Every January we reflect on the past year and decide we will do better this year we will lose weight, connect more with friends and family and go outside more often to be more adventurous. Every year we start out with the best of intentions; however, along the way, our lives get busy and we fall off the wagon.
This is very true for me so, back in May, I decided to do something about it. I created 30 Day Adventures, a blog about doing something for 30 days in the hopes that it would become a new habit. The first 30 Days would be about seeing and doing things in Vancouver that Id never done before or, if I had, I hadnt done them in years.
It was an amazing experience and I would like to share some of the adventures I went on with WE Vancouver readers. I had such a hard time just choosing the five best so I asked my readers to help me whittle down the favourites.
Perhaps one or more of these will inspire you to get out and experience something new in our beautiful city of Vancouver. Its one of the best places to live in the world for a reason. I know I will certainly be doing some of them again!
What is next though for 30 Day Adventures? I think Im going to tackle some New Years Resolutions. Feel free to suggest a few and who knows maybe Ill be giving your idea a try.
The readers choice adventure goes to Flyzone and the mobile vertical wind tunnel. Flyzone is located near the entrance to the Richmond Night Market and the River Rock Casino Canada Line Station. The experience was exhilarating and adrenaline pumping. A great alternative to skydiving as its only 20 minutes from downtown and a fraction of the cost.
$55 to $100 depending on the package.
#2 Baseball
From June to September you have got to experience the Vancouver Canadians in action. Playing out of the Nat Bailey Stadium its a very short Canada Line trip from downtown. Its exciting to cheer on the home team and watch the home runs update on one of the only remaining manual scoreboards in the entire Minor League Baseball. The sushi races performed by the mascots and the 5th inning dance by the grounds crew keep you entertained from start to finish. Adult and family friendly, this is a must do in the summer of 2013.
$10 to $22.
#3 Wine Tour
When we think of wine tours in BC, we automatically think of the Okanagan and rightly so. But did you know that there are seven wineries located in Langley? I toured three of them and had an amazing day. We started with a visit to Vista DOro for wines and their signature preserves. Then to Neck Of The Woods where they were making sparkling wine Champagne style. We finished off at Township 7 with some wine tasting at a picnic table. Only an hour from downtown make sure you do a bus tour or assign a designated driver!
Free.
If the weather is really bad you can visit the Vancouver Aquarium to see some of the beautiful creatures of the sea. However, if the weather is clear, I say get out and experience the majesty of our aquatic neighbours for yourself with Prince of Whales. Seals, bald eagles, and orcas are abundant off our coast. Why wait until you go on vacation somewhere else to experience them when they are right in our back yard? Gather up friends and family and make a day of it; you cant help but be awestruck by the beauty and grace of nature.
$125 to $275 depending on age.
#5 Helijet
I saved one of my favourite adventures for last flying high above Vancouver in a helicopter. You can choose from 10-, 20- or 30-minute flights. I took the 20-minute tour and flew over the North Shore mountains, through the Lions and over Horseshoe Bay. Flying back into Vancouver we could see the scale of Stanley Park, the dynamic urban residential blend that makes up downtown Vancouver and the busy Port of Vancouver. Its a view of Vancouver you deserve to experience. It is one of the best places to live in the world after all.
$99 to $199 depending on the package. Enter to win a Helijet tour of Vancouver here.
Marc Smith is the Chief Muse at Amuse Consulting and the founder of 30 Day Adventures. A keynote speaker, MC and burgeoning experience writer, everything he does is about building community. 30 Days is about shaking it up and trying something new for 30 days. Whether its eating at food trucks or performing random acts of kindness, his activities are always fun and challenge us to get outside of our everyday humdrum life. Follow his adventures at 30DayAdventures.ca. He is always looking for ideas and suggestions so dont be shy. Be warned though you may just have to go on one of his adventures with him.
