Contributed by: Aviron | Last Date of Travel: June 2005

Kosher Info:

The large supermarket in Whitehorse carried a surprising variety of kosher bread, pies, snacks and a plethora of canned fish with an assortment of US and Canadian kosher supervision symbols. It supplemented the usual kosher provisions that we take on trips out of the Jewish travel-sphere.

Travel Info:

Yukon is one of Canada’s 3 territories located in the northwest corner of the country, bordering Alaska to the west and the Northwest Territories to the east. It is larger than California. The population is small; the land is big, wide, bright (in summer) and startlingly empty. Two thirds of Yukoners live in the capital, named Whitehorse by early settlers because the swirling mists over the wild Yukon River reminded them of the flowing manes of galloping white stallions.

Whitehorse International Airport has 2 daily flights from Vancouver and sporadic flights from some northern Canadian communities. We rented a car and headed west towards Haines Junction, YT. The famed Alaska Highway is a well-paved 2-lane blacktop connecting British Columbia and Alaska. The road was built to protect the area from Japanese invasion during WWII.

Haines Junction is about a 2-hour drive from Whitehorse. Once you leave town, there are no traffic lights. There is no traffic. The only reason to stop is to gape at the scenery, because gaping and driving do not mix. This area is draped with green forests and sweeping snowcapped mountain in all directions. Throw in some emerald lakes and rushing glacier-fed rivers and you get the idea. The Yukon Department of Highways has wisely placed scenic turnoffs along the road to allow everyone to stop and breathe in the beauty.

Haines Junction is the first town west of Whitehorse. Its population is about 800. It is located at the junction of the Alaska and Haines Highways, hence the name. In addition to some houses ranging from shacks to lovely homes, the town has a general store/post office/bank, an upscale café, 3 motels, a school, a sports facility, gas stations and a brand new convention center, all surrounded by those omnipresent snowcapped mountains. There is a traffic signal at the actual intersection to handle all the activity. Our motel, the Alcan, (http://alcanmotorinn.com) faced a ridge of craggy mountains. The room was clean, modern and comfortable, with microwave and fridge. The view was always magnificent, as the colors and clouds and angle of the sun changed during the very very very long days. At 11PM we closed the shades to keep out the sunlight and went to sleep.

Due to its central location, Haines Junction also serves as the headquarters of Kluane (KLOO-AH-NEE) National Park and Reserve which encompasses the entire southwest corner of the Yukon, including Canada’s highest mountain peaks. At the visitors center we were able to get good information on what highlights the park offered. No roads enter the park, but the highway travels along its eastern flank. From the road, there are many trails from a half-kilometer to 7 days in length. We chose a few that led to lakes. We were not warned us about mosquitoes, but now you have been. As a precaution, we always made noise to scare away the bears. And we saw bears. They were just off the road, placidly munching on dandelions. They didn’t seem to mind when we stopped the car and got out to take a closer look.

Our second day in Kluane, we drove north to a different section with different topography. This area is drier, higher and windier. No mosquitoes. We selected the recommended 5km hike called Sheep’s Creek. It was tough going with steep switchbacks, narrow paths and little shade. But the views as we climbed higher and higher were spectacular. Rows upon rows of mountains reflected the sun off their icy slopes in a 360 degree panorama. Glaciers. Waterfalls. Flower-filled valleys. We picnicked alone on the peak until some hikers from Belgium joined us. The walk down was quicker.

Back in the car we headed next for the log cabin ghost town of Silver City. It is hardly mentioned in guide books, and not on any maps, but we managed to find it after a few wrong turns. Secluded in a small forest, near a lake, this “town” was abandoned in 1920 and left to the elements. A few buildings remain in various stages of collapse, but there was still enough left to get an idea of what it must have been like.

Backtracking via Whitehorse – there are no other roads – we drove into the Yukon’s Deep South, and the scenery actually improved. Bigger mountains, larger lakes, grander vistas. We stopped for a self-heating lunch (www.labriutemeals.com) in the small settlement of Carcross, an old town full of souvenir shops and a modern visitor’s center, plus vintage trains and an historical wooden railroad bridge. Driving further south, towards the Alaska panhandle, the terrain took a very bizarre turn. The valley floors became filled with small lakes connected by creeks and little waterfalls. Mossy rock mounds rose and fell. The trees seemed dwarfed, but the panoramas were huge.

Yukon was an amazing and easy outdoors experience.

Enjoying the Vancouver Olympic Games but can’t find what to eat? Thankfully, there is some kosher food in Vancouver to keep you satiated and perhaps titillate your taste buds.

There are at least 5 kosher eateries in the Vancouver area (although none are downtown):

• Sabra Glatt Kosher Restaurant & Bakery (3844 Oak Street) [Meat]
• Pini’s Kosher (729 West 16th Ave.) [Dairy]
• Nava (located in the lobby of the JCC – 950 West 41st Ave) [Dairy]
• Maple Grill (1967 W. Broadway) [Meat]
• Falafel Plus & Catering (446 W 8th Ave)

To read more about these restaurants, check out our “Kosher Travel” post on Vancouver, BC.

Use the BC Kosher website as an additional resource while in Vancouver and the surrounding area.

If you’ve found other places & ways to keep kosher at this year’s games, please let us know and comment below!

Feel free to repost this to your blog, but please include the original link to this post: http://yeahthatskosher.com/2010/02/keeping-kosher-at-the-2010-winter-olympics-in-vancouver

Contributed by: Dani Klein | Last Date of Travel: August 2009

Kosher Info: Vancouver was a city I did not expect to find many kosher options, and was surprised to have a found a few.
One thing to keep in mind: most, if not all of the places I will list, close early – especially if you’re from New York or Toronto. Really early.

I met a few friends and colleagues at Sabra Glatt Kosher Restaurant & Bakery (3844 Oak Street), which has a sit down meat restaurant, and a take out section as well. The food has a mix of Israeli with other Middle Eastern flavors. The soups were good, and the main dishes were pretty tasty as well. This was not a fancy restaurant, but good enough to hit the spot when on vacation. Sabra closes at 8pm or earlier, so check in advance.

Pini’s Kosher (729 West 16th Ave.) is a pizza place and a kosher market combined. The pizza slices were quite small, and the flavor is nothing to write home about. I guess you cant complain about kosher pizza when traveling far from home. The market carried many American and Israeli kosher products.

On our last day in Vancouver, we headed to the JCC for lunch. Nava is a Dairy Restaurant located in the lobby of the JCC (950 West 41st Ave). They had pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salads, and soups. Although it was a fast food sort of cafe, the food was relatively fancy and tasty, and I highly recommend eating there. The cafe also has to abide by the hours of the JCC, so call in advance for their schedule.

Sadly, there were some places I did not get to try when in Vancouver:

• Maple Grill seems to be a meat restaurant that is a fusion of multiple cuisines (1967 W. Broadway).
• Falafel Plus & Catering (446 W 8th Ave)

Please keep in mind that none of the kosher restaurants are in the downtown or West End area of Vancouver, which is really the nicest place to stay. You’ll need a car to access the restaurants, which is relatively close by, all under a 15 minute drive from the West End neighborhood (where we stayed).

For an up to date list, contact the Orthodox Rabbinical Council of British Columbia (BCK) before you travel.

Travel Info: Vancouver is an amazingly beautiful and clean city. There is a hustle and bustle, yet looking at the nearby mountains makes it serene. In fact, many films (portraying large cities) are filmed there.
I loved exploring the streets and parks of Vancouver, especially Stanley Park on the tip of the West End. Stanley Park is an amazing place to walk, jog, roller blade, or ride a bike. We decided to rent bikes nearby and take the path around the seawall of Stanley Park. The views of the city, and the mountains were amazing. The seawall actually extends beyond the limits of the park into the city, allowing all those who stroll along to take in it’s amazing views. Many tour guides and books actually recommend biking the seawall as one their top things to do in Vancouver, and I agree.

Another great place to visit and explore is Granville Island, situated directly across from downtown Vancouver. Granville Island, actually a peninsula, is a former industrial manufacturing area, but is now a major tourist destination, with amenities such as a public market, a large marina, a hotel, and a major shopping area. Granville has shows and a nightlife as well. We had a great time exploring the Granville shops, the fresh food market, and the views of downtown Vancouver.

Directly north of the city is Grouse Mountain, a great place to escape the steel and pavement and experience nature. Driving to the foot of Grouse Mt. takes less than 15 min from downtown Vancouver without traffic. On the way we stopped by the Capilano Fish Hatchery, which produces 3 million salmon each year. Nearby is the Capilano Suspension Bridge (which we did not get to experience) which has breathtaking views and gives you insight into rainforest trails through magnificent evergreens and the unique perspective of a walk high in the trees.

Once you’re at Grouse Mountain, you have a bunch of options, depending on the season. During the summertime, you’ll enjoy the SkyRide to the top of the mountain, giving you amazing views of the entire city of Vancouver. When we arrived to the top, we were greeted by thick morning fog which did not allow us to see more than a few feet ahead of us (that eventually cleared around 12pm). Every hour or so there is a hokie but cute lumberjack show, which the kids will definitely find enjoyable. There are 2 grizzly bears that live at the mountain’s wildlife refuge. A tour guide gives you some background as to how they got there. For extra fees, they offer ziplining between mountains, paragliding, and other outdoor activities. Word of advice to those visiting Grouse (especially in the summer): no matter the time of year, dress warm. It is at least 10-20 degrees colder at the top than the bottom.

In the wintertime, Grouse Mountain is a ski resort. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and skiing / snowboarding the slopes. Grouse is probably the closest ski resort to any major city I can think of. Grouse Mountain is hosting some events for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

An off the beaten place we found in Vancouver was the University of British Columbia (UBC) Museum of Anthropology. It was a very educational and fascinating museum, with many statues and artifacts about the Native Americans / Canadians whom are called “First Peoples” as well as British Columbian anthropological history and culture.

Jewish Info: While we did not spend Shabbat in Vancouver, or stay in the Jewish community there, the Jews we did meet were very friendly and warm. We also saw many Israelis around the city which wasn’t expected. If you are looking to spend Shabbat there, contact the Chabad which has centers Downtown, Vancouver’s residential area, and out in the burbs in Richmond: Chabad of British Columbia.