Ten Fun Family Things to do in Nelson, BC, Canada by Robert Borhi

Nelson BC is located in the West Kootenays region of British Columbia, Canada. If you look at a map of British Columbia, the Kootenays are located in the southeast corner of the province. The population of Nelson is just under 10,000 people. Although Nelson doesn't have all the amenities of a larger center, there are still many fun things you can do when spending some time here. Here are the top ten things to do in Nelson on your family vacation.

Visit Lakeside Park at the North end of town, just beside the big orange bridge. Things you will find at the park include lots of grassy areas for picnics, a sandy beach, boat launch, and children's playground. Bring your own lunch, or buy lunch at the snack stand in the park, which has a diversified menu. Dairy Queen is also just a short walk away. Near the park you will find soccer and baseball fields.

Watch aircraft take off and land at the airport. For a city of Nelson's size, you might be surprised to learn that it has it's own airport, right by the waterfront. The airport is mainly used by small personal aircraft and helicopters. In the summer the airport can get quite busy, especially during forest fire season, and you will see all kinds of aircraft.

Walk the waterfront. If you start at Lakeside Park, you can walk the waterfront west, past the sandy beach, soccer fields, Chahko Mika Mall, Prestige Inn, and airport. On the way back, catch the heritage street car that runs from the Prestige Inn to Lakeside Park.

Spend an afternoon at the Nelson Aquatic Center. The aquatic center was renovated in 2005, and contains a full pool, kids pool, lazy river current pool, water slide, hot pool, sauna, and steam room. A great way to spend a few hours at a cost of around $10 (for a family of four). The same building also contains a weight lifting gym and hockey rink. Bring your skates in the winter for public skating!

If your family likes to golf, visit the Granite Pointe Golf Club. The golf course is located at 1123 West Richards street in the Rosemont area of Nelson, just a short drive from the downtown center. The course has 18 holes and was designed by Bill Newis in 1993. Nice views and a great clubhouse will cap off your day here.

If the weather isn't cooperating, spend some time indoors at the bowling alley. Savoy Lanes is located at 520 Falls Street, across from the Best Western hotel. Features regular bowling, league bowling, and laser bowling.

Watch a movie at the Nelson Civic Theatre, 719 Vernon Street. This is an older 'one-screen' theatre, usually with one or two current movies in rotation. They normally have two evening screenings per day, with weekend matinees. The experience of watching a movie here can be quite nostalgic; bring your own bag and they will fill it with popcorn!

Learn about the local history by stopping in at the Nelson Museum (402 Anderson Street). The museum houses displays on Native Peoples, explorers, and settlers of the area, as well as art and history. An extensive archive of local photography can also be viewed.

Want to see how the local ale is made? The Nelson Brewing Company is a local brewer that produces over half a dozen brands, including their famous Faceplant winter ale. Located at 512 Latimer Street, where the brewery started over 100 years ago, call ahead to check for tour times.

Have a meal at the Hume Hotel (previously called the Heritage Inn, established in 1898). No trip to Nelson is complete without a visit to the Hume Hotel, located near the town center. The hotel has had major renovations over the last 25 years but still maintains it's old-fashioned heritage charm, without the 'sterile' atmosphere of newer establishments. You will enjoy the hotel restaurant with it's upbeat staff, historic memorabilia and photos, varied menu and reasonable prices. Make sure you ask for a window table so you can see the stone courthouse across the street, and watch the traffic go by.

About the Author

Robert Borhi is a freelance writer and owner of http://www.SkiNelson.com, a website where you can find more information and links for Nelson, BC. If you would like to know more about Nelson and the surrounding area, please visit http://www.SkiNelson.com

Travel to Macau and the Cotai strip, China by Robert Borhi

Macau is a small peninsula region in China, southwest of Hong Kong. There are scheduled boat charters to and from Macau and Hong Kong throughout the day. It is an easy day trip from one place to the other. If you are planning a trip to Hong Kong, you should strongly consider spending a little time in Macau as well.

The total population of Macau is close to half a million people. Most of the residents are of Chinese origin from various Chinese provinces. The remaining population (approximately 5%) are of Portuguese and European ancestry. Macau used to be a colony of Portugal before it was returned to Chinese control in the late 1990's. In case you were wondering, Macau is sometimes referred to as 'Macao', due to the Portuguese history of the area. The official languages are Chinese and Portuguese, with Cantonese being the most widely used. English is mainly used for tourism and business.

The many attractions in Macau make it well worth a visit. Because of the Portuguese establishment, there are old fortresses, churches, temples and gardens to tour. There are over a dozen museums to see, including the Museum of Macau, the Maritime Museum, the Wine Museum, the Grand Prix Museum, and the Handover Gifts Museum. Every year, around November, there is the Macau Grand Prix car and motorcycle races. The Macau Tower, at 338m tall, is definitely worth a visit. Throughout the year there are many other events and festivals that you may be able to take part in. Walking tours and shopping opportunities also abound. Aside from many new casinos being built, you might want to try your luck at some of the older casinos, or even at the horse racing and greyhound racing tracks.

There is also much development underway in Macau, and this development will soon bring even more visitors. Many hotels, casinos, resorts and convention centers are currently being built, with the first ones scheduled to open in 2006 and 2007. Some of the development is occurring on the Cotai Strip, which is reclaimed land between two islands of Macau called Coloane and Taipa. The spelling of 'Cotai' comes from the names of these two islands. These developments are being planned by combinations of world class hotels chains and major Las Vegas casinos, so they are bound to be impressive. The goal of the developers is to turn Macau into an international destination for resorts and casinos, and you often hear the term 'Asia's Las Vegas'. Up to six billion dollars is being spent on these developments, with 10,000 hotel rooms in the initial phase, with expansion to 60,000 rooms in the third phase. Gambling in Macau will be a major attraction in the years to come.

If you spend some time travelling around Macau, you will likely travel across the bridges on the peninsula. The names of two of the bridges are Nobre de Carvalho (the Friendship Bridge) and Sai Van Bridge. The Friendship Bridge is the longest one and goes directly to the Macau International Airport. Yes, you can fly directly into Macau! The airport is situated on the Island of Taipa.

So if you would like to travel to a foreign land and experience two different cultures within a small area, plan on Macau for your next vacation.

About the Author

Robert Borhi is a freelance writer and owner of Macau.ca, a website that focuses on Macau travel and attractions. If you are planning a visit to Macau or the Cotai strip, you can learn more about this wonderful destination at his website http://www.Macau.ca

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