June 30, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
McBride, River Rafting
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Located approximately 270 km out of Prince George is the beginning point of an awesome adventure through rapids with Mount Robson Whitewater Rafting Company. As part of a familiarization tour, myself and a a few coworkers headed out for a day of whitewater rafting and took the Fraser River Whitewater Raft tour, which is about 14 km long. At the beginning, we had an easy float, class 1 rapids that were the main grounds for testing out paddling and learning the techniques to being the most effective float on the river! We then entered some class 2 rapids that started to get the rafters wet and prepared for the class 3 rapids that we would encounter after the portage over rearguard falls. We stopped in at the edge before Rearguard Falls to portage the raft over, as the falls are too steep to raft over. After riding over (and through) several more rapids, there is a section of water in which our guide allowed us to jump out of the raft and go for a swim in the freezing temperatures!!
The trip was definitely worth the drive from Prince George, even if it is out of the way! The guides were great, the waters were exciting and you were provided with all the gear you would need for a safe and fun day on the river!
June 29, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince Rupert, Dining
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After the Inside Passage tour of bears and whales, we docked around 7 and decided to check out some local cuisine. One of the guides on the boat directed us to a local pub with some great food. We ordered a mix of seafood and more traditional food, and every bit of it was delicious. They're well known for their battered halibut and cod which I was told was delicious. I can give you a first hand account that the Breaker's Club sandwich was amazing. The meal was accompanied by an awesome view of the harbour and great service!
June 29, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Prince Rupert, Bear Watching
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I was lucky enough to get to be aboard the very luxurious vessel The Inside Passage on Prince Rupert's Adventure Tours Whale and Bear tour this past Monday, June 27th, 2011. And by lucky, I mean it by every definition of the word.
There could not have been a more perfect day to be out on this amazing boat. It was clear blue skies and calm water all the way out to the beautiful
Khutzeymateen passage where the expert crew of the Inside Passage begin their eagle eye spotting of the bears from the boat deck. It only took a few loops of the passage before one of the crew spotted a gorgeous mother Grizzly bear and 2 cubs on the shore. We were able to approach the shore without startling the bears and get within a mere stone's throw of the beautiful creatures. The mother ate her grass while the 2 cubs frolicked and played on the water's edge creating one of the coolest scenes I'd ever seen.
After observing the bears for a good length of time, we pulled away from the shore just as the bears retreated into the woods. On the way back through Paradise Passage and into the Port of Prince Rupert, the crew fed the eagles and we were instantly surrounded by a flock of about 10-12 eagles, all diving the water around us.
It's actually kind of funny. The pamphlets and brochures might say that its a whale and bear trip but as we entered the Khutzeymateen, it honestly didn't even matter if we had seen a bear or a whale. The trip is more than worth your time and money for the scenery alone.
June 29, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Terrace, Sightseeing Tours
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As I mentioned before in one of my blogs, I was recently hired by Kermodei Tourism as a summer student. Since then, I've tried my best to approach the area I live in with the eyes of a tourist and not the eyes of a person who has grown up in this area.
This was my approach to the drive between Terrace and Prince Rupert yesterday. I have made this drive many times with my parents as a child but not nearly as much since I've been old enough to take my eyes off my Gameboy and really appreciate the scenery.
We happened to set out on a beautiful sunny Monday morning around 9am. This is a beautiful time for the drive, as the sun is hitting the mountains and the ocean inlet at just the right angles. Amongst the beautiful green mountains, you'll see scattered waterfalls all along the way.
About 15KM out of Rupert, you'll notice some cool glyphs on the side of one of the mountains (as seen in the picture). These faces have been on the mountain for hundreds of years and were supposed to be the protecting spirits of the channel across the inlet that they face.
The signs along the highway might say 100km/hr but with a mix of the amazing scenery and the high chance to see wildlife (be it bears or eagles or anything else), you might find yourself slowing down to take everything in.
June 29, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Queen Charlotte City, Attractions
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Imagine going on a diving adventure in the Southern waters of Haida Gwaii...wondering what might be lurking on the ocean floor. Well now you can stop wondering and come see some for yourself!
The Queen Charlotte Visitor Centre has just recently installed and filled our touch tank aquarium! With an inner aquarium for viewing only and a touch area with starfish surrounding, it's a great addition to our centre! It's filled with critters brought to us from waters near the Haida heritage site Skedans and the Haida Heritage Centre! We've got vermillion stars, bat stars, hermit crabs, a giant sea cucumber, sailfin sculpins, a grunt sculpin, opalescent nudibranchs, a yellow rimmed nudibranch, and more! The bully of the tank, Albert the Kelp Crab, is quite a funny fellow, always on guard! The opalescent nudibranchs have even layed some eggs, we'll see how the babies make out!
Our job description now involves cleaning the protein skimmer, hunting for mussels on the beach to feed the critters, and more...but we're not complaining! I love the tank, and so do all of the children and parents that come through as well. The tank is educational; not everyone has seen sea cucumber, and not everyone has seen a starfish eating a mussel. It's a new adventure for myself, having never seen a majority of the critters before in my lifetime on Haida Gwaii.
For anyone who has never gone diving before, it's a excellent way to find out what really is out in the ocean!
June 28, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Sicamous, Kayaking & Canoeing
2011 Kayak trip to Native American Pictographs site @ Mara Lake, British Columbia.
June 28, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Historic & Heritage Sites
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Well, I have not been able to do too much biking in the Dawson Creek area over the last couple of days, so due to my quest for adventure I decided to take on some attractions that were under roof and were dry. This led me to a venture into a town yet unexplored (by myself) Tumbler Ridge, population of approximately 3300 and only an hour drive south of Dawson Creek.
First stop in Tumbler Ridge was the visitor center. They are a ‘mammoth’ of information on things to see and explore in the area. Unfortunately due to weather restrictions I was not able to partake in any of the outdoor activities that the community of Tumbler Ridge has to offer. Such outdoor-adventures suggested are, the Dinosaur Trackway Tours or one of the 23 developed hiking trails in the area which will escort you to waterfalls (Kinuso Falls), caves, lakes, panoramic views and fascinating historical/geological formations.
By suggestion of the tourist counselor, I headed to the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery which opened its doors to the public in 2007. WOW, did this place ever create a sense of falling back in time. It is hard to believe that the peaks of the mountains in the Tumbler Ridge area were once the bottom of the ocean. Or that dinosaurs once walked this terrain and the evidence is in the Dinosaur Trackway Tour. There really is so much to take in; a guided tour by a paleontology researcher is highly recommended. The museum has many other themes to offer the curious historian, such as railway exploration and mining even local sports hall of fame. Definitely this museum is a must see if you are in the Tumbler Ridge area!
So until next time and sunnier skies ahead, Happy Chains!
June 25, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Dawson Creek, Biking
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Biking the back roads in an around Dawson Creek really does hold some little hidden treasures that can be easily missed if you are going the wrong way or just going too fast. Some days I enjoy a nice scenic ride out of Dawson Creek on Highway 49, and then cut up behind into Pouce Coupe on Blair Ridge Road. This ride proves time and time again to be laden with crops, rolling hills and fresh air. I journey through the town of Pouce Coupe, I have stopped at the Museum in the old train station that was built in 1930 and later moved to the community center and take in a bit of history on the town. Then instead of taking Highway 2 back into Dawson Creek, I venture down Railway Avenue and take the back roads back into Dawson Creek.
I have been down this route many times with fellow cyclers and never realized that just south-west of Pouce Coupe is historical wooden trestle that was built in 1930, by the Northern Alberta Railways. This is was probably and engineering marvel at the time, when I come up to the valley that the trestle connects my knees actually become week. Little did I know that this trestle is a part of a historical self guided tour that takes you through the town which including the post office, town hall, library, Hart Hotel and an old church. This trestle is no longer in use, when I was out there, there was actually some brave souls venturing across the bridge via foot, but I passed! The town of Pouce Coupe is just a short ride from Dawson Creek and definitely worth taking the afternoon and checking out. Advertising throughout the town shared the up and coming July 1st celebrations, which is themed “Pioneers….our Heritage.” They are having a bunch of events, a parade, bbq’s, and my favorite fireworks!!!
Until next biking excursion, Happy Chains!
June 25, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Whistler, Dining
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Amazing…
In a nutshell, that’s really all that needs to be said. We had dinner last night at Aura at Nita Lake Lodge (Whistler Creekside) and the food is magnificent. I don’t think I even have the vocabulary to properly describe the creations that Executive Chef Tim Cuff and Chef Owen Foster create. They are nothing short of sublime.
We had the five-course tasting menu. I would love to describe each dish in the same level of detail and with the same passion that our wonderful server Veronique, who has also worked as a chef, was able to convey. Sadly, I don’t know where to even start. Everything from the amuse bouche to the dessert was bursting with flavour. The texture of each dish was intricately balanced and meticulously presented. Making the experience even more enjoyable was knowing that the chefs use local, organic ingredients whenever possible. Although local is an understatement as the chefs cultivate their own rooftop garden that has approximately 30 herbs and 40 vegetables.
For those who have yet to experience Aura at Nita Lake Lodge, I strongly suggest you make the journey to Whistler Creekside to check it out!
June 24, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Historic & Heritage Sites
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Hey everyone. Today I visited one of the little jewels tucked away in Steveston that not many people really know about: The London Heritage Farm.
This is a beautiful 4 acre piece of farmland that encapsulates a piece of Richmond’s history from around the 1880-1930’s era. Overlooking the south arm of the Fraser River, the site is comprised of a restored 1880’s farmhouse, several herb and flower gardens, a restored barn, old farming equipment, a small hand tool museum, a lovely pond, gazebo, and a picnic area all in a welcoming park-like atmosphere.
The centrepiece of it all is the restored farmhouse. With six rooms displaying furniture, old pictures, clothing, quilts, and everyday articles of the era you’ll truly get a glimpse into Richmond’s history as well as one of the pioneering farming families from that time. So now you’re wondering, who did live there?
The London Family of course!
“Charles E. London, aged 16, and his brother William, aged 17, arrived in British Columbia in 1879 from Ontario. They purchased 200 acres of land in 1881 for $2,000, erected a small farm house and began clearing and draining the land in preparation for farming. The London Family, loyalists from the American Revolution, went on to be one of Richmond’s most prominent families.” (excerpt from London Heritage Farm pamphlet)
The farm and 4 acres of its original land were purchased in 1978 by the city of Richmond and registered as a heritage site under the BC Heritage Act.
London Heritage Farm is a beautiful spot that’s worth checking out for an afternoon if you’re in the area! The botanical gardens are gorgeous, there are plenty of spots for relaxing, having a picnic, or if you’re there on a weekend, you can enjoy afternoon tea with homemade scones or biscuits! Next time you’re walking along the dyke, stop and check it out! It’s an important part of Richmond’s history and a beautiful example of what life was like during the 1880’s!
- VideoChris