Living in Vancouver: Tips for Staying Active This Winter

A month of planning your cross border moving can leave you worn out. But they say that along with a little rest, you should add a little exercise. Vancouver offers infinite options for physical activity. Try these three tips for staying active this season.

1. Try the Kitsilano Adventuring Moms Meet-up group. Meetup.com is a site where you can find other people who enjoy the things you enjoy. People meet about pets, politics, religion, cooking, crafts, and so much more. This adventuring group of moms will keep you active in the winter months. There are often activities for both you and the kids to participate in.

2. Sign up for classes at Inner Space Yoga in Gastown. This all-inclusive stop for physical health won’t disappoint. It is a beautiful space, meant to slow you down and relax you. It is a “boutique” studio with smaller classes and a more intimate, authentic experience. They offer Hatha, Anvsara, Vinyasa, and Yin yoga, but they have more than yoga. Experience meditation, Pilates, massage, infrared saunas and more.

3. Try Cypress Mountain for cross-country skiing. You can rent your skis here and try this cardio workout. Their Nordic Trails are groomed and track-set. They are good for both the Classic and Skate technique. Take a friend and enjoy the snowy views.

4. Head to Grouse Mountain for some outdoor ice-skating on an old-fashioned, 8,000 square ft. pond. The ticket includes a gondola ride, access to many peak activities such as sleigh rides. You can get a nice warm cup of hot cocoa at the nearby Peak Chalet.

After cross border moving to Vancouver, you may need to get out of the house and get some exercise. Maybe a meet-up group, a yoga class, or a day of cross country skiing will do the trick.
(Photo attributed to Flickr member @ronsombilongallery via the creative common license)

Living in Vancouver: 3 Tips for Ice Skating This Winter

Living in Vancouver has many benefits, one of which is easy access to ice skating. After cross border moving to Canada, you may want to take up the activity like a local. Here are three great places to start.

GE Ice Plaza at Robeson Square
This is a unique, sunken outdoor and open-air ice rink, which was reopened in 2009. After ten years of being closed, it is now refreshed and reopened with a slightly larger ice area. Admission is free through Games-time, and skate rental is $3. Open daily from 9 am to 9 pm.

Grouse Mountain’s Ice Skating Pond
This is an 8,000 square-foot outdoor rink at the peak of Grouse Mountain, a popular skiing resort. It’s the only old-fashioned skating pond in the city. A ticket includes a gondola ride, access to many peak activities such as sleigh rides. It’s near the Peak Chalet where you can warm up with a hot chocolate. Be sure to check the mountain weather report before you head up. Open daily from 9 am to 10 pm.

Trout Lake Rink
This rink at the Trout Lake Community Centre was renovated for the Olympics, and is now state-of-the-art. Its aerodynamic design is conservation friendly, and serves as an example to other rinks on conserving water and energy. There is a beautiful arched wood ceiling that was made from salvaged Stanley Park windfall.

The City of Vancouver also runs seven other rinks located throughout the city. Confirm holiday hours before you go.

Cross border moving is all work, so get out a play a little on one of these world-class skating rinks.
Photo provided by Flickr user @dnigh under the creative common license.

Moving to Canada: Life in Vancouver

Cross border moving can be exciting, especially when moving to the city of Vancouver, BC. Known for its mild climate and close proximity to the ocean, mountains, rivers and lakes, it is not only beautiful, but perfect for someone interested in outdoors recreation. It is only a 30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver to the ski resorts, mountain biking areas, and white water rafting. There are 3,200 acres of parks in the Vancouver area, so you can always find a green space away from the busy city life. Walk the 6-mile seawall at Stanley Park for magnificent views of the ocean and mountains.

Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of he most livable cities in the world. The reasons for this are many. The city is clean, and the downtown has high-rise living with access to shopping and entertainment, reducing urban sprawl. Cost of living can be high in Vancouver, as can real estate.

Vancouver is called a “city of neighborhoods,” each one having its own character. It is easy to find that perfect neighborhood for your needs. Consider Yaletown, a newly renovated area for the urban dweller. It is full of art galleries, trendy shopping, and “high-concept” restaurants. Life in Yaletown would be in a New York-style loft, with an active nightlife. Among the 2.37 million residents, there is a large Chinese community, one of the largest in North America. Downtown Chinatown is interesting with its historic buildings, and exotic wares.

Vancouver is a center for film and television production, sometimes called North Hollywood. The Vancouver international Film Festival runs for two weeks each September is one of the larger film festivals in North America.

Living in Vancouver, you might find yourself at Granville Island. This is the location of a hip and quite large Public Market, where you’ll find all kinds of shopping and eateries. Or you might make your way to shopping and dining on Robson Street, a location of over 200 shops and cafés. Also check out Kitsilano and Pacific Centre for shopping and dining.

Vancouver has a lot to offer to someone considering cross border moving. It is a place you could easily call home.

Photo provided by Flickr user @watsuandok under the creative common license.