Scott McQuarrie

Writer, reformed tech guy.

Adventure Awaits •

10 Social Distanced Outdoor Playdates for Kids

Here is our list of top 10 outdoor social distanced playdates for kids! It’s been three months – the kids are going stir-crazy trapped indoors away from their friends. And let’s be honest, they aren’t the only ones. They need to socialize, but as parents, we want to keep them safe. How can we balance two seemingly opposing goals? With a little creativity, we can help our kids have some much-needed friend time while following the directions of Dr. Bonnie Henry
Adventure Awaits •

Swimming with Whale Sharks in Mexico

Is it Ethical to Swim with Whale Sharks in La Paz? Only you can answer this question. All I can do is give you information upon which to base your decision. Swimming with whale sharks in the Bay of La Paz is highly regulated. The giant bay is divided into three zones – a recreation zone, a marine traffic zone, and a 7000-hectare reserve zone for the whale sharks. The animals are not restricted in their movements in any way – it is open ocean. Here are the rules that Oliver mentioned to us: all boat
Adventure Awaits •

San Jose del Cabo Walking Tour – Gallery District

I have to give special mention to our engaging host, Patricia Mendoza, whose gallery, in addition to being the only one with an open-air bar attached, is stunning, both inside and out. As Patricia strolled with us around the District, I began to get a sense of the tightness of the community. It seemed Patricia knew everyone – not just the gallery owners and artists, but many of the folks out and about on the streets. She was present, vibrant, and full of life, traits that echoed so many of the p
Adventure Awaits •

Cooking Classes in San Jose del Cabo

In addition to the class, meals were being prepared for diners at the restaurant, so there were cooks going about their business, while Aldo doled out tomatoes and basil and garlic and onion to be chopped. We prepared the ceviche first, so the shrimp could cook in the fresh-squeezed lime juice for the required half hour. At one point, a pot of freshly boiled octopus went by; definitely something I don’t see everyday! As the meal prep progressed, we were invited in turns to help with sautéing th
Adventure Awaits •

Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos Review

Le Blanc Spa Resort takes all-inclusive to the next level. I have been to all-inclusive resorts in Mexico before – to the Mayan Riviera on the east coast for our honeymoon, and to Huatulco on the west coast with the kids. I’ve been on two cruises (after all, aren’t cruises floating all-inclusive resorts?), again on opposite coasts of Mexico. But I have never been to an all-inclusive like Le Blanc. This resort is truly next level, in every sense. With luxury hotels, there can sometimes be an off
Adventure Awaits •

Jazamango in Todos Santos

I am not a food critic, and I will leave any serious food critiques to those who know what they are talking about. But, like you, I know what I like and what I don’t like. Jazamango’s food is simply amazing, and amazingly simple. I have never met a cauliflower I didn’t like, but the grilled cauliflower with pickled beet strings was on another level. The presentation was stunning and kept theme with the overall modern rustic atmosphere. Without a doubt, Jazamango was the culinary highlight of my
Adventure Awaits •

Day Trip to Todos Santos

If I had to sum up my day trip to Todos Santos, I would describe it as a microcosm of the Los Cabos region. It has many faces – the farmers, the ex-pats, the artists, the musicians, and even the tourists. I will add a few additional descriptive words – quirky, laid-back, and friendly. As I paid for my faded tin skull-boy (for my son) and a shiny tin butterfly (for my daughter), Kersten handed me my purchase and his homemade business card in a home-made bag, complete with string handle. In a yea
Adventure Awaits •

Is Sasquatch Mountain Resort Family Friendly?

In the upper level of the day lodge, above the rental area and bathrooms, there is a walk-through style cafeteria with all the usual mountain fare, a large, open eating area, and Molly Hogan’s Pub. The eating area can be busy on weekends around lunchtime, so, if it works for your family, try to eat a little before or after the noon rush. We ended up eating our bag lunches just before noon, and lucked out when a kind family offered us their table as they were leaving. I say it was luck, but reall
Adventure Awaits •

Children’s Wish Foundation Search for Santa - A Holiday Lesson From Chloe

Choe Chapelle is a fun-loving eight-year-old girl with an elfin face and a wicked-cute smile. Chloe is similar to most girls her age – she loves to run and jump and have fun. But she is also a little different – she has a pacemaker. Chloe was born with a heart with holes and arteries that were switched around the wrong way. She was rushed into emergency surgery and, after suffering multiple strokes, pulled through with a functioning heart, and a brand-new pacemaker. She has since undergone sever
Adventure Awaits •

Big Pit National Coal Museum - Wales, United Kingdom

Digging Deep into My Family History at Big Pit Mine As my family and I, along with our ever-cheerful guide, crammed into the elevator, or ‘the cage’ as it is more accurately called, I had to swallow the rising panic in my throat. I may be a world traveller and adventurer, but I do have my weaknesses. One of my big ones is claustrophobia, and it was kicking into high gear as the door clicked shut and we started our ninety metre (300 foot) descent down the mine shaft. We were at the Big Pit Natio
Adventure Awaits •

History, Romance, and Luxury at Roch Castle Hotel

Roch Castle Hotel, on the shores of St Brides Bay in St Davids Pembrokeshire, Wales, was built in 1195 AD. It’s hard for me, a new world Canadian, to fathom a structure so ancient. That is nearly three hundred years before Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492. Generations upon generations have lived and worked within its weathered stone walls. Stepping into Roch Castle is, for a brief time, stepping into their lives and experiencing something of another age. Spending a night or two in a castl
Adventure Awaits •

FlyOver Canada – On a Broom?

The kids were spellbound, taking in every word and cackle as Broomelda, FlyOver Canada’s resident witch and headmistress of the Haunted Witches Academy, introduced herself during the pre-flight briefing video. As ghosts flew around the dimly lit, spookily decorated room, the younger kids clung a little tighter to their adults than usual. It’s not for the faint of heart; Broomelda told the story of her cat, who was on life number nine already after a series of unfortunate accidents. In an interv
Adventure Awaits •

7 Tips for an Agenda Free Vacation

Have you ever arrived home from a busy vacation, plunked down the luggage and thought, “I need a vacation!”? If so, you are not alone. After all, it makes sense to fit as much fun as possible into limited vacation time. Jam-packed vacations can be fun, but they are often far from restful. A little agenda-free time can give a playful, more relaxing tone to your next get-away. Here are our top 7 tips for adding some unscheduled time into your next vacation: Scheduling unscheduled time into your
Adventure Awaits •

Stand Up Paddleboard Tour at Night in Vancouver

Imagine yourself out on the water, your stand up paddleboard (SUP) rocking gently beneath your feet. Your paddle slips into the water soundlessly. You pull steadily, rhythmically, and feel the muscles in your back tighten with each stroke. Your toes push into the board, offsetting the force of each pull as you glide forward, leaving a small eddy in your wake. You look ahead, keeping your eyes up to keep your balance more easily. You feel present and fully aware. Now, imagine that while on your
Adventure Awaits •

Campfire Cookouts in Metro Vancouver

The campfire burns lower, the coals red and white and ready. The mustard, relish, and, most importantly, ketchup, lay waiting beside the bag of buns. The package of all-beef (a none-too-comforting description) hotdogs is open, beside the veggie-dogs that only you will eat. The roasting sticks, the long ones with the wood handles and double prongs, lean against the picnic table, their many years of use evidenced by their blackened tips. The marshmallows are hidden out of sight, for now. You look
Adventure Awaits •

Lensball – Gaze into the Future of Photography

Perhaps you have recently seen a photograph in an article or on Instagram with a unique ball effect, like this epic surf shot I snapped during my recent stay at Long Beach Lodge. Within the image, a small, 180-degree view of the overall scene shows up inside of a sphere, giving a reflective quality to the photo. So, how did I do this? Did I use a special software filter? No – the answer is even simpler. I used a lensball. I was given a lensball as a birthday present from my mom and knew that To
Adventure Awaits •

Your Small BC Town Getaways - Seaside Edition

A year ago (yikes!), we asked you, our loyal followers, to share your favourite small-town getaways. And you delivered! You shared insights, activities, and photos of places that, for varied reasons, hold special meaning for you and your family. The sense of community that many small towns exhibit is reflected in this generous, open sharing of knowledge. It’s one of the reasons we do what we do. Thank you for letting go of the ‘finders keepers’ mentality, and giving others the chance to share in
Adventure Awaits •

Getting Started Hiking: A Guide for Families

What comes to mind when you think of hiking? Silhouetted figures, traversing a Himalayan ridge with backpacks nearly as large as themselves? The truth is, for most of us, hiking is a little less Everest expedition and a little more walk in the Hundred Acre Wood (hello Pooh and Tigger!). Hiking has so much to offer: time in nature, physical activity, and a taste of adventure. Don’t be intimidated by those grim-faced and muddied adventurers from outdoor magazine ads. With a little planning, you a
The Cascade •

Incongruity theory

In my class ENGL 271: Contemporary Rhetoric, the Rhetoric of Stand-up Comedy, I learned that there is a theory of humour (yes, even comedy has theories) called the incongruity theory. Basically, it states that we find it funny when things, people, or situations don’t fit into the norm or don’t act as we expect them to. If this theory is true, we live in a hilarious world. Incongruity is everywhere. Environmental essays handed in, as required, on single-sided, double-spaced paper. Triple O’s offe
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