Funcouver: Everything You Wanted to Know About Visiting Vancouver

We've gotten several new Twitter followers this week (Yay!), and we asked one of them how he found us. He said he was searching for things to do in Vancouver and found the BikeHike site. Well, this got us thinking...

There are a lot of people nowadays looking for information about Vancouver because of the upcoming Winter Olympics. As all travellers know, the best way to find out more about a place is to ask a local. BikeHike is based in Vancouver so we know the place pretty well. Here are some links and info that we think you might find useful if you're thinking about a trip to Vancouver:

Food
If you're searching for a good restaurant, try the Dine Here website. It has a great search option and loads of reviews.

Some of our favourite restaurants:
Bon's Off Broadway - breakfast
Provence Marinaside - brunch
Burgoo - lunch / dinner
Japadog - streetside vendor
The Foundation - vegetarian
The Balkan House - meatatarian
Vij's Rangoli - Indian dinner
Les Faux Bourgeois - French bistro dinner

Music / Concerts
The Georgia Straight (a free indie paper in Vancouver) has a fab listing of concerts around the area. Here's a link to the free concert events happening during the Olympics: http://www.straight.com/vancouver/winter-olympics-calendar-events

For concert listings year-round, check out: http://www.straight.com/timeout/search/music

Night Scene
Club Zone is probably the premier website for club listings in Vancouver.

Some recommendations for the following clubbing categories:
Pub with Live Music: Ceili's, Blarney Stone
The Tried and Tested Clubs: Caprice, Ginger Sixty Two
Hit or Miss (depends on the night and your preferences): Pop Opera, The Cellar
Gay / Lesbian: Celebrities (except on straight nights - phone ahead)

In general, if you're looking to go clubbing in Vancouver head to Granville Street. If you go before 10pm, you can usually ask the bouncers to let you check out the place before paying the entrance fee. Almost all clubs in Vancouver require a valid drivers license for entry - they scan it and keep it in the database in case something happens and the police need to know who was in the club that night. Always bring at least two pieces of valid identification.

Events
If you're visiting Vancouver during the Winter Olympics, this is a great site for free event listings: http://www.citycaucus.com/2010free

Our resident Vancouver blogger is Miss 604 is also a good source for general Vancouver-based events and news.

Other Popular Things To Do

1. Visit the Vancouver Aquarium - one of the best aquariums in the world; highly educational, fun and interactive
2. Science World (officially: the Telus World of Science) - fun for the family with lots of brain puzzles and interesting factoids about your body and the world around you
3. Biking / walking along the sea wall - you'll have lots of company since this is something just about all Vancouverites have done at least once in their lifetime
4. Visit Stanley Park - it's a beautiful park with views of the ocean and the city; you might even see a seal!
5. Shopping along 4th Avenue or Robson Street - you'll find the regular chain stores on Robson; 4th Avenue is where all the local designers set up shop
6. Visit Granville Island - there will be lots of events happening on Granville Island during the Olympics, but it's a great place all year round to enjoy a stroll, eat some freshly baked bread, and have a beer after the theatre with friends
7. Go hiking - one of the most popular activities amongst Vancouverites
   

Quirky

1. Visit the Vancouver Flea Market. The entrance fee is $0.75 and promises an afternoon of "treasure-hunting"
2. Look for local Vancouverite eccentrics like the Duck Lady around downtown. I haven't seen her in a while, but she is usually found with her duck (real) and a basket of fortunes. She used to charge $2 per fortune (don't know if that has changed).
3. Wander through Chinatown looking for the cheapest umbrella. Chinatown is filled with small "dollar store" type shops with lots of interesting finds. Chinatown also has Hong Kong style diners that serve an unusual Asian version of British afternoon tea that is more of a full meal than an afternoon snack.
   

Happy Travels! :)

Anny Chih

Photo Credits:
Japadog http://www.schemamag.ca/archive2/2008/03/japa_dog_perkily_perfect_hotdo.html
Vancouver Club Scene http://vancouverclubsandbars.com/
Vancouver Flea Market http://www.bearspage.info/h/tra/ca/bc/va.html

Typical Breakfasts Around the World

One of the things I look forward to the most when travelling is sampling the local cuisine. I am a foodie, can talk about food for days on end, and wish I could have Anthony Bourdain's job at times (except when asked to dine on a beating snake's heart or a certain nasty part of a warthog). Trying new foods is part of the travel experience and at times can take me out of my comfort zone, but at other times it makes me wish I could eat spicy noodle soup for breakfast every morning. Yummy!

Here are some typical breakfasts around the world:

Ireland - Not a breakfast to consume everyday unless you want to see your cholesterol go up drastically. Traditionally, the Full Irish breakfast consists of bacon, sausage, fried eggs, white pudding, black pudding, potatoes, and fried tomato. Some might also include mushrooms, baked beans and soda bread.

Turkey - One of my favourites. The standard breakfast includes bread, butter, jam, honey, olives, tomatoes, cucumber, salty cheese, yogurt, hard boiled egss, strong coffee and fruit juice.

Thailand - Many varieties of spicy noodle soup. So good....

Costa Rica - The ubiquitous rice and beans (gallo pinto), eggs, bread, fresh fruit, and coffee. And sometimes those suspect cocktail sausages.

Morocco - Fresh baked bread, and more bread and more bread with jam and honey. Mint tea with copious amounts of sugar.

Russia - A mix of eggs, hot cereals, sausages, cheese, blinis, rye bread, butter and jam.

Brazil - Breakfast is generally simple with bread and jam, sometimes served with cheese and ham, and fresh fruit. Baguettes, brioches, cheese buns, sweet and salted biscuits, yogurt, and cereal may also be eaten in the morning.

Switzerland - Typically includes bread, butter, marmalade, honey, maybe some cheese or cereals, plus milk, cold or hot chocolate, tea or coffee. The hot chocolate was always my favourite.

Belgium I respect any place that uses Nutella as a staple for breakfast. Yum. They also snack on bread, coldcuts and cheeses.

Hawaii - Not on every menu, but you can order Loco Moco, a traditional hawaiian dish, at several places. There are many variations, but the basics are white rice topped with a hamburger patty and a fried egg and then doused in brown gravy. I wasn't brave enough to try this.

I'm going to go eat now. This blog has made me hungry. I'm going to cook up a savory omelette and have breakfast for dinner!

Until next time,
BikeHike

Eating Right During Your Next Adventure

Whether your starting out on a walk, run, or mountain bike ride, it's important to make sure the body is fueled. You know the feeling when your body is not prepared; heavy legs, fading mental focus, and slow reflexes. A nice enjoyable walk, run, or ride quickly turns into an exhausting experience. Here are just a few tips to make sure your body is properly fueled and ready to keep up with whatever adventure you have planned.

The Two Essential Elements

To avoid from crashing, your body needs two things, water, and a generous amount of glycogen. For those of us who do not pay much attention to nutrition, Glycogen (blood sugar) is used by the body to satisfy its energy needs. 

The Pre-Game Meal

It is important to prepare the body for your adventure. Approximately 2 to 3 hours before you head out, make sure to fill up on food items containing low protein, and low to medium indexed carbs. Again for those of us who aren't Nutritionists, low to medium indexed carbs are foods with carbohydrates that are absorbed slowly by the body. The higher the index, the faster carbs are absorbed into the body and converted to energy. Here are a few ideal food items to consume before your adventure.

• Cereal with milk
  
• Pasta
  
• Most fruits and vegetables
  
• Whole wheat products 
  

Fuel on the Go

Your body uses up a lot of energy during your adventure so its important to keep topped up. The body needs energy quickly therefore high indexed carbs are ideal. High indexed carbs are absorbed quickly by the body to provide instant energy. Just in case your not quite sure which items contain high indexed carbs, heres a few items:

• Raisins
  
• White bread
  
• baked potatoes
  
• Sports bars
  

Hydration, Hydration, Hydration

When someone is dehydrated, every movement becomes a chore. The key is to make sure you don't become dehydrated because once you do its hard to catch up. Start out by consuming about a litre of water a few hours before your adventure and consume about 250ml of water every 15 minutes while out on the trail. Consuming water is just not enough to rehydrate the body. While you sweat, salt is also secreted from the body. Bring along some Gatorade or Powerade (any flavor will do) to restore the bodies salt levels. Sports drinks also contain carbs which provide the body with energy for your adventure.

When the body is properly prepared for whatever adventure you have in store, it makes the venture less strenuous and more enjoyable. The next time you are heading out for one of your memorable adventures, make sure to eat the proper foods, your body will love you for it.

Happy Adventures,

BikeHike Adventures