July 09, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort Nelson, Sightseeing Tours
View a larger image on flickr.com
Sitting around with a few of my friends on hot July evening,
we were discussing what we should do before I moved to Grande Prairie to go to
college. We bounced around more than a few ideas and all became excited about
one. A road trip up to Muncho Lake, why not? We were 3 fresh graduates from high
school and figured “what the heck!?” Early the next day we set out on our newly
decided adventure.
Thanks to the early dawn in the north during the summer
months we were able to leave bright and early, we piled into the truck munchies
and cameras in hand. Our drive was animated (even for a bunch of teens up before noon!)
we laughed, sang, and also car danced in our seats! We talked about how weird
it felt to be graduated, how we had responsibility to live up to our parents
dreams for us.
Our first stop was at Steamboat Mountain (which is closed)
and took pictures with the old looking gas terminals.
The second stop was at Tetsa River Regional Campground; we
drove in and parked, taking out some marshmallows (yes. At 7am ha-ha!) We took
a small hike down to the river, walked up and took goofy pictures and chased
each other around with handfuls of water! After some good fun and lots of
laughs we jumped back into the truck, and headed further north to Toad River.
At Toad River we started to crave something more than marshmallows
and candies. We stopped in at the lodge for some good eating! Our meal
consisted of honey garlic wings, poutine fries and a few other delicious appetizers.
Just a hop away there was a turn off on the right hand side of the road,
driving in about 1km we pulled up to the river. Quick to follow was more pictures, goofing
around and stretching of the legs. Thanks to our content appetites and new found energy of course!
As we continued north we passed the Indian head rock, the
valley lookout point pull out and many beautiful sites! When we made it to
Muncho Lake (finally! Ha-ha) we jumped out first at the Strawberry Flats
Campground, took a nice walk around in the sun, we continued on to MacDonald
Campground, we sat on the dock, ate some snacks, and played music out of our
truck. Singing and dancing on the dock with my best friend James, I realized
that this was the perfect way to spend a Saturday with friends. Although we
were sad about separating and moving on with life, nobody said a word. Just
made the most of the very few days we had left.
On the way home, we stopped at Baba Canyon, which is right
around Summit Lake. None of us had ever been in there and decided another
driving break was needed! We made our way in carefully stepping over rocks,
puddles of water and plant life. We climbed up the side of the rock face taking
photos the entire way up! We were even lucky to see a stone mountain sheep off
in the distance!
No doubt this trip made my Top 3 best days ever!
July 08, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort Nelson, Sightseeing Tours
View a larger image on flickr.com
Living in Fort Nelson my entire life, I have grown used to
the sites around me and some days I forget to really see the beauty around me
and my home town.
Last weekend, I took a day trip to Prophet River, which is
one hour south of Fort Nelson. I went with my boyfriend, Clifford, his sisters,
mom and niece. The drive was very nice, minus the rain of course! One great
thing about rain though is that every tree and patch of grass is green, BRIGHT
green!
Arriving at the farm, the rain had finally stopped; we unloaded
the quads, and the ranger. Shortly afterwards we got into our quadding gear and
headed out into the bushes.
Our destination; the mouth of the Prophet River, never being
there myself I expected a smooth, quick ride out. Soon I found out I was wrong,
but of course being from the north where getting muddy on the quads is a must!
I enjoyed myself very much. After a few of us getting sunk in the muskeg and
some bush whacking. We finally made it to our destination; it was a breath
taking spot, the waters rushing by. Birds flying around, sand mixed with big
rocks, and trees as far as your eye could see!
It’s amazing how a relatively short ride off the highway you
find the untouched beautiful scenes of British Columbia. We were gone for about
3-4 hours, on our arrival back to the farm we were greeted with a fabulous
dinner. Made up of ribs, potatoes, broccoli and many other delicious foods. I
would have to say no one cooks better than a pair of grandparents and a few
grand kids to help! Later I sat outside; looking over the fields and watching
the horses run about the corral. After twisting his rubber arm Clifford’s niece
got a piggy back ride over to the horses where she talked to them, fed them and
got to pet a few of them. Coming back she was the happiest little 2 year old I’d
ever seen!
On the drive back the rain decided it had held off long
enough and it started to pour, accompanied by thunder and bright flashes of
lightning.
Just another trip that has made me appreciate the beauty of
our amazing province, and the joy of families spending a Saturday just playing,
visiting and having fun.
July 07, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Fort Nelson, Art Galleries & Artists
View a larger image on flickr.com
No, this is not a blog on the weird and often misunderstood relationship between Art and Vitamin D (however, I can assure you that they do in fact get married).
No, this is a blog about the annual Art Walk held in Fort Nelson every summer. I had never been on an art walk before, so this year I decided to check it out.
I visited all five locations easily by foot as they were all centrally located. They included Capp*a*lu's, the Phoenix Theatre, the Public Library, City Hall and the Visitor's Centre in the new recreation complex. Each location was easily found in the handy brochure (that I received at the Visitor's Centre) and which also profiled several of the artists whose artwork was on display.
Walking between each location was a lot of fun to do on a hot day; I was able to soak in some much needed vitamin D and grab some cold water and ice cream along the way!
The various art works at each location were not only beautiful but well-crafted also. It was a treat to see the various mediums used such as birch, paint, caribou bone, clay and soap stone. It was also very nice to re-orient myself with the lesser seen areas of our town like the library and City Hall.
Overall, I was impressed with the experience of getting some exercise while being able to appreciate the finer things in life (like art!). What's nice is that the opportunity to participate in the Art Walk lasts all summer long until September 5th and you too could experience a piece of current-day (northern) Canadiana.
July 06, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Tumbler Ridge, Hiking
Find more information about Tumbler Ridge - Hiking
View a larger image on flickr.com
On Canada Day we decided to hike up to the Bald Spot to watch the fireworks. The Bald Spot is a place on the ridge east of Tumbler Ridge where no trees grow. There is a fairly steep trail that leads up to the Bald Spot, where a great view of the town can be seen. As we headed up it slowly got darker outside and by the time we took in the excellent fireworks display, the sun had fully set. We had a great view of the show and headed down using a flashlight in the dark.
July 05, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
As Canada grows a year older every July 1, hundreds of thousands of proud Canadians and delighted tourists turn out to celebrate the nation's birthday. A full day's festivities is always capped off with an excellent fireworks show over the colorful waters of Coal Harbour. The show can be watched from Canada Place, the Coal Harbour seawall, Stanley Park, or North Vancouver, and is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. Indeed, every explosive moment is all the more magical when the thousands of people around you woo and ahh in unison!
July 05, 2011 | Tips from Us >
Harrison Hot Springs, Camping
View a larger image on flickr.com
One of my favourite things about living in Vancouver is that I can hop in the car, and within an hour or two be setting up my tent beside one of many gorgeous lakes and rivers. On the recent Canada Day long weekend, I decided to do exactly that.
There are a number of provincial campsites within a short drive of Vancouver, but I prefer the more rustic recreation sites (which are less maintained - think pit toilets and bear-proof garbage cans). This long weekend, I decided to head to Wood Lake, a small rec site on the west side of the much larger Harrison Lake.
With less than 30 campsites, it can be tough to snag a spot, especially on a long weekend. But luckily Wood Lake is one of only a few rec sites participating in a pilot reservation program, so my party was able to reserve spots in advance. I'm glad we did, because I'm pretty sure we got the best spots on the lake - up on a hill with a view, complete with our own path down to the water!
The weather was great (for the most part) and everyone was in good spirits for Canada's 144th birthday. Our entire side of the lake even broke out singing the national anthem around our campfires at one point on Friday night! Very Canadian :)
There are no powerboats allowed in this little lake, but people were out on the water all day in canoes, kayaks, dinghys and even air mattresses. Wood is warmer than other lakes in the area, so it's perfect for swimming when the temperature climbs.
If fishing's more your thing, you can throw a line in the water from a boat or from shore - Wood Lake is stocked with trout every May. The area is also popular with ATVers and dirtbikers as there are trails up into the mountains off the main road.
To get to Wood Lake, just drive east on Hwy 7 past Maple Ridge and Mission, then head up the Harrison West Forest Service Road (FSR) for about 18km. The FSR is essentially a logging road, so it's a bit of a bumpy ride, but definitely do-able in a regular car. There are several other places to camp along the West Harrison FSR - I'd suggest grabbing a Backroads Book for the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region and taking a look! You can also check out the Recreation Sites and Trails BC website for full rec site listings around the province.
July 04, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Festivals & Events
Happy Canada Day everyone! This is without question my favourite day of the year to be in Richmond! Why? The Salmon Festival, of course!
What is the Salmon Festival? This is an annual Canada Day celebration (held every year since 1945!) down in Steveston! You can expect around 70,000 people to come out and enjoy the massive parade, food (get into that more later), games, music, live performances, volleyball tournament, and tons more! It’s seriously a ton of fun and attracts people from all over Richmond and Metro Vancouver to take to the streets and celebrate for an entire day!
The day begins with a huge parade including floats, marching bands, celebrities, politicians, community groups, vintage vehicles, dancers and much, much more. The parade is great fun and usually lasts between 1.5-2 hours!!!
Afterwards, everyone heads to the famous salmon barbecue where over 1200 pounds of wild salmon filets are grilled on open fire pits. The lines are usually huge and for good reason! It sells out EVERY year!!!
After this there is a ton of children’s games and rides all in a carnival atmosphere. There’s plenty to do and see for the whole family. My favourite? The Steveston water park! (who says it’s just for kids?) Also expect non-stop performances all day on one of the many stages, as well as an indoor farmer’s market!
Waterparks aside, the best part of the festival is the annual (Cambie Sports) Volleyball Tournament held in the fields behind the Steveston Community Centre. It’s non stop action ,all day as co-ed teams of 4’s battle it out on the grass attracting huge crowds!
The Salmon Festival is a spectacular event that offers something for everyone! If I’m not shooting video, you’ll find me playing volleyball all day and then out in one of the many beer gardens all evening! Bring your family, enjoy the parade, get some delicious salmon, and enjoy the wonderful energy that Richmond exudes on Canada Day! See you next year!
July 03, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Terrace, Cruises & Boat Tours
View a larger image on flickr.com
It was a beautiful drive up Highway 113 to the Nass Valley; the weather wasn’t that great but it still doesn’t hide the beauty of the area. We stopped at a “peeing tree”. What is a peeing tree you may ask? Well, it is just a cottonwood tree. Cottonwood trees take lots of water from the ground that go up to their leaves and limbs. They drill a hole in the tree and intercept the water that is going up the trunk. It makes the perfect drinking water. Stop there and fill up your water bottles for a nice refreshing drink!
Also, on the way up there is a river called Kalum River and supposedly has some of the best Salmon fishing in the area. There is also Kalum Lake, which is 12km long and 450ft deep. It is huge and seemed like it went on and on and on as we drove down the highway. Along the highway you pass through a small community called Rosswood. In February 2010 a couple found a Kermode bear den in the back country while hiking and put a camera in the den to record the bear throughout the season as it moved around the den. They set it up so that the video was live-streaming onto the internet and people from all over could keep tabs on the bear. They named the bear Apollo and also posted it on Youtube for people to see. This was a great beginning for what was still to come!
July 03, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Terrace, Historic & Heritage Sites
Find more information about Terrace - Historic & Heritage Sites
View a larger image on flickr.com
The Hazelton Area Visitor Centre went on a FAM tour of the Nass Valley on Tuesday, June 28! We woke up early and headed to Terrace, BC, where we met the crew from their Visitor Centre along with Brian, our Split Mountain Adventures Tour Guide. We started our tour at the North West Community College and saw some beautiful art work from the students in the school. Some of the art work from the students is chosen to be displayed in Vancouver and other parts of BC. There are totem poles out in front to the college that represent learning. There is another totem pole out in the parking lot called Seven Nations Pole that was raised seven years ago. The totem pole represents all the different nations that go to the school. Usually totem poles would only represent one nation, one clan and tell a single story or legend, but this pole represents the seven nations that make up the school, as a sign of unity for the school. There are some carvings in the school that were made in 1987. The same person who did these carvings is also carving a pole for Riverboat days which is taking place during July 29 – August 7. The artwork made it a great place to start our tour!
July 02, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Camping
Find more information about Dawson Creek - Camping
View a larger image on flickr.com
While out riding the other day I came across Matthews Centennial Park, which is located approximately 1 hour biking or 10 minutes driving north of Dawson Creek just off Highway 97 on the corner of Road 237 and Sweetwater. This little park is ideal for families or friends to get together and camp, have a wiener roast and of course pull out the s’mores & or marshmallows. You can take the short trip to the out-skirts of the city and stay for an hour or a couple of days! There was even wood chopped and sitting by the outdoor site campfires. The park has a couple of public washrooms, lots of room for parking and a huge ball diamond. Matthews Centennial Park would be a great little vacation outdoors, without having to travel too far. You can really enjoy the ‘royalties’ of outdoor adventures; fresh air and no city lights or traffic. Once again, while out biking the rolling country-side of Dawson Creek I have stumbled across a little treasure in Dawson Creek's backyard. Until next time Happy Chains!!