August 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Quesnel, Dining
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I recently visited Granvilles in downtown Quesnel for a quick coffee stop, and boy was it good! This cafe is clearly a town favourite, because there were lots of people in the cozy little space. The walls are covered with neat licence plates and signs and miscellaneous other bits and pieces. Their huge assortment of beverages are great (up to date I've tried an assortment of lattes and mochas and italian sodas and they've all been awesome) and they've got lots of breakfast/lunch/dessert selections that are to die for. Oh - and be sure to check out their "French" and "German" translations on their to-go coffee cups...very funny...
They've recently expanded their outside seating , so grab a nice cold drink and enjoy the sun outside Granvilles!
August 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Shopping
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Looking to spend an afternoon shopping? I spent the day cruising Prince George's "Specialty Avenues" and found all kinds of treasures!
I started the day with a coffee at Cafe Voltaire within Books & Co and spent some time browsing the many books, including some books by local authors. Next I travelled down 3rd Ave to Northern Hardware to check out all the cool home furnishings. HomeWorks is always fun too, with tons of unique gifts and great clothes upstairs! Ruins and Riot had lots of clothes, and don't forget to venture downstairs in Ruins to find the bargain racks! A couple of my favourite stores on 4th Ave are Dandylines and JJ Springer - Dandylines is full of fun home deco items and gift ideas, and JJ Springer has a variety of gifts and tidbits as well. A couple of my favourites that are just off of "Specialty Aves" would be Topaz Beads on Dominion for their cool selection of beads and jewellery, and the Chinese Store on 5th for a huge variety of baskets, furniture and Chinese foods that you can't get anywhere else in town!
If you're feeling hungry after all that shopping, the downtown area is home to many coffee shops such as Starbucks, Sassafrass Savouries, and Une Petite Cafe. Or if you're looking for something a little more hefty, try one of the many great downtown restaurants ranging from greek to locally grown bison to sushi to hand-made pasta.
I really enjoyed my time downtown, and I'm definitely looking forward to my next shopping expedition!
August 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Dining
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If you're looking for some of the best food that Prince George has to offer, look no further than the White Goose Bistro on 3rd Ave.
With everything from pasta to ostrich burgers to seafood, this restaurant is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. And the best part - ten of their menu items are just $10 every day during lunch hours! My personal lunch favourite is the crispy chicken ceasar wrap...yum!
I've always had awesome food and fantastic service at the White Goose, and I encourage you to give it a try yourself!
August 10, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Bird Watching
Cottonwood Island Park in Prince George is a great spot to check out some of BC's best birds - bald eagles!
While walking through the park the other day, I spotted two nests within the park itself and a large one across the river as well. Keep your eyes on the skies, because at least one of the resident eagles was soaring above looking for fish in the shallow river.
Don't miss this opportunity to see some great wildlife right within the city!
July 30, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Biking
I've recently started cycling to get some exercise while taking advantage of the great weather lately, and I think I've got the best route in the province!
I've been heading north on Ospika Boulevard in Prince George and I follow it until it turns into Otway Rd. Otway is a beautiful, softly rolling road that follows the Nechako River. I generally turn around after reaching the Otway Cross Country Ski/Biking trails (this is about a 13km total loop from the north end of Ospika), but exploring the huge Otway ski/bike trail system would be great too if you're up for it! This route is packed with great smells (aah, nature) and sights. A huge osprey nest looms high atop a power pole about 1/4 of the way to the Otway trails, and the osprey that inhabit it are often found circling the sky and calling to eachother nearby. The other morning, I saw 2 black bear and 2 deer cross the road a short distance in front of me, and a bright orange fox sitting in the grass not far from the road caught my eye on a previous day's ride.
If you're looking to enjoy a ride or walk away from the hustle and bustle of Prince George, Otway Rd is a great route to explore!
July 30, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Quesnel, Kayaking & Canoeing
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It's not a well-known place, but Milburn Lake in Quesnel is one of the best places for canoeing and camping in the area!
Just 15 minutes or so from Quesnel, you can access the lake from Milburn Lake Rd, a right turn off of the Nazko Rd. It's a short canoe ride across the first stretch of Milburn Lake . There's only a few houses located around the lake, so it's a very peaceful trip across. You then paddle through a short passage-way into a very small, marshy lake. Caution: I've often seen moose here, so look and listen before paddling on! Continue through one more short passage into a third, medium sized lake. Here, you will find a fantastic little island that is a perfect secluded campsite! There's lots of trees along the island's shores to tie your canoe and there's a nice clearing to build a small fire (please bring your own wood, as I don't want you to chop down all the lovely trees!) and set up a tent or two. Keep an ear and eye on the water, because there's usually a beaver or two paddling around the island!
Well, the secret's out! But hey, when a camping spot's this good, sometimes you've just gotta share!
July 30, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Quesnel, Car / Truck / Motorcycle
Ten Mile Lake is located just minutes north of Quesnel and is one of the best provincial parks in the area. I recently spent the day there and was reminded of the huge variety of things to do, whether you're camped there for the weekend or just visiting for an afternoon
First, I jumped in a friend's boat and tried my hand at fishing. The lake is usually a fisherman's paradise, but the fish sure weren't interested that day! It was getting a little warm in the boat, so we headed back to shore and wandered over to the beach area for a swim. The water here's perfect - cool, but not cold and no leeches in sight either! Next, we were off to explore the Beaver Trail, a great scenic trail system that takes you past a beaver dam and a huge assortment of wildflowers. It was getting close to dinner time by this point, so we made a small fire in one of the fire pits on the beach (sorry folks, fire ban officially in effect now!) and roasted up some good ol' hot dogs and marshmallows while watching water skiers whiz by far out on the lake. We jumped in for one more swim, then packed up and headed home as the sun was setting over the lake.
Fishing, swimming, and beavers?! You really can't go wrong spending time at Ten Mile Lake!
July 19, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Dogsledding
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Just because you're visiting Northern BC in the summer doesn't mean you have to miss out on our great winter sports!
I recently visited Dog Power Adventures on Chief Lake Rd in Prince George to learn more about the dogs and the sport of dog sledding. These folks have rescued many huskies from all over the country, in addition to having their own sled dogs.
I looked at great displays featuring different sleds, pictures, info about different races around the world, a sample diet of a sled dog, and much much more. They even hooked a few of the dogs up to an ATV to show how they train the dogs during the summer (the driver of the ATV had to hit the brakes when going around corners because the dogs were pulling so fast!). The dogs are all so friendly, and you can even jump on a little scooter and be pulled by one of them!
You're welcome to drop in from 7-8:30pm on weekends. I really enjoyed seeing the dogs run through the grass, and I know I'll be returning once the snow flies to try out the winter version!
July 19, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Theatre & Performing Arts
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If you're looking to experience a bit of nostalgia and want to have fun on a small budget, the Park Drive In Theatre in Prince George is for you!
This weekend we threw a couple of friends in the car and hit the drive in theatre to see two movies for the price of one! Movies start at dusk every weekend, but if you go early, you can play a round of mini golf or try out the great go-kart track before the movie. Oh, and come hungry - we picked up a couple of burgers and a huge bucket of popcorn (even though they claim it's their size small!) for a GREAT price!
The Park Drive In Theatre is one of only 3 drive ins left in BC. It's my favourite way to see movies in the summer, so come check it out!
June 27, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Historic & Heritage Sites
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Ginter Park is one of my favourite places to go for a walk in Prince George. You can access the park from the ends of Ferry Ave, Massey Dr, or 18th Ave. Be sure to bring your pooch along, because this is a very dog-friendly park!
The park is named after Ben Ginter, who played a large part in putting Prince George on the map in terms of Canada's brewery industry.
There is a nice gravel walkway that extends the length of the park, but my favourite area is located near the Massey Dr access. This is where you can walk up to the site of Ben Ginter's house. The foundation of the house still remains, as well as some beautiful stonework where the driveway and entrance once were. Be sure to check out the little stream that runs beside the house as well - this stream comes all the way from Shane Lake in the Forests for the World park.
My favourite time of year to visit this park is in the fall, but it's a great site to check out any time of the year!