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November 15, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Campbell River, Beaches & Swimming
There was so much to do on our last vacation we didn't know where to start! We had to choose from fishing off of the pier, boogie-boarding on one of the many sandy beaches, going on a nature hike on one of the many trails, going on a whale watching charter boat, rock climbing at the local rock climbing facility, AND swimming at various lakes and rivers.
We chose McIver lake just outside of Campbell River, heading up the highway towards Gold River. It's about a 6 minute drive, and on the right hand side of the highway. Once we arrived at our destination we soon realised how popular it was by the amount of vehicles parked at various locations lakeside.
We stopped and piled out with the kids running full tilt for the lake with me in the hottest persuit I could muster. I got within eyesight and stopped in my tracks. Now I am a North Island girl, and let me tell you, honestly, the sight of my kids splashing happily in the glorious heat of summer, well it's something I will not forget.
Campbell River has a lot to offer, check it out!
September 15, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Kamloops, Beaches & Swimming
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Riverside Park is a large city park with a number of amenities not offered at the other Kamloops beaches including:
• washroom facilities,
• concession stand (varying hours),
• beach with a life guard,
• a number of picnic tables and benches,
• kids water park,
• tennis courts,
• two playgrounds,
• large trees for shade,
• open grass areas,
• a pier,
• and is within easy walking distance to an ice cream shop (Scoopz) and a number of restaurants - yummy!
This is a great family beach and this is where I’d recommend if you’re traveling with your family and have no dogs.
Riverside Park is beautiful and I love to have a picnic there and then walk up to Scoopz to grab an ice cream.
August 30, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Nakusp, Beaches & Swimming Nakusp, Beaches & Swimming
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Nakusp, this is where its at. Isolated in the west kootenays, Nakusp is a breath taking get-away. Hot springs, Hiking, History, and great camping. Every service you need is within walking distance, it's a small, quiet and beautiful town filled with friendly people.
The public beach great place to relax, and is perfect to just lay back and absorb the sun. Nakusp's beach is small but it seems as if you have endless space around you compared to some crowded beaches. The sand here is soft and the water warm. Many are surprised by the little amount of boats on the water, its so peaceful and calm! In the water floats a raft with a small waterslide, which the kids love to play on. And if the sun gets too hot for you, at the top of the beach is a soft grass area under the shade of trees. From there you can still see the water, so its a great spot to read a book on the grass, and still be able to see your kids playing in the water.
Hope you can make it next summer!
Rowan-VIC
August 23, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Tofino, Beaches & Swimming
Honeymoon: Tonifo, B.C. OMG … I have to include our honeymoon here; we had a wonderful trip. As hubby just started a new job, we couldn’t take a very long vacation… so we went to Tofino… something close-by and yet something remote (a total of 5 hours travel including the ferry ride). We stayed at the Wickaninnish Inn for 6 days and 5 nights; it was just amazing. The ocean was right by our room; we watched the sunset from our bed, looked at the ocean when we were soaking in the tub and listened to the wave before we sleep. Since it was the storm season, the wave actually was very nice. The walk along the beach (which is just 30 seconds away) was just breath-taking. It was so relaxing in the little town of Tonifo (after a “stressful” wedding… we could really use the peace). Couple of restaurants that you might want to visit when you are there; Downtown Tonifo is so small that you will have no problem finding these places Our whole trip was PERFECT!
August 5, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Prince George, Beaches & Swimming
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A student sees a long weekend as a time to take full advantage of the many freedoms he or she is denied throughout the school year; a time of avoiding essays (and finishing them hurriedly the night before they're due), listening to the token boring professor, and of course, sirviving on nothing.
All of these miseries seemed distant to me as my stepbrother Landon and I made the 30 minute drive to West Lake on Saturday to enjoy the sun, water, and let the dogs explore the dog-friendly part of the provincial park. Half hour out of town, the campground is totally equipped for a great day at the beach: sandy beaches for families, a shower station, volleyball net, and on-leash dog lakefront walking trail.
The water was the greatest surprise. The lake was shallow, freshly stocked with fish (many of which lazily swam near our feet) and perfect for swimming. My swimmer-self awoke instantly and I paddled away into the depths, diving under the water and brushing up on my swimming skills! Our lunch, leftovers from the BBQ the night before, was another great addition to the day; we had our own picnic bench and beach access to enjoy our burgers (and tofu burger respectively) and other goodies.
We tanned, napped, and took one last dip before we got ready to go. This is one place I will definitely want to visit again before it's time to hit the books.
July 31, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Fort St. John, Beaches & Swimming
Can you say “heat wave”? In Fort St. John we have had the hottest late July in a long time, so hot in fact, that we have broken temperature records set in the 40s! With this kind of heat locals and travelers alike can do nothing but sweat it out – unless they happen to know all the local hot spots for cooling off.
The most important thing on a hot day is always water, but why just drink it when you can dive in? Downtown Fort St. John is home to the North Peace Leisure Pool which, with two pools and a waterslide, is an excellent indoor stop. I’ve always loved the beachy wave pool and the exhilarating 3m high dive! If you just can’t bear to leave the sun behind but still want to stay in the city, there’s also the Rotary Spray Park. Right behind the Leisure Pool, it is usually frequented by the younger (read: 3-8 yr olds) set but on a sweltering days like today, everyone is welcome (even roguish university students like myself) and the cold blast of water is ridiculously welcome.
If you have a bit more time and ambition, the BC Peace region is also home to a whole raft of great swimming rivers. For those with a 4X4, Copeland’s beach can’t be beat. It’s a great place to swim, hike, skip rocks on the river, and generally just bask in the sun on the sandy shores. Exercise caution on the first hot day of the summer (all the snow in the mountains starts to melt and the river can pull a flash flood out of its back pocket with no notice) but after the snows are melted out of the mountains, a trip out to North Pine and its main attraction (Copeland’s Beach) may be just what the doctor ordered. While north of town already, I find it’s hard to pass up the beaches just east of the Cecil Lake Road Bridge. While much easier to access it is no less appealing for a quick dip on a hot day.
If you head south of Fort St. John the Peace and Kiskatinaw Rivers are great options. I grew up visiting my aunt who lived on the Peace, and though we were warned heavily against leaping into the flow, on hot years when the water is low there are plenty of slower running back waters where it’s safe and fun to cool down and paddle around. The Kiskatinaw is also a great place to swim and, located only about half an hour south of Fort St. John, it’s not too far out of the way. My dad always liked to take the little detour in the summer to drive part of the old highway and swim in the relatively safe if a bit muddy Kiskatinaw.
Now, once you’ve got your fill of swimming you will probably need a snack. There is no question in my mind, after a long hot day on the river or in the pool, only icecream will do! Now if you read my previous blogs you probably know how I feel about icecream and just where exactly I like to go. If, however, you didn’t: Peppermint Patty’s is the coolest icecream joint in town. Check it out!
July 29, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Hudson's Hope, Beaches & Swimming
With the heat wave making its way up the province, I decided to find a calm piece of water in which I could relax beside and enjoy the summer warmth. I wanted a bit of adventure along the way so I decided to head towards Hudson’s Hope from Fort St. John to experience Dinosaur Lake, formed by the Peace Canyon Dam (located adjacent to the W.A.C. Bennett Dam). The drive to Hudson’s Hope along highway 29 is beautiful, the numerous wildlife sightings are great along the highway but my favorite aspect of highway 29 is the many pull-offs where you have an amazing view of the Peace River, the valley where the river sits and of course the amazing landscape with rolling mountains. One aspect that I find jaw dropping is how the highway has been repaved numerous times in different sections due to the land shifting and the highway slipping away. In some viewpoints you can see sections of the old highway just eerily vanishing into a side of a mountain. The appeal of Dinosaur Lake is the calm, cool water where it’s a great place to spend an afternoon with a good book or some music and a gossip magazine. At Dinosaur Lake there is a small campground with a handful of camping sites that have views of the water and mountains.
A great place for a quick dip or a lazy afternoon with your feet in the water!
July 26, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Quesnel, Beaches & Swimming
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Located about 12km north of Quesnel, Ten Mile Lake provides easy access to the multitude of attractions that the area has to offer. Being only an hour from Barkerville and only about 15 minutes from Quesnel the lake is the perfect place to spend the day. Just off of highway 97 the provincial park offers an array of campsites and a large well-maintained day-use area with a small beach, picnic tables, changerooms and a playground. Or if you prefer there is a beaver pond interpretive trail through the forest and an amphitheatre for interpretive presentations about the area. There is also a series of other trails around the lake that turn into cross-country ski trails in the winter. I was impressed by the peaceful setting of the lake which is perfect for boating, fishing or lying on the beach in the sun.
Jen S
July 13, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Campbell River, Beaches & Swimming
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If you're from around Campbell River you already know this spot, But for people traveling or the odd person who just doesn't about Stories Beach - come and relax with the view. A camp fire and hotdogs are always good ways to put a smile on anyone's face and when it comes with a great sand beach and a view like this you feel like staying for a while for sure.
July 9, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Campbell River, Beaches & Swimming
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Bring the kids and stay for the day... or the week. If you find yourself in the Campbell River area looking for a good camping spot this one is perfect for the whole crew. Located 25 mins south of Campbell River on Hwy 19a, Miracle Beach is easy to find and has everything you'll need for a camping stay(no power) or even just the perfect day at the beach. The park is forested and on the beach, sandcastle building, sunning, swimming, exploring tide pools, are just a few of the great options at this beautiful park. We found this great little nature hut which had a guided tour was and was great for the kids. We finished our day with a sunset walk along the beach trail and would recommend this spot to any family wanting a getaway from the world.
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