Overnighting In Chilliwack
We usually take far more summer trips, but this summer we stuck rather close to home. Among the many good things about living in Vancouver is the fact that there are many quick trips to be had, and since we were invited out to Cultus Lake Marina to take a boat for a spin (that story here), we thought we’d spend the night and explore Chilliwack.
Our trip out to Chilliwack gave us the perfect opportunity to test out the 2019 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, hailing from the category of compact crossover utility vehicles, the first debuting in 2018.
The interior is stylish, with the center console’s feature-rich touchscreen and a touchpad as well, so you don’t have to reach forward, eliminating distraction. It’s an attractive vehicle all around, the one complaint I have is the split panel on the rear that cuts the view in the rear-view mirror, although I think over time, you’d adjust to this.
The Eclipse provides a powerful and smooth ride, with 152 horsepower and 184 pounds per foot of torque from a turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder engine, meaning our highway cruise out was an easy one. The continuously variable transmission runs smoothly, and you can also choose to shift with the steering wheel paddles or the console shifter should you choose.
There’s a ton of features, even on the base model, and we were quite fond of the seven-inch infotainment system with satellite radio, heated front seats, automatic climate control, the tire pressure monitoring system, anti-theft alarm, and the Android Auto hook up for our phone, so we could use navigation. Our model also had heated rear seats, dual climate control so there was no arguing over temperature and a head up display, LED headlamps, power driver’s seat, a multi-view camera and more.
The safety features in this auto earned it a Top Safety Pick by the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). There’s a backup camera, blind-spot monitoring, emergency front braking, lane departure warning, and auto high-beam headlamps. With tons of room for our luggage and the farmers haul we brought back, we definitely take the Eclipse out again.
On the way out to Cultus Lake we stopped at Alicia’s Flavours for lunch and loved this little family run spot just off the highway. There was an enclosed patio that we sat on and enjoyed some Enchiladas and Tacos. Their happy hour looked fun and I noticed they’re also participating in the upcoming Fraser Valley Taco Festival, on September 4th.
Our afternoon on Cultus Lake was incredibly relaxing and I did a whole article about that here. There’s still time to get out before summer is over.
We stopped in at Old Yale Brewing for a flight, they’ve got a great line up including the mango wheat, an ipa, blond, amber and pale ale.
Arriving at the Fraser’s Edge Bed and Breakfast we were treated to incredible views and a cozy room with a kitchenette and all the comforts of home. The breakfast was a delight, with perfectly poached eggs and fresh fruit, all attractively plated.
For dinner we ventured back towards town to Vita Bella Bistro, I’d heard about this Italian gem as I used to work with Chef Leo in Kitsilano years ago at Mangaria. He and his wife opened Vita Bella in Burnaby on East Hastings, and I never got there, but fortunately they’re open in Chilliwack, where they’ve brought a taste of Italy to the suburbs. The escargot was perfectly garlicky and the Jumbo Tiger Prawns and Pork Tenderloin full of flavour.
Despite the drizzle we encountered the following day, we did a nice little hike through Blue Heron Bird Sanctuary, before checking out the British Museum, Dickens, where we found some interesting memorabilia, along with a pretty tasty sausage roll.
