April 30, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
View a larger image on flickr.com
Unsure where to vacation this year? Somewhere in Europe, Asia or North America? I'd say make it British Columbia. One of the great things about this corner of the world is the abundance of cultures among its residents. Like today: I was strolling through downtown looking for lunch and turned the corner to find a free performance by the Vancouver Police Pipe Band. They were joined by step dancers and surrounded by a crowd of pedestrians enjoying the seemingly spontaneous cultural fun. Next week it could be a group of Indian performers or races with Chinese dragon boats. These kinds of cultural treats regularly pop up here, especially in spring and summer. It's nice to get a taste of so many continents in one place.
April 29, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Car / Truck / Motorcycle
View a larger image on flickr.com
When I travel, I take my laptop. When I stop for a break from driving, I like to find a place that allows me to connect to the Internet so that I can check my email, make a travel blog entry and surf the web for information on the area I am in.
Who wants to drive around searching for places that might have service? Especially in an RV? I found out that Dawson Creek makes it easy for visitors.
There are 2 spots in our city to take advantage of free and easy wireless access. The locations were chosen for their proximity to services geared for visitor convenience.
1.
N.A.R. Park (easy RV parking, near the Visitors Center, Art Gallery, Museum)
2.
Downtown Core around the Mile O Post and Alaska Highway House (you'll want to check that out anyway)
Go ahead, check your email, write your blogs, surf the web, but remember you are on vacation,
so no 'work'...
April 27, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Mission, Historic & Heritage Sites
Find more information about Mission - Historic & Heritage Sites
View a larger image on flickr.com
hope you peoples love visiting BC.
mission is a good place to visit as well as everwhere else. u should come check it out.
maybe I'll see some tours & I will say hi. I live in Mission so yeah I know Mission BC really well, give a good tip what to see & what to do
the nice place to visit is Xaytem (Hatzic Rock). It is Mission historic sight that has to be seen before you leave Mission, it is on the out shirts of Mission BC. Its a gotta visit...
April 26, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
View a larger image on flickr.com
The big blue bridge you use to cross the Peace River in Taylor, BC when you travel the Alaska Highway is not the original, it's actually the replacement.
My Dad operated heavy equipment during the building of the Alaska Highway in 1942, long before I was born.
I remember driving north with him and when we crossed over the long
Peace River Bridge he told me that the original had collapsed in 1957. Dad said a landslide caused it.
I did a bit of digging and found a great article by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC.
The original wooden suspension type Peace Bridge was built in 1942 as an essential piece of the Alaska Highway and was considered one of Canada's great bridges at the time of it's opening. It was the longest on the whole highway.
In 1957, a truck driver noticed unusual settlement in the road so the army (responsible) immediately closed it. Over the course of the next day, the bridge structures continued to shift and just after noon on October 16, 1957, the bridge collapsed into the Peace River.
They determined that the bridge failed due to a landslide in the shale bedrock that it was built on. Shale is simply mud that has hardened over millions of years... from the time when dinosaurs walked the earth.
The problem with shale is that once it's exposed again to water, it will eventually turns back to mud.
It's believed that the bridge foundation likely began to deteriorate soon after it was constructed and continued until the time of the collapse.
A portable Bailey bridge was erected for immediate use while the Train Bridge was planked for traffic until the new bridge was built and completed in 1960.
Now, when you cross the big blue bridge, you will notice a strange feel and sound. Don't worry, it's the steel deck. It's a unique sensation and no matter how many times you drive across it, you will notice it. We all do.
April 21, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Historic & Heritage Sites
Find more information about Richmond - Historic & Heritage Sites
View a larger image on flickr.com
Yesterday morning we took a drive out to Steveston Village in Richmond to visit the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site. The cannery was in
operation from 1894 to 1979. It was known as the "Monster Cannery",
packing more than 2.5 million cans of salmon in 1897! In 1979 when they
ceased operations the owners literally locked the doors and walked
away. In 1988 (I think) restoration of the site began and can you
imagine the stink of almost 10 years of rotting herring and salmon?
Yuck! It's all clean now ... no stink at all ... and is a very
enjoyable visit! There are lots of exhibits ... moving parts for little
fingers ... and even a craft corner where kids can make their own
salmon!
As usual, Steveston Village is always a treat! We wandered the
board walk, visited the boats selling their fish and shrimp on the dock,
and enjoyed fish & chips from Pajos while sitting dockside in the sunshine in easy chairs!
April 21, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
West Vancouver, Parks
Find more information about West Vancouver - Parks
View a larger image on flickr.com
A couple of weeks ago we enjoyed the quintessentially perfect April West Coast Sunday morning! The sun was shining AND it
was warm! We (my husband and 3 year old and I) spent the morning at Whytecliffe Park in West Vancouver.
We go to Whytecliffe often and really enjoy searching for beach glass,
interesting rocks and shells, and watching the scuba divers emerge from
the deep. This past Sunday we were
delighted to find tidal pools with starfish and clams and mussels!
The starfish were such amazing shades of purple and orange. My son was
very adventurous and touched one of the starfish. "Feels like an
octopus mommy!" OK? While we were taking a beachcombing break
to have a snack and try to get a family photo, we noticed a heron
perched on a rock at the shore. He let us get quite close to him so we
stood quietly and watched while he hunted for his own snack in the tidal
pools. It was truly amazing!
April 21, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Invermere, Golf
Find more information about Invermere - Golf
All I can say is WOW! Just spent a day at Copper Point Golf Resort near Invermere, BC. The course is in incredible shape, service was outstanding and the weather was even top notch. The old golf swing needs a little work, but I was able to yell FORE like a pro!
April 19, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
View a larger image on flickr.com
We have found that a great way to spend an enjoyable day with out of town visitors is to take day trips to showcase the beauty of this part of the world.
One of our favorites is to start here in Dawson Creek and drive (100km/60miles) on Highway 97 to Chetwynd, a small community in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. We grab a coffee, buy the kids an ice cream and take a walk to check out the many amazing chainsaw art sculptures in the town center.
From there, we head to Hudson's Hope (22km/14miles) on Highway 29. We always stop at the museum that was a Hudson's Bay Store and is packed with Dinosaur bones and fossils and interesting artifacts and history of the region.
Another short little jaunt takes us to the incredible W.A.C. Bennett Dam and Williston Lake. We love taking the underground bus tour of the dam. My Dad was a heavy-duty equipment operator during the construction and the immensity of the project never ceases to amaze. We usually have lunch at the café, watch the video at the interpretive center and head to the lake for a bit of a leg stretch.
The next leg of the trip is to Fort St. John (86km/53miles) still on Highway 29. There is beautiful country on that road. In Fort St. John, we often stop to grab another coffee and treat and head back to Dawson Creek on the Alaska Highway.
We always take the short side trip to drive across the historic curved wooden Kiskatenaw Bridge. The bridge has been bypassed in order to protect it. It was the only one of it's kind and is the last original bridge of the Alaska Highway still in use.
Then it's home to an easy dinner and more visiting.
April 15, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Beaches & Swimming
I love swimming in our new aquatic center! Growing up in Dawson Creek, I liked the old Centennial Swimming Pool downtown, but wow... the new one is awesome!
We have an eight lane competition pool, a huge hot tub for soaking and socializing, sauna and steam rooms, male, female and family change rooms, 1 & 3 meter diving boards, a swirl pool that is designed like a river for swimming or walking against the current, a huge waterslide, and a little kids play pool.
Regardless of the weather outside, it's warm and bright inside. We love to take our out of town visitors swimming.
The aquatic center is part of our multiplex. We have a 250 meter walking track, a 6,500 seat events center which regularly hosts big names and events and an equestrian center, all in the same building.
There is plenty of parking for RVs. It's a great place to take a break, get some exercise and enjoy the water.
I'm getting up my nerve to try the waterslide... it looks like so much fun!
April 14, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Nanaimo, Accommodation
We had the most wonderful time at A Riverside B&B. It was completely relaxing and just what we needed to get rid of the daily stress. Gina and John have created a beautiful place and even bake a home made apple pie for their guests.