August 12, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Recreation Sports
If you haven't been out on the lake canoeing yet this summer, sit back and enjoy a virtual canoe ride. Charlie Lake is a wonderful recreational lake that is occupied by many swimmers, fishermen, boaters, or canoers at any given time. I encourage you to gather up some close friends, launch your canoe in Charlie Lake and paddle the day away!
August 09, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Dining
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I must confess, I have a terrible addiction…to coffee. Before functioning in the morning, I must have at least one cup of liquid gold. I thoroughly love fresh roasted coffee, although I will settle for a quick instant coffee if there is no other option. This summer, a new coffee shop opened up in Fort St. John so I just had to check it out. The Canadian Grind is located downtown inside the local scrapbooking store, Unforgettable Memories. Although a drive through is available to grab a cup of joe and go, I opted for walking in so I could look through the scrapbooking supplies while waiting for my latte to be made. The small, but cozy section of the store surprised me in how large of a selection they have to offer. I decided on a skinny brown sugar latte with half the syrup and extra hot (yes, I know I’m a bit picky). After one sip, I knew that The Canadian Grind was going to be a hot spot I would visit frequently for the rest of the summer. Mmm did it ever taste good! I also liked the fact that they use Salt Spring coffee. Why not support an organic, fair trade, and local BC company? The countless varieties of loose tea also caught my eye, so I just had to purchase a few small bags to take home. The loose tea undoubtedly has much more delicious flavors than a boring old tea bag. If you’re craving a specialty latte, tea, or cold drink, treat yourself to The Canadian Grind.
August 06, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Attractions
Watch the video to get a glimpse of one the many outdoor attractions in Fort St. John. On a daily basis, the natural beauty of the Peace Valley attracts many local residents and tourists. Doesn't this video make you want to come see the gorgeous, panoramic view of the Peace River for yourself?
August 01, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Historic & Heritage Sites
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Has it really been 70 years since the Alaska Highway was built? I guess it must be since a celebration for the 70th Anniversary of the Alaska Highway is taking place in Fort St. John today. The Western Command Military Vehicle Historical Society are driving the entire Alaska Highway in historic military vehicles! The convoy expects their trip to take the whole month of August with several planned stops in several communities between Dawson Creek (Mile 0) and Fairbanks, Alaska to show off all of their authentic and classic vehicles. Since the military vehicles were on display for several hours this afternoon at the Fort St. John North Peace Museum, I dropped by to see the various vehicles that contributed to various military efforts. After talking to a few people, I was amazed that the vehicles I was seeing with my own eyes assisted in the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and even World War II. I could feel the pride and passion the individual vehicle owner’s had for their motorized piece of history, the military, and for their country. There we many Fort St. John residents taking pictures, asking questions, and taking a temporary seat while pretending to drive an old military vehicle. The owners of the vehicles put in the extra effort while dressing in army green uniforms. They were also very friendly and chatty, which allowed me to ask many questions and learn about their convoy even more. This evening, a banquet complete with 1940’s era music is being put on at the Fort St. John Legion to conclude today’s celebrations. If you’re located along the Alaska Highway, be on the lookout for the Western Command Military Vehicle Convoy! Make sure you find out when and where the group will be stopping by in your community and help celebrate the Alaska Highway’s 70th Anniversary.
July 30, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Cultural, Community or Seasonal
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When my friend asked me if I wanted to go along with her to water her garden, I was very intrigued by the garden she could possibly have since she lives in an apartment building. After explaining that she had a plot at the Community Gardens that needed watering and weeding, I happily agreed to join her. I was aware that City of Fort St. John was planting many edible plants around the City buildings to promote renewable landscaping, but I didn’t know too many details on the Community Gardens. After stopping to grab a couple of slushies, she drove right past the downtown cemetery and parked. I was a bit skeptable of where exactly she was taking me; however, I followed her lead to numerous raised beds. It looked like quite an enchanted place to me with rows and rows of individual gardening plots. After snooping at other gardener’s sprouting plants, we started pulling all of the pesky weeds that were growing in between the thriving vegetables. Even though each plot only measures 5 x 8 feet, many potatoes, peas, beans, carrots, and radishes exploded from the dark soil. It is still a bit early in the growing season so I was unable to take any fresh produce home this time, but I’m sure the veggies will be fully grown in a few more weeks. It was also very nice that the Community Gardens are supplied with several gardening tools, watering cans, hoses, and water on-site so everything we needed was at our fingertips. I learned for myself that these gardens truly are community orientated through the countless friendly people who were offering their advice and assistance while we were there. Also, I found it very charming that a small red stick on the corner of the plots signaled that the plot needed watering by anyone who had a couple minutes to spare. Visitors, as well as local residents can stop by the Community Gardens at any point during the summer to see the growing progress and lend a helping hand while digging around in the dirt. As I was walking back to our car, I couldn’t stop commenting on how great of an idea the Community Gardens are! For those who are just starting out gardening, don’t have a backyard of their own, or simply don't have the time to tend to a large area, the Community Gardens in Fort St. John are spectacular!
July 25, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Food or Wine
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My ultimate favourite summertime treat is frozen yogurt! Even though I also have a love for ice cream, I find that frozen yogurt is a healthier option while giving me the same great taste. Although most grocery stores offer a wide variety of choices, a big tub of frozen yogurt doesn’t allow me to try as many flavours as I would like. For this very reason, Homesteader Health Food Store is my much-loved stopped since they change their flavours frequently. I love the swirl cones of natural frozen yogurt that they offer! On this specific day, I enjoyed a mixture of vanilla and boysenberry. It is defiantly a new contender for my ultimate favourite kind. I’m still on an endless search, tasting combinations of new flavors to see if one can top this!
July 22, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Attractions
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This past weekend I had the chance to take in a free movie in Centennial Park. A large electronic screen showing “Up” and “The Big Miracle” attracted hundreds of people to the downtown park as the sun was setting. People of all ages brought lawn chairs, blow up mattresses, blankets, and snacks to the park to enjoy the two feature films on a warm Friday night. Not only did I enjoy the family-friendly movies, I loved that I was breathing fresh air instead of sitting in an over air conditioned building. Plus, it was also a bonus that there was not an admission charge and popcorn was provided by donation! Watch out for the next Movie in the Park that is playing in August for a full, free evening of entertainment.
July 17, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Recreation Sports
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I absolutely love how bright and warm our summer nights are! Lately, the sun hasn’t set until 10 o’clock so the light evenings provide plenty of time for leisure activities. It seems the longer the sun is out, the later I stay up so my sleep has been lacking, but I feel that I truly am making the most of my summer. The last couple of nights after I’ve gotten off work, I have hit the paved walking trails that surround Fort St. John. During the evenings, the trails are flooded with people walking, running, biking, and rollerblading. These paths are also very popular spots for dogs and strollers. The extensive trail system extends for over 10 km with a variety of starting points and many interpretive signs. My favourite area of the route extends north on 100th street and then west towards the west by-pass road because the path is surrounded by lush vegetation. With summer in full-swing, the countless shades of green can be enjoyed while getting some exercise. The other night, I saw several beautiful wild roses, bluebells, and many other colorful flowers that I unfortunately couldn’t identify. Moose, beavers, and birds also occupy the area, so I suggest always being out on the lookout for wildlife! It’s great that I can enjoy the wilderness while walking on a paved trail right inside the city’s limits.
July 13, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Hudson's Hope, Water Activity Tours
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It has been 10 years since the two hydroelectric dams in Hudson’s Hope have been spilled, so when it was announced that they were going to spill off some water, I hopped in my car to view this rarity for myself. The drive from Fort St. John to Hudson’s Hope truly is stunning! The highway winds through the vibrant green peace valley hills, which offers a great view for travellers. On my journey, I stopped at a designated viewpoint to stretch my legs and enjoy a birds-eye-view of the picturesque flowing Peace River.
After about an hour and a half drive, I arrived at the Hudson’s Hope Visitor Centre and signed up for a tour of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam. Since I had a bit of time to spare before the tour began, I explored the Visitor Centre and illuminated a light bulb by creating my own electricity while riding a bicycle. The W.A.C. Bennett Dam Visitor Centre also gave me the perfect spot to marvel at the enormous spillway. While on the underground tour of the dam, I learned so much! Were you aware that Williston Lake is the largest body of water in British Columbia? Or, that it is the 9th largest hydroelectric reservoir in the world? I really can’t explain just how large the turbines and generators are! You will have to go for yourself to compare your individual size to the massive machinery. My $6 for the underground bus tour of the dam was defiantly worth the money! Our personal tour guide was very friendly and informative on all of the scientific and historical information behind the W.A.C. Bennett Dam.
Additionally, this dam tour was unlike most tours since we were brought very close to the actual spillway to take in the massive amount of water rapidly being released. The picture above shows you a glimpse, but it really doesn’t do it justice. You need to feel the mist on your face, hear the loud rushing water, and feel how powerful something as simple as water can be. I left feeling much more knowledgeable about hydroelectricity and happy that I was able to experience this monumental spill-off event. Since it is not certain how long the spills will last, hurry down to the W.A.C. Bennett Dam and the Peace Canyon Dam in Hudson’s Hope!
July 09, 2012 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Dining
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In my mind, summer isn’t summer without countless barbeques! My favourite place in Fort St. John to buy meat for sizzling on the grill is from The Butcher Block. This past weekend, we gathered to have a big family BBQ, complete with fresh sirloin steaks from none other than the locally owned and operated family meat packaging business in town. Although I am not a huge meat lover, my steak exceeded my expectations. The quality of the meat is only of the many things The Butcher Block has to brag about. I find the prices to be very reasonable and consistent outstanding service. You sure can tell that this is a local business that truly cares about it’s customers. Even though the beef is delicious, The Butcher Block also offers great turkey, chicken, pork, fish, sausages, and cooked meats. My evening ended up being very enjoyable while connecting with all of my family members over a delicious BBQ dinner and a few energized card games on our patio.