Chilliwack Hiking

Want to Go Hiking in Chilliwack?
Are you a hiker? Not sure where to go hiking? Try the 600-member Chilliwack Hiking Club at http://www.HikeChilliwack.com. Chilliwack is home to dozens of world-class hikes for people of all ages and abilities. From family friendly hikes near Cultus Lake to the top of Teapot Hill, to classic must-do hikes like Elk Mountain, Chilliwack has it all for avid hikers and nature lovers.

The Town Butcher

Located just east of downtown Chilliwack, The Town Butcher is not your ordinary butcher shop.

Beautiful is not how you would normally describe a butcher shop but it is the word that must be used to describe this business.With it’s lovely details like chandeliers and creamy painted woodwork, it has the feel of walking into an upscale Parisian shop but with much warmer and friendlier service! The shop specializes in fresh, local hormone free meats of the highest quality, deli items all prepared in-house, and a lovely gift area for perfect hostess gifts. High school sweethearts, owners Bill and Liv Turnbull, have married their talents to create something new for Chilliwack. Having both been raised near downtown, they are excited to be a part of its rejuvenation. “I kind of feel that we’re doing something different,” says Liv. “The atmosphere of the store sets us apart. We are constantly trying new things to remain creative and appealing.” At The Town Butcher you’ll discover a mix of the everyday necessity for quality food with the allure of uptown glamour and small town customer service.

Monday thru Saturday 10am to 6pm

Sundays 12pm to 5pm

46298C Yale Road, Chilliwack 604-701-6328

The Othello Tunnels

The skies were a little agitated the May morning we set off for the Othello Tunnels, but mercifully stayed calm whilst we headed towards Hope. Being new not only to Chilliwack but also to Canada we were not sure what to expect. Tunnels? And? But disappointed we were not. The scenery on the drive was breathtaking, somewhat ethereal under the greying skies and the directions we were given very easy to follow. We were a little apprehensive as it was one of the first times our new puppy had been out but we needn’t have worried. Dogs on a leash were perfectly acceptable, the parking facilities were good and there were a couple of washrooms close by, albeit the non-flushing kind. A little odd for us former city dwellers.The pathways towards and through the tunnels are a little uneven but people with strollers and wheelchairs seemed to be coping very well with the terrain. Onwards through the tunnels and beyond the path will take you all the way to Hope, for those hardcore hikers. The path meanders away from the thunderous river only to be surrounded by springtime flora and fauna. Majestic trees serve as a cooling canopy or a little shelter from the spring rain. The walk on to Hope was very tempting but for us and a small, very tired puppy the rest of our journey was to be the return to the car and a hot flask of tea. The walk towards the tunnels had us all mesmeriesed. The children were enthralled and intrigued by the many cracks, crevices and fissures in the rocks and us adults amazed at the sheer hard work and dedication that must have gone into the railway. We were in awe of the dangers these workers must have faced daily to ensure the completion of this particular section of the Kettle Valley Railway. As we strolled along the pathways the thunderous sound of the Coquilhalla River was a constant, only quietening when we were in the dark, dripping tunnels themselves. We stopped on the bridges to watch the river cascading over the rocks, eroded and smoothed by time, lingering long enough to make a wish on a penny and toss it into the white water below

Tulipmania

When I was downtown this weekend I stopped in at Objekts on Wellington to purchase a wedding shower gift. At the till Kevin and Ron asked if I had been out to Tulipmania
yet and handed me a flyer they had on the counter. I confessed that I hadn’t even heard about it so they enthusiastically filled me in.
It was already 2 pm but I decided to be completely spontaneous, called a girlfriend, and off we headed to Frico Flowers on Ferry Road in Rosedale.
We didn’t need to check out the addresses on the mailboxes because as we came around the corner the blaze of spring colours told us that we had arrived. The farm was buzzing with activity as people from as far as Vancouver came to see, pick and take home arm loads of tulips for an amazing price of 30 tulips for $10.
Tulipmania is a fund-raiser for both the BC Cancer Foundation and Chilliwack Hospice Society. This young family lost their Mom to cancer in May 2008, so Dad, his young daughter and son have decided to run this event in honour of Mom at their flower farm. It is very inspiring and clearly a celebration of their Mom’s life.
They have planted 100,000 tulips for the public to pick, offer calla lily greenhouse tours, prize draws, special speakers and musical entertainment through-out the two weeks of the event. (April 18th to May 3rd, 2009).
We had an amazing experience that Saturday afternoon and came home with 90 tulips between us!
I certainly hope that this becomes an annual event. The Tulipmania flyer link is below.

http://www.calla.ca/tulipmania/index.html