July 10, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Car / Truck / Motorcycle
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Jimmy Rankin was among friends July 7th, as he played to a diverse crowd at the Lido Theatre in Fort St. John, which included many islanders.
I myself was in the company of a true Cape Bretoner, my friend Tanya was the first person I thought of to accompany me to the show when I heard Jimmy would be in town. As I anticipated, not only did Tanya know who he was, but was thrilled to go.
What a great time! For those of you familiar with the Rankin Family (now The Rankins), you will appreciate the way Jimmy’s deep, soulful performance can sweep you back to the days when he and his brother and sisters used to charm us with their melodic harmony with such hits as “Tell My Ma” and “Forty Days and Nights” and “Mairi’s Wedding.” Jimmy was sans family this time: one audience member, at the encouragement of Jimmy to name some requests shouted “Mull River Shuffle, boy!” (I cheered and hollered to second the motion…it’s my favorite song of theirs) and Jimmy smiled and replied, “Mull River Shuffle…I need the Rankins for that one!”
Nevertheless, I was still taken back to my childhood, Jimmy superbly belting out some classics accessible to him alone, such as “Orangedale Whistle” and “You Feel The Same Way Too.” He entertained us with some of his hits from “Song Dog” as well as some of his newer material from his recently released CD, “Edge of Time.” True to Rankin form (this is the second time I have seen Jimmy; the first time was the entire family together, including John Morris), he got the audience involved to help sing some of the songs!
It was evident everyone was having a great time—there was a delightful mingling of accents calling out to Jimmy: at one point, after a roaring applause, he came out for an encore and checked the time, when an audience member called out playfully: “never mind your watch!” My friend turned to me and said knowingly, “that’s gotta be a Newfoundlander!”
The performance was one of the best I’ve seen. Jimmy’s sole band member James even managed to squeeze in some banjo playing, and by the time the night was coming to an end, the entire crowd had managed to rise to their feet and clap along to several of the numbers.
Come back Jimmy, and next time, bring your family!
July 09, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Nimpo Lake, Fishing
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I never thought that fishing is soooo much fun !!!! We had a blast !!!! You can't find clearer water then the water the fish swim in, in Charlotte Lake BC !!! And fishing was great !!! we got 7 fish in 2 hours the 3 of us !!! One guy got non but we let him taste ours !!!
If you never visited the West Chilcotin, you really have to do that !!! It's beautiful country and if you don't like fishing, go hiking or mountain biking or canoeing, or go and see the great country from a floatplane or helicopter or from a horseback or or.... there is so much to do out there !!!!!
July 09, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Outdoor Activity Tours
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Thinking of Northeastern BC for your next adventure? If not, you should! Here you will find unsurpassed nature, a rich and vibrant history, and a way of life that is addictive. Here are just some of attractions you will enjoy.
5. Natural Attractions
If you enjoy a walk on the wild side, Dawson Creek and the surrounding area are strategically located for all your outdoor and wilderness needs. While visiting Dawson Creek, you will not want to miss the waterfowl refuge at McQueen’s Slough. Here you will find a plethora of birds and waterfowl; a must see for the birding enthusiast. The Radar Lake Community Forest offers a piece of tranquility near an urban setting. This area offers numerous well-marked interpretive trails where you can learn about local flora and fauna while strolling through peaceful natural surroundings. If you are looking for something close by, why not experience our natural ‘green belt’ which takes you through our beautiful City. Looking for a picnic? Visit one of Dawson Creek’s many city parks.
4. Festivals, events and much more
With the numerous activities, attractions Dawson Creek and the surrounding area has many events and festivals that will complement anyone’s vacation. There are to many to list, however, go to our website where you will find a complete and up to date listing.
www.tourismdawsoncreek.com
3. Farmer’s Market
Pure food, pure enjoyment! The Farmer’s Market is a favourite activity and major attraction for visitors and residents alike, offering a wide variety of locally owned, grown and produced crops and crafts for your enjoyment. REMEMBER, as the old saying goes, “Those who arrive first get the best selection”.
2. Station Museum
Housed in an original Northern Alberta Railway station built in 1931, this historic museum offers a glimpse into the notable past of Dawson Creek. Dawson Creek was once the “end of the line”; the train station in the early years has been expanded to make this building unique to all the other train stations of its kind in Canada. Here you will find a wide variety of railway memorabilia, pioneer artifacts and wildlife displays. Throughout the day, a video entitled “The Alaska Highway, 1942 - 1992” is shown continuously for museum visitors. This fascinating program depicts the history of the building of the Alaska Highway using rare archival material and is a “must see” for history buffs.
1. W. A. C. Bennet Dam & Kinuseo Falls
A couple great day excursions from Dawson Creek are the W.A.C Bennet Dam and Kinuseo Fall. There’s so much to explore in Northern BC.
The W. A. C. Bennet Dam is one of the largest earth filled dams in the world. It is truly an amazing site to see, visit and experience! This dam is scenically located about two hours from Dawson Creek. This attraction is not to be missed.
Kinuseo Falls in Monkman Provincial Park is one of the great waterfalls of North America and is not to be missed by any visitor. There is much more to enjoy in this park, including the highly recommended Stone Corral interpretive hiking trail, which leads for four kilometers through a fascinating karst environment of lakes, cliffs and small caves. The twenty-four km (one way) hike in to Monkman Lake includes a short side-excursion to The Cascades, a dramatic series of ten waterfalls in Monkman Creek.
July 09, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Accommodation
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Dunne-za Lodge is an absolutely beautiful vacation destination. Located on the North- West shore of Moberly Lake the lodge offers an amazing view of Moberly's sparkling water with plenty of opportunities to enjoy the lake and surrounding area. Relax by kayaking or canoeing on the serene, crystal water, or enjoy some nature trails; the West-Moberly area is well-known for its abundance of eagles, including the endangered Bald Eagle. Further enhance your time by staying in one of the lodge's teepees, which allow you to spend a night under the stars, and appreciate the silence of a night in the forest.
In addition to the teepees, Dunne-za Lodge has four cabins available for accomodation. These cabins are beautifully furnished, and include a kitchen area and shower. Accomodating 3 to 4 people, these cabins are perfect for a family vacation, with a separate bedroom for parents seeking peace and quiet.
The Dunne-za Lodge also provides a unique cultural experience for those interested in Dunne-za/Cree traditions. The lodge managers regularly smoke meat in traditional fashion, and is decorated with in traditional art work. In Febraury, the lodge holds a Winter Spirit Festival in cooperation with Chetwynd Spirit Week. This festival includes hand drumming, traditional hand games, snowshoeing, a soup and bannock concession, ice fishing and much more! This free festival is a favourite of the locals and open to visitors.
The Dunne-za Lodge is a fantastic resort, located in a beautiful area, with fabulous activites and accomodation.
July 09, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Campbell River, Beaches & Swimming
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Bring the kids and stay for the day... or the week. If you find yourself in the Campbell River area looking for a good camping spot this one is perfect for the whole crew. Located 25 mins south of Campbell River on Hwy 19a, Miracle Beach is easy to find and has everything you'll need for a camping stay(no power) or even just the perfect day at the beach. The park is forested and on the beach, sandcastle building, sunning, swimming, exploring tide pools, are just a few of the great options at this beautiful park. We found this great little nature hut which had a guided tour was and was great for the kids. We finished our day with a sunset walk along the beach trail and would recommend this spot to any family wanting a getaway from the world.
July 09, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Tumbler Ridge, Camping
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Just off the wide curves and rollercoaster dips of Highway 29, north of Tumbler Ridge rests peaceful Gwillim Lake. Set amongst the treed foothills of the Rocky Mountains and the ploughed landscapes of the Peace River Country, Gwillim offers family and friends alike a list of amenities including kid’s playground, day-use area, boat launch, fishing, great swimming and snorkeling, hiking and a scenic lookout with excellent mountain views. Other activities like horseback riding and winter recreation often takes place on nearby Elephant Ridge.
The lake lies just north of the continental divide, making it part of the Arctic drainage basin, with populations of grayling, whitefish, trout and burbot swimming beneath the blue waters. Gwillim Lake is great for even a short weekend stay, the campground is open from May 1st- September 28th and campsites are available at a first-come first-served basis. Although the sites are gravel and well-drained, there are grass sections easier for both pegging and sleeping on most sites. Bring your fishing rod, bathing suit and towel and look forward to a relaxing change from the busier campgrounds in the area as there are only 49 sites to choose from!
July 09, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Penticton, Theatre & Performing Arts
Last night I had the pleasure to attend the VIP opening night of the 5th season of SS Sicamous Follies (Five). It was spectacular! The talent they have brought in for this musical montage is truly impressive. They performed non-stop for more than two hours to a packed house. As if the talent wasn't enough, the venue, on the historic SS Sicamous paddlewheeler steam ship, added an abundance of flair to the show.
The show consisted of brief excerpts from classic musicals from the early 20th century right up to some of today's most famous songs. The range of the cast was tested thoroughly and they came through with flying colours. A bonus was the intermittent sketches performed by Glen Cairnes, manager of the SS Sicamous, who displayed a comic talent I didn't know he possessed.
Very impressive show and an absolute must-see!
For more details go to:
http://www.tourismpenticton.com/events/
July 09, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Burns Lake, Museums
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The Lakes District Museum is located on the Yellowhead Highway right beside the Burns Lake Visitor Information Centre; often people get the buildings confused. The Museum is also the "Old Foresrty Home", which was built in 1919, and is part of the in-town Heritage Walking Tour. As you are walking the grounds outside the Museum, you will come to an old building known as the "Bucket of Blood". This old building was originally owned by Barney Mulvaney who was a packer, trapper, and an adventurer who later became a Magistrate. Originally this building was a gambling den and then later served as a home to a number of families in the past. If you go on into the Museum you can learn about why the building is now known as the "Bucket of Blood" and other interesting facts about Burns Lake from the 1940's era and prior. If you are looking for something to fill an afternoon or more, visit the Burns Lake Museum.
July 09, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Hiking
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My name is Brenna, and I am a rather lazy hiker. BUT since my hiking experience three hours south of Dawson Creek near the Belcourt River I am starting to change my mind. My family’s plan was just to reach the summit for the afternoon but when we saw the view from the top of the mountain we just had to go further! We were hiking in Northern B.C. so my expectations were high for the view, however, I was still shocked at the beauty! It took two hours to climb from the valley floor up to the top. Then ‘we’ decided to drop down through a saddle and climb up to an even higher peak. This idea took us another hour, now we were a total of 4,5000ft in elevation. I figured that the view from the first peak was beautiful enough, but tagged along anyway – they say hiking is good exercise! Well calorie counting was the last thing on my mind when we reached the summit of the second peak – the view was perfect. I could see snow on the distant mountains and water running in the stream below. Unfortunately there was a rather large storm looming in the distance, so any further plans of going on were squashed. From the top of this peak we spotted across the valley a small herd of caribou. They were moving along the wide grassy slope, grazing as they went. On our way back down the mountain we came upon a very young kid goat. The mother must have tried to hide it when she heard us coming along, as it was too small to keep up with her as she fled the scene. It was so quiet and small. We didn’t dare touch it because then the mother might not want it back with a human scent on it. So we carried on down the trail while the baby went back into hiding. When we were nearing the bottom my foot got caught in some buck-brush and I did a flying nose dive into the moss, it was world class, I assure you. I am glad that nobody had the camera ready! When we got back into the vehicle we were all tired but felt extremely satisfied with what we had seen. I was also very happy with the distance that we had travelled over the rugged terrain.
July 09, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Attractions
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Marked as the geographical center of British Columbia, Hixon is home to the aptly named Hixon Falls. The falls are tucked in behind the tiny town just a short 4km jaunt off Highway 97 . Don't be discouraged by the lack of signage leading you to the right place, just follow Hixon Creek Rd. (east) down a dirt, and at times, winding road until you reach a parking area. From there, follow a narrow path by foot until you hear the resounding echo of falling water. It is not unusual to enjoy the natural beauty of the cascading falls in solitude, for we did not encounter any other visitors along the way. Pack a lunch and sit by the waters edge, even just wander along the shoreline of the fallen water, or simply revel in slendour of the little falls that could.
Jen