March 16, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Art Galleries & Artists
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We are so lucky here in Dawson Creek to have a really active art community.
When my friend told me about the latest show and concert to open at the Grain Elevator Art Gallery I knew it was just the thing to bring some light and warmth and color into the deep days of winter.
We arrived early and from the first moment of opening the door we were wrapped in soft welcoming music. Looking up the spiraling ramp, the walls were hung with bright, colorful portraits, people were just starting to come in, and apparently with the same idea we had for breaking up the winter.
There was a big bowl of punch and a table full of appetizers to enjoy as well and we strolled up to the top of the gallery nibbling, chatting, and enjoying the art. We often stop to look down over the rails to the belly of the gallery below.
We finished our stroll and returned to the center of the gallery to fill our plates with more snacks and take a seat to listen to an intimate concert by a traveling musician. The Art Gallery hosts regular concerts and art exhibits and we try to go them on a regular basis.
Ticket prices are always reasonable and we never fail to enjoy ourselves. It's a small venue and that's what makes it so enjoyable.
It was a warm and wonderful evening.
March 09, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Festivals & Events
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The annual Cabin Fever Winter Festival hosted by the Mattson Family took place on a very cold, clear February day this year. We were all dressed up in our warmest winter clothes to be outside.
It was a day of visiting, laughing, eating, dancing, playing and stiff competition between neighbors and visitors alike.
The kids with their rosy cheeks had a great time racing the "Board Walk" (modified three legged race where they have to walk together with feet strapped into two short pieces of lumber) and also testing their skills in the "Snowball Toss."
Adult Competitions:
"Tea-Boiling" – contestants had to run to grab a hatchet and kindling and light a fire with no paper and only ten matches to bring a pot of water to a rolling boil – first one to drop a bag of tea in the pot was declared the winner.
"Cross-Cut Sawing" – teams of two people sawing a slice from a big log with an antique cross-cut saw.
"Bale Rolling Race" – Teams rolling 1500 pound bales of hay a lengthy distance.
"Mitt Mayhem" – This was the best! Contestants struggled to open a canned drink and make a peanut butter and jam sandwich wearing large bulky snowmobile mitts.
The competitions were fierce! The winners were thrilled!
There was a beautiful team of Shire Horses giving sleigh rides. Hot food was served in the warm barn and we had a warm-up fire and hay bale wind break to make the outdoor event comfortable even with the bitter winter day.
The festival ended with a barn dance in "Albert's Loft" with old timey music by the Sweetwater Ramblers.
The festival was a great way to shake off the winter with friends and laughs.
March 02, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Dining
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When I heard that I could get my favorite Italian Gelato (ice cream) in town, I was thrilled!
The Café Europa has an international atmosphere (Italian & Hungarian) and a menu featuring specialty coffees, European sandwiches and deserts. The display cases are a work of art.
It's right downtown, a block away from the Mile O Post, tucked away in a long narrow building. You can pop in when you are downtown checking out the murals. Then you can stroll and eat ice cream or enjoy your coffee at the same time.
Within days of opening it's doors, this little eatery became a favorite with locals and visitors alike.
The café is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. You can eat in or take out and there is a small veranda out back to sit and enjoy your food in the summer months. This is the only place in town where you can eat Tapis one week and Turkish Barbeque the next.
I'm most excited about the international nights – Italian, Greek, Spanish, Serbian, Hungarian, German, French, Turkish menus. All those flavors in one restaurant.
February 23, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Snowmobiling
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We try to spend as much time outside as we can in the winter and since we get so much sunshine here in the Peace River Country, the cold doesn't seem to bother us.
Our friends invited us to go snowmobiling with them. I hadn't been on a snowmobile since I was in elementary school. The machines certainly have changed since then.
We met up at the entrance to the Bear Mountain Wind Park and spent the whole day exploring back trails.
I couldn't believe how fast we went. It was very exciting! There are a lot of places to ride around here. In addition to the oil and gas pipelines and back trails, the ditches along the highway are really wide in a lot of areas and you can go for miles and miles with ease. You have to have your own machines because there is not a business that rents them.
We weren't the only ones on the ridge that day, we heard and saw several other groups of people.
Our friend packed some kindling and small firewood along and we stopped along a trail that had a panoramic view of the valley to the east of Dawson Creek, built a small fire and roasted hot dogs. Thermos' of hot coffee and chocolate made the day perfect.
We had one problem right near the end when we crossed a field and were met by a farmer who was out plowing snow on his tractor.
We stopped and he told us that being on the fields was not allowed unless we asked permission and then it depended on the crop. Apparently it packs the snow down and can damage the crops. He said our two little trails wouldn't do much damage, but groups roaring around on a field can really affect it.
If you are visiting our area with your snowmobiles, make sure you have permission to be on private property.
February 16, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Festivals & Events
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The Spirit Art Festival has transformed Dawson Creek streets into a city-wide art gallery for the month of February. Many of the downtown businesses have turned their street front windows into display cases for our local artists.
Last Sunday, I bundled up, parked my car at the corner of 102nd Ave & 10th Street, by the Mile O Post and went for a walkabout with my camera and a friend.
I stopped at Café Europa for my favorite specialty coffee to sip and walked up and down the streets looking at the awesome local art. It was great to have the time to stop and really look at all the work.
There are displays from potters, printmakers, painters, photographers and quilters.
My absolute favorite is the display inside the Alaska Highway House that features the work of a local potter who just recently lost her life. She was an avid potter and her family put her latest work on display for the community and visitors to enjoy.
Projects like this really enhance the city. We are bursting at the seams with talent and I am looking forward to taking into many other performances and displays. My congratulations to the planners who chose the winter month of February to put on this festival.
Grab a hot drink and check out the art!
February 09, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Art Galleries & Artists
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I was one of the many enthusiastic art lovers at the progressive opening for the Spirit Art Festival in Dawson Creek.
It was pretty exciting to see the flyers for the month long city wide festival. The line up includes visual art displays, live performances, workshops and lectures
Many of the businesses downtown are sharing their street front window space with local artists. Several venues will be hosting events. The whole city is alive with art!
The opening began at the local bookstore and made its way to the Alaska Café where we were treated to several readings of poetry by celebrated Canadian Poet Ms. Lorna Crozier. Ms Crozier read several pieces of her work and was accompanied by local musician Andrew Ho on the piano. Her poem "Snow" was especially powerful and evocative for us northern folk.
It was awesome to be back in the Alaska Café, which is now only opened on special occasions.
This promises to be a great month of art!
January 19, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Cross-Country Skiing
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I put my cross-country skis on for the first time this year on a beautiful, sunny Sunday. We went up to Radar Lake to the
Bear Mountain Nordic Ski Trails.
Being a confirmed beginner skier, I have yet to move beyond the beginner trails, but my more accomplished friends tell me that the intermediate and advanced trails are superb.
There are over 20 kilometers (12 miles) of trails and they are kept well groomed by the Nordic Ski Club.
Cross-country skiing is such an awesome cardio workout and lots of fun!
I enjoy the smell of the trees and the sound of the skis and the many wildlife sightings. It's common to see deer, moose, squirrels and an abundance of birds.
It's also great to stop for hot chocolate and lunch at one of the warming huts. The hut on the beginner trail is called the Grizzly Den, where we build a fire and warm up. I haven't been to the other warming huts because they are on more advanced trails.
There are trail maps posted along the trail, but it's recommended to have a paper one for the many intermediate and advanced trails.
January 11, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Festivals & Events
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December 30 was a cold winter day in Dawson Creek, the temperatures plunged to -32 celcius.
Our holiday company had been up for a week and we were all feeling a bit house bound. Our 2 nephews were getting bored and we needed something different to do.
The 3rd annual Christmas Extravaganza was being held at the Lakota Equestrian Center in the new Multiplex.
We have gone every year so far, so decided to brave the cold and check it out. The place was packed! People had come out in droves to watch all the different horse clubs that use the facility put on a demonstration.
The show started with a Grand Entry of Flags, then came the jumping horses, dressage horses, a rodeo drill team, barrel racing, western pleasure horses, team roping, reining, and cow penning.
There was a young woman riding without a bridle, and a young man who had taught his miniature donkey to jump over rails. but the best were the little kids just learning to ride and those on ponies tying goats and riding around obstacles while trying to stay on. What fun!
There are a lot of thriving horse clubs in Dawson Creek and the equestrian center is in constant use. There are 110 indoor stalls and each one is rented all year round.
We will definitely go again next year. If you are visiting over the holidays, I really recommend you check it out. It's free and open to the public. Even if you miss the showcase, a trip to the Lakota Center is a great way to spend an hour or so.
January 05, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
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One of the prettiest sights in the Peace River Country is hoarfrost in the winter.
It happens when it's really cold and still overnight and there is a lot of moisture in the air. A thick layer of crystals forms on all the trees and when the sun hits the frost, the whole landscape sparkles like diamonds.
Any air movement causes the frost to drift off the trees, and it looks and feels like light snow is falling, even if the skies are clear and blue.
A hoarfrost morning is the perfect time for a walk, stand under a tree and shake it or a drive down a country road lined with trees and bushes.
The thing about this special frost is as mysteriously as it appears; it just as quietly disappears so make sure you take time to enjoy it.
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.