British Columbia Guide and Deals

Healing others has been a part of Neata Auttapong’s life since she was a child growing up in Thailand, where, as Fresh Vancouver noted, she began learning the art of Thai massage at the age of 12. Years of learning holistic practices from the top healers in Thailand eventually led Neata to Vancouver, and since arriving, she’s opened three Sabai Thai Spa locations. Perhaps the spa’s expansion can be chalked up to the waterfall of accolades it’s gained, including praise from The Express show on Shaw TV and from _Coco Magazine_in Japan.

At each location, staff members reach for Éminence Organic Skin Care products during nine types of facials, and they send clients home with organic products from Dannyco and SpaRitual. Sabai’s menus are also packed with 14 types of massages, which clients can enhance with aromatic scents, exfoliating body wraps, and a refreshing mani-pedi that leaves digits cleaner than Mr. Clean’s morning kids show after the censors get through with it.

During a full day of daycare, canines will enjoy leashed walks throughout the neighbourhood while also getting the opportunity to stretch out their legs on more than 3,000 square feet of play area, including 600 square feet of outside romping space. Give your Chihuahua the social interaction it so sorely lacks, or let the family Schnauzer enjoy surroundings that aren't covered in newsprint wallpaper. The Woof will pick up pooches anywhere in North Vancouver or Burnaby, including office buildings (pick-up and drop-off outside of those areas will cost $5 each way). Purchase up to five Groupons and give your better half five days of tail-wagging tranquility at The Woof.

At Qwik Change Oil and Lube, friendly technicians swiftly tend to the inner workings of vehicle engines with warranty-approved service. Staff members are experts when it comes to vehicle fluids, and they apply their expertise to testing vital coolant levels and selecting the finest vintage of Pennzoil for maintaining peak performance. Each car also receives a complimentary 23-point inspection to ensure that the vehicle is running safely and efficiently and that no raccoon families are living under the hood.

While man has not yet mastered a bird's ability to fly, we can approximate their effortless motion and unrivaled views through the glider airplane. Nestled in the Alberni Valley, the Vancouver Island Soaring Centre leads passengers on elevated journeys across the mountainous natural scenery. The VISC's fleet of PW-6U and PW-5 Smyk gliders are made of composite materials, making them light and ideal for sneaking up on cumulonimbus in the morning while they are still busy gluing on fresh cotton balls. In a Piper Pawnee plane, a pilot certified by Transport Canada leads each flight to a height of 2,000–6,000 feet before releasing the glider into the blue expanse. A separate certified pilot directs the craft from the back seat as the craft is kept aloft by thermal energy. Vancouver Island Soaring Centre can also record each blissful flying experience onto a take-home USB drive.

The rhythm of waves lapping against the shores of Ucluelet's harbour floats into the Surfs Inn Guesthouse as crisp gusts of mountain air envelop visitors in nature’s unspoiled serenity. Amid the hilltop guesthouse’s cozy confines, a crackling fireplace in the shared living room beckons backpackers to gather in front of its flames, swap adventurous tales, and play jacks for traveller's cheques. Nestled in the shadow of an old-growth rainforest’s ancient trees, a trio of private cottages, hand-built using wood from the property, affords guests a tranquil respite paired with convenient WiFi access. Each morning, feet weary from running through the minds of lovesick suitors bask in soothing warmth as they touch down on the cabins’ heated slate floor tiles. The Surfs Inn’s affable staffers can expound upon wave riding during on-site surfing lessons, and a host of nearby attractions—such as whale watching and hiking—grants eyes a chance to drink in the verdant vistas afforded by the West Coast’s lush terrain.

Having celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012, Mayne Island Resort & Beach Homes has maintained a stately presence on little Mayne Island, right across the Strait of Georgia from Vancouver. Originally built as a boarding house, the property retains that old-fashioned feel with original hardwood floors. French doors open onto private balconies overlooking the Belle Chain Islets, Tubo and Lizard Islands, and the United States’ San Juan Archipelago off in the distance. Outside in Bennett Bay, visitors might spot seals, sea lions, and the occasional killer whale.

Days at the resort can be spent exploring the sea on a rented kayak, taking a dip in the indoor pool or whirlpool, or enjoying a massage in the brand new AquaFlora Spa. Birders can take a hike around the island to its explore a natural setting that’s rife with migrating birds, including bald eagles, condors, towees, and the extremely rare binocular-wearing robins that watches humans.