January 23, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Vanderhoof, Bird Watching
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If you're in Vanderhoof in the fall, be sure to head down to the Nechako River and the bird santuary at Riverside Park. When I was there last October, I was amazed at the number of geese in the sky. I'm used to seeing one or two v-formations of geese getting ready to head south for the winter but I think I counted about 15!! Vanderhoof is on the "Pacific Flyway" and the islands in the middle of the Nechako River are the perfect place for the migrating birds to stop & rest.
January 23, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
McBride, Bird Watching
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If you're visiting or driving through the Robson Valley, take a few minutes and stop at Horseshoe Lake just outside of the McBride townsite. It's a beautifull little lake surrounded by towering mountains. When I was there, it was early fall and the peaks were covered with the first snow of the season. In spring and early summer the lake is a great spot for bird watching and the gazebo and picnic table on the shore provide a perfect vantage point.
January 23, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Mackenzie, Beaches & Swimming
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I had been to Mackenzie quite a few times before stumbling on to what seems like the local's secret - Morfee Lake. Morfee Lake is not as obvious as other area landmarks / recreation sites like the massive Williston Lake or Morfee Mountain that towers over the community, but if you look a bit closer, you'll find it tucked in behind the residential neighbourhoods. The lake is divided in two by a big sandbar and offers both a swimming / paddling area and then an area for motorized boats. There's also a trail network along the shore which is perfect for a lazy afternoon walk. Make your way out to the top of the sandbar and sit and enjoy the amazing scenery of the surrounding mountains.
January 23, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Cross-Country Skiing
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One of my favourite ways to spend a snowy winter afternoon in Prince George is cross country skiing at Otway Nordic Centre. Otway is tucked into the forest, only minutes outside of the city and has miles and miles of trails for all levels of skiers. There's also a biathlon range and it's great to watch the biathletes target shooting. At the end of the day, the new lodge is a good place to warm up. There are some snacks available for purchase at the ticket/rental counter but bring your own flask of hot chocolate to enjoy.
January 23, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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Teapot Mountain is a great dayhike an hour's drive north of Prince George on Highway 97. The 'mountain' itself is actually a volcanic plug and juts out of the landscape looking a little like a teapot. For a moderate amount of effort you get an amazing 360 degree view of the area which includes Summit Lake. The trail itself is short (only about 1km long) although somewhat steep - but once you get to the top, the views are worth it.
January 22, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Gold River, Hiking
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The best way to hike the Nootka Island Trail is to charter a flight with Air Noota from Gold River to Louie Bay Lagoon at the north end of the island and then hike south along the coastline until you reach Yuquot. From there, you can catch the MV Uchuck (old mine sweeper) back to Gold River. The Uchuck stops at Yuquot a couple of times a week. The trail takes about four or five days to hike. Knowledge of tidal timetable is essential since some of the trail is below the high tide mark. This is wilderness area, so first aid and self-rescue skills are recommended.
January 21, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Golden, River Rafting
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I wanted to share the highlight of our trip to the Kootenay Rockies this summer - our Whitewater Rafting experience on the Kicking Horse River.
We experienced 35 kilometres of rafting, wonderful food and very friendly staff.
They acccommodated our family in that the little ones could ride in the morning with us, we all had the Riverside BBQ lunch, and those of us that met the requirement were able to tackle the bigger rapids the afternoon had to offer.
The Afternoon is where all the excitement was, however the morning was great for the kids in Yoho National Park. We went with Alpine Rafting, and I believe they are the only company that offers this sort of Family Trip. We would like to return
January 21, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Golden, Outdoor Activity Tours
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I spent a day rafting in Golden British Columbia on the Kicking Horse River with my family: husband and two kids. We went with a company called Alpine Rafting. They provided all the rafting equipment. Even though we were doing one of the tamer sections of the River, we still needed to don all river attire. We had a blast and lunch was included. The price was excellent for the four of us. We floated and splashed through the Upper Canyon of the Kicking Horse River.
The Trip we did was called the Family Whitewater
I would definetly recommend Kicking Horse River Rafting to anyone that is passing through Golden. British Columbia.
January 21, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Ladysmith, Accommodation
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I was invited to use up a cancellation spot with friends to stay at Yellow Point Lodge on Vancouver Island during the Christmas Holidays. While I was not sure, I grabbed the opportunity and was overwhelmed with the stay. The snow mixed with the communial meals and the unforgettable stories make this retreat something special! One gentleman I met had been going there for 30 years and another couple were on their first date! You do need to book a year in advance but once you have your time booked you can book again and again and I promise you will! When you park your car and walk up the small hill to the lodge the setting is spectacular on the ocean.
For those who enjoy telephones, t.v, the internet and cell phones need not apply:)
January 16, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Sechelt, Kayaking & Canoeing
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What a great find! I couldn't figure out why the place wasn't very crowded..
We took a shortie 4 day holiday at West Coast Wilderness Lodge. We were lucky, the weather was absolutely spectacular. We took a guided kayak trip one day, a guided canoe trip another day, we hiked to Skookumchuck rapids the 3rd day, and visited the Ruby Lake Lagoon Nature Reserve the final day.
The owner himself took our family on the canoe trip and he knew the place inside-out. The kayak tour was THE highlight of the vacation for me: the water was calm, the weather just perfect. We saw hundreds of seals on islands and swimming in the water with us, orange and purple starfish, many, many types of birds, including bald eagles. The kids loved it almost as much as I did.
Accommodations were very good: we got a big suite with a comfy queen bed for parents and a foldout sofabed for kids. The balcony overlooked the water and mountains. it looked like the room an bathroom had been very recently renovated - bathroom looked brand-new. We spent a bit of time with our binoculars watching seals from our balcony and from the huge scenic balcony just outside the main building. Nothing like sitting out there after a busy day, catching up on some reading, enjoying the fresh air and great views. For the finicky, there was no TV, but if you need a TV in a place like this, you've got a problem!
We had breakfast everyday at the lodge - it was a great start for every day. We only ate dinner at the lodge one night and had a great meal.. Kids also enjoyed archery, the pool table in the evenings and of course the hot tub. The only thing missing was a good beach for swimming - Ruby Lake and other swimming beaches were a short drive away, but not within walking distance.