June 24, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Fishing
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Last night was so far the most enjoyable evening I have had so far this summer. The sun was still shining, the sky was a soft blue with few clouds, and the mosquitoes were at bay. This made for a spectacular, relaxing night of fishing at Chuck’s Puddle. I was determined to catch my first fish of the year so I scouted out the perfect fishing spot at a secluded area away from the boat launch and other fishermen. My excitement and purpose shown through as I took far more time than required to choose my fishing rod and lucky fish hook that actually smelled like a fish to be sure to provide me with a BIG catch. Since I haven’t been fishing in years, it was nice to have my boyfriend along to re-teach me the trick of the trade. It all came back to me quickly as it only took me a few tries before I could cast beyond the immediate weeds. Being out at Charlie Lake provided me with a sense of calmness and peacefulness that my daily life rarely offers.
After an hour of countless casts, finally a fish was on the line! Unfortunately, it was not my bait that had lured in a Jackfish. As you can see in the picture, my boyfriend was the lucky one, or as he likes to tell me, the one with the fishing skills. I snapped a few pictures and then the fish was released back into the lake since they apparently aren’t the tastiest of fish. By the time 10 o’clock approached, the sun had set behind the trees so we decided to pack up our gear and head home. I kept telling myself “just one more cast and you’ll get one” but I finally granted the fish victory for the night. Don’t worry though, I’ll be back to get my desired Walleye, or even better, the rare Yellow Perch.
June 22, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Boating & Sailing
British Columbia has approximately 34 kazillion lakes. That's right. I did my research. Even on Wikipedia, there are 312 pages for BC lakes, and those are only the big and well known ones warranting articles. But when was the last time you headed out onto one of these lakes? Has it been a while? I just went out a few days ago, and paddled around in my grandfather's ancient aluminum boat with a friend. We packed some snacks, put on the oar locks, and rowed across Ness Lake to tie up to a tree and drift while enjoying the breeze. It was fantastic, and reminded me how much we need to stop and enjoy little pleasures like a nice day or a cool breeze. Borrow a canoe or find an inflatable dinghy, and remind yourself too. No matter where you are in BC, I guarantee one of those 34 kazillion lakes is close by.
June 20, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Smithers, Attractions
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It's a beautiful sunny morning in Smithers, BC and a perfect day for a stroll down the redbrick sidewalks of Main Street. My name is Alpine Alice, and I am right at home here in the beautiful Bulkley Valley, surrounded by mountains, forests and rivers. As I walk down Main Street, making my way past outdoor eating areas, the smell of cinnamon buns tempts me to stop at a local café. I greet both new and familiar faces who are out enjoying this sunny first day of summer. Glancing up, I notice that that Smithers’ Ski runs are visible from town, as they are only a 20 minute drive up Hudson Bay Mountain Road. Although it is summer now, I can’t wait to hit the slopes and enjoy the beautiful northern BC powder. My walk brings me to the “Old Church.” It’s a favorite venue for local events, and if I shut my eyes I can almost hear the upbeat melodies of fiddle music or the catchy lyrics of local song writers. The “Old Church” is also a perfect place for visitors to enjoy a picnic or stretch their legs, as it is located just off Main Street on the corner of King and 1st Ave. As you’re travelling through make sure to take time to stop and smell the flowers!
June 19, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Revelstoke, Parks
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We love visiting Blanket Creek Provincial Park, South of Revelstoke. I had trouble choosing a category, since it could be hiking, camping, bird watching, bear watching, nature tours, swimming, as well as Parks.
The picnic area at Blanket Creek is beside a small lake, which would be perfect for swimming. Above the beach the picnic tables are on a grassy area full of gopher holes. The gophers pop up and may join your picnic! A short hike takes you to the lake on the Columbia River, where there are beautiful views of the mountains. Another hike leads to Sutherland Falls, a dramatic falls dropping into the creek which runs to the Columbia. It was on the steep bluff across the creek that we saw a bear this Spring.
There is also a very nice camping area, for both seasonal and overnight campers.
June 19, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Smithers, Arts, Culture & History Tours
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Smithers has many talented local artists, and I recently had the pleasure of enjoying their work in the Art Gallery. In this picture I am standing between 2 beautiful dresses, sewn by a local seamstress. I enjoyed the many paintings, carvings, and unique work the Gallery had to offer, then made my way to the other side of the building, where the Museum is located, to learn all about the history of Smithers. The Museum had lovely displays and was an educational experience to remember: First Nations History, the aviation exhibit, and the summer exhibit - All About Glaciers. Because I am Alpine Alice, I found the Swiss migration to the Valley particularly interesting, I even learned of Smithers' gift to civilization... the egg carton was invented by a man from Smithers, BC! As I left my history lesson and came back to 2012 I took a few minutes to admire this historic building; the Art Gallery and Museum was built in 1925 and was once used as the Smithers courthouse. This is one of the many historic buildings in Smithers that takes you back in time and shows you the beauty and wonder of years gone by.
June 19, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Smithers, Science, Nature or Animals
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I took a drive just 5 minutes west of town to one of Smithers' unique buildings, a beautiful igloo. Inside was a tasteful collection of Northern BC animal and bird species, on display under the Igloo dome. From moose to mice, bears to owls, birds of prey to otters, I was amazed to see over 130 animals in their natural habitat settings. I thought I knew of all of Northern BC's animals, but I was proven wrong when I had to ask the owner the names of a few animals. Come to Adam's Igloo and see how many animals you can identify!
June 19, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Food or Wine
While visiting Prince George, I chose to explore the downtown area and much to my delight I found numerous options for having a hot or cool drink at one of the many downtown cafes. One of my now favourite options is a place called Zoe's Javahouse! I have been there numerous times since my first visit and the place just seems to drag me back each time. It is located right downtown on 4th Avenue amongst many local shops and stores that are locally owned and operated. Zoe's is nothing different, as the owners are very friendly and make it easy for me to return time and time again.
One of my favourites that I seem to get quite regularly is a wonderful turkey sandwich with all the vegetable toppings of your choice, plus to top it all off is a friendly serving of real cranberry jelly. The fresh made bread of your choice make this an easy selection each and every time I go there. This is by far my favourite choice, even though you cannot forget any of the other great options either. To finish off the combo, I usually add a bowl of the freshly made daily soup. I try to drag myself out of there without buying too many little treats for later too, but that normally doesn't go too well as I tend to buy something else for the road.
The cafe has a wonderful chill atmosphere as everyone always seems so relaxed and friendly; making this quite easy to spend a lot of time here. On days when it is nice and sunny, they open up the great big windows at the front and it feels like the tables seated nearest to the front of the cafe are almost on a patio as it just completely opens up the space. Bring a nice book or relax in the cafe with friends and you will find yourself staying for a lengthy period of time, just like myself.
If you find yourself in Prince George and wanting freshly made local food for a great price, Zoe's is always near the top of my list.
June 19, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Vanderhoof, Outdoor Activity Tours
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Northern British Columbia has an abundance of mountains, lakes, rivers, and many incredible waterfalls. The region is full of so many picturesque and secluded areas that the outdoor enthusiast in me never seems to get bored by so many new adventures that are available. Throughout my travels, I always try to search out and explore as many waterfalls as possible. I enjoy the power that the waterfalls create and the chance to explore and discover them.
One of my favourite waterfalls in the Vanderhoof area is Greer Creek Falls. After a short drive heading south from Vanderhoof on Kenny Dam Road, just around the 37km mark on the road is located the parking lot for the trail leading to the falls. I found myself here by accident one day but was pleasantly surprised by what I found. The trail is quite steep with many trees, flowers and other plants leading the trail down the path to where the falls are located at the bottom. The falls disappear into a nice pool at the bottom which is great place for a quick swim to cool off after the hike down. There is a great little picnic area with a few tables to enjoy a meal on while you enjoy the mist from the pool. The adventure seeker in me decided to climb the hill beside the waterfall, which may or many not have been the best idea, but it turned out well and I enjoyed doing it. It definitely gave a much different perspective of everything from on top of the falls.
This waterfall is definitely worth the drive in and the hike down to it and I would recommend it to anyone. There are so many great waterfalls in Northern British Columbia, so this little gem just south of Vanderhoof is a great adventure for anyone.
June 17, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Burns Lake, Fishing
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Stretching across the Northwest region of Northern British Columbia is the enormous lake called Francois Lake. It is a very chilly lake for swimming, even in the summer; but this lake is an amazing lake for some fishing. Access to Francois Lake can be made through multiple locations with access from Fraser Lake and Burns Lake being both common access points to the lake.
A great opportunity for fishing on the lake can be found via Nithi Lake Resort, through access via Fraser Lake. There can be Nothing Like Nithi when it comes to a great resort on Francois Lake. It is a great location for some of the best fishing in the region, with numerous possibilities for accommodation. You are able to rent out one of the twelve cabins that they have available, with various different sizes and prices. If staying in a cabin is not your thing, then there are full service hook-up sites available as well. The convenience store at Nithi is stocked with lots of useful things like live bait, tackle and fishing supplies, canned foods, ice, pop, water and various other treats. If you don't have your own fishing gear and boat available, they were able to rent one out to me to use.
Fishing on Francois Lake and making a stop at Nithi Lake Resort should be on anyone's list, especially all the fishing enthusiasts.
June 17, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
McBride, Art Galleries & Artists
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Nestled in the heart of the Robson Valley is a little community called McBride. It is a beautiful area surrounded by many mountains on all sides, with an abundance of outdoor adventure activities for everyone to enjoy. Whether you drive or decide to take the Via Rail train to the stop at the Heritage Train Station from either Jasper or Edmonton, it is a great place to stop. The Heritage Train station is a wonderful little rustic train station with the Whistle Stop Gallery and The Beanery coffee shop to share the building.
Surrounded by parks and playground equipment, this train stop is the perfect place to stop and visit as a family. The Whistle Stop Gallery is an amazing little gallery, full of work from many local and area artists. It is easy to spend quite a bit a time here relaxing and looking at all of the wonderful artwork; and if you so choose to, you are able to purchase some of it to take home with you.
The Beanery coffee shop is a nice little quaint cafe with many great options for coffee, treats, homestyle meals, and various other hot and cool beverages. Whether you are just passing through or choose to stay and explore the adventures in the region, the Heritage Train Staion, Whistle Stop Gallery, and the Beanery are three perfect places to stop and visit while you are in McBride.