May 31, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
100 Mile House, Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
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A highlight of our trip through the Carbioo region was interacting with the wide array of animals. At the Hills Health Ranch in 108 Mile there are miniature donkeys that are incredibly friendly! They nuzzle and give ‘hugs’ and are surprisingly affectionate. The story of how the original two donkeys Bonnie and Clyde came to the ranch is a great one to ask owner Pat about!
May 31, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Williams Lake, Museums
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A visit to the Likely Museum exceeded expectations as we were warmly greeted and received by the involved community member who graciously showed us around.
The museum has a fantastic set up which leads visitors chronologically through the history of Likely and the surrounding areas.
From old mining gear and equipment to abandoned personal possessions from the now ghost town of Quesnelle Forks, the museum offers a personal glimpse into the lives, stories, triumphs and losses of a hidden corner of the Cariboo.
A recent expansion includes a new wing and a beautiful little theatre which showcases old videos and testimonials of the area and its previous residents.
May 18, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Quesnel, Farms & Markets
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At Pine Meadow Farm (also a B&B) outside of Quesnel, there is a wide array of farm animals, from horses to pigs to chickens to rabbits, but the feature animals are the lamas!
They are really neat animals and owner Wylie is so knowledgeable that we learned a huge amount about the animals, as well as the challenges and joys of running a farm that size.
We were able to feed all of the animals and had a great time interacting with them. Another unique attribute to the farm is her pet Dalmatian ‘Spring” who comes with an appropriate accessory, an old fashioned fire truck!!
May 18, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Quesnel, Farms & Markets
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A great morning farm stop just outside of Quesnel is Moose Meadow Farm. They have a wide array of animals including lamas, ducks, chickens, horses and even a dog that looks like a spirit bear! The lamas are friendly and it was so neat to see them come running in from the fields when owner Heloise called them from the fence. She showed us around the farm after giving us a tour and explanation of birch syrup production (the farms main product) and it was really neat to see all of the animals wandering around in the sun and interacting with one another without issue. The farm is a lovely setting and the little gift shop that she has is a great place to stock up on souvenirs such as the birch syrup made on site, alpaca socks (from wool sheared from their alpacas), as well as other crafts and keepsakes made by local artisans.
May 11, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
100 Mile House, Historic & Heritage Sites
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We took a break from driving and stopped off the highway at the 108 Historic Site.
Unfortunately it wasn’t open yet for the season but we did have a great walk around the grounds, looking at the old historic buildings that sit on the edge of 108 Lake.
Many are original to the site including a huge log
Clydesdale Barn.
We'd heard from some locals about stories/rumors about the site, specifically about the famous Angus Mcvee, a Scottish woman who owned and operated the hotel in the area in the 1800s. Rumors say that she used to kidnap girls who were running from home on their way to the Cariboo gold fields and then sell them to traveling men. She also supposedly murdered a large amount of passing merchants, miners and other prospective buyers of her young girls who visited the isolated hotel and in the course of the following years, more than fifty-nine bodies were found in the small lakes of the area. Agnes Mcvee always buried her ill gotten booty near the hotel and in following years after her death, visitors continued to find buried gold and coin in the surrounding areas.
The hotel was ripped down in 1892 and the wood was used to build a post house and telegraph/store that still stand at the 108 Historical site.
Other highlights of the site that we saw included old farming equipment, logging equipment, a one room school house, trappers cabin and blacksmith shop. The grassy shores of the lake offer a great place for a picnic lunch stop and there is a large area for parking off of the highway which also features washrooms and area information.
May 11, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
100 Mile House, Spas & Wellness
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I treated my feet in the afternoon to a spa pedicure as they needed some TLC after being trapped inside shoes and socks all winter. The spa area at the ranch is very clean and the charming country decor encourage relaxation and comfort. The esthetician was extremely friendly and professional, answering my questions about what she was doing, product she was using etc. After a lovely foot soak, massage and nail care, my tootsies are soft and supple and ready to take sandal season head on!
May 11, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
100 Mile House, Spas & Wellness
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At first I was apprehensive of trying a fitness class at the ranch but forced myself out of my comfort zone and thought I'd give one a try. Pilates sounded like a good option, something I’d never tried before and it ended up being a great experience! The instructor Cathy was friendly and funny and was great at providing a wide array of options for each exercise depending on skill/fitness level. There was a range of ages and experience levels within the others in the class but Cathy was awesome at giving us newbies tips and advice to ensure we were getting the most out of the moves. The studio is a great space as the large windows allow a ton of light to stream in and brighten up the room. The 50 minute class went by as quick and snappy as Cathy’s jokes and we left feeling strong and able.