British Columbia Archives

March 5, 2018 by Nancy Mueller Leave a Comment

Take a Luxury Tesla Road Trip in Okanagan, BC

For a Boomer girlfriend getaway, it’s hard to top a luxury Tesla road trip along Route 97 in BC’s beautiful Thompson Okanagan region. Here’s why:

Tesla “Wow” Factor

Every great road trip starts with a fun vehicle. But driving a Tesla kicks that way up a notch with its undeniable “Wow” factor. Just imagine Lucy & Ethel or Thelma & Louise behind the wheel of a luxury electric car like our Tesla Model S P85 sedan all-wheel drive, and you have some idea of our grand adventure. When a neighbor heard of our pending trip, he said, “You do know that the Tesla can go from 0 to 60 in a nanosecond, don’t you?” I didn’t, but not to worry. I knew we’d figure it out. And we did.

After landing at Kelowna Airport, we met up with Ryan, our host from Power Trips, who offered a quick, but thorough, orientation on driving our Tesla before turning over the keys – or rather the key fob for our remote car entry. With its cool feature of door handles that slide out when sensing your approach, Tesla had us hooked from the start.

We were off, not quite in a nanosecond, since we still had to make it out of the parking lot and onto the freeway (in our case an adventure in itself), but soon enough.

And what’s a great road trip without an accompanying playlist? Once we got familiar with the display panel and settled on our eclectic choices (from Bobby Darin to the Beatles, Beach Boys and more – MUCH more), we eased into the sublime comfort of driving our luxury model. It’s a heady feeling knowing you can accelerate instantly at the slightest pedal to the mettle. Then add the fun of causing more than a few head turns while you whizz along the highway.

After watching us park perfectly in downtown Vernon, a passerby backed up a few steps and said: “Mind if I ask how much this car cost?” My girlfriend and I looked at each other, then responded: “Umm. About $150,000.” Was it wrong of us not to mention that was the “new” price or that we were only renting the Tesla for our girlfriend getaway?

At several more stops on our road trip, people asked what it was like to drive one (“Exhilarating!”), how far we could drive without recharging (“426km, almost 265 miles, per charge.”), or in one case, how we had even managed to get our hands on one since his girlfriend had been on the waitlist for the last six months.

Sounds of Silence in a Tesla

If you’re not used to driving an electric car, expect some mental and physical adjustment, like shifting from driving an automatic to a stick-shift. Besides overcoming the twitch to turn the key in the ignition, we also had to get used to the sounds of silence. We marveled at how quiet the model was, so quiet in fact, that even after the engine was on, it was hard to tell if it was actually running. And if we couldn’t hear it, that meant that the people standing in front of our car couldn’t hear it either so we couldn’t assume they would simply move out of the way when we were ready to pull out of our space in the parking lot.

Tesla Charger Stations

Driving a Tesla means no gas stops needed, but you do need charging stations. Ryan had assured us we’d have no problem finding any along Route 97, and he was right. How cool to know that while we were off exploring wineries, golf resorts or even staying at our resort, we could recharge the Tesla for as little or as long as needed. Plus, at many destinations, we discovered that valet service is only to happy to help out, even if the team needs to go to YouTube for advice.

Just know that charging times vary, depending on whether using a Tesla destination charger (up to 8 hours for a full charge) or a Tesla Supercharger (typically 45 – 60 minutes). Our car also came with an adapter, so if we had needed to (We didn’t) we also could have used any electric vehicle charging stations along the route.

Tesla Green Factor

Besides the sheer fun of driving such a cool car, the ultimate payoff of getting behind the wheel of a Tesla is knowing that you’re in a vehicle with top energy efficiency and minimal environmental impact.

Ready for your own Tesla test drive? For more information on how you can play in BC’s Thompson Okanagan region, too, visit:

Power Trips.

Many thanks to our hosts for the chance to take a Tesla tour in Okanagan, BC:

Tourism Vernon.
Tourism Kelowna.
Visit Penticton.
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association.
Destination British Columbia.

Up Next: Roadtripping Attractions in Beautiful Okanagan, BC

How about you, Wanderboomers? Have you driven a Tesla? Share your experience with us here.

September 14, 2012 by Nancy Mueller Leave a Comment

A Treat to Eat at Taylor Shellfish Farms

Start at the scenic seashore of Samish Bay,WA. Place a few sunflower-topped picnic tables and a BBQ nearby. Add a popular oyster shell lighthouse, friendly welcoming party and a hands-on shellfish cooking demonstration. Flavor with a few of your favorite new friends and a stunning sunset.

Presto! You have all the makings for a memorable meal at Taylor Shellfish Farms, thanks to Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism.

Recognized as the largest shellfish company in North America, Taylor Shellfish farms is a fifth generation family-owned operation with headquarters in Shelton, WA. Here in Samish Bay, just south of Bellingham, the local operation sits on 1,700 acres of tideflats where they produce Manila clams, oysters and geoduck (pronounced “gooey” duck).

The Northwest geoduck is a marvel all its own. Native to Washington State and British Columbia, this saltwater clam is the largest burrowing clam in the world. More than a few jokes have been made about the length of its siphon that can extend several feet beyond its shell. Let’s just say that my introduction to the geoduck came from a roommate who had strategically placed one in our otherwise empty dorm refrigerator. Predictably, when I opened the door, I screamed.

First impressions aside, on this evening at Taylor Shellfish Farms, we soon discover that geoduck is one tasty morsel, thanks to the demonstration by our hosts Nicole Hopper and Jon Rowley. After carefully slicing the muscle away from the clam shell, the geoduck is placed in boiling water for about 20 seconds, just long enough to allow us to remove the skin. Afterwards, we slice the siphon into quarter-inch pieces which we then dip in a little soy sauce and wasabi for a raw crunchy snack before our main meal. Mmm . . .

Meanwhile, Nicole has cut up the soft belly of the geoduck, covering it with a lime juice marinade before mixing in 2 cups of tomatoes, 2 onions, 1 cucumber, radishes, 2 cloves of garlic and a jalapeno pepper for the ceviche.

Jon continues the cooking demonstration by showing us how to crack a crab. First, we carefully pull the head off from the back.

Now for the messy part . . . We remove the insides before breaking the crab in two,

then snap off the crab legs one by one. Jon presents each of us with a homemade stainless steel tool for gently cracking open the legs. “Gently” is the key word of advice here which in my haste I failed to follow, inadvertently smashing my crab legs into smithereens. Oops. Easy does it.

Still ahead is a lesson in how to shuck oysters and remove the beard of a mussel. But for now, we’re ready to clean up, pour a glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio and enjoy the evening sunset.

Do you have a favorite memorable meal to share with us, Wanderboomers?

June 15, 2012 by Nancy Mueller 6 Comments

A Mountain Trek Hiking Retreat – Part I

Ever since James Hilton published his best-selling novel, The Lost Horizon, in 1933, the name Shangri-La has evoked images of an earthly paradise. What Wanderboomer wouldn’t love to trade the stress of daily life for a secret hideaway in a pristine, natural environment, a place where inhabitants have raised healthy living to a fine art, and live in a state of perpetual bliss?

Hilton set the stage for his fictitious, mysterious valley high in the Himalayas. But after spending a week at a hiking retreat with Mountain Trek in beautiful British Columbia, I’m convinced that Shangri-La has made its way to the Pacific Northwest.

On a previous visit to the area years ago, I had hopped a flight from Vancouver, BC to the province interior. Trust me, flying into Castelgar, British Columbia is a heady experience. As your plane dips towards the West Kootenay Regional Airport, a spellbinding scene unfolds outside the cabin window. Spectacular, forest-clad mountains embrace your aircraft in one gigantic surround vision for an unforgettable sight.

For this trip, I flew from Seattle into Spokane, where Queen City Shuttle met arriving guests for our 4-hour shuttle ride to the health and fitness hiking resort. The view of the area from the ground was no less breathtaking than the aerial vista of my memory. Our van hugged the winding mountain road as we paralleled the long arm of the Kootenay Lake, before making our way up the final ascent to the Mountain Trek lodge.

Just steps away from a natural hot springs resort, the lodge provides a welcome haven far removed from urban mania.

But could this city slicker Wanderboomer disconnect from the world long enough to discover her inner core and shed a little baggage in the process? I was about to find out . . .

What about you, Wanderboomers? How are you disconnecting from the world as you know it this summer?

April 2, 2012 by Nancy Mueller 8 Comments

5 Fun Ways Seattleites Beat the Rainy Blues

If you have never lived in the Pacific Northwest, you might wonder how Seattleites cope with so much regional rain. We who do live here ask ourselves the same thing, of course, especially by the time January and February roll around. But true Seattleites find a variety of ways to ward off the seasonal blues. Here’s our survival guide:

1) Go climb a wall.

If the seemingly endless gray skies make you feel like climbing the walls, why not do just that? Visit the REI flagship store where you can Climb the Pinnacle for a mere $7.00 (members) or $20.00 (non-members). Just be sure to make a reservation first and prepare to sign a waver of liability.

Or head to Vertical World at one of several locations where you can sign up for a range of classes or packages from “Intro. to Climbing” to “Lead Climbing.” How better to test your strength and resolve before tackling mountain climbing in the Northwest? Of course, if you’d rather simply stop by and climb the walls, you can do that, too.

2) Hop on a ferry.

When you’re ready for a short skip out of town, Washington State Ferries are ready to be of service. With so many routes available, your only challenge lies in choosing where to go. For a quick getaway, you can board a ferry to several nearby destinations: bucolic Vashon Island, the artistic community of Bainbridge Island, the town of Bremerton on the Kitsap Peninsula for a visit to one of the world’s largest U.S. Navy repair yards, or Whidbey Island, for saltwater beaches and hiking trails. For longer visits, the San Juan Islands (Lopez, Shaw, Orcas and San Juan), Alaska and British Columbia beckon.

3) Make a museum date.

One day you feel like viewing the paintings of renown artists, another day exploring your fascination with dinosaurs. One day your mood runs more to rock n’ roll, another day to aviation, natural history or sci-fi. Whatever your inclination or budget, Seattle has a museum for you.

4) Embrace the rain.

That’s right. If you can’t beat the gloomy weather, you might as well get out and enjoy it! Just don a waterproof hat, jacket and pants and you’re all set. You’re not going to let a little drizzle dampen your spirits, are you?

5) Follow the Sun.

When all else fails, Seattleites start planning their escape to the Sun Belt – Arizona, California and Florida are popular destinations. But sooner or later visions of tropical paradise, swinging hammocks and island living spring to mind. And when they do, Hawaii lands at the top of the list. Honolulu and Waikiki, Kaua’i, Maui and “the Big Island,” are perennial favorites with Seattle locals.

What about you, Wanderboomers? How do you beat the winter blues? What’s your favorite place for sun n’ fun?