Brought to you by Interac Association and TheCo

We live in such an amazing province here in BC. Our outdoor surroundings are phenomenal: between the mountains and the ocean, our region is truly spectacular by nature. I want to teach Dylan not just to appreciate the outdoors, but also to respect and protect it. So today, we decided to make a small trip to Westham Island to pick up some fresh produce and visit The George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

Even though Dylan is a well-behaved four-year-old, sometimes it’s challenging to stick to a routine or a schedule when bringing him along. Shopping is no exception. Dylan loves to pretend that each stop on our tour is his own personal playground, and everything is put there so he can play with it.

Our first stop was at Emma Lea farms for their u-pick berries. This is such a fun activity to do with the whole family. My husband, Jake, had such a good time teaching Dylan how to choose only the ripest berries and partaking in Dylan’s curiosity, as he had tons of questions while he was learning the basics of where his food comes from.

What we were not expecting, was that Dylan had a mini-meltdown right when we were about to pay for our berries. Imagine having to control an upset child and at the same time rummaging through your purse looking for cash to pay for your purchases. That’s why I’m so happy I’m set up with Interac Flash. I’m a debit girl; I find Interac Flash^® fast, convenient, and, with additional security features, the safest way to pay, making my purchase one less thing to worry about!

On to the next stop: The George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary.

The Bird Sanctuary consists of nearly 850 acres of managed wetlands, natural marshes and low dykes in the heart of the Fraser River. In it, you could get close to hundreds of birds and appreciate their natural habitat first hand.

The highlight of the trip was Dylan’s opportunity to feed the birds. The sanctuary sells bags of special bird feed for only $1 per bag.

I’m not the kind of person that carries a lot of change with me. I find it often weighs down my purse. So, yay for Interac Flash again! I simply had to hover my Debit card above the payment terminal and we were set up with not just one, but five bags of bird seed – and I’m glad we got that many, there were lots and lots of hungry birds.

For me, watching Blue Herons nesting was pretty fantastic.

Our day was full of fun and adventure, and with a little planning, it went smoothly. Here are my top five suggestions when day tripping with the family in tow:

1. Always have a toy or two in the car.
2. Carry a small purse with the essentials:
   1. Snack
   2. Sunscreen
   3. Water
   4. Your Interac Flash enabled debit card.
3. Have a small first-aid kit in the car – just in case.
4. Make sure to download the area in Google maps on your phone before leaving the house.
5. A good music playlist that everyone can enjoy makes for good car karaoke.

There are many things to do and see on Westham Island, which is less than an hour drive from downtown Vancouver. Exploring it was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon making memories with my family.

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY INTERAC ASSOCIATION/ACXSYS CORPORATION, BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

Interac and Interac Flash are registered trade-marks of Interac Inc. Used under license.