July 12, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
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When you are visiting Dawson Creek be sure to stop in at the Visitor Center, and ask for the Self-Guided Historic Walking Tour. This pamphlet will give you a great ‘low down’ on the community, taking you on a tour that can take you from 45 minutes to a couple of hours to complete. The length of the tour depends on how much you want to explore and take in what is offered.
The tour starts off at the Northern Alberta Railway Park, takes you through the downtown core, giving you a taste of the lively history of the city. There are murals upon murals (one of which is in this picture); there are statues and the Mile 0 post to take pictures by. There are also original photos and brief descriptions of old businesses and buildings. I particularly enjoyed the color of the downtown core which was accented with hanging baskets and flower pot on the curbs. One place you have to check out in the tour is 17A (in the tour guide pamphlet) – the Alaska Highway House. It is a wonderful collection of stories and artifacts related to the building of the Alaska Highway – they even show a video. All in all this is definitely something for your ‘back pockets’ if you are taking the adventure up the Alaska Highway. I found this walking tour even more interesting when I met some of the locals in the area! Looking like the tourist I am, they were all very friendly and helpful.
So remember whether it is you first time, you are returning or even if you live in Dawson Creek, ask about the tour, it is a great way to get to know the community.
June 07, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
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For those who like to walk the self-guided walk of Dawson Creek's historic downtown is a must do. The brochure, that can be picked up at the Visitor's Centre, the Art Gallery, and the Alaska Highway House, takes walkers all through the downtown area and gives them a taste of the historical, vibrant and quirky past of the city. The brochure includes a map and legend and each building has a write up on its history. Fun facts and interesting information make this an extremely easy and fun way to pass the time. Give your legs a stretch and your mind an opportunity to learn - take the walking tour!
June 05, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
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Take a walk down Pouce Coupe Village during the nice summer days. Pouce Coupe Community shapes up the place by planting flowers every summer. Each business has their own flowering spots in the middle of the road to make the town look more enjoyable. Lots of volunteering and wonderful to look at. If your passing through Pouce Coupe feel free and take a look. Amazing colors.
April 27, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
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Just a short 45 minutes north of Dawson Creek on the Rolla Highway is the Clayhurst Bridge across the Peace River. It's a great place to experience a big river, a big bridge, a beautiful view and peace and quiet all at the same time.
There is a place at the south end of the bridge to pull over and park so you can walk across the bridge. There used to be a plaque that dedicated the bridge to a former MLA, but it was vandalized years ago and not replaced.
There is very little traffic on the bridge and no other sounds of civilization so you can really appreciate the sounds of the water, the wind that comes down the valley and the vibration of the bridge under your feet. The power is amazing.
The center of the bridge is the best place to stop and lean over the rail to watch the water flow by under your feet carrying the occasional log downriver. The last time we were there, a pair of Canada Geese flew under the bridge right under us.
On the north side of the bridge is another old wooden bridge that crosses a smaller river that flows into the Peace, we like to cross that one too and carry on hiking up the banks for a bigger workout.
I was really impressed with the thickness of the ice on the banks of the river. Take your camera!
December 28, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
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Our flight left Dawson Creek on a very cold and clear day in early winter. There were a couple of inches of snow on the ground.
For the most of the flight, we saw snow covered mountains. As we got closer to Greater Vancouver, the snow thinned and the mountains were green.
The skies in Vancouver were clear and our flight took us on a great sight seeing tour.
From our chairs in the sky, we saw the ocean, Vancouver Island and big empty cargo ships sitting in the Burrard Inlet, the Lions Gate Bridge with 2 lanes of traffic going one way and one going the other. We saw the seawall and industrial parks and the skyscrapers of downtown Vancouver.
We really noticed the miles and miles of urban sprawl that stretched farther than our eyes could see.
Our plane landed after an hour and twenty minutes in the air and we disembarked into pleasant weather and enjoyed a city weekend in a beautiful city.
November 24, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
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GPS in hand, I went with a Geo-caching friend on a high-tech treasure hunt to find a cache box near a cemetery just south of Dawson Creek.
We had checked out GeoTourismCanada online and found a whole list of locations in and around Dawson Creek.
Even though I live in the area and knew where we were going for this hunt, it was very exciting to forget that and just follow the GPS coordinates. I used to love orienteering when I was in school, so this gave the same thrill.
Learning how to read the GPS device was the tricky part and I'm sure it would get easier with practice. We stopped the truck several times along the way so I could learn and practice how to read coordinates.
Finding the box itself just by following the coordinates was a challenge as well as a lot of fun.
Inside the box was a plastic bag with a small pencil and a logbook to write in. Several other people had written in the book ahead of us. We made sure everything was tucked away for the next adventurer.
I can certainly see why people love this sport.
November 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
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We set out from Dawson Creek, Mile O of the Alaska Highway while it was still dark, with a full tank of gas and a fresh cup of coffee-to-go.
About an hour and a half up the highway, just as the sun was rising, we found out how Pink Mountain got its name. Fireweed grows everywhere up the mountain and in the ditches. We must have hit peak season because along with the pink flowers, there were butterflies everywhere. Sadly, many butterflies got caught in the grill of our vehicle.
The air was fresh and clean and the views were awesome. We stopped at an interesting place called Sasquatch Crossing Lodge to fill up our coffee and ask about the butterflies. We were told that these are yearly phenomena and are Arctic Yellowtail Swallow butterflies.
We didn't see any sasquatches though, maybe next time.
October 24, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
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Friends from Oregon told me that one of the things they love the best about their visit to Dawson Creek is the square block of fields that stretch from horizon to horizon. She said it reminds her of a big patchwork quilt.
I agree. Even after living here my whole life, I still admire the panoramic views of green and gold fields, separated by dirt roads and hedges of trees.
No matter the season, it does look like a patchwork quilt. The view is especially spectacular in the July Canola season. The yellow-est yellow imaginable, all set out in perfect squares as far as the eye can see.
I also appreciate the soft browns of late fall when the crops have come off and the fields are getting ready to rest for the winter. The grain left by the harvest machinery makes easy pickings for the wildlife that lives so close to us.
October 20, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
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~ Do we need 10 sets of spare tires?
~ Will our windshields get smashed out by rocks?
~ How many miles of gravel will there be?
~ Is there still muskeg?
~ Do we need to carry spare gas?
These are the questions that came up around the fire with our friends who were on their way up the highway this year. They had heard horror stories from people who had traveled the Highway years and years ago.
The Alaska Highway is a fairly smooth road all the way from Dawson Creek. BC to Fairbanks, Alaska. It is pretty much paved all the way.
The ongoing issue is that every year the ground freezes and thaws and the pavement ripples and heaves and cracks in spots.
Maintenance crews are constantly repairing the road and you will have periodic waits while flag people get you through safely.
You will undoubtedly come across patches of loose gravel and occasional rough spots but as long as you are well prepared to begin with, you will be just fine.
The road is a pleasure to drive.
September 08, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
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We took a friend from out of town for a sight seeing drive around the area. We started here in Dawson Creek and drove to Fort St. John, (75km/47miles). We took the little side trip that is clearly marked to drive across the famous Kiskatenaw Bridge. I was disappointed because the batteries in my camera were dead and we had to use our cell phone to take some pics of the three of us on the bridge.
In Ft. St. John, we stopped at Cosmic Grounds, a great local coffee shop and picked up a treat of specialty coffees for our journey and of course a store for batteries for the camera.
The next part of our tour around the neighborhood is to Hudson Hope (86km/53miles) and to the W.A.C. Bennett Dam. Because we had plenty of time, we went in and bought tickets for the underground tour.
Our friend was blown away by the sights and sounds under the dam and no matter how many times I go, I am always awed as well.
From Hudson's Hope, we drove to Chetwynd (22km/14miles). I love Chetwynd, it's home to dozens of chainsaw carvings. They are huge and spread out all over town. It's amazing that a chainsaw can do such delicate work. We walked along the main drag and took a close look at the carvings there.
From Chetwynd, it's an hour to get home again (100km/60miles). One of my favorite parts of this jaunt is the railway bridge over the East Pine River. Some brave soul dangled down one of the concrete bridge supports and spray painted "
Dread Pirate Roberts" on it. Much speculation was involved in figuring out how it was accomplished and who did it. I would love to learn who did it.