Linda Barnard
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BC Travel

British Columbia road trips: a year of travelling gratefully

Attractions

Baby Otter Cam star helping keep Vancouver Aquarium afloat

Film

Movies to make you hungry

Attractions

British Columbia in a bottle

BC Travel

Salt Spring Island: home of an amazing Montreal-style deli

Attractions

How cool is that? There is a Pencil Sharpener Museum

BC Travel

B.C. road trips: Vancouver Island

Attractions

Follow in Harry Potter’s tracks to explore the magic of England and Scotland

Attractions

5 places to look for Harry Potter in Edinburgh

British Columbia road trips: a year of travelling gratefully
BC Travel, Hotels

British Columbia road trips: a year of travelling gratefully

  • By: Linda Barnard
  • January 1, 2021
  • No comment
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Baby Otter Cam star helping keep Vancouver Aquarium afloat
Attractions, BC Travel

Baby Otter Cam star helping keep Vancouver Aquarium afloat

  • By: Linda Barnard
  • August 21, 2020
  • No comment
Read More +
Movies to make you hungry
Film, Food

Movies to make you hungry

  • By: Linda Barnard
  • August 12, 2020
  • No comment
  • 3
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British Columbia in a bottle
Attractions, BC Travel

British Columbia in a bottle

  • By: Linda Barnard
  • August 11, 2020
  • 2 Comments
  • 1
Read More +
Salt Spring Island: home of an amazing Montreal-style deli
BC Travel, Food

Salt Spring Island: home of an amazing Montreal-style deli

  • By: Linda Barnard
  • August 11, 2020
  • No comment
Read More +
How cool is that? There is a Pencil Sharpener Museum
Attractions

How cool is that? There is a Pencil Sharpener Museum

  • By: Linda Barnard
  • August 11, 2020
  • No comment
Read More +
B.C. road trips: Vancouver Island
BC Travel, Food, Hotels

B.C. road trips: Vancouver Island

  • By: Linda Barnard
  • August 11, 2020
  • No comment
Read More +
Follow in Harry Potter’s tracks to explore the magic of England and Scotland
Attractions

Follow in Harry Potter’s tracks to explore the magic of England and Scotland

  • By: Linda Barnard
  • December 15, 2017
  • No comment
Read More +
5 places to look for Harry Potter in Edinburgh
Attractions

5 places to look for Harry Potter in Edinburgh

  • By: Linda Barnard
  • December 15, 2017
  • No comment
Read More +

Hi, I’m Linda.

Four years ago, I walked out of the Toronto Star entertainment department and into a new life as a freelance travel, food and movie writer.

With my partner, Hans, and our chunky tabby, Lance, I moved across the country to Victoria, British Columbia.

Life changes liberated me to write about the people, places and experiences I’m passionate about. I know there’s joy on the road, on the plate and in a wine glass.

Characters and trailblazers, makers and creatives all have stories to tell. Meeting them creates travel memories. Remind me to tell you about the spice merchant Old Delhi’s chaotic Chandni Chowk who became a Canadian grocery store star, the celebrity goats that dine on the roof at a Vancouver Island café, or my first deep-sea fishing expedition in the company of four determined women, where I lost my breakfast but caught my lunch.

Beautiful British Columbia is my backyard. I’m excited to share the best of my home province with you.

I’m an energetic, curious sort who believes there’s no expiry date on reinvention. I’m active on social media, but also a big believer in putting the phone down to truly see the world. You can find my stories in national and international newspapers, websites and magazines. Click on the portfolio button if you want to have a look.

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barnardwrites

The peacock calls this board meeting (get it?) to The peacock calls this board meeting (get it?) to order at Country Bee Honey Farm in rural Saanich, near #victoriabc. We often stop by to pick up local honey (the coffee-flavoured one is a big hit) and to say hi to the resident critters. @countrybeehoney #buylocal #shoplocal #shoplocalyyj #honey #honeyfarm #bees
Another divine Family Meal take-home kit from @sav Another divine Family Meal take-home kit from @saveurresto last night. Kale salad with pickled red onion and baguette Parmesan crumb to start. Outstanding chicken roulade vol-au-vent with silky leek and mushroom sauce in crispy, flaky puff pastry shells (which were Insanely good), roasted beets from @michellsfarm topped with chèvre and crispy savoury pistachio brittle. What a meal! Elevated takeout. #saveurrestaurant #buylocal #eatlocal #supportrestaurants #stayhomestaysafe #stayhome #knowyourfarmer #knowyourchef #yyj #yyjeats #victoriabc #vancouverisland
I’m doing the Dry January thing. Making my happy I’m doing the Dry January thing. Making my happy hour cocktails with new Lumette! London Dry made by Vancouver Island distillers @sheringhamdistillery. I like this one much better than the original Bright Light, which I found oddly perfume-y. This non-alcoholic take on a classic British gin is terrific,
with lots of juniper and citrus and made for mixing. I made this cocktail with fresh orange juice, grapefruit bitters and muddled fresh rosemary, shaken over ice. Are you doing a Dry January? Got a favourite non-alcoholic cocktail recipe? #dryjanuary #noalcohol #healthy #newyear #nonalcoholic #cocktails #sheringhamdistillery #fauxgin #victoriabc #drinkhealthy #yyjdrinks #vancouverisland
My first story for @gotluxurytravel is a collabora My first story for @gotluxurytravel is a collaborative effort as a group of experienced travel writers share thoughts and ideas on how travel will change in 2021. Think slower, sustainable and closer to home. What do you think travel will look like in 2021 and beyond? We have some interesting ideas to share. (Link in bio) and at gettingontravel.com. Photo: Linda Barnard, Chesterman Beach sunset, Tofino. #travel #travellocal #tofino #bcismybackyard #staysafe #buylocal #staylocal
A moment of calm and relaxation from Mountain Road A moment of calm and relaxation from Mountain Road Forest, a 20-hectare piece of land filled with Douglas fir, arbutus, Garry oaks and lush ferns. With narrow trails to explore, it’s home to birds like owls and nighthawks and woodpeckers, as well as tree frogs, salamanders and beautiful calypso orchids. A local family has owned it for more than 20 years. Now they’re pursuing permanent conservation, agreeing to sell it to be protected from development and kept as a permanent forest park just outside Victoria. The Habitat Acquisition Trust has a fundraising push on with Earth Day 2021 as the goal. @habitatacqtrust @crd_bc #mountainroadforest #bcismybackyard #savetheforest #treehugger #saanich #vancouverisland
Felt angry and sad when I read @violetteboutique w Felt angry and sad when I read @violetteboutique was vandalized and robbed earlier this week, a small women-run business in downtown Victoria. Police say thieves are targeting businesses downtown and I find that reprehensible when small retailers are facing so many difficulties under the global pandemic. Stores are open here, with distancing and safety protocols in place, but January is going to be very tough. So my partner  bought me this beautiful @pyrrhajewelry necklace yesterday for our anniversary from Violette. I love it - and him. #buylocal #shoplocal #violetteboutique #downtownvictoria #yyj
Ten years ago today: First date. Dinner. An embrac Ten years ago today: First date. Dinner. An embrace on a snowy street corner in Toronto and 💕. Here’s to the next 10 and so many more after that. With gratitude, respect and love to my partner in all things. #anniversary #flowers #love
National Bird Day has me remembering a visit last National Bird Day has me remembering a visit last summer with this beauty at @north_island_wildlife_recovery near Parksville where injured animals (many were hit by cars, shot with guns or arrows) are treated with an eye to releasing them back into the wild. Some of them, like this bald eagle, are just too badly injured and couldn’t survive in nature. So they now live here. Volunteers keep the place going and the animals cared for. @parksvillequalicumbeach #vancouverisland #birds #nationalbirdday
Make mine a Space Goat. It’s the beer the (goat) Make mine a Space Goat. It’s the beer the (goat) astronauts drink. @phillipsbeer #drinklocal #drinklocalbeer #yyj #ipa #victoriabc #beer
New year fitness goals. Time to hit the mat! @muve New year fitness goals. Time to hit the mat! @muvespace #newyear #newyearfitnessgoals #gettingfit
Dropped the Christmas tree off for recycling but m Dropped the Christmas tree off for recycling but missed the arrival of the wood chipper. Sigh. Fun fact, the Fargo-Moorhead Visitors Center has the original wood chipper prop from FARGO and a replica you can pose with and take photos to make your friends jealous. #fargo
Tradition in our house to ensure a happy, lucky ye Tradition in our house to ensure a happy, lucky year ahead, learned thanks to many New Year’s Days in the excellent company of Georgia friends Bert & Melinda, Terri & Lee, Grace & Danny, Kathleen, David, Krys & Keith and all the rest of you wonderful, hospitable Southerners. Collards, black-eyed peas and a “big-ass smoked ham.” Yeah, I cheated with canned peas. But made up for it with this epic ham from @wholebeastmeats. @melworksinc @bertroughton #yyj #buylocal #happynewyear #collards #blackeyedpeas #eatyourgreens
The cat always misses the countdown. Sorry @itsric The cat always misses the countdown. Sorry @itsrickmercer - we thought you were great and loved the coast-to-coast-to-coast #canadianmusic. Happy New Year and here’s to 2021. @cbc #yyj #victoriabc #vancouverisland #happynewyear2021 #happynewyear 🎉🥂
It was a @jeremykoreski Christmas at our place. As It was a @jeremykoreski Christmas at our place. As a newspaper reporter for many years, I told stories with words and always had great respect for the role of the photographers and photojournalists I worked with at @thetorontostar and @torontosunonline to tell the story visually. I was captivated by Jeremy’s work as soon as I saw it at @jeremykoreskigallery in Tofino, the image glowing in the gallery window on a winter early evening. I had to have this piece of photo art for my partner for Christmas. “Cold Growth” is the expression of the Vancouver Island old-growth forest, a much-loved part of our new(ish) B.C. home. The photograph draws me in and then expands. It tells a story of the difficulty of getting this image, the strength of forest giants that stand thanks to the commitment of activists who fought back against logging and the powerful beauty of nature in winter: a truly Canadian image. Thanks to framing genius Dee at @artboxprinting for helping me pick the perfect frame. #tofino #jeremykoreski #photography #photoart @tourismtofino @wickinnbc @tourismvancouverisland @hellobc #buylocal #shoplocal #supportlocal
Isn’t nature the most perfect artist? A twisted Isn’t nature the most perfect artist? A twisted trunk on a felled tree. Towering spruce and fir trees shelter me from the light rain on a Mount Doug hike.  #yyj #mountdoug #bcismybackyard #naturelover #nature
What to do on a rainy day in Victoria? Visit Wooll What to do on a rainy day in Victoria? Visit Woolly, the celebrity mammoth at the Royal BC Museum. The museum’s dioramas are wonderful. A dying art to paint and stage these land and seascapes. @royalbcmuseum #mammoth #yyj #buylocal #museum #victoriabc
My plating skills can’t match the chef’s artis My plating skills can’t match the chef’s artistry but our Beef Wellington Christmas dinner from @saveurresto was sublime. Perfect starter salad, sides (could there be any more butter in the potatoes?) and delectable brioche bread pudding with fir-scented creme anglaise. Enjoyed with a bottle of @scwines 2016 Syrah from Oliver-Osoyoos. #eatlocal #buylocal #knowyourchef @winecapital a few @uncorkthesun #feast #yyjeats #victoriafood #victoriabc #vancouverisland
“Recently laid-off reindeer lookalike seeks fulf “Recently laid-off reindeer lookalike seeks fulfilling employment in social media area. Replies: @Rudolph.”
Christmas Day beach walk, then back home to eat mo Christmas Day beach walk, then back home to eat more (I needed to step away from the cheese!) and play a new board game by the fire as we stayed home/stayed safe. Hope your day was also Merry and Bright. #merrychristmas #yyj
Christmas dinner from @saveurresto. Beef Wellingto Christmas dinner from @saveurresto. Beef Wellington with all the sides, sauces and finishing touches. A celebration meal for two as we stay home/stay safe. Wishing you good food and cheer this holiday. #buylocal #eatlocal #knowyourchef #shoplocal #yyjeats #victoria #vancouverisland🎄
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Latest Posts

  • British Columbia road trips: a year of travelling gratefully
    January 1, 2021

    British Columbia road trips: a year of travelling gratefully

  • Baby Otter Cam star helping keep Vancouver Aquarium afloat
    August 21, 2020

    Baby Otter Cam star helping keep Vancouver Aquarium afloat

  • Movies to make you hungry
    August 12, 2020

    Movies to make you hungry

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