Photo by rbreve
By Kat Tancock
“Just because you are on vacay doesn’t mean you should take a vacation from your good eating habits”, says holistic nutritionist Joy McCarthy—and the same goes for exercise, sleep and the rest of your healthful routine. To avoid coming down with something during or after your trip, and to stave off the dreaded vacation weight gain, follow these expert tips for staying healthy on holiday. (more…)
Tone and sculpt with The Bar Method
The holidays are over, but your expanded waistline—thanks to the extra slices of pumpkin pie—doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to disappear. Stick to your new year’s resolution and fight the fat with a class at The Bar Method. Each hour-long class uses techniques from yoga and Pilates, along with the ballet barre, for an all-around aerobic treat.—Jennifer Patterson
837 Beatty St., 604-681-6188, http://vancouver.barmethod.com
Affordable and stylish workout gear from Joseph Mimran
Joseph Mimran has already taken over the fashion world. Up next: the fitness market, thanks to the recent launch of Jogi, a health-and-wellness accessories line. Jump ropes, resistance bands, weights and toning balls are sure to be any fashionista’s friend. Purchase cardio equipment at Real Canadian Superstore and workout-friendly apparel at Joe Fresh.—Jennifer Patterson
More than 50,000 dogs have marked Vancouver as their territory, so it’s no surprise activities here keep visiting canines—and their owners—entertained
By Jennifer Patterson
Meet our cover model, Rosie. This part Cavalier, part Beagle likes long walks on the beach, playing with friends in her local Coopers’ Park (pictured) and peanut butter–filled chew toys. Her dislikes: baths, cats and shopping carts. Photo by KK Law
Playtime
Rain or shine, off-leash doggie parks are an everyday necessity. Good thing Vancouver has 34 of them. Enjoy a stroll along a sandy beach at Hadden Park in Kitsilano, and watch your pup frolic in the waves as you make yourself comfortable on driftwood. Avoid wet paws at Coopers’ Park or Charleson Park. Both are on the waterfront, but the play area is restricted to the grass and paved seawall. For a complete list of Fido-friendly parks, visit www.vancouver.ca/parks. If you’re looking for something that’ll leave the pair of you dog-tired, head to Stanley Park and take a walk around the 8.8-km (5.5-mi) seawall. Spot and Rover must be on-leash, but there’s enough changing scenery to keep everyone entertained. Pacific Spirit Regional Park, out by the University of British Columbia, has both on- and off-leash areas throughout 73 km (45 mi) of trails. Over 360,000 dogs visit this park annually, so there are plenty of new pals to meet.
A Day at the Spa
Haircut? Check. Pedicure and polish? Check. What about a bath and massage, followed by a deep-conditioning treatment? Check. Oh, did you know this is all for your four-legged companion? Downtown’s Pawsh Dog Spa & Boutique specializes in high-end spa treatments and features two treadmills, designed to keep Rover in shape. Unleashed Dog Spa washes away all traces of the park with a cleansing hydro-massage, hand-fluffed drying and a blueberry facial scrub.
Home Away From Home
Plan a day of shopping and drop your hound off at the Jet Pet Resort at Vancouver International Airport for daycare, or book one of the overnight suites—prices range from $49 to $1,000. Lounges with couches, webcams, indoor and outdoor play areas, and plasma TVs are there to entertain. Closer to downtown you’ll find the Rex Dog Hotel + Spa, with private suites situated in a cool brick building. On the agenda: a group walk followed by playtime in the custom outdoor water park. The spa offers baths using grooming products and shampoos by Spa Dog Botanicals.
L’Hermitage’s canine concierge Hippo is all about networking, so ask for his business card and take a look at his resume online (www.lhermitagevancouver.com). Highlights: his love of Brie and Dom Pérignon and his hatred of escalators and rain. Photo by KK Law
Shop Till You Drop
The West Coast weather often means a stinky wet coat for our furry friends. Remedy this with a too-cute-for-words rain jacket and matching hat from one of many pooch-oriented boutiques, including Barking Babies, Bow Wow Haus, The Pet Shop Boys and Fetch, to name just a few. Immortalize vacation memories with a trip to The Dog & Hydrant, which boasts an in-store portrait studio for tail-waggers to strike a pose.
Chow Down
Leave your best friend drooling over peanut butter biscotti from Granville Island’s gourmet pet bakery, Woofles & Meowz. Reward good behaviour with an apple-flavoured, bone-shaped cookie from Bark & Fitz. Celebrate a birthday—or any day—with a personalized peanut, carob or carrot cake from Three Dog Bakery.
Separation Anxiety
We know time away from Fido is tough, so if you need a little TLC from a furry friend, head to The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (www.fairmont.com) and say hello to their lovely canine ambassadors, Golden Labrador Retrievers Mavis and Beau. Or visit L’Hermitage Hotel and dit bonjour to their French Bulldog named Hippo, the resident canine concierge. Note: many hotels in the city are pet-friendly and offer everything from water bowls to treats to pet beds.
Smiling Mavis and her partner Beau are ready to charm guests of The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. They are official food critics for the hotel’s pet menu, with the beef granola bars and venison-and-cranberry pepperoni sticks among their favourites. Photo by KK Law
Doggie DOs & DON’Ts
Photo courtesy Pursuit of Happy Hips DVD
Don’t let the words downward facing dog and scorpion pose frighten you: they’re yoga terms. Lululemon turned athletic apparel into trendy everyday attire, while Halfmoon worked together with students and teachers to produce high-quality mats. Sweat with the best at Bikram’s Yoga College or Westcoast Hot Yoga. The Pursuit of Happy Hips DVD ($24.99) features over four hours of poses, was filmed locally and is available at Lululemon. Namaste.—Jennifer Patterson
Do you have great photos from your travels in Canada that you'd like to share with us? Submit them to the Where Canada Flickr pool and they'll show up here.
Stay, Dine, Do
