Siwash Lake Guest Ranch

Siwash Lake Guest Ranch - British Columbia

Siwash Lake Guest Ranch in BC, Canada, is truly one of the world's premier luxury dude ranches and guest ranches, surrounded by 80,000 acres of pristine British Columbia wilderness. Wildlife thrives here among our natural grasslands, forests, lakes, and rivers. This remarkable, eco-friendly setting provides a refreshing oasis of wilderness solitude, filled with enriching moments for adventurous people who seek the finer things in life.

At Siwash Lake, come riding on a beautiful horse and explore the best of British Columbia’s open range on your own or with a personal riding guide. Our very special riding program ensures that horseback riding vacations at this dude ranch are extraordinary. They are highly sought after holidays that feature guided riding to your heart’s desire, for first-time beginners through to advanced riders, with the option of riding on your own as well. And besides horse riding, we offer world-class fly-fishing, guided eco adventures, other nature based wilderness activities and much, much more

Along with riding, cast for trout on sparkling waters, hike a canyon to nearby waterfalls, mountain bike the backcountry or paddle a canoe across shimmering Siwash Lake. Try our sustainable living workshop or a wilderness survival class, land stewardship project or wildlife tracking… Guests are immersed in the wilds, with nature all around. Our dude ranch offers the discerning family or couple a spectacular wilderness experience.

And later, indulge in fine cuisine and complete comfort at this unique guest ranch — savour ranch grown, organic food that rivals fine city dining and then sleep amidst the softest linens. Siwash is family operated and features a boutique wilderness lodge, akin to country estates of the “Old West”, and within its honey-hued log walls, you'll enjoy a soul-pleasing blend of the rustic and the refined.

Siwash Lake offers the best in dude ranch vacations tailored to individual needs — a guest ranch adventure with the luxury of outstanding personal service, attention to detail, and the most unique riding program in Canada — we're an authentic BC working ranch for all-inclusive horseback riding vacations and eco-adventure escapes.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

On the 1st of June, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises will be launching their NEW 2010 Europe & the Med and 2010/11 Worldwide Cruise brochures. Packed full of fantastic destinations and new itineraries, including cruises onboard Independence of the Seas which will be sailing from Southampton all year round from 2010.

Salmon Fishing in New Brunswick

New Brunswick has some of the best salmon waters on earth

The rivers of the province number among the top salmon fishing grounds in the world. The best salmon rivers in New Brunswick are, in statistical order, the Southwest Miramichi, the St. John, the Restigouche, the Northwest Miramichi and the Tobique. Specimens weighing in at 30-40 pounds can be caught with a fly-fishing rod. This is not guaranteed, but still not unheard. In the 50 salmon rivers in the province fishing is only permitted when accompanied by a local guide. Salmon fishing is therefore, as it is all over the world, an expensive activity.

As well as salmon, Artic char also appear in most waters. The landlocked Atlantic salmon in the southernmost part of the province (2 - 3 pounds in weight) and trout in the lakes (between 3 + 10 pounds in weight) are also highly prized as well as the perch and pickerels which are native to the south west.

In addition to salmon and trout fishing, saltwater fish are the most popular in New Brunswick. Especially in the Baie de Charleur, lucky anglers reel in magnificent giant tuna weighing in at some 1000 pounds every year.

Whistler Bike Park

"At Whistler Blackcomb we’re lucky enough to have six months for mountain biking season. As all trails are covered in snow, the anticipation builds when we can finally clear the trails and get the Bike Park open,” says Brian Finestone, Whistler Mountain Bike Park Manager. “The mud gates are about to open this Saturday and people are worked up into a frenzy with opening day anticipation. We’ve got lots of trails ready to go and are expecting a great start to what will no doubt be another fantastic season.”

The Bike Park is open daily from 10am-5pm until June 19 and then from 10am-8pm starting June 20 through the summer. Weekday access is via the Whistler Village Gondola with the Fitzsimmons Chairlift opening on weekends.

The Garbanzo Zone is scheduled to open June 27 in time for Whistler Blackcomb’s core summer operations. Riders can look forward to new trail sections on Blue Velvet and Freight Train, as well as the completely redeveloped No Joke trail in the Garbanzo Zone. The Bike Park also features redesigned Slopestyle, Giant Slalom and Dual Slalom courses.

First-timers can test drive the Whistler Mountain Bike Park with the Sampler ticket, which provides three lift rides. If the sampling turns into a full-blown addiction, riders can upgrade to a full day ticket with options to receive discounts on riding in the Bike Park for the rest of the season.

Full suspension bikes, helmets and body armour are available at Garbanzo Rentals in the Whistler Gondola building. Meanwhile, the Garbanzo Bike and Bean in Carleton Lodge offers rental and repair services, and features a retail section filled with top-end mountain bikes, clothing and equipment.

For those looking for some inspiration, the epic and adrenaline-fueled mountain bike movie, Redbull Rampage: The Evolution, premieres at the Garibaldi Lift Co. (GLC) Friday, May 15 at 9pm. The eye candy continues at the GLC on Saturday, May 16 with the premiere of the Goldstein Productions movie, On The Line starting at 9pm. The GLC is open daily throughout the summer at the base of the Bike Park, and is the perfect spot to enjoy a sunny post-Park patio session or an evening of live music, DJs and good times.

Whistler Mountain Bike Park, May 16-October 12, 2009