July 30, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Biking
I've recently started cycling to get some exercise while taking advantage of the great weather lately, and I think I've got the best route in the province!
I've been heading north on Ospika Boulevard in Prince George and I follow it until it turns into Otway Rd. Otway is a beautiful, softly rolling road that follows the Nechako River. I generally turn around after reaching the Otway Cross Country Ski/Biking trails (this is about a 13km total loop from the north end of Ospika), but exploring the huge Otway ski/bike trail system would be great too if you're up for it! This route is packed with great smells (aah, nature) and sights. A huge osprey nest looms high atop a power pole about 1/4 of the way to the Otway trails, and the osprey that inhabit it are often found circling the sky and calling to eachother nearby. The other morning, I saw 2 black bear and 2 deer cross the road a short distance in front of me, and a bright orange fox sitting in the grass not far from the road caught my eye on a previous day's ride.
If you're looking to enjoy a ride or walk away from the hustle and bustle of Prince George, Otway Rd is a great route to explore!
July 30, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Quesnel, Kayaking & Canoeing
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It's not a well-known place, but Milburn Lake in Quesnel is one of the best places for canoeing and camping in the area!
Just 15 minutes or so from Quesnel, you can access the lake from Milburn Lake Rd, a right turn off of the Nazko Rd. It's a short canoe ride across the first stretch of Milburn Lake . There's only a few houses located around the lake, so it's a very peaceful trip across. You then paddle through a short passage-way into a very small, marshy lake. Caution: I've often seen moose here, so look and listen before paddling on! Continue through one more short passage into a third, medium sized lake. Here, you will find a fantastic little island that is a perfect secluded campsite! There's lots of trees along the island's shores to tie your canoe and there's a nice clearing to build a small fire (please bring your own wood, as I don't want you to chop down all the lovely trees!) and set up a tent or two. Keep an ear and eye on the water, because there's usually a beaver or two paddling around the island!
Well, the secret's out! But hey, when a camping spot's this good, sometimes you've just gotta share!
July 30, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Quesnel, Car / Truck / Motorcycle
Ten Mile Lake is located just minutes north of Quesnel and is one of the best provincial parks in the area. I recently spent the day there and was reminded of the huge variety of things to do, whether you're camped there for the weekend or just visiting for an afternoon
First, I jumped in a friend's boat and tried my hand at fishing. The lake is usually a fisherman's paradise, but the fish sure weren't interested that day! It was getting a little warm in the boat, so we headed back to shore and wandered over to the beach area for a swim. The water here's perfect - cool, but not cold and no leeches in sight either! Next, we were off to explore the Beaver Trail, a great scenic trail system that takes you past a beaver dam and a huge assortment of wildflowers. It was getting close to dinner time by this point, so we made a small fire in one of the fire pits on the beach (sorry folks, fire ban officially in effect now!) and roasted up some good ol' hot dogs and marshmallows while watching water skiers whiz by far out on the lake. We jumped in for one more swim, then packed up and headed home as the sun was setting over the lake.
Fishing, swimming, and beavers?! You really can't go wrong spending time at Ten Mile Lake!
July 19, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Dogsledding
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View a larger image on flickr.com
Just because you're visiting Northern BC in the summer doesn't mean you have to miss out on our great winter sports!
I recently visited Dog Power Adventures on Chief Lake Rd in Prince George to learn more about the dogs and the sport of dog sledding. These folks have rescued many huskies from all over the country, in addition to having their own sled dogs.
I looked at great displays featuring different sleds, pictures, info about different races around the world, a sample diet of a sled dog, and much much more. They even hooked a few of the dogs up to an ATV to show how they train the dogs during the summer (the driver of the ATV had to hit the brakes when going around corners because the dogs were pulling so fast!). The dogs are all so friendly, and you can even jump on a little scooter and be pulled by one of them!
You're welcome to drop in from 7-8:30pm on weekends. I really enjoyed seeing the dogs run through the grass, and I know I'll be returning once the snow flies to try out the winter version!
July 19, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Theatre & Performing Arts
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If you're looking to experience a bit of nostalgia and want to have fun on a small budget, the Park Drive In Theatre in Prince George is for you!
This weekend we threw a couple of friends in the car and hit the drive in theatre to see two movies for the price of one! Movies start at dusk every weekend, but if you go early, you can play a round of mini golf or try out the great go-kart track before the movie. Oh, and come hungry - we picked up a couple of burgers and a huge bucket of popcorn (even though they claim it's their size small!) for a GREAT price!
The Park Drive In Theatre is one of only 3 drive ins left in BC. It's my favourite way to see movies in the summer, so come check it out!