Pint Size Pilot Family Travel Adventures

02/29/2024

Making family memories at Silverstar Mountain Resort!

SilverStar Mountain Resort – Where Family Memories are Made

07/04/2023

BILBAO, SPAIN
Looking to avoid summer crowds in Europe? We were so delighted by Bilbao! While we have been lucky enough to visit some hot spots such as Venice, Paris and London over the past few summers - these cities can get shockingly overcrowded, and at times, quite overwhelming (especially with kids). Bilbao by contrast, is surprisingly calm and relaxed. Even the Guggenheim seems to be an oasis of serenity! Highly recommend!

06/04/2023

SEA T0 SUMMIT HIKE – Looking for an amazing hike near Vancouver this summer? The Sea to Summit hike takes your from the base of the Sea to Sky gondola in Squamish, through a beautiful forest, past rushing waterfalls and up to a beautiful viewpoint over Howe Sound. This intermediate-difficult hike takes 3-4 hours and dogs are allowed on the trail. Once at the top, you can enjoy more trails, check out the suspension bridge or relax on the patio. If you choose to take the gondola back down (highly recommended for the view alone), it is $20pp or dog.

04/18/2023

https://www.cntraveller.com/article/i-let-chatgpt-plan-my-vacation

ChatGPT is pretty good – but not perfect yet!

The buzzy chatbot's lack of specificity – and factual errors – can be exhausting when it comes to travel recommendations.

02/28/2023

SILVERSTAR MOUNTAIN RESORT – I have always referred to our family as “ski tourists” as we love exploring new mountain terrain. SilverStar Mountain Resort, however, is one of the exceptions. We have been visiting for almost 40 years! Isn’t that crazy? We have so many beautiful family memories on her slopes!
Want to see why we love it there so much? Check out my post on PintSizePilot.com (link in profile).

12/31/2022

ZIHUATANEJO, MX - We will be taking in our last sunset of the year from one of our favourite places in Mexico - the lovely beach town of Zihuatanejo. Wishing you and your special people all the best for 2023. Thank you so much for following along on our adventures!

12/25/2022

As much as we love to travel, sometimes there's just no place like home (despite a pipe bursting in our basement wall about 36 hours ago).
Wherever you are in the world, I want to wish you all the best for the holidays and many exciting adventures for 2023.

12/19/2022

BC WINTER ROAD TRIP - We simply love a good family winter road trip. For this adventure, we are driving from Vancouver to Rossland for several days of skiing . (Why Red? For the great snow and because we are ski tourists. We love to try new places!)
With winter driving conditions, we are breaking up the drive with an overnight in the Okanagan. (Truth - it is also an excuse to finally have the chance to stay and dine at the lovely .)
Do you love winter adventures like we do? Feel free to follow along in our stories!

10/27/2022

MO’OREA, FRENCH POLYNESIA - NEW POST!

Our complete guide to visiting the gorgeous South Pacific island of Mo’orea, – just a quick ferry ride from French Polynesia’s main island of Tahiti. (With a a new direct Seattle-Tahiti flight (in addition to directs from LAX, SFO and HNL) - it has also never been easier!

A complete guide to the best things to do on Moorea, the top island resorts and much more!

10/05/2022

BUCKET LIST CANADIAN ADVENTURE
Purcell Mountain Lodge – An epic heli-in alpine hiking experience in BC's Columbia Mountains. If you love the outdoors, stunning mountain scenery, fine food and perhaps even a grizzly bear sighting, this quintessential Canadian adventure is for you!

A Purcell Mountain Lodge luxury backcountry hiking adventure. Discover what it's like to hike in BC's largest alpine meadow.

10/04/2022

PURCELL MOUNTAIN LODGE, BC – We have just returned from the most extraordinary late summer hiking adventure! If you love the outdoors, the backcountry alpine hiking experience at Purcell Mountain Lodge is definitely one for the bucket list!

The adventure begins with a stunning 15 minute helicopter ride from Golden, B.C. (90 min. drive from Banff/ 3hrs from Calgary) where you are quickly whisked to the lodge at 2200m. What follows is several incredible days of hikes with an ACMG certified guide at your side showing you just the most stunning Purcell Mountain Range scenery (a self-guided option is also available).

The cozy lodge has everything you need (including indoor plumbing and hot water – quite a rarity in the backcountry) as well as a very talented chef serving up the finest of fare all day long.

If you are looking for a truly special Canadian mountain adventure, definitely take a look at this one. (Link to full blog post in my Instagram bio.) The high alpine hiking experience at Purcell Lodge runs from June into the early fall. Be sure to book early if you would like to be there for the peak of summer, as July to mid-August is also the very popular wildflower season when the alpine meadows simply explode with colour.

Oh yes…and we saw a grizzly bear in the wild! It was truly one of the most amazing (and exciting) things I have ever experienced on my travels! (See my IG stories/highlight for more.)

Note: While we loved meeting fellow adventurers while staying at the lodge, it can also be fully booked out for small groups and for special events (such as weddings).

09/27/2022

THE BRIDGE - Did you know that the Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge in Golden is the longest freestanding timber frame bridge in Canada? Built in 2001, it was constructed from locally harvested timbers with a design that is a nod to the Swiss mountain guides who arrived in Golden in the early 1900s. It’s a must-see in Golden either by crossing over it on foot as you explore town, or by passing under it on an exciting whitewater rafting trip down the Kicking Horse River. For our full guide to Golden, please see our profile link.