August 09, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince Rupert, Whale Watching
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As the fog lifted off the Pacific Ocean on the coast of Prince Rupert, BC, a charter from Seashore Charters set sail to find orca whales and humpback whales!
Prince Rupert is one of the most recommended places to go for whale watching, as many will migrate to the areas of water around Prince Rupert. On most occasions, you will be lucky enough to catch glimpse of a whale breaching or even a tail come out of the great depths of the ocean.
On the tour that we joined, along the coastline briefly after taking off, a wolf appeared and ran along the shore as the charter boat moved along with it. We also got the chance to see a porpoise in the water and a rock packed full of sea lions! The guides are very knowledgeable and will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the animals or the areas they tend to call home.
I recommend a whale watching tour with any of the companies in Prince Rupert for any ages and international travelers to get a great view of one of many locations on the British Columbia shore line!
August 09, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince Rupert, Historic & Heritage Sites
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Northwestern BC has endless amounts of hidden gems!! One of them is the North Pacific Cannery located in Port Edward, BC. The cannery is located along the coastline and reaches out to you as if you are a part of the cannery while it was in full fledged operation in the 1900's.
The first building we walked into was one of the main canning buildings. At the front, there was a long, flat and raised slab of wood resembling a stage. This is the area where the whole fish first entered into the lengthy and strenuous canning process. Throughout the building, several other stations are shown including the cutting of the fish and the area where the final steps occur! In order to preserve some of this equipment, some of it has been painted to ensure that it can be enjoyed by future visitors.
The cannery is not only a place to immerse yourself into coastal BC history (and a large part of commercial fishing in BC), but to begin understanding the working lives of many Chinese, Japanese and First Nations people - these three nationalities being the main employees at the canneries.
I suggest a visit/guided tour to the North Pacific Cannery for people of all ages and especially for international visitors so you can get a close up of one of the main industries and its growth and development over the past century.
July 31, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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In the heart of Prince George, there are several hiking and leisure walking trails that are available for use. There are several starting points to the trail that can be accessed from main parking lots. The trail length is 12.5 kilometers in total and can be accessed from 2 parking lots off of Foothills Boulevard and one parking lot off Ospika Boulevard. There is one outhouse on the trail, at the main starting point on Foothills. The trail encircles a meadow that is often home to several species of wildlife including deer, moose and red foxes and coyotes. If you are an avid birdwatcher, Moore's Meadow is the best place that you could position yourself. On more than one occasion, I have seen a bald eagle and sparrows in and circling the area above the main path. I recommend the trail as a hiking path during summer, spring and fall. The colour changes are absolutely remarkable and the scenery is a treat to those looking to experience the wilderness in their own backyard. Although the trail is a most common use area for hikers and runners, it is also popular for mountain bikers looking for a leisurely ride. In some sections, there are off leash areas where you make take your dog for a walk and let it run free in the meadow. The trail is composed of packed earth and wood chips and in some sections there are tree routes sprouting from the ground!
The park is also a great spot for those interested in being a part of the history of Prince George!! The meadow is based from a ground upheaval sometime during the ice age thousands of years ago!
Pop into the Prince George Visitors information center to get more information on Moore's Meadows and several other trails in Prince George!!
July 20, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Attractions
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Located on Cranbrook Hill in Prince George is Noah's Ark Adventureland. This is the only petting zoo in town and is home to several animals including goats, horses, a variety of bird life, as well as many other animal species.
At first glance, Noah's Ark may seem like a children's attraction, but after a visit, you may be itching to go back! Several local families and children head up the petting zoo each year. They have a great onsite facility for birthday parties and lunches in one of the barns, that are available at affordable prices.
I made a trip to Noah's Ark this morning and upon my arrival, one of the staff members told me about the arrival of 2 baby goats, born within the week. You can see one of the goats (a week old) in the photo attached with this entry.
July 20, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Art Galleries & Artists
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Located in the Prince George city center is one of two art galleries in town, known as the Two Rivers Art Gallery. The gallery has constantly changing displays, focusing on the contemporary style of art, rather than classical. When I went to the gallery most recently, there was a new exhibit called Cold War Artefacts: Logroad: The Baldy Hughes Project. The exhibit looks into the history of Baldy Hughes as a part of the Pinetreeline radar Defense complex in the mid-1900s. Many of the resources that are used in the exhibit are those that have hunted down by the artist in town.
The gallery is also exhibiting Frozen, a display created by Donald Lawrence, Mario Villeneuve and Matthew Wheeler. The display is array of photographs that represent moments in time. The three artists provoke the art of digital media in a room of displays in the gallery.
The last main display that I noticed while touring the gallery was the exhibit by Cat Sivertsen. Her art is hanging out of the main two gallery rooms and is definitely worth looking at when you are in the gallery.
The most artistic part of all is the architecture of the building and the totem poles that are standing outside the gallery. It would be worth the visit for any art lover, or anyone interested in seeing current art displays and creations!
July 17, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Mount Robson, Hiking
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Located approximately 275 kilometers from Prince George lies the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies! Commonly known to locals and tourists as Mount Robson, the summit of this mountain reaches 5410 feet in height and is approximately 23 kilometers one way from the base of the Berg Lake Trailhead.
Throughout the entire hike to the peak, there are several places to stop and enjoy the remarkable scenery and breathe in the fresh mountain air, but there are only 7 places to camp overnight and three locations for shelter. You are able to ride your bike into the trail until the edge of Kinney Lake (7 kilometers from the Berg Lake Trailhead) where there are bike racks located for you to lock your bike, as you continue on your trek up the mountain.
The hike to Kinney Lake is the easiest on the route and one that I would suggest for the whole family. The water, as a part of a glacier run off is absolutely stunning. On a sunny day, you can see the reflection of the mountains in the still water of the lake.
After Kinney Lake, the hike will slowly incline and is a bit more difficult. You will come to a point where you come to a complete flat surface and it resembles walking across the Arizona deserts. Do not be fooled! After this easy walk, the steeper and longer inclines begin. The next main stop is Whitehorn. There are a few camping pads and a ranger station and I would suggest stopping there if you are getting tired. My family turned around and headed back home at this point, as we were on a time constraint. However, if you decide to move on, there is a great section of waterfalls above.
It is a steep incline from Whitehorn to Emperor Falls, a waterfall that is located approximately 16 kilometers from the Berg Lake Trailhead. This climb is steep and it is tough, especially if you are packing overnight backpacks. When you come to the falls, you can step in fairly close and expect to get wet! If you decide to move on and find a new camping location, your next stop would be Berg Lake, located 21 kilometers from the trailhead. This stop comes by its name honestly. If you choose to stay at the location for a while, you can hear chunks of the glacier break off and fall into the lake below. If you set up camp at Berg Lake, there are several options for small day trips in the area, including Toboggan Falls and the Hargreaves Glacier.
If you are interested in being outdoors and are wanting to put yourself up to a new challenge, Mount Robson is a great location to check out!!
July 17, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Mount Robson, Accommodation
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Located 5 km west from the Mount Robson Visitors Information Center is the Mount Robson Lodge cabins and campground. At this location, there are cozy cabins to share with family or friends. Each cabin is outfitted with electricity, small kitchenettes, bathroom linens, a bathroom and a small patio. My family and I just returned from a vacation and we stayed at one of the smaller cabins and had a clear view of the peak of Mount Robson! At many times in the year, clouds will cover the top of the mountain, but we were lucky enough to stay at a location where we could clearly see the peak! While staying at the cabins, we also had a chance to go Whitewater Rafting with Mount Robson Whitewater Rafting at the same venue! Staying at this location was sure a treat and I suggest it to all that are interested in staying out of the city and closer to the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies!
July 17, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Valemount, Attractions
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A short drive from Tete Jeune Cache (junctions of Highway 16 and Highway 5) in British Columbia, is one of several waterfalls in the Northern BC region. The falls are a great place to stop for all travelers and those looking to taking a break on their drive to the Alberta border. The falls are a part of the Fraser River and plummet approximately 10 meters over rocks and loose trees that have collected over the years. There is a rest stop on the side of Highway 16 to access the falls and BC Parks estimates 1/2 hour return trip, although depending on the size of the group and the time you want to spend at the falls, it may take a shorter or longer time. There is a fabulous, well-maintained viewing platform with some points coming right to the edge of the fast moving river! If you are lucky, you may catch some whitewater rafters portaging over the falls! A must see stop on your way across Northern BC!
July 15, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Attractions
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Hixon Falls is located approximately 65 kilometers south of Prince George. When driving out to the site, it is easy to miss the sign on when to turn and you may find yourself looping around to find the sign (if the sign is not visible, be sure to make a left onto Hixon Creek Road and continue on the road past the refuse dump site). The road into the falls is windy and narrow, but is approximately 2 km driving distance on the dirt road. It is suitable to take all kinds of vehicles, but I would not recommend the drive in for larger motorhomes and RV's, as the option for two lane traffic is not easy. Camping is not allowed at the falls, but there are campsites in close proximity of Hixon. At this time, the water is moving very fast and the usual spot that I advise for taking a picnic is covered by fast moving water. Due to recent rain, the path is slightly muddy in sections, so ensure that you are wearing proper footwear! The path into the waterfall is easy to hike and recommended for every skill of hikers.
July 14, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Sightseeing Tours
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Approximately 6 kilometers north of Prince George's city center lays the McMillan Creek Regional Park. The 3 km (approximate) trail leads to a view point on the top of the cutbanks over-looking the Nechako river and Cottonwood Island Park. Right at the viewpoint, there are spots for picknicking. The park is for day use only and is designed for those hiking. The viewpoint is a great place to go if you are interested in seeing wildlife such as birds and other wildlife and differing plant species. Any season is a great time to go to the viewpoint, as you can see the beautiful changes in season and scenery in Prince George.