As the largest city in Northern British Columbia, and located centrally in the province, Prince George provides the amenities of a larger shopping and service centre, while offering instant access to nearby to more picturesque wilderness and outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, golf and camping.
Variety is the spice of life in this city. Take in any number of theatre or musical performances, attend a local festival, learn about the city's history or visit its heritage sites, or take in any number of local attractions.
Dining and accommodation options are diverse in Prince George. And when entering the city, be sure to wave at "Mr PG" – a whimsical 8.2m/27ft tall statue, who stands at the junction of Highways 97 and 16, waving his flag.
Downtown Prince George
There are a number of casual restaurants, takeaway joints, small stores and thrift shops located in the downtown core, near Prince George's large hotels and Civic Centre and Plaza. The locally owned businesses typically sell specialty items, while the big-box, chain stores are located outside the downtown core in strip malls that are quite bustling and busy. Note that downtown gets quite quiet after about 5pm and shops there tend to close quite early. Having a car for transportation makes it easier to enjoy the best of Prince George and its nearby lakes and provincial parks.
Activities and Attractions
There are myriad attractions in Prince George for the cultured, the adventurous or the history buff.
Enjoy classical or modern music courtesy of The Prince George Symphony Orchestra, or take in any number of theatre and arts performances.
Modern art fans will enjoy The Two Rivers Gallery, located in a beautiful building exhibiting a variety of art and exhibits from across Canada.
Spend a day with the family at Exploration Place, which has interactive and historic exhibits, with a heavy focus on science and nature. Or learn more about the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and its importance to the area, at The Prince George Railway & Forestry Museum.
Or take the kids to any number of exciting and fun festivals and events throughout the year including Prince George's Traditional Pow Wow, the PG Exhibition, West of the Rockies Pro Rodeo, WinterLights Festival, Cold Snap and many others.
Outdoor Activities
Prince George offers fantastic freshwater fishing in any of the many lakes and rivers, and there are opportunities to cast a line from just off the road or deeper into the wilderness.
Prince George also has great hiking trails that allow ramblers to travel corridors explored in pioneer days, or to hike to the top of beautiful viewpoint or waterfall. There are also cross-country skiing opportunities maintained by the Otway Nordic Centre.
After the thaw, golfing becomes a focus in Prince George (and in Northern BC, which has many excellent courses). There are several courses and clubs located in or near Prince George. Camping is also a treat here, and several provincial parks and lakes have campgrounds.
Attractions Near Prince George
There are some great attractions not far from town, and many are within an hour's drive from the town centre.
Some highlights include:
- The Huble Homestead historic and heritage site, is an original homestead from the early 1900s, and has many buildings and interpretive displays that can be explored.
- Noah's Ark is an exciting place for animal lovers and families to visit. There are many different farm and exotic animals, winter sleigh rides and summer hayrides.
- The Observatory is an evening out for stargazers, and offers the opportunity to gaze at the stars through one of the largest telescopes in Canada, or any number of smaller telescopes.
Learn more about things to do in Prince George, or stop by one of the two Visitor Centres in the city. The downtown Visitor Centre is open year-round and located on First Ave, while a second, Visitor Centre is open during the summers and located at the junction of Highways 16 and 97.
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