You won’t have to travel far this winter to indulge in some of the best winter escapes that BC has to offer. If you’re thinking of listing your Mt. Pleasant house or condo for sale soon, now is the time to indulge in a little R and R before the packing begins.

The Best Winter Adventure in Whistler

Kick your ski trip up a notch with Whistler Heli-Skiing. Expect breath-taking views and heart-stopping slopes as you experience 432,000 acres of vast mountain terrain including 173 glaciers. With 475 runs to choose from ensuring no snowboarding or skiing run will be the same, an experienced team to guide you, and freedom from the daily grind; what more could you ask for to beat those winter blues away?

World Class Luxury in Tofino

If fresh local culinary delights with 240 degree views of the Pacific Ocean, an afternoon of indulgence at the Ancient Cedars Spa, and world class accommodations are more your style, it’s time to visit the Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino. Check in to a fireplace-warmed suite and enjoy Storm Season in one of BC’s most beautiful spots, celebrating “20 years of rustic elegance on nature’s edge.”

The Best Friends Getaway at Grouse Mountain

Grab your favourite group of people and head up the mountain for the Grouse Mountain Snowshoe Fondue. Reservations are required for this private snowshoe tour, which includes an experienced guide, your rental, and an après snowshoeing fondue in Altitudes Bistro. With cheese, broth, and chocolate courses, this social dining experience on the peak of the North Shore is the perfect antidote to dreary weather days.

Find Whole Body Health at Sparkling Hills Resort

Just north of Kelowna, BC lies the European-inspired wellness resort Sparkling Hills. The world’s first and only Swarovski Crystal (3.5 million crystals adorn the property) hotel, the first class escape offers up fresh fine dining, stunning views of the Okanagan Valley, and a holistic health spa. KurSpa features 7 crystal-infused steam and saunas, several pools and a vast wellness spa menu.

So whether you’re planning to list, or buying real estate in the Mt. Pleasant area, these winter destination gems are just a hop, skip, and short plane or car ride away. Just a few of the reasons we love beautiful BC so much as your Vancouver real estate experts.

From the traditional to one of the city’s best kept not-so-secret annual traditions, we’ve put together a list of festive fun for date night to keep you on the “Nice” list. Whether you’re looking for a distraction from packing up before the big move, or a new Vancouver homebuyer, here’s some of the best ways to celebrate the season in the city.

Get a Christmas Tree

Nothing says Christmas like a fresh cut tree. True, some stratas don’t allow the real thing, but it’s still fun to grab a hot cocoa and wander through the lot ogling towering firs. Run by volunteers, Aunt Leah’s Tree Lots around the Lower Mainland have been providing Vancouverites with their trees for 20 years, all in the name of charity. 100% of their profits this year will go to foster youth at risk of homelessness and mothers in need. For locations and hours, check out AuntLeahs.org.

7th Annual Vancouver Christmas Market

Get into the spirit with a mug of traditional Glühwein, the mulled wine beverage of choice for the holidays, as the Vancouver Christmas Market returns for its 7th year on November 26th until Christmas in its new seaside location at the Jack Poole Plaza under the Olympic Cauldron. Shop for edibles and artisanal goods from home and abroad.

VSO’s A Traditional Christmas

Go classy and get tickets for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s annual Traditional Christmas concerts, hosted by Christopher Gaze and featuring EnChor and the UBC Opera Ensemble lead by VSO’s new Assistant Conductor, William Rowson. Concerts start December 8th.

Winter Solstice Lantern Festival

Celebrate the solstice as a community Wednesday, December 21st. Starting at 6pm with a lantern procession in Yaletown, Granville Island, and Chinatown/Strathcona, there will be multicultural performances and activities in each of the neighbourhoods to follow. Each celebration is unique to its neighbourhood, reflecting the community by illuminating the darkest night of the year.

The Original Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

Grant a wish for a child with a life threatening illness by taking your dearest to the ugliest party in town. Friday, December 23rd the Commodore Ballroom hosts the 15th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party  in benefit of the Children’s Wish Foundation. Featuring live music, DJ, contests, carollers and more.

What’s your favourite way to celebrate the season? Share with us on Facebook!

Photo: Vancouver Christmas Market

Curb appeal is one of those real estate catch phrases that does, in fact, have some substance to it. Appearance may be the first step in getting potential buyers through your front door. With crisp air and rainier days descending on Vancouver, keeping up those appearances can be difficult.

The first and most important step in winterizing your lawn is knowing if you have cool-season grass or warm-season grass. Cool season grasses will need a winterizing fertilizer that’s higher in potassium to fortify roots in time for cooler temperatures while warm season grasses go dormant in the winter and therefore would have required an earlier dose of fertilizer. Your best bet in deciding how to proceed is taking a soil test for acidity levels as well as checking with your local greenhouse as to what type of lawn you have.

Don’t ditch the rake just yet: giving the lawn a good once-over will remove the last layer of dead turfgrass tissue otherwise known as “thatch”, and allow all-important water and nutrients (and possibly your fertilizer) to reach the grassroots. Raking leaves does this double-duty, while using a leaf-blower may de-clutter your yard, it won’t get down to the nitty-gritty.

Lastly, remove any weeds, cover plant beds with insulating topsoil or burlap, and repot small plants indoors. If you haven’t already, blowing out the irrigation system and removing debris from drains will keep things moving smoothly through the winter, as well as prevent your pipes from freezing.

Gardening may not be your forte, but everyone enjoys a well-groomed one to look at; whether they’re buying or selling. Consult with your local garden center on maintenance crews for hire, or share here if you’ve had a good experience with one.