February 26, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Historic & Heritage Sites
Find more information about Dawson Creek - Historic & Heritage Sites
View a larger image on flickr.com
Anyone who lives here in Dawson Creek is used to driving carefully through downtown so as not to run over the frequent tourists jaywalking into the middle of the intersection to have their photo taken on our world famous Mile O Post.
Its quite common to see local residents offering to take the photo so that everyone gets in the picture. I wonder how many photos of our post exist... Do you have one?
The Mile O Post is one of the most recognizable and frequently photographed landmarks in the country. It symbolizes the beginning of the Alaska Highway and lists the distances to major destinations along the highway in miles.
- Fort St. John 48
- Fort Nelson 300
- Whitehorse 918
- Delta Junction 1398
- Fairbanks 1523
The original post sat a couple of blocks away at the traffic circle, but apparently someone ran into it in 1946 so it was replaced and moved to the center of town especially for visitors to our community.
Make sure you touch a piece of history when you come to Dawson Creek and have your picture taken at the Mile "O" Post. Don't hesitate to ask one of us to take the photo, we're always glad to do it.
"Rolling out the red carpet..."
February 25, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Historic & Heritage Sites
Find more information about Dawson Creek - Historic & Heritage Sites
View a larger image on flickr.com
I took a tour of our
Alaska Highway House located right beside the World Famous Mile 'O' Post in downtown
Dawson Creek the other day.
I was transfixed and transported back in time to the building of the Alaska Highway. The story of this astounding feat is woven as you walk through the museum of artifacts.
I learned that 30,000 US Army troops and civilians built the highway through ice and mud and mosquitoes in just nine short months in 1942.
I saw an original Willys Army Jeep on a recreation of a "corduroy road". Nothing like the comfort of the vehicles we enjoy today.
No power steering, seat warmers and air conditioning, satellite radio or cushion seats... just steel and mud, inside and out...There is a life size model of a Quonset hut that has been designed as a movie theater where you can watch films and actual footage of the construction.
There is also a large impressive scale model of the famous Kiskatinaw Bridge, the longest curved bridge in North America.
While you are in the Alaska Highway House, you can sit in a customized RV and record a video message for your friends and family.
When you come to Dawson Creek, make sure you take the tour...you'll be impressed... this is a top drawer experience...
"Rolling out the red carpet..."
February 24, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Historic & Heritage Sites
Find more information about Dawson Creek - Historic & Heritage Sites
View a larger image on flickr.com
We have a remarkable statue sitting atop a tower in the middle of the traffic circle in the center of Dawson Creek.
Known as "The Surveyor" he was created by one of our local artists, Karl Mattson.
Karl used old rusty scraps of metal he found laying around the region to create this monument to the building of the Alaska Highway. The iron clothes and transit are replicas of those from the 1940's.
Powerful and haunting, "The Surveyor" stands outside in all elements, pointing north showing all the way to Alaska just as his real life counterpart did all those years ago.
Dawson Creek is proud of the artistry behind our landmarks.
You'll see for yourself when you get here.
February 23, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Sightseeing Tours
View a larger image on flickr.com
My Dad used to talk about how brutal life was working on the Alaska Highway, but as a kid, I had no context to understand what that actually meant.
I slept in a warm bed each night and ate Mom's home cooking every day.Did anyone you know work on the Highway?The building of the Alaska Highway; the daily life faced by the men who built it and the conditions they endured rival any Olympic games in diversity, endurance, spirit, teamwork, speed and challenge.
Endurance and Spirit: Those men were tough! They had to be. Pushed till they dropped day after day after day in the harshest weather conditions through an untamed wilderness with supplies and equipment that would be considered even less than sub-standard today.
Mud, muskeg, icy waters, freezing/frostbite in the winter, being tormented by mosquitoes and black flies in the summer, 3 meals a day of army-rationed food from tins, cold steel and daily back-breaking labor.
Speed: Over 1500 miles of road was punched through vast untamed wilderness in 9 months.
Challenge: Some of the toughest and most unforgiving wilderness in the world. One example was "Suicide Hill" where the marker read "prepare to meet your maker."
Teamwork: Seven regiments of American engineers (approximately 11,000 men including three regiments of men with African American heritage) 16,000 civilians from Canada and the United States, and 7,000 pieces of equipment.
Make sure you check out the amazing story at the Alaska Highway House museum in Dawson Creek when you come on holidays. Step back in time, relive the epic story and see what it was like for yourself.
You'll gain a whole new appreciation for your air conditioning.A Gold Medal Accomplishment for sure!
February 21, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
View a larger image on flickr.com
Ask anyone who lives in the Mighty Peace River Country and you'll hear that we've always had plenty of wind.
We decided to do something worthy with all that power...The next time you are driving into Dawson Creek on the Hart Highway, from Prince George, Vancouver and all points south, you'll know you are getting really close when you see our Bear Mountain with its
34 brand new wind turbines... turning... turning... producing clean, renewable energy. You can't miss them!
Our city has watched the installation with fascination and amazement. The turbines are very impressive to say the least. They stand like bright sentinels on our ridge and you can see them from practically everywhere around.
Each one stands 78 meters (256 feet) to the hub with a rotor diameter of 82 meters (269 feet). The equivalent of 50 loads of concrete was poured for each foundation.
The land they sit on has been used for hikers, cross country skiers and other recreational users for years as well as providing both private and community cattle grazing as well.
Great care was taken to respect the environment and leave as little impact as possible. Cattle still graze there, and restoration of the habitat is ongoing and the public is very welcome to visit.
Make sure you plan a picnic on Bear Mountain... feel the wind on your face and enjoy the presence of our wind towers.
"Rolling out the red carpet..."
February 20, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Fernie, Skiing & Snowboarding
Find more information about Fernie - Skiing & Snowboarding
View a larger image on flickr.com
We just enjoyed 5 days of skiing and family fun at Fernie Alpine Resort. Some tips to enjoy Fernie for your family - don't be fooled by the few that say Fernie is great for experts... it is but there is amazing beginner and intermediate skiing as well. We found a green or blue run off every lift for our daughter. She enjoyed skiing with us the entire day!
We also suggest playing a great family game - Ski the 5 Alpine Bowls! Fernie Alpine Resort in Southeastern, British Columbia has huge terrain that feature 5 Alpine Bowls. Some fun names too- Lizard Bowl, Curry Bowl etc. Over 2500 acres of terrain will keep your kids entertained all week!
We also enjoyed the recent Helly Hansen Big Mountain Challenge which had 30 teams roaming the mountain to find check-points. Throw in a ski in/ski out cabin, some good family friendly dining, dog-sledding and fun family activities - like our favorite geo-caching, and the horse drawn sleigh ride to the cowboy barn and you have an amazing family destination!
February 19, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Whistler, Cross-Country Skiing
Find more information about Whistler - Cross-Country Skiing
View a larger image on flickr.com
We took a day trip to the Callaghan Valley Ski Trails located about 20 minutes south of Whistler for a day of cross-country skiing just before the trail system closed down for the 2010 Olympic Games. Callaghan Country and next door Whistler Olympic Park have a huge trail system.
We decided to take our time and classic ski on the Mainline Trail up to Callaghan Lodge for lunch. It took us about 2.5 hours to get up there, but we stopped to snap lots of photos on the way up. The views up to the Lodge and on the Ring Valley Loop (that starts just outside the lodge) are amazing. Nothing like it!
We took our time and enjoyed the break with a 3-course lunch offering. A pretty fancy lunch, but a nice treat and quite affordable! Even though some of the trails are closed off this season for the Games, you’ll still get a great XC ski experience. Nice wide trails! We’ll definitely be back XC skiing and snowshoeing up there once the trails open again on March 1.
February 19, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Telegraph Cove, Whale Watching
Find more information about Telegraph Cove - Whale Watching
We spend a wonderful couple of days in Telegraph Cove. The whale watching was second to none. We saw killer whales to numerous to count. Also a number of other species. The accomadations were great. Also a 1st class resteraunt. It is worth the extra effort to get there. One of my best experiences in all my travels. Great ambiance.
February 18, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Sightseeing Tours
My co-worker and I were out-and-about Fort St. John delivering our New 2010 Visitor Guides to the Community.
It was great, the sun was shining and the temperture was warm! We still can smell the fresh baking in the Cultural Centre, it smelled so good you could almost taste the food!
February 18, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Arts, Culture & History Tours
View a larger image on flickr.com
Everyone loves their homes and we are no exception here in Dawson Creek. It's true... our winters are long, but there is so much to balance that out. I thought I would make a short list of the things that we love about our community and our region.
1. The change of seasons. Winter is winter, spring is spring, summer is summer and fall is glorious! As I write this, I am enjoying my winter activities while anticipating the promise of spring and the return of the heat around the corner...
2. We are Friendly! There's something special about Northern People! We have great manners and welcome visitors! You can count on us to say hello, take your picture at the Mile "O" Post or give you directions.
3. We are a city of the perfect size! Tons of amenities while maintaining our unique small town closeness. We share a growing commitment to shopping and eating locally.
4. We are clean and green and proud of it! Everywhere I look I see green energy and innovation in use, from solar powered traffic lights to the magnificent wind park adorning our ridge. We have won awards for our environmental commitments. Green is beautiful!
5. We have a choice of lifestyles. Country homes, city homes, motor homes... there's a place for everyone to hang their hat in Dawson Creek.
6. A relaxed pace by design! Rush hours are reasonable and you'll see new cars and farm equipment sharing the roads. There isn't much horn honking going on here, unless it's to say hello to a friend.
7. We have a top drawer Events Center! Big name concerts, equestrian events, walking track, swimming, sports! We hosted the Canadian Women's Olympic Hockey Training Camp! Go Canada Go!
8. We are connected! You can get anywhere from here... Alaska is right up the road and all points south... well... point south... We have a great airport. You can be in a major city in a very short period of time... from there... the world is yours!
9. There is nothing like harvest time in the Peace. Songs have been written about the gold color of wheat... Have you ever seen a field of big round straw bales glistening in the afternoon sun on a warm September day? Sublime.
10. We have a history to be proud of. From the welcoming of the American Troops in 1942 for the building of the World Famous Alaska Highway, to the settling of the Sudetan German Immigrants who sought refuge from Hitler's Germany here in 1939 and have contributed so much.
For this Mile O Citizen... there is nothing like the Mighty Peace River Country. Anywhere else is great to visit... but I know where I hang my hat.