July 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince Rupert, Sightseeing Tours
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When heading from Terrace to Prince Rupert, if I could recommend a "must see", it would be the Butze Rapids Interpretive Trail.
Located directly before Prince Rupert off Highway 16, it is a beautiful 1.5 hour walk (4.5 kiometres) to stretch your legs, go on an adventure with the children, or walk the dogs. It takes about 30 minutes (1.9 kilometres) to reach a viewing platform that looks out over the Butze Rapids. What makes these rapids unique is during tide changes between high and low water, the river can be seen reversing directions.
My family once went out with a picnic and watched the tide come in, and saw the rapids begin to change directions. It is a fascinating natural feature not frequently seen. The walk itself is very striking. It is such an experience to walk through a path completely surrounded by moss, ferns and other greenery.
This is a must when visiting the north coast in order to get full immersion into the beautiful rainforests of British Columbia.
Editor's note: Learn more about things to do in Prince Rupert here.
July 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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I can't recall how many times I've hiked in the Forests for the World (FFTW), but it's likely you'll see something a little different each and every time you go.
FFTW is located just behind the University of Northern British Columbia, and it can be accessed via its own parking lot, via a walking trail from UNBC, and via the Cranbrook Hill Greenway. Most of the times I've hiked there I went in on the Cranbrook Hill Greenway, which meanders through the forests until it officially enters FFTW. Most of the trails there are loops (adding up to about 25km of hiking trails), with an assortment of gradients and difficulty levels.
Shane Lake, located in the center of FFTW, is a popular hiking destination, and is pictured in the accompanying photo. My personal favourite however is the large wooden viewing platform that visitors can climb onto and enjoy a sweeping view over Prince George and all the way to the Rocky Mountains on a clear day.
I've hiked in the FFTW both in the summer and the winter, and especially during fall and winter I've seen a fair few moose along the trails.
If you're looking for a great hiking opportunity not far from downtown Prince George, the Forests for the World are one of your best options.
Roam plenty and roam safely,
Your Traveller13
Photo credit: Shutter Logix
July 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Beaches & Swimming
It's been hot outside! And what better way to cool off than going to the lake with some friends? We headed north on Highway 97 for about 30 minutes until we reached Bear Lake, which lies just off the highway. The lake as a beautiful sandy beach, and because it is fairly small it warms up to a comfortable temperature in the summer. While it is quite popular on hot summer days, the size of the beach ensures that it doesn't get crowded, and the shallow descend into the lake makes the beach a great place for inflatable rafts etc.
So, if you're looking to cool off in the Prince George area, be sure to consider Bear Lake.
Roam plenty and roam safely,
Your Traveller13
Editor's note: Learn more about camping at Bear Lake here.
July 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Attractions
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Looking for some exciting architecture in Prince George? Well, the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) is just the place for you. During my years of studying there I became quite familiar with the small but beautiful campus. UNBC is a living, growing place, and one that is well integrated into its natural environment. Perched on a hill above Prince George's downtown, it looks towards the east and boasts a beautiful view of the Rockies on a clear day.
Even though UNBC has grown consistently since its opening in 1994, I have always felt that it has grown organically - translation: Even though adjoining buildings may have been built at different times, they join harmoniously and the campus reflects a single design. Walk through the light-drenched Administrative Building, the central core, or the Medical Building, and you'll know what I mean.
One of the first things I noticed about UNBC is the multitude of windows (over 7000, to be exact - that's from their website, I didn't count). Thanks to these, a glance at the treed surroundings of the campus is never far. And seeing a moose or bear on campus wouldn't be unheard of either. Also, let's be honest, on how many university campuses can you see a sign that says "No snowboarding on campus"? Not too many, I'd bet.
So whether you're going there to study or just to enjoy the architecture, be sure to include UNBC in your visit to Prince George.
Roam plenty and roam safely,
Your Traveller13
Photo credit: UNBC
July 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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Here I was, on a warm late-summer day in Prince George, looking for a nice hike to take my dogs on. I had heard about Fort George Canyon, and finally decided to give it a go. It’s about 15 minutes off Highway 16, and the road gradually narrows as one approaches the park, but remains in good driving condition.
The trail begins at a tiny parking lot, and gently winds its way through the woods. The scenery then changes to somewhat of a mud bog, and I was thankful for the boardwalks to keep me dry and clean (the dogs, on the other hand, decided that going through the mud was much preferable).
After about 45 minutes we reached a lookout point that opens up to a great view facing east, and I got some nice landscape photos. From then on we descended steadily down a sometimes rather steep hill, skirted the cutbanks, and eventually arrived on the shores of the Fraser River. What bliss for the dogs, who took the opportunity to jump right into the river, cool off, and have a drink. After a bit of a rest there, we made our way back up the hill and back towards the parking lot, arriving at the truck about three hours after we had left.
Fort George Canyon is a moderate hike, and because of its beautiful, varying scenery and excellent trail conditions, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Roam plenty and roam safely,
Your Traveller13
Photo credit: Panoramio
July 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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When the leaves start to turn colour, Eskers Provincial Park, about 20 minutes northwest of Prince George, is a beautiful place to be. I took my three dogs on the hike, and from the parking lot we first walked to the lake and marsh, enjoying the serene environment. From there we followed one of the many well-marked hiking loops up on a ridge, which revealed a lovely overview of the area. When we made it back to the truck after about two hours of hiking, I had three tuckered dogs and was glad I went.
One great thing about Eskers is that you can customize your hike both in regards to how far you want to go, and how strenuous you want it to be. Either way, you'll be rewarded with beautiful scenery and a good chance of seeing moose and bears. Eskers is also very popular for cross-country skiing because of its sloping hills and wide terrain, making it a great year-round destination
Roam plenty and roam safely,
Your Traveller13
Photo credit: BC Parks
Editor's note: Learn more about hiking in Prince George here.
July 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Hiking
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Ferguson Lake is the biggest lake within Prince George city limits, and a place I like to go to in the fall.
While this stocked lake is popular with anglers both in the summer and in winter (thanks to its dock and excellent ice fishing conditions), the 45 minute walking trail around the lake is particularly beautiful in the fall when the leaves turn colour. On the way, one walks through woodlands, over boardwalks, and past historic buildings.
While I have only seen muskrat at Ferguson Lake, other wildlife, such as bears and moose, also call the area home. If what you're after is a quick trip to a beautiful lake in Prince George, Ferguson Lake should be one of your top choices.
Roam plenty and roam safely,
Your Traveller13
Photo credit: Mike Nash
July 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Festivals & Events
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On July 1, 2010 Fort
St.
John was taken OVER…with classic cars!! During the
Canada Day celebrations the Classic Cruiser Show n’ Shine was in full swing!
The wind was blowing but the sun was shining on the amazing collection of
classic vehicles on display! In the summer months the classic cars are out in
full swing, one can see them on the road or at great events like the Show n’
Shine during Canada Day!
July 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort St. John, Sightseeing Tours
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On a beautiful July night I was enamored with the beautiful
sunset that had illuminated the sky with the colours of a brilliant fire. I
decided I wanted to take a walk to enjoy the warm night and beautiful scenery.
When trying to decide where to take a walk I was made aware of the great
walking trails available in
Fort
St. John. I was told
about the Paved Walking Trail system in and around
Fort St. John
which features kilometers of freshly paved, wide sidewalks which can accommodate
bikes, rollerblades, walkers and runners! The greatest part about the walking trail
was that the paved sections are not immediately next to the road way so I felt
comfortable to take a walk along the roads!
I started the walk at Northern
Lights College where I parked and starting walking west, this part of the trail
brought me to a section of the walking trail that brings you into a treed area
then it opens up to fields behind a residential area but then also along the railroad.
The vast area makes walking a joy and an opportunity for great photography!
July 22, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Chetwynd, Sightseeing Tours
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Good thing Chetwynd has two great car washes, because we sure needed one after our last 4x4ing excursion!
I had an absolute blast driving through the big mud holes on a local 4x4ing road in our 1979 Ford F150 pickup truck. Within the first few minutes the truck was completely plastered with mud! Once we navigated through all the mud puddles and ruts in the road, we saw some beautiful local countryside and even a few deer in a meadow.
As always when heading out into the backcountry we made sure our family knew where we were going and when we planned to be back. We carried some extra fuel and made sure the winch was in good working order in case we got stuck!