June 30, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Attractions
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We love to take our out-of-town visitors on Sunday Drives for picnic lunches. We are really lucky here in the Peace River Country, because we have so much history and a lot of great scenery to choose from.
We took our cousins for a drive and picnic lunch to the
Kiskatenaw Park. This trip is a guaranteed hit with all visitors.
The park is in a canyon right below the famous
Kiskatenaw Curved Wooden Bridge that was built in 1942 during the construction of the Alaska Highway.
It's about 20 miles north of Dawson Creek on the Alaska Highway. You have to pay attention to the signs, because it is off the beaten path. The curved bridge can still be driven across but had to be protected from modern heavy trucks so a new section of highway and new bridge were built to bypass the original. The old one is now a historical site.
The wooden bridge is amazing and quiet enough to stroll across and enjoy the river far below.
In the late summer, the river is often quite low and you can walk across it. There is a sandy area, a swimming hole, a playground and campground. We found some great hiking trails and walked for a couple of hours.
Although we didn't bring any fishing gear, I've heard that the river has pike, bull and rainbow trout. Maybe next time.
June 29, 2010 | Field Reports >
Abbotsford, Arts, Culture & History Tours
Abbotsford, BC is truly an agricultural jewel...lush, warm and welcoming.
It was such a pleasure to travel around the area and see it's beauty firsthand. A 'city in the country', Abbotsford is an amazingly fertile place. It's a great destination to learn, see and sample some of the best of what BC has to offer. If you're interested in Agri-tourism, wineries or simply enjoying the exceptional rural scenery~you have to check out Abbotsford.
June 29, 2010 | Field Reports >
Gibsons, Arts, Culture & History Tours
Have you been to the Sunshine Coast of BC? It's absolutely fantastic!
Growing up on the westcoast of BC, I'd always wanted to visit the Sunshine Coast. I remember hearing the name Sunshine Coast and envisioning a sunny, magical place- it always conjured images of beautiful coastline and Beachcomber nostalgia. I recently had a chance to visit and...WOW...it's amazing -wonderful natural beauty, rich culture and super friendly people. If you get a chance, visit the Sunshine Coast. I guarantee you'll love it!
Oh yeah, one more thing...prepare to sample some of the best oysters you can imagine but be careful with the 'Jamaican Me Hot' sauce at Smitty's Oyster House in Gibsons...it's hot ;)
June 29, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Dining
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I love homemade organic
food! We have a great little
eatery in town that is a favorite spot for local residents and visitors
alike. It's within close walking
distance to downtown and has a menu of homemade
and locally grown food. I can
personally vouch for lunch menu (soups, baked goodies, sandwiches, salads).
The first thing you will
notice when you enter is the tantalizing smells of homemade food and a very
welcoming atmosphere.
There is proactive
environmental policy written on the front of the till counter that is really
powerful to read. Under the Willow
has a mission to reduce, reuse and recycle and the tearoom is known for using biodegradable
products and composting. In the
spring, scraps are donated as needed to a local animal rescue center to feed
bear cubs.
Attached to the restaurant is
a used book and record store to poke around in.
It's is also a favorite venue for local artists and
musicians to play and jam, so you never know what you might have happened
upon. The last time I went, it was
"Open Mike", and I was surprised by how many brave folks got up and
shared their talents.
This is a great place to have
lunch when you are exploring downtown Dawson Creek.
It has wonderful food, a great environment, friendly service and very
reasonable prices all while supporting an eco-friendly business.
June 28, 2010 | Field Reports >
Clinton, Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
Find more information about Clinton - Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
The Echo Valley Ranch and Spa near Clinton, BC is a unique place to
visit with its incredible views and amenities. I went there to do some horseback riding but quickly discovered it some other features that make it quite unique. It has a beautiful lodge and
even a Ban Tai Spa which was designed by the architect to the Thai royal
family. The ranch also has cattle, falcons, a herd of border collies
and the noisiest turkeys ever!
June 28, 2010 | Field Reports >
Anahim Lake, Attractions
I flew up to Anahim Lake and then drove over to Nimpo Lake for an incredible float plane flight over the wild 1300 ft Hunlen Falls in Tweetsmuir Park. Absolutely amazing view from the airplane as we stared straight down the falls while the plane banked sideways!
June 28, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Smithers, Festivals & Events
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Do you desire good music? Crave dancing? Love to eat good food, and
be surrounded by awesome people? Come to Smithers annual Midsummer
Music Festival, located at the fairgrounds.
I had the privilege to
attend and perform at this year's festival with the local vocals-
Smithers' community choir. Midsummer is the stomping ground for many
of our local musicians, and coming from such a broad base of talent,
there are alot. This year featured bands such as Mamaguroove (from
Dunster), Tambura Rasa, and the one and only Jim Byrnes.
I
camped both Friday and Saturday night, providing great opportunity to
stay up late to enjoy music into the wee hours, and get up early (but
not too early) enough to get a steaming hot chai with breakfast.
Our
festival offers an eclectic assortment of shopping, activities for
children, jam zones, and ethnic foods from different vendors. Luckily,
the weather held out for us festival-ers, and a good time was had by
all. There is always something for everyone, whether you enjoy folk,
bluegrass, punk, or rock music, so I highly recommend and invite
everyone to visit the midsummer festival.
June 28, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Golden, River Rafting
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Many rivers in BC are directly affected by snow melt and warm weather. In Golden BC, the Kicking Horse River come directly from the Wapta Ice field in Yoho national park. The water is a crisp 4 degrees all summer long, and 12 hours before we raft on it, it was ice and snow. It's as glacial and fresh as it gets.
Third week in June 2010 the weather got hot, and the river came up. Check out this video from Glacier Raft Company as they take people on a thrill of a lifetime down the Kicking Horse river. Filmed on June 23/24.
June 28, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
New Hazelton, Kayaking & Canoeing
On a warm sunny summer afternoons, Hazelton
locals can often be found cooling off at one of our many nearby lakes. On this particular June afternoon, my
family and I set out equipped with our canoes to enjoy the warm gentle breeze,
cool waters, and relaxing paddle that can be found at Ross Lake.
Ross Lake is located
6km east, about ten minutes, of New Hazelton BC. A diverse range of activities
can be enjoyed at Ross Lake including swimming, fishing, hiking, picnicking,
and bird watching. This video blog is focused on the canoeing adventure
opportunities at Ross Lake!
June 27, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince George, Historic & Heritage Sites
Find more information about Prince George - Historic & Heritage Sites
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Ginter Park is one of my favourite places to go for a walk in Prince George. You can access the park from the ends of Ferry Ave, Massey Dr, or 18th Ave. Be sure to bring your pooch along, because this is a very dog-friendly park!
The park is named after Ben Ginter, who played a large part in putting Prince George on the map in terms of Canada's brewery industry.
There is a nice gravel walkway that extends the length of the park, but my favourite area is located near the Massey Dr access. This is where you can walk up to the site of Ben Ginter's house. The foundation of the house still remains, as well as some beautiful stonework where the driveway and entrance once were. Be sure to check out the little stream that runs beside the house as well - this stream comes all the way from Shane Lake in the Forests for the World park.
My favourite time of year to visit this park is in the fall, but it's a great site to check out any time of the year!