The Olympics have been such an exciting start to the month of February. Many organizers were worried about the weather but that has changed. The weather has lifted everyone’s spirits and actually showcased British Columbia to what it is: BEAUTIFUL!

We got quite a few inquiries before the Olympics but most people were concerned about the distance to the events so we didn’t have a chance to book. This was actually a blessing in disguise because we have been enjoying our time back and forth from the Squamish Retreat to Whistler and Vancouver.

I must say our location is perfect. You get the dose of the pulsing city life in Vancouver and then you get a dose of resort life in Whistler but in Squamish you get a dose of pure peace and quiet.

Did I forget to mention that the weather has been incredible? Our plants are starting to bloom early this year. We are also starting to get inquiries after the Olympics from people who have visited our neck of the woods briefly that want to come back again and explore the pure beauty of Squamish.

Today was a monumental day because Kearns Mechanical got our radiant heating installed. You may not know what radiant heating is so I will give you the skinny on why we decided to go this way instead of the traditional route like forced air.

Actually forced air is the cheapest method of heating but not the healthiest or most efficient type of heat.

Radiant heat is natural, silent, draft-less, and odorless. It is the best way to warm the floors and make a comfortable environment.

The benefits of our new energy efficient radiant heating system are:

• will save us money every month because the heat is slow moving
• it is better for your skin as it does not dry it out
• the amount of energy required to create and maintain a comfortable temperature is significantly less

You can read more about radiant heating here.

This is the main hub of the radiant heating system.

From world class rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, eagle watching, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, river rafting and fishing, there are so many exciting ways to play outside all year round!

Squamish offers neat museums, heritage sites, plus fun community events and festivals, a huge array of local artists, and delicious dining and shopping experiences.

Just 30 minutes to Whistler, 20 minutes to the Callaghan Olympic Park, and 40 minutes to Vancouver. That means Squamish is “smack-in-the-middle” of Whistler and Vancouver! A perfect place to be.

The reason why we chose a blog instead of a website is to keep updating our progress about our renovations, the Olympics, interesting tidbits on Squamish and its beautiful surroundings.

We want to express our experiences online and would like to share this with our visitors.

Technology is creating easier ways to connect to people and our vision with Squamish Retreat is to connect to people who want to experience a holiday not in a hotel room but actually be part of a wonderful community.

Follow us on Twitter and be part of the conversation and become a Fan of Facebook!

Squamish Retreat provides what a hotel, motel or a hostel can’t which are creature comforts like:

• A scenic deck, so you can sip your coffee or tea while reading a book from our library in peace. The only noise you will really hear is the sound of nature. Don’t know what that sounds like? Well you have to hear it to experience it.
• Our full kitchen provides all the tools to make a healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner. This actually saves money in the end instead of going out spending the money on transport to and from a restaurant, paying for drinks, the meal as well as a tip. Why not make a nice home cooked meal and enjoy the company?
• Privacy is never an issue, you’ll rest well knowing that you’re in a quiet home instead of a single room with noisy neighbors.
• Can beat the location, as you are just minutes away from sightseeing spots, golf courses, restaurants, and shopping.
• We provide access to a number of personal services like massage, cleaning and in-home chefs.

Here are the true benefits of a retreat:

• Space for you or family to have fun, indoors and out
• Creating memories of a truly comforting, one-of-a-kind holiday experience
• Time for yourself and family to kick back and relax

We are so proud to announce some of the exciting renovations that we have been working on and now they are complete!

Kitchen Before:

Kitchen After:

Before – Carpet

After – Old Growth Wide Plank Fir Floors

During mid fall of last year the renovations started on the kitchen and floor. We worked so hard on laying down new old growth fir floors throughout the whole house. Originally we planned to lay them only in the bedrooms. The reason for this change of heart was the discovery that each board had such unique grain character. We fell in love with them and decided to showcase them.

We also redid the kitchen layout. Originally we had a very small nook of a kitchen and a lot of room for a dinning area that we never used. We switched the two layouts around and created a cozy eating nook were the old kitchen was. It makes everything fit so well.

And last but not least we have radiant heating getting installed so that the floors will be toasty and warm on the feet.

This year, we hope to have more people visiting Squamish and exploring the community. Especially diving into the recreational activities that Squamish has to offer.

This will be our first Christmas in Squamish with our family and we are also looking forward to using the new kitchen so we can make a nice Christmas Eve dinner. It would be great if the snow fell so that Santa could have a smooth landing on our roof.

Speaking of which, yesterday it lightly dusted with snow. It was so beautiful, but not yet a winter wonderland. We are actually expecting about 10 centimeters, which is super exciting!

There are some real lovely walks around our area that make the location of the Squamish Retreat perfect for people who love the outdoors. If you like being outside on a sunny, rainy or a snowy afternoon, then Squamish is a perfect place for you!

For us to yours, have a safe and wonderful holiday season and all the best in the New Year!

Chris and I went away to Hawaii for 9 glorious days, it was heaven!

We needed a break from everyday life and to re-charge our batteries. We have been going non stop with the reno for a few months now and a break was a perfect way to relax and enjoy life.

It makes me really excited for our visitors to actually take time out of thier lives to explore our community of Squamish and beyond like Whistler, Pemberton as well as Vancouver.

We are happy we are filling the need to explore especially during the 2010 Olympics.

Everyone needs a holiday and our place is perfect for that!

Visitors not only come to Squamish for the camping, fishing and other outdoor sports but also to take advantage of the BC historical sites in the area such as the mining museum and heritage park.

To the north, Whistler offers world class skiing while the many provincial parks offer endless opportunities for outdoor recreation.

Squamish Retreat is a perfect place to stay during the 2010 Olympic games because you are right in the middle of venues in a vibrant community.

Why settle for a hotel room when you have a home away from home?

Contact info (AT) squamishretreat.com if you have any more questions!