A Trip to the Grouse Mountain
Otherwise known as the Peak of Vancouver, Grouse mountain is considered the most popular year round attraction in Vancouver today. Hosting over 1.2 million visitors annually, Grouse Mountain is one of the North Shore mountains in the Pacific Range of North Vancouver. Standing over 4,000 feet above sea level, it is home to the largest alpine ski area in Vancouver. In addition to skiing however, the number of opportunities for recreation throughout the year are vast as well. Featuring hiking trails, a mountaintop theatre, wildlife refuge, as ell as an aerial tram and even mountaintop lumberjack shows, there is always something going on on Grouse Mountain.
Origins Of The Lodge
The fires lodge was built by hand by Scandinavians living in the area in the 1920′s. They used the now popular Grouse Grind hiking trail to haul the planks up the mountain to build the structure and by the 1930′s a toll road was built to the top of the mountain on what is now the main ski run, today, known as the Cut.
The Cut is one of the most well known of all ski runs in Vancouver today and is just one of a number of runs on the mountain today. In addition to skiing, world class snowboarding trials and a Jib Park are also found here. Cross Country skiing, snowshoeing, a ski school, a terrain park, ice skating and sleigh rides are other ways to enjoy the sites.
Throughout the year, helicopter tours, paragliding, chairlift rides, programs, ziplines, exploring and dining are also found on the mountain as well.
Note: According to the site, the mountain is officially open for skiing!
Whether exploring the mountain and its activities or just relaxing in the beautiful and historic city of Vancouver, we invite you to get out and explore this and other amazing destinations for travel around the globe.
Tradewinds Vacations invites you to explore travel with us. Make the most of your time and money when you travel and travel more with Tradewinds Vacations, your partner in travel.
An Adventure To Socorro
The island of Socorro is located in a group of islands called the Revillagigedo islands and is owned by Mexico and is 250 miles off its coast. The largest of the four islands in the group it, like its sister islands is volcanic in nature. Rising a full 3,445 feet out of the water, this relatively small island is just 51 square miles.
Home to a small naval base and a small population of residents today, the islands, though not known for tourism above the water, is world renown for its tourism below the surface. A truly wild experience, those choosing to dive here, must do so by visiting on live aboard vessels.
Like many islands which are secluded and known to have developed on their own, these islands are also home to a variety of endemic species, similar to development you would see on islands such as the Galapagos. This aside, it is what lives below the surface that draw visitors to this small island group
Ships such as the Nautilus Explorer and the Solmar V are two of the live aboards catering to underwater excursion to Socorro. Known for its gentle giants, the islands are home to giant mantas that are known to be friendly, as well as other species including Pacific Mantas (the largest in the world), sharks including silky’s, galapagos, white tips, silver tips and hammerheads as well as the massive whale sharks. In January, massive groups of humpback whales are known to visit the area as well.
Exotic, luxurious, amazing, wild and unique, a trip to Socorro is truly a trip to remember. A unique, rich and diverse ecosystem, trips here are to educate and enjoy the wild beauty of nature at her finest. Other conservation groups are also active in the area helping to protect and preserve this amazing creatures both above and below the surface of the water.
Hollywood Hot Spots With Tradewinds Vacations
Hollywood is located in Los Angeles, California. Its claim to fame and cultural identity is the historical center of movie studios and movie stars. Much of the movie industry has dispersed into surrounding areas, important supporting industries, such as editing, effects, props, post-production, and lighting companies remain in Hollywood, as does the back lot of Paramount Pictures.
One of the most famous features of Hollywood is The Hollywood Walk of Fame. It consists of more than 2,400 terrazzo and brass stars entrenched in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and carries over three blocks onto Vine Street. The stars are enduring public memorials to achievement in the entertainment industry, with a mix of actors, musicians, directors, producers, musical and theatrical groups, and fictional characters. This is an extremely popular tourist destination with more than 10 million visitors
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is a movie theater located on Hollywood Boulevard. It is housed on the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame. The theater was built in 1926 and the theater opened May 18, 1927, with the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille’s film The King of Kings. It has been home to many premieres, including the 1977 launch of Star Wars. One of the theater’s most distinguishing features are the concrete blocks set in the courtyard. These blocks have the signatures, footprints, and handprints of popular motion picture personalities from the 1920s to the present day.
The Hollywood Sign is a landmark and American cultural icon. It is situated on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills. The sign overlooks Hollywood. The sign is spelled out in 45-foot-tall and 350-foot-long white letters. It was initially intended as an advertisement in 1923.It gained so much buzz and was easily recognized as a piece of Americana that the sign was left up. The sign was a frequent target of vandalism but has undergone restoration that includes a security system to deter vandalism. The sign is actually set on the slope of the hills so from the ground level it appears wavy, most photos or depictions are at the same level so the letters are thought to be straight across to most people.
Some of these places might seem a bit clichéd but they are such a standard for what Hollywood was all about that it would be a shame to miss them. They are all American Icons of the film industry and a must see on your itinerary to the area.
Fun and adventure await you with Tradewinds Vacations, your partner in travel and vacation planning.
