than North America. For lunch we loved the kid-friendly, healthy selections at the Globe Cafe and Tapas Bar all lovingly prepared by owner Jude Brunt. In the evening and for apres you should check out The Bullwheel. Chef Christopher Thomas has worked with Cirque Du Soleil and his talents can be tasted in every course. (He doesn’t do trapeze though). The pizza making for kids activity was a huge hit with the little ones.

Ice Climbing Tower Big WhiteThe only one in British Columbia, the ice climbing tower is not to be missed. At a height of 60 feet, it is made with four telephone poles doused in water. Crampons on your boots and clipped into a bulay system, the experience is completely safe (but still got my blood rushing and having me feel like a Bond girl). In the evening, family activities abound in the Moose Lounge in Happy Valley Lodge at the bottom of a short gondola ride. A bonfire melts marshmallows as you sip hot chocolate by the outdoor skating rink and inside there are games, music and Kettle Valley Steakhouse restaurant which you must not miss.

Stonebridge Executive LodgeWebsite: www.bigwhite.com
Stay: Stonebridge Executive Lodge
Eat: Six Degrees, Kettle Valley Steakhouse
Apres: The Bullwheel
Climb: The Ice Tower
Relax: Beyond Wrapture Spa

Sun Peaks Resort

Sun Peaks Resort ViewsThirty minutes north of Kamloops, Sun Peaks Resort is modelled on an Austrian village and you can ski right through the centre to hit the Rocky Mountain chocolate factory, the Delta for apres or Oya for sushi. Made up of three distinct mountains, you can actually follow the sun to ski in a 360 circle throughout the day. The umbrella cafe at the base of Mt. Morrisey is a fun place to warm up, and at the top of Sunburst chair stands a restaurant – you can smell the fresh cinnamon buns baking from miles around. Kids at any age are fed like royalty at Masas, where they even offer mashed vegetables for really little ones. Older toque-wearing family members may want to hang at Bottoms and hit The Club at the Delta on the weekends.

winter-festival-of-wine-Sun-PeaksThe typical ‘interior’ snow is light and fluffy, and romance abound as you pass through a covered bridge and take a horse-drawn sleigh ride around the resort.  The terrain is very well-balanced and yet there are green runs off each main lift. Morriseys pub and Masas have great patios for the many days when the sun is shining.

Website: www.sunpeaksresort.com
Stay: The Delta
Eat: Mountain High Pizza
Apres: Masas
Do: Winter Festival of Wine
Relax: Sun Peaks Spa

Whistler Blackcomb

Whistler Blackcomb ViewsWith the look of the alps and a bar scene to rival Aspen, Whistler is a well-established, exciting mountain. The Peak 2 Peak gondola joins the two mountains giving you even more ways to structure your day. I have been to the hill with and without kids and I honestly can’t say which I prefer. When kids and dogs are in tow, the apres at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler is incredible. The hotel offers sleds so the kids can toboggan on the hill behind the hotel while adult rest their feet while having a fancy cocktail on the heated outdoor patio. The Four Seasons treats their mini guests to inexpensive gourmet treats and during special occasions will organize activities like magicians and fire dancers. The ski schools at both Blackcomb and Whitsler have the Flaik system so you can track your child’s route at the end of the day. On each hill there is a kids’ snow place – the tree fort or the castle – which delight the little ones.  Between full days on the slopes, swimming at the hotels and a few inevitable snowball fights.. my kids always sleep very well at Whistler.

Without kids, Whistler becomes a different beast. Bouncers at the door may have you on the guest list for Dub-Step night at Maxx Fish and you will have to make a tough decision at the Bearfoot Bistro about whether to sabre champagne or don warm coats in the icy cold vodka room. Fresh tracks can be had if you book a breakfast at the top of the mountain if you’re able to skip the clubs and get to bed early.

Olympic Rings on Whistler MountainBiathalon at Whistler Olympic ParkWebsite: www.whistlerblackcomb.com
Stay: Four Seasons Resort
Eat: Barefoot Bistro
Apres: Garibaldi Lift Company (Whistler) / Merlins (Blackcomb)
Do: Try your hand at Cross Country skiing and biathalon at Whistler Olympic Park
Relax: Scandanave Spa
Nightlife: Buffalo Bills

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Windsor Arms Hotel Toronto

Canada, ROAM By July 15, 2013 Tags: , , , , 2 Comments

I’m a sucker for older, stunning architecture. So as a student at the University of Toronto I would frequent Theatrebooks on St. Thomas St. and gaze longingly at Yorkville’s Windsor Arms Hotel. Later in life I would hang at the bar, hoping to gain nuggets of advice for career and stock market speculation. It’s that kind of place. But the artists, thinkers and socialites can’t be excluded. Not in a second. (The bar features original works by Charles Pachter).

This month I stayed at the hotel for the first time, and though they knew nothing of UrbanMommies Travel or my intention to do a story, they upgraded me. They said they just liked my name. Every room in the hotel includes a musical instrument – harp, guitar… and they have never had a noise complaint due to the music. On opening the door to the room I heard classical music playing on wired-in speakers throughout. It was so peaceful it made me need to have a bath.  Comfortable beds? I had to ask the housekeeping staff where they source their pillows.

There is a trendy tea room by the gorgeous Living Room Bar and I was so excited to see a rack adorned with vintage hats.  Patrons may ‘rent’ a hat for $10 and the proceeds go towards Dress for Success.  Brilliant.

A pet friendly space (under 35lbs), this will be one of the most opulent, elegant and luxurious stays you will ever have.  And you may learn a thing or two about music.  Because you’re not going to want to leave your room, even for the great Bloor St. shopping nearby.

The Windsor Arms Hotel

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Cheesecake 101

Canada, ROAM By May 18, 2013 Tags: , , , , No Comments

Head to Campbell River for the fishing, but you might catch more fish with these mini cheesecakes thank you would with worms.. (or at least make yourself and kids very happy). The handmade treats from Cheesecake 101 are about 3 cms across, and decorated beautifully. If you’re doing a picnic or a selection of bite-sized desserts, head straight here and don’t pass go.

Cheesecake 101 Gourmet Outlet
Address: 660 Isl Hwy., Campbell River BC, V9W 2C3
www.myappyplace.ca

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A Mommy Break at the Four Seasons Toronto

Canada, ROAM By January 30, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , No Comments

It’s so new, not even the cabbies now where this new sleek beast is located.  Once we found it, I simply bailed from the cab and walked.  Yorkville used to be my ‘hood’ and I missed the vibe.  I must admit that I was a bit intimidated in entering the lobby.  Where to go?  What are these ‘men in black’ doing?  Wow how I needed a mommy break at the Four Seasons Toronto.  But who doesn’t, really?

Checking-in made me feel like Kate Middleton.  The MontBlanc signing blotters didn’t hurt.  And the gentleman who excused my cellphone call and had my key waiting was so lovely.  He would never utter the room number for safety reasons and escorted me to the elevator showing me the # and indicating that I would be on the Xth floor.  #GoodJob

When a girl is in need of some TLC, rooms such as these cause a mixture of heart palpatations and weepiness. The bathtub was round and large.  I ran the water immediately and imagined myself looking out the window from the water.  The nespresso was next (though it took a while to finish my degree in engineering and figure it out).  Free wireless.  (Thank you.)  And the softest sheets and pillows you could ever imagine.  Sleeping on a cloud?  This is it.

My only complaint was trying to figure out a way to enjoy the room enough for one night.  Sleep?  Bathe?  Chill?  Wired-in music?  TV in the bathroom mirror?  You know… Stay for more than one.  And though I didn’t have kids in tow this time around, there are very few chains who treat children as well.  We have a few ideas for things to do with kids in Toronto.  And we also know a few great nanny services.. in case you just want to experience the softness of the sheets in silence. ; )

www.fourseasons.com

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A Canadian Adventure with the Chevrolet Trax

Canada, ROAM By January 22, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , No Comments

Few parents can afford a luxury vehicle.  But ‘luxury’ means just that.  Extra bells and whistles.  Budget-friendly vehicles can also offer plenty of what families require.  Moms and Dads want to give their kids the best possible advantages: space for gear, groceries and backpacks.  Safety.  Comfort and great fuel economy.  Chevrolet is always thinking of parents and the Trax is one of the best new vehicles for budget-conscious families out there right now.  Build on the chassey of the Cruz with an extended wheel base, General Motors was able to keep costs to a bare minimum with this crossover.  I had the good fortunte to get a huge shot of national pride when I went on a Canadian adventure with the Chevrolet Trax in Ottawa and Montebello.

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A Snowy Ski Vacation With the BMW X3

auto, Canada, GEAR, ROAM By January 22, 2013 Tags: , , , , , , No Comments

Picking up and dropping off media vehicles with kids in tow is always an adventure.  Especially at the incredibly spotless and organized Brian Jessel BMW.  Thank goodness the staff are wonderful – and so are the snacks at the café..  Thankfully the kids also quieted down completely once I initiated the ‘tracking device’ in the BMW X3 (aka. navigation).  They felt like spies.  And the backup cameras tell you when you are close to an obstacle in the front or back, which kept them watching the dashboard throughout the drive.

My first test for the X3 was to Big White Resort for a media familiarization trip.  Despite not having snow tires on the icy Coquihalla highway, we hugged the road.  The AWD and XDrive gave us so much piece of mind!  Reaching Kelowna and heading up the steep hill to Big White, the outdoor temperature was frigid.  Seat warmers, amazing defogging technology and a bit of Gamgam-style seat-dancing kept us happy and warm.

The next day I met our guide and ran (skiied) right into a sign outside the main building.  It was an ad for an X3 on a ski vacation!  Can I ever pick my stories, huh?  Unlike the photo, I didn’t test it on the ski runs both for fear of getting in trouble from our Big White hosts, but I also didn’t want the vehicle to take all of my fresh powder.

In the city, the X3 handled equally as beautifully and the kids became quite addicted to driving in the spacious back seats.  From their perspective?  The tray tables.  The cup holders.  The huge sunroof, low windows that allow them to see out and of course the ‘tracking device’ make it a favourite.  Giving back our ‘borrowed car’ made them quite grumpy (until the Jedi sword fight in the dealership parking lot broke out and then I was more concerned for the vehicles than the kids).

What I liked:

1.  E-mails, calendar entries, tasks and SMS messages will appear wirelessly on the Control Display so you can pretend you are in ‘your office’ when you’re doing something fun like, well, heading out on a ski vacation..
2. BMW xDrive is able to recognize difficult road surfaces through sensors in the chassis and reacts within a fraction of a second.
3.  Plug in a USB cable to the audio system and you can even see cover art from your albums projected on the screen.
4. Bluetooth Sync with phone address book and stream audio from your smartphone
5.  The circular dial for switching radio, navigation and media is easy to use and safe, as it’s where your hand naturally reaches.
5.  The extra long sunroof thrilled the whole family
6.  Rear and forward sensors provided so much safety while parking (you never have to do a ‘Kramer’, bumping cars on either end).
7.  Sleek extrerior lines make you feel like a rock star.
8.  Great visibility
9.  Lane Departure Warning helps you avoid dangerous situations.
10.  And most important: Storage.  Even 1.5 litre water bottles and ANY sized coffee cup.  We know moms don’t go for the tiny ones…

The only ‘drawback’ for me to this vehicle would be a huge plus for most.  The eco mode turned the car off at stop lights to save fuel.  It was so quiet I kept thinking the car had turned off and wanted to re-start the engine.  The pickup when you press the gas took a while to get used to.  You can turn it off, though, so it really is a mut point.  On the Control Display you can read how ECO PRO Mode is actively lowering energy consumption and following the tips can enable you to achieve a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 20 %. Cool.

In all?  Along with my new Ride snowboard gear, perfect lipgloss and twin-tipped skis, the BMW X3 is the only other equipment I’ll need for my next ski vacation.

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With TravelKiddy, Globetrotting’s A Breeze!

Canada, ROAM By November 13, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , No Comments

“Over the River and through the woods

Well, you know the rest, don’t you?  Gone are the days of congenial drives in the family car to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. Did those days ever really exist?  Today, our little singer would rather don a pair of earphones and spend time staring at a screen (computer, gaming system, DVD player etc.) than participate in a family sing-a-long in the car.  But, if like us and you feel that allowing your child to completely disconnect from the rest of the family is just plain unacceptable, there is a solution.  TravelKiddy, a company that specializes in keeping your kids entertained on long car, plane or train rides without the need of an electronic screen is just a mouse click away.

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camping with kids

Tips for Camping with Kids and Babies

Canada, ROAM By July 31, 2012 4 Comments

Pre-kids, you used to hoist a bunch of stuff onto your back, portage a canoe and enjoy a romantic long weekend in the woods.  Suddenly, there were three of you.  Or four.  Do camping and kids mix? Absolutely and we’ve got tips for camping with kids and babies so you don’t have to throw away your old life when you have children – you just have to adapt.  By integrating the things you love into your parenting approach, your kids will learn from your excitement, and you will be a happier person.

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