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"I'm on a boat..." We couldn't help but sing the song. Blasting out across English Bay and under bridges as we bounced over choppy wake left by Sea Buses, float planes and other boats. We took in the iconic sights of Burrard Inlet and Deep Cove.

Thanks to everyone who voted for our @VIAwesome Twitter account in the Georgia Straight's Best Of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­awards this year.

BEING SURROUNDED BY NATURE inspires creativity. It also instills us with passion to protect our natural surroundings and conserve all that is beautiful and pure about our dense forests, sacred mountains and innocent wildlife.

THERE'S NOTHING QUITE LIKE watching dusk fall upon the calm waters of a harbour. The faint sounds of seagulls owls and herons. The splashing of feeding fish fleeing from the seals that hunt them.

Location: Robson Street I think you'll all agree with me when I say that this is a pretty darn awesome way to spend a bit of time outside in the city and pretty much THE most awesome way to make use of the old Canada Place sails! Thanks for this one,

THE HOWLING WIND AND SEA WILL SET YOU FREE. Or at least it will provide a major distraction from everything else in your life as you seek to set sail in Howe Sound. But it's not your typical sailing experience. No, this is a human-powered adventure.

Vancouver-based Pacific Salmon Foundation is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wild Pacific salmon and their ecosystems. We work to bring salmon back, stream by stream through the strategic use of resources and local communities.

SOMETIMES, ITS HARD TO UNPLUG. That’s sometimes what Ontarians might say – we have no excuse. One of the most attractive qualities of living in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­is how easy it is for anyone to 'unplug'.

Location: Pitt River, Port Coquitlam ( Click for map ) What a beautiful way to spend a day, only miles away from our awesome city and what a beautiful image which really does convey a feeling of solitude, calm and a connection with nature.

Cycle through the countryside. Slow it down. Speed it up. Enjoy the fruits of someone's labour. Appreciate the rich soil that gives us the misshapen potatoes that are perfect in every way.