August 29, 2008 | Tips from Us >
Williams Lake, Museums
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I never thought I'd get excited about a Visitor's Centre. Certainly,
Visitor's Centres here in BC are wonderful things - brimming with brochures, helpful staff, and the best place to get an idea of what to do when you're in town, or heading out on a great adventure. They're a must-stop on any road trip, but I can't say I've really walked away from one thinking "wow, that's pretty cool". But the
Tourism Discovery Centre in Williams Lake? An absolutely brilliant place if you're passing through the Cariboo.
This enormous and beautiful log wood structure is not only a stunning-looking building, it houses a multitude of things to, yes, discover inside. On our visit, we were greeted by incredibly friendly volunteers, and impressed by the architecture. Inside was a massive, painted tree that stretched from its preserved, exposed roots in the basement, right to the top of the roof. There were stacks of brochures and flyers neatly arranged, a flat screen TV showing area attractions, a map, a full-service service center desk, a wonderful gift shop and a very welcome cafe serving organic coffees, fresh-baked sweets and food. They've even got free wi-fi and two computers for travellers' use.
The best bit? The log-cabin-within-the-log-cabin. Visitors wishing to get a feel for the history and spirit of the
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast can go sit on warm, comfy sofas and chairs inside what feels like a real log cabin's living room (complete with framed photos, lamps, and a fireplace), and watch a clever and interesting 10-minute video about the CCC region. It's more like a multimedia show, actually. And it's a nice place to unwind for a bit after a day of driving, for sure. And speaking of driving, you can't miss the Discovery Centre's car, either. It's parked in the middle of the visitor centre - heaped high to the rafters with gear for all manner of outdoor activities - giving visitors like me an idea of what sort of adventures I could get up to!