Tourism British Columbia Blogs

Sunny Hiking to the Pesuta

Queen Charlotte Visitor Centre — Wed, 23 May 2012 09:41:22 GMT

The Pesuta, a shipwrecked log carrier, washed ashore on the East Coast of Haida Gwaii in 1928. The weathered bow remains today, jutting from the sand, and can be seen if one hikes out there....

...I decided to join with two of my friends to hike to the Pesuta. It was a sunny day, but the exposure on the East Coast means the wind gives quite a chill! The hike takes about four hours to complete, and that includes having lunch when you get there. We choose to hike further about twenty minutes to Gold Creek, where we travelled back towards the Pesuta through the sandy dunes. In one area there are moss beds in the dunes, where we stopped to sit and have lunch.

Some debris from the Japanese Tsunami can be found on East Beach as well. Some of the things you can find are so neat! This is the same beach that the Harley Davidson motorcycle washed up on!

The Pesuta is less than I remember from when I was a child. Pieces of it have fallen off and have been swept away by the ocean. All over it are carved in signatures of people who have visited it over the years. It really is a piece to be treasured, and the hike to it is always fun, so long as you ensure that the tide remains low enough to walk the beach!

Kayaking Shuswap Lake in a Tsunami

ShuswapKayaks — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:45:09 GMT

Kayaking Shuswap Lake in windy and wavy conditions from Canoe Village to Raven @ Salmon Arm Bay. Kayak: Tsunami 145 by Wilderness Systems. Filmed on 28 April 2012 on location at Shuswap Lake, in British Columbia, Canada.

Spring at Scandinave Spa

Kathleen — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:19:22 GMT

The tulips and daffodils made all the difference on my latest visit to the wonderful Scandinave Spa in Whistler. I have had the good fortune of visiting this unique outdoor hot/cold pool oasis a few times since it opened in 2009, but never in Spring. The experience is always truly remarkable. So relaxing and stimulating at the same time....but I have to say that the flowers and spring buds made it even more memorable. As soon as I left after 2 hours of bliss, I wanted to return. And I will....

BRITISH COLUMBIA "I REMEMBER"

Delcobre — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:48:03 GMT

I visited BC when I was a teenager, and it is on my bucket list. I want to go back, and spend time there. What a beautiful place?

Wild about Wild Rice in New Westminster!

Kathleen — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:04:59 GMT

As a resident of New Westminster I gleefully celebrate any new restaurants that open in my town...but even more so when they turn out to be as good as any of the top spots in Vancouver's 'more advanced' restaurant scene. Open now for a few months at the newly renovated River Market (previously it was the New Westminster Quay) Wild Rice is owned by the same fellow that opened the original (and still there) Wild Rice on the outskirts of Gastown. The new location is worth the trip from adjacent areas and not just for the food. The Fraser River is steps from the restaurant & the huge glass garage-door style windows ensure a wicked and fascinating view of this working river. The food is unforgettable. I am still drooling at the memory of the wonton soup and the kung po. Loved how the dishes were served family style and seemed to keep arriving! An added treat for me was that they served Killer Cab from nearby Pacific Breeze winery - Canada's only 'garage winery'. The stuff is great!

Sorry don't have a photo but it is a casual open kitchen concept place and I would think their website would have pics. Thanks for coming to New West Wild Rice!

Oak Bay Village Art

cannuck21 — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:18:03 GMT

Located less than 10 minutes from downtown Victoria is a true ‘hidden gem’. Oak Bay Village is one of the oldest and most interesting parts of Victoria with a true Village atmosphere in which customer service is still part of the culture. The Village is also home to one of the largest collections of Art & Crafts Galleries on Vancouver Island.

A leisurely stroll through the Village finds 7 superb Art Galleries and Craft Studios representing some of the finest Canadian art & crafts available.

Ted Harrison Studio: Studio of the acclaimedYukonartist Ted Harrison. Limited edition serigraphs, books & cards available.

Red Art Gallery: A small & vibrant gallery featuring award winning Canadian artists whose work is strong, colorful and unique.

Eclectic Gallery: With strong regional representation, Eclectic exhibits original fine art, local crafts and artisan jewellery.

The Avenue Gallery: An exceptional venue to discover some ofCanada’s most distinguished, contemporary and historical artists.

The Gallery in OakBay Village: Original Art & Picture Framing in the heart of Oak Bay Village.

Side Street Studio: Unique Canadian Gifts for everyone. Supporting over 320 localB.C. artists since 1984.

Winchester Galleries: Exclusive fine art dealers handling Canadian historical and contemporary art.

Why not spend a day in the Village? In addition to theArt Galleries you can enjoy lunch or dinner at the Oak Bay Bistro – a superb bistro with fine food by the nationally acclaimed Chef John Waller. Enjoy a drink or food at the Penny Farthing Pub. Ottavio’s Deli is excellent for a light breakfast, lunch or coffee any time of the day. Feys +Hobbsgourmet take out and award winning catering company is also a must visit.

For book-hounds there are two long established book stores; Ivy’s Book Store for contemporary books and the famous Grafton Books for antiquarian books.

Visitors can stay at one ofVictoria’s crowning jewels and most beloved landmarks – the Oak Bay Beach Hotel and Spa. Alternatively the Oak Bay Guest House is a gracious old 1912 Victorian Home and well worth the experience.

Along with the best collection of Art & Craft Galleries on Vancouver Island, an excellent choice of dining and accommodation plus a huge range of small, independent & unique shops; there is every reason to make the short journey to the most interesting part of Victoria.

Hiking in Winter Vernon BC

Teresad — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:43:56 GMT

One of the greatest things about Vernon and the North Okanagan is that you can ski in the morning and hike in the afternoon! The valley floor has little or no snow and the upper elevations have amazing snow for pristine skiing! One of our staff was out last Saturday and we thought it would be nice to share with the rest of BC what an amazing area we live in!

Sicamous Welcomes You!

Sicamous BC — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:08:19 GMT

Whether it's Spring, Summer, Winter or Fall, Sicamous has lots to keep one entertained. Our slogan for many years has been: "Sicamous - where you can bike,hike, sled and go boating all in the same day!"

We are truly blessed with one of the largest lakes in BC, and what makes it so spectular is that it completely natural! The lake boost great fishing from Salmon, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Dolly Vardens and Kokanee.

Sicamous is known as the" Houseboat Capital of Canada" as we are home to almost 200 houseboats. You can also enjoy sea doo's, patio boats on the Shuswap or Mara Lake. For those looking for a quieter trip on the water try our Eagle River it's great for canoeing or kayak, or a lazy float on a tube.

Our falls are the are breath-taking, the colors of Autumn are not to be missed. While in the area, on large spawning years the Chinook and Sockeye Salmon can be seen just east of our Community, or travel the hour and a half to the famous Rockrick Haig Brown park to see the main spawning grounds.

If winter is your time of year then come and try out one of our 4 award winning sledding hills. From family riding to the most extreme riding Sicamous has it all.

Sicamous is a great location for those wanting that great golf trip. Not only do we have 2 great golf course in Sicamous, but we are only an hour and a half to Kelowna, Kamloops and an hour from Revelstoke. Make Sicamous your home base to relax each evening and venture out during the day to your chosen course.

The same can be said about skiing in the area, wether its Silver Star, Sun Peaks or Revelstoke Mountian Resort, Sicamous has all your needs to make your stay an relaxing one.

Sicamous Welcomes YOU!

The Greatest Winter Carnival in British Columbia

Teresad — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:15:46 GMT

This past weekend here in Vernon brought the launch of the 52nd Winter Carnival! This is a two week long event with activities for every day of the week! Last Thursday was the Proclamation of the 52nd Queen Silver Star and Friday brought the hot air balloons floating over the City. As well Friday night was the balloon light up at Polson Park as well as the Official Coronation.

Saturday morning was the annual Winter Carnival Parade with over 100 floats what a great time we all had! The theme this year is “Sporting With Carnival “so everyone decorates their business and gets judged our Visitor Centre won 3rd place in our category. The Silver Star Mountain Resort and Tourism Vernon sponsored the resurrection of the Ice Sculpture competition - wow it was amazing!

Today Monday brings the beginning of the Downtown Broomball event and it will run for 3 day as well as free dance lessons at Cheek to Cheek Dance Academy.

Through the next two weeks there are many events, way to many to mention in this blog, but I encourage everyone to either stop in Vernon over the next week or weekend or plan to attend next year, as well as visit our facebook page for pictures of various events (Tourism Vernon) or visit our website for event listings.

Motorcycle riding through an avalanche at Duffey Lake Provincial Park.

vridetv — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:26:03 GMT

Motorcycle riding through an avalanche at Duffey Lake, British Columbia, Canada. It was an amazing sight to come around a corner and see tonnes of snow on either side of the road. The crews were just finishing clearing the second avalanche and warned me to leave the area because it was very unstable. I set up my camera equipment at the Duffey Lake Provincial Park boat launch and just happened to catch a helicopter flying over surveying the damage. The power of Mother Nature is incredible....

Creston.. a foodies paradise!

bctravelgirl — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:33:16 GMT

We stopped in Creston this past summer and visited the local farmers market. Wow what an amazing assortment of fresh local food! Everything from fresh flowers to veggies and fruits and local art work. The atmosphere was so vibrant and lively.

The town itself was really beautiful and everywhere we went people were very friendly.. can't say enough about this small town in the Kootenays!

You can't beat Three Bars Ranch!

HappyFamily — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:04:26 GMT

In the summer of 2011, we spent an incredible week with the Beckley's at Three Bars Ranch. It was a tough decision to stay in Canada for our once a year trip, but from the get-go we were impressed with the customer service at the ranch. Their website is great - everything you see in the pictures is accurate, and better than you'd imagine. The accommodations were wonderful and suited our family perfectly. The Ranch sets itself apart from others in their activities program. We loved the riding, rafting, hiking, fishing, golfing and we even went on an ATV tour that left from our door step. I would recommend Three Bars Ranch to anyone and everyone!

The Shuswap - there is no place like it!

hollyedmonton — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:42:25 GMT

As kids, my brother and I were fortunate enough to have spent many summers in the Shuswap. It is now our time to share this amazing playground with our own children. The sun is always shining, the Shuswap lake is always beautiful and inviting, and the people are super friendly. There is an abundance of beauty and majesty that surrounds you at every spot on the lake. We hope that some day our kids are able to share this amazing spot with their own children. If you haven't been... Go!

The Richmond Reel - Epic Curling Showdown

VideoChris — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:45:08 GMT

Today I had the opportunity to try a sport that I???ve never played before in my entire life: curling. I remember watching the intense and strategic games of curling during the Olympics, but beyond that the closest I???ve come is bocce ball, which is not very close.

I headed down to the Richmond Curling Rink, located kiddy corner to the Richmond Olympic Oval. They have a great facility including eight sheets of ice (play areas), a caf??, pro shop, and a huge sports bar and lounge with a fantastic observation area overlooking the arena.

I arrived with my friend Colin, who is an avid curling enthusiast and was eager to get on the ice and throw some rocks with me. Before we began however, I was introduced to the local resident expert Kim, who was more than happy to show and explain the ropes of the game to me. Curling is an interesting sport as it???s extremely technical and all about finesse. The most common beginner mistake is throwing the rock too hard- a lot of times it???s the gentler, steady shots that win a given game. As I watched the various games going on around me, it became immediately apparent the huge amount of strategy and positioning involved in curling. This can be a dirty game! When I say that I mean like chess dirty???out maneuvering and one-upping your opponent. I like it.

The objective of curling is to push a 44 pound rock down the playing area, called the sheet, and try to land it in the ???button??? (bulls-eye) at the far end. It is essentially a huge target on the ice about 146 feet away from where you start. Frozen bocce on crack is a good analogy.

After a quick on ice lesson on proper rock throwing technique (I was awful, despite what Kim says), as well as a briefing on sweeping techniques (yes, women sweep better than men- ha!), I was ready to try my luck! I positioned myself and placed my foot in the ???hack??? (like a starting block used to push off of), broom in hand for support, and grabbed my rock. Eyes on the target, I pushed off and launched my rock. I soon found out that it???s imperative to the game of curling that you keep your rock on your sheet of ice and not your neighbour???s. You don???t get points for completely missing your target and landing it next door. Ha! Well, despite my lack of curling skills I had a blast and it was a great new experience.

Colin soon challenged me to a three rock game for beers upstairs afterwards. Since I know you???ve watched the video you all know how that turned out. J Winter ale with winter sports. I love it.

If you???re interested in trying some curling or already are a curler, the Richmond Curling Rink offers league play, tournaments, train and plays, event hosting and sheet rental. Of course if you???re a ???gifted curler??? like me, the bar and observation deck upstairs are also an excellent choice! Definitely check them out and have some fun!

Waves in the Chilcotin

susy — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 06:49:13 GMT

A month ago I was in the Caribbean and friends of mine introduced me to surfing ... what a great physical sport. Now I visited the Atnarko Lodge on Charlotte Lake and see what they have .... yes waves .... the air and the water is cold, in November very, very cold .... but the wind .... every windsurfer or kiter would think she/he is in paradise ......

The Richmond Reel - Richmond In Motion

VideoChris — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:44:37 GMT

This week???s video I am titling ???Richmond in Motion.??? This is an idea I???ve had for a while; the concept behind it capturing the bustle and activity (aka motion) of Richmond through time-lapse photography.

I???ve done a little tiny bit of time-lapse photography in the past, namely my star gazing video earlier this year, however this was my first project dedicated solely to it. I think time-lapse photography is really underrated???the amount of time it takes to get those shots can be staggering. Suffice to say, this project???s given me a newfound respect for it. Those tiny little five-second shots you see certainly have a price! In my case, each shot you see is anywhere from 10 minutes on the low end, to 35 minutes on the high end, per clip!

I spent about four separate days out shooting these time-lapses, the first batch of which were ruined due to poor weather. It also didn???t help that daylight in the last few weeks has been diminishing at an alarming rate. The sunsets this week have been happening at 4:00PM! With my current schedule, I generally work late into the night and sleep in during mornings, so as you can imagine it gives me a limited window! ???Wake up early Chris!??? Shhhh!

That being said, I???m very happy with the result. Please enjoy Richmond In Motion!

Whitesaddle

susy — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 07:26:30 GMT

It is nearly 6 month since I had the chance to drive south from Tatla Lake to the Whitesaddle Country Inn ... what a great place ... We had a great lunch and the hosts where terrific ...

and the drive itself was a treat ... mountains, rivers, lakes ... you name it ... wilderness at its best .... you got to see it yourself ....

Nanaimo Shopping Finds

Kathleen — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:42:17 GMT

Every time I am in Nanaimo I make a quick trip to the Nanaimo Museum, not only because of the artifacts, but because of the small gift shop in the lobby. There are some great little finds there! Local crafts, kids stuff, First Nations jewellery...and its all pretty affordable. Another great spot within walking distance is the Barton & Leier Gallery that is full of funky, unique and again, affordable gifts and art. Both within walking distance of the Harbour, located in the commercial district.

The Richmond Reel - Richmond Snow Geese, Captured and Shot [On video!]

VideoChris — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:56:56 GMT

What is that noise!? Chances are if you live in Richmond or have been visiting Richmond in the last few weeks you???ve heard the insane amount of squawking going on. Yes, it is none other than the fabled snow geese horde that has taken over the city. (Yes, I call them ???the horde!???)

Each fall, tens of thousands of snow geese touch down in the Fraser Delta, a huge portion of them landing specifically in Richmond. They breed way up in the Northern tundra???s of Canada and Alaska and migrate South every winter to the warmer climates of the lower mainland. They travel almost 5,000km on their journey to get here and it is quite a sight to see!

For me personally, I welcome the sight of them. I think it???s amazing to walk into a field covered in beautiful white snow geese. It represents the changing of the seasons and is a nature photographers dream! It???s an incredible sight to look up to the sky and see hundreds upon hundreds of white birds flying in formation over the city. I love it!

For others, namely the Vancouver International Airport, the snow geese are a major concern. With the massive amounts of geese flying in they have to be very careful to avoid bird strikes with their jets. To combat this, the airport uses lasers, lights, pyrotechnics, and trained dogs to chase and scare them out of the away from the runways. YVR actually employs three ???bird officers??? whose sole job is keep the runways clear!

If you???re in Richmond and you can actually find the horde, (It???s difficult! They move around A LOT!) I highly recommend you grab a camera and check them out! Seeing 5,000 white birds dominate a school field is quite a sight! Even better news, if you???re superstitious, you have about 10,000 chances to get pooped on this winter! Think of all the good luck! ;)

The BC Parks Great Ranger Experience ??? Garibaldi Provincial Park

Leah P — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:56:39 GMT

In the final episode of the Great Ranger Experience, Ranger Katy Chambers and Ranger Andy Turner want to share their Garibaldi Provincial Park experience with you. The spectacular mountain and glacier landscapes of Garibaldi were protected as one of British Columbia's first Provincial Parks in 1927. The almost 200,000 hectare park offers more than 90km of world-class hiking in the summer and fall, and exceptional ski touring opportunities throughout the winter and spring. B.C.'s park rangers keep busy by maintaining recreational opportunities while ensuring the natural features and dynamic ecosystems are protected.

As BC Parks turns 100 years old, Park Rangers want to share their experience of working as stewards of BC???s wonderful parks. These short videos capture spectacular landscapes, and showcase a little bit of what our Park Rangers are up to throughout the Province. Featured Park Rangers share what is special about their favourite provincial parks, and most importantly, share why they are passionate about being a ranger! There are four videos in total, we???ll share one per week.

Links:
The Great Ranger Experience

Garibaldi Provincial Park

Hiking in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region

Backcountry skiing in the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region

Other Great Ranger Experience posts:
BC Marine Parks

South Okanagan Grasslands

Bugaboo Provincial Park

Bring Your Own Metal Detectors!

BluesCan — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:33:00 GMT

Want to help find some meteorites? Possible meteor impact near village of Burns Lake, BC. Crater measures 1 km across so there's lots of room for everybody. No professional geologists or TV documentary hunters please, only rockhounds and seriously casual loafers. We don't want this getting out of hand. BYOMD (bring your own metal detectors)

A great place to stay in Kimberly

Elizabeth Borman — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:47:15 GMT

I was surprised to see that the Solace on the Mountain B&B was not listed on your accommodations sections of your website.It should be because it is a very nice B&B and just a couple of minutes from the Kimberly ski area. We have stayed there the last three years being avid skiers and we really enjoy the skiing at Kimberly, Darren and Tasha who run the B&B do a terrific job. We always look forward to the great food that they prepare for us. Our stays have been from one to two weeks but this year we will be staying for close to a month.The rooms are very nice and generous in size with an ensuite bathroom.There is a sitting area where one can watch tv and a kitchen area where you can eat or prepare meals. After a ski day we always head for the outdoor hot tub to relax before dinner. Just a note Darren is an ex downhill ski racer so if you want to ski with a real pro he's your man. This year we will also be skiing at the Fernie and Panorama ski resorts. Kimberly has many good eating spots and right across the street from the B&B is the old Baurenhous restaurant one of our favorites. Well enough said all we need now is lots of snow for the upcoming season.

The Richmond Reel - The Richmond Cranberry Harvest

VideoChris — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:09:48 GMT

If I asked you what Richmond???s biggest export was, could you tell me? A few weeks ago I didn???t know myself! I probably would have guessed seafood???it is in fact, cranberries!

This week on The Richmond Reel I headed out to Richmond???s vast agricultural lands to take a peek into the lives of our local cranberry farmers. I was fortunate enough to cross paths with a woman named Charl May, a local farmer from Richmond???s May family. The May family? This family has made quite a name for themselves and owns a huge amount of agricultural land in Richmond. Several brothers in the family spearhead the cranberry harvest each year. Who better to show me around than a family that???s been farming in Richmond for 100 years?

The cranberry harvest begins in October and lasts till about November each year. Assuming you already have a crop planted and growing, the first phase to the harvest is flooding the fields. Using an elaborate canal system dug around all of the fields, the farmers funnel river water into the bog and begin the process of flooding. Depending on the size of the field, it takes about one day of flooding to fill one field.

The next step is the beating phase. This is when a series of machines called ???beaters??? come in and thrash the field, knocking the cranberries off their vines so they float to the surface. The beating phase takes about one day to two days per field depending on the size. At this point, the sea of red that the cranberries are so famous for begins to materialize. It is a beautiful sight to see.

So now we have a huge field full of floating berries. It???s at this point that the berries are ???boomed??? and siphoned off. The fields are absolutely enormous so the farmers utilize wind direction to their advantage in cordoning off the berries??? and there are A LOT of berries. Depending on the year, a single field may produce anywhere from four to ten truckloads of cranberries. Charl???s family has eight fields in Richmond, as well as a number of others in Fort Langely.

The next step is extracting the berries from the field. During my time in the bog I saw several different methods employed to do this???it seems that each family has their own way of doing it. Charl???s family used a combination of water pressure to funnel the berries up a conveyor belt into the waiting trucks. Another nearby May farm used pressure and hoses to pump the berries out of the bog. It???s a pretty cool process to see, and it???s amazing the amount of berries being extracted.

The final step is taking the now collected berries to the co-op???in this case the giant Ocean Spray factory located on Richmond???s No. 6 Road. The berries are then cleaned and processed into the various cranberry products you know and love.

That???s the entire process to the harvest! It???s a lot of work in very cold and wet conditions! That being said, every farmer I met during my several trips out to the bog was in great spirits and always gave me a smile and wave. Thanks again to Charl and the May family for allowing me to come out to their cranberry farm and film them during the harvest! The only shot I seemed to have missed was Charl tripping in the bog and going face first into the cranberries. Next year!

The BC Parks Great Ranger Experience ??? BC Marine Parks

Leah P — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:06:47 GMT

This week in the Great Ranger Experience, Ranger Ryan Elphick, Ranger Dylan Eyers, and Aquatic Ecologist Doug Biffard want to share their Marine Park Experience with you. Many of the sensitive ecosystems and species that are protected throughout the marine park system are vulnerable to environmental stressors such as climate change. B.C.'s park rangers and ecologists monitor our coastlines and try to understand the changes and in order to maintain healthy resilient ecosystems.

As BC Parks turns 100 years old, Park Rangers want to share their experience of working as stewards of BC???s wonderful parks. These short videos capture spectacular landscapes, and showcase a little bit of what our Park Rangers are up to throughout the Province. Featured Park Rangers share what is special about their favourite provincial parks, and most importantly, share why they are passionate about being a ranger! There are four videos in total, we???ll share one per week.

Links:
The Great Ranger Experience

BC Marine Parks

Sunshine Coast

Other Great Ranger Experience posts:
South Okanagan Grasslands

Bugaboo Provincial Park

Garibaldi Provincial Park

The Richmond Reel - Richmond By Water

VideoChris — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:05:59 GMT

So as you know, I just recently did ???Richmond By Air??? with Helijet???. Since then I???ve been meaning to do a ???Richmond by Water???, but I was having a difficult time finding someone with a boat willing to take me around. Well, I was recently hooked up with a company named ???Steveston Eco Tours???, specifically a man by the named of Bruce Livingston. Bruce was kind enough to take me out on his six-man boat and sail around Richmond, offering a different perspective than you may be used to from the land. (or air!)

Bruce is the owner and operator of a small, new company named Eco Tours, based out of Steveston. He gets people out on the water to see Steveston, the Fraser River Estuary, the Gulf Islands, and shows them what this part of the world really has to offer. You would be amazed at the amount of history and sight seeing there is around Richmond accessible by water. I???ve lived here my whole life and was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful experience and new sights Bruce showed me.

Our entire trip was a relaxed two and a half hours. Bruce was a fantastic guide who was incredibly knowledgeable about the region and gave us insight into the history and workings of the mouth of the Fraser. We got a close and personal waterside look at the Steveston Harbour, Britannia Heritage Shipyards, Shady Island, Gulf of Georgia Cannery, down and around Garry Point, Scotch Pond, way out to the jetty to see a sea lion, Finn Slough, the BC Ferry wet dock, went overtop of the Massey Tunnel, and finally back to Paramount Pond, where we began. There was wildlife, fishing boats, freighters, tugs, pilot boats, the massive Fraser River dredgers, and just a ton to see on the water the whole time. Steveston is a very, very busy port, though you may not realize it from the land!

I really enjoyed seeing all the wildlife on the trip. My personal highlight was a 900 pound sea lion we saw on some rocks sun bathing by the Steveston jetty. We were able to get within twenty feet of him! Make sure you watch the video to get a close and personal look at him! Beyond that, we saw a couple seals, eagles, herons, snow geese, and many other local birds. Richmond really is a great setting to explore by water!

If you???re looking for a first class, friendly, personable guide, Bruce Livingston of Eco Tours is your man. We had a fabulous day on the water and I would recommend it to anyone. Thanks again Bruce for having me out!

Have fun and check out Richmond by water!

Tell him VideoChris sent you!

The BC Parks Great Ranger Experience ??? South Okanagan Grasslands

Leah P — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:47:04 GMT

This week in the Great Ranger Experience, Ranger Sara Bunge and Ranger Mark Weston want to share the spectacular ecosystems that are protected within the South Okanagan Grassland Provincial Park. The grassland ecosystem is one of the most rare and sensitive landscapes in British Columbia. Park rangers monitor the subtle changes within the ecosystem and endeavour to limit stress to the ecosystem by controlling recreation impacts and managing invasive weeds. BC Parks strives to maintain and protect healthy diverse ecosystems to ensure these special places will be here for generations to come.

As BC Parks turns 100 years old, Park Rangers want to share their experience of working as stewards of BC???s wonderful parks. These short videos capture spectacular landscapes, and showcase a little bit of what our Park Rangers are up to throughout the Province. Featured Park Rangers share what is special about their favourite provincial parks, and most importantly, share why they are passionate about being a ranger! There are four videos in total, we???ll share one per week.

Links:
The Great Ranger Experience

South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area

Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park

Rock Climbing & Mountaineering in the Thompson Okanagan region

Viewpoints in the Thompson Okanagan region

Other Great Ranger Experience posts:
BC Marine Parks

Bugaboo Provincial Park

Garibaldi Provincial Park

sharing the trail

GAIL WHITWORTH — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:06:30 GMT

Whistler is my favourite place to vacation because walking is encouraged. Many kilometres of marked trails are readily available for the hiker. And in the evening, one can enjoy a myriad of dining experiences. Shopping seems to be a pass-time of many of Whistler's visitors, and there are countless spas to ensure you relax and enjoy.

Similkameen River

Bald Eagle — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:01:47 GMT

The Similkameen River between Bromley Rock Provincial Park (near Princeton) and Pickard Creek Provincial Park (10 km to the south) offers some good Class II - III wave trains from mid-May to late-June. You can camp right at Bromley and could even shuttle with a bike if needed.

Beware the wind and have some rain gear as the wind gusts can make you cold after taking a face shot from some of the bigger waves. This is a good stretch for rafters that want an easy shuttle and a good 2-hour stretch. To add a couple more hours, you can start in Princeton at the confluence of the Similkameen and Tulameen rivers at high flow for a great meandering ride with a few interesting wave sections.

The BC Parks Great Ranger Experience - Bugaboo Provincial Park

Leah P — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:02:00 GMT

This week in the Great Ranger Experience, Rangers Tay Hanson and Jeff Volp invite you to join them on an expedition into Bugaboo Provincial Park. Bugaboo Provincial Park protects a unique ecosystem of rock spires that protrude out of ancient glaciers. See how a group of enthusiastic local high school students handle a climbing adventure into one of the world's most amazing climbing destinations! Ranger Tay Hansen explains the everyday duties of a ranger, albeit in an extraordinary place. One visit to Bugaboo Provincial Park will inspire a lifetime of passion for outdoor recreation.

As BC Parks turns 100 years old, park rangers want to share their experience of working as stewards of BC???s wonderful parks. These short videos capture spectacular landscapes, and showcase a little bit of what our Park Rangers are up to throughout the Province. Featured park rangers share what is special about their favourite provincial parks, and most importantly, share why they are passionate about being a ranger! There are four videos in total, we???ll share one per week.

Links:
The Great Ranger Experience

Bugaboo Provincial Park

Hiking in the Kootenay Rockies region

Rock Climbing & Mountaineering in the Kootenay Rockies region

Other Great Ranger Experience posts:
South Okanagan Grasslands

BC Marine Parks

Garibaldi Provincial Park

Grave Tales

TourismLangley — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:12:40 GMT

I???m not saying I believe or I don???t believe but either way I am scared of ghosts. And just in case and because you never know, I randomly put out into the universe ???Ghosts??? you are not welcome in my house.??? You are not supposed to invite them in. That being said, I was strangely SO EXCITED to go on Fort Langley National Historic Sites Grave Tales - a tour through the ???haunted??? locations in the village of Fort Langley.
The night was perfect, clear and cold with a big bright moon and the appropriate amount of mist that danced on the water of the Bedford Channel and twisted and turned through the grave stones at the Fort Langley Cemetery. Guiding us by lantern, our guide Aman began by telling us that the stories they had chosen to tell were the best and most validated by the people who live and work in Fort Langley. What we would learn is that Aman himself had a little first-hand experience of his own.
In general the history of Fort Langley is very interesting. People visit the area to see the Historic Site where the Hudson???s Bay Company once served as a trading post in the 1800???s. Fort Langley was also the location of the proclamation of British Columbia as a Crown Colony in 1858. People came to the area to seek their fortune. These historical events do provide the framework of the Grave Tales stories, but the spine-chilling tales involving people from this time will haunt you.
As we wandered through the village the stories got better and better and I was sufficiently spooked by the end of the tour and we were left to explore the deserted Fort Langley National Historic Site. Now, I???m not going to share the stories I heard ??? you will have to find out for yourself ??? but I will let you know that I will be looking over my shoulder for unsettled spirits on my next visit to Fort Langley.
Grave Tales geared toward an adult audience and begins and ends at Fort Langley National Historic Site October 21, 22 & 23: 7pm, 8pm & 9pm October 28, 29 & 30: 7pm, 8pm & 9pm and runs in all weather. Tickets are $12.70 per person and it is recommended by purchasing well in advance. For more information or for tickets please call 604.513.4777.

The Richmond Reel - The Pumpkin Patch

VideoChris — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:19:14 GMT

This week, in the spirit of Halloween, I ventured out with my two and a half year old neighbour Hudson to the pumpkin patch! The pumpkin patch is a fun destination packed full of activities and entertainment for the whole family! Located on Steveston Highway between No.5 and N0. 6, you will find everything there from mud, music, wagon rides, live shows, animals, a corn maze??? and of course pumpkins!

I have fond memories as a child coming here and utterly caking myself in mud, finding the biggest and best pumpkin in the patch, and dragging it home for carving! I???m happy to say it???s exactly as I remember it, only this time, everything seems just a bit smaller. :)

Upon arriving I met up with Hudson, his father Doug, his mom Teresa, and their newborn, Finnegan. Hudson was very excited to get going!

Before starting we visited the small petting zoo near the entrance, complete with chickens, roosters, goats, and cows??? or as Hudson called them ???Moo Moos.??? We bought our tickets and headed in towards the famous wagon ride!

To get to the pumpkin patch, you must first hop on a hay wagon and enjoy a nice five minute ride through the farm and surrounding orchard. As you pass the serene sights of the dew filled fields and farm, you are sung to by a banjo wielding musician on the wagon! He does a good job at getting the kids going, as well as explaining the sights as they pass by. Soon, we were at the patch!

Beautiful! Pumpkins everywhere!!! Hudson and I were soon venturing out into the fields, with mud everywhere, hunting down the perfect pumpkin! After quite an extensive search over two different pumpkin fields Hudson located his pumpkin, as well as mine. It was a lot of fun watching Hudson romp around searching high and low for that perfect pumpkin. It brought back memories of when I was a child and I???m happy he got to experience it.

A short wagon ride later we were back at the farm, and in front of a giant box of delicious red apples. It???s tradition that after your hay ride and pumpkin search you reward yourself with a crunchy red apple! We watched a stage show with life-size characters dancing on the stage all to live music and soon were ready to head home with our prizes. What a great morning!

If you are in need of a pumpkin for Halloween, definitely head down to the pumpkin patch on Steveston Highway and get the full experience! It???s really a lot of fun for the whole family!

Thanks to Hudson and family for coming out and spending the day with me! Happy Halloween!

Guest Ranch

custodian — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:40:31 GMT

I had the great pleasure of spending from October 7^th to the 12^th 2011 at Free Rein Guest Ranch. It was the best vacation I have ever had in my 52 years. The Owner Debbie and her parents welcomed me as if we were long lost friends or part of the family. The home cooked style meals were fantastic. Never left the table hungry, and the conversation and laughter during the meals and anytime we were together was very warming of the soul. Each new guest that joined in was made to feel welcomed and part of the growing Free Rein Family. This was actually one of the conversations we all had one night. It was started by a couple from Edmonton that had arrived 2 hours before dinner.

The Ranch house and cabins are beautiful as are the surroundings. Everything is well kept and spotless. Games room with pool table, darts and foosball, board games and a reading room. Every window had a fantastic breath taking view.

The horses were all great, and Debbie matched each person with a horse that suited them perfectly. My horse was ???Boo???; he was a good big gentle boy. Debbie taught us how to go into the coral and bring our horse in, and prepare them for the ride. She also gave us a horse whispering lesson. The feeling of having Boo come to me and follow me where ever I walked, by his choice with out a lead, is beyond words.

I did not want to leave and driving back home I almost turned around a few times and went back. I will be returning as soon as I can. And will hopefully take my daughter with me.

Debbie is an Angel, and Free Rein Guest Ranch is a little piece of Heaven.

Dave, Surrey, B.C.

Finn Slough???s Patina Gives it Charm

MikesRoadTrip — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:44:26 GMT

Finn Slough is an old fishing village situated along the banks of the Fraser River in the southern parts of Richmond, British Columbia. Despite its blighted appearance; Finn Slough has become a popular tourist destination among artists, photographers, and the curious.

Photographers, Stock Up on Supplies!!

ernie.one — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:02:43 GMT

We've visited BC twice in the last four years. Fantastic. I don't want to share a particular experience, but just give a general tip. If you're a true shooter (photographers call themselves that), or you just like to take pictures, don't get caught short.

If you're an inlander, being on the coast will drive you crazy. Everyplace is a photo op, because there's so much coastline, and every piece of coastline offers the amazing mix of water, land, vegetation, elevation, blue sky.

First, get a decent camera no matter what level you are at. If you like landscapes, or even if you don't, you will find yourself shooting "miles-wide" images of scenery, so having a lens that goes down to 28mm, 24mm or less is great. You will likely not need much more than 120mm on the telephoto end. If you're 5 miles from something and think your 28-560 lens is the greatest thing, do yourself a favour and move closer --- it's so much better. Get more memory than you think you'll need, and unless you're crazy, don't skimp on the resolution. And above all DO NOT pretend that shooting with your phone is sufficient.

Batteries for the camera and flash if you have are critical. Don't run out while whale watching. Get a second battery if possible, and if you've been shooting all morning and then going on a whale watch, change to the second full battery beforehand unless you have an accurate battery level indicator (100 increments, not four).

And if you are running low on one media card, again, change that before you go somewhere where the environment is less than ideal. Don't expose the innards of your camera to the sea air, or worse, a splash.

If you can be happy with a water-resistant camera, get that if you're going out to sea, and make sure you have the wrist strap on your wrist, not waving loosely at the whale.

By they way, there are at least two ways to view whales. First are the "Zodiac-style" craft, that smash through the waves to find the whales. You wear a wet-suit. That can be an unfriendly environment. The second is a slower cruiser with a cabin with huge windows, as well as an outer deck. Much calmer and much friendlier to any piece of technology.

Easterners, you will discover London Drugs is invaluable if you need 'stuff' from A to Z and beyond.

Metchosin Day

Rachel Anastasia — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:27:07 GMT

Metchosin Day is an annual event celebrating the rural coastal community of Metchosin. This was my first time attending and I was really excited at the wonderful collaborative spirit present and the obvious pride Metchosinites take in their community.

Metchosin Day starts with a 5km run/walk, followed by a pancake breakfast. All day long there is live music (with local acts such as the high school jazz band) and entertainment, including a beer garden! My favourite event was the pet show, which included dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits and even miniature ponies. Every animal entered received a ribbon, for categories such as ???happiest pet??? and ???softest fur???.

Many local vendors and craftspeople were present as well, selling handmade clothing, jams and preserves, and locally grown produce. Plenty of tasty food was available as well, including bannock, buttered corn on the cob and, the grand finale of the day, a lamb and salmon dinner. The lamb and salmon are cooked on display throughout the day over a constantly burning fire, so the end result is smoky and delicious.

Not only is Metchosin Day tons of fun, Metchosin itself is very beautiful and worth a visit any time. I can???t wait for next year!

Desolation Resort and the Laughing Oyster

LauraP — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:47:55 GMT

Just experienced a lovely stay at Desolation Resort in Powell River. It was wonderful to stay on the water and be able to enjoy a glass of wine on our deck and enjoy the view of Okeover Arm. The furnishings inside our 2-bdrm wood cabin were very tasteful. The night sky was incredible! Just a 5 minute walk from the amazing Laughing Oyster restaurant made this stay even more relaxing. This beautiful restaurant served delicious seafood, wonderful mushroom soup all overlooking the ocean and a setting sun.

Bring a flashlight if you walk home after sunset. It was dark, but luckily we had the full moon to guide us!

Wine Festival

TrippLightly — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 21:30:04 GMT

Attended Lillooet's second annual Beer & Wine Harvest Festival today ??? it was great!

Hosted by Fort Berens Estate Winery, Texas Creek Ranch and the Bitterbine Hop Company it was great family fun. A straw bale castle, traditional playground set, and acres to to run around on, were highlights for the kids.
We elder folk enjoyed a variety of home grown musical entertainment, local crafts, produce, honey, hops and much more. Tours of the hop farm, the vineyard ??? by horse drawn wagon ??? and a very informative wine tasting!
Plenty of great artisan foods to delight your tastebuds - highlights included BBQ venison, chicken with veggies kebobs, and an awesome array of seasoned soft goat cheeses.

The day was complete with the typical blue skies and warm sunny weather for which Lillooet is celebrated. Treat yourself well ??? mark this on your calendar and plan to be here next year, for the 3rd annual festival. You???ll be glad you did.

Canoeing in the Cariboo

Anton — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:42:02 GMT

One of my favourite British Columbia experiences is a canoe, a tranquil lake, and the soulful cry of loons for company.

Canoeing on Spring Lake brought back memories of all the camping trips I had done as a child. The natural beauty of the lake and the absolute stillness made the noise and bustle of city life seem a million miles away. Gliding through a marsh in the pre-dawn mist through a maze of connecting waterways, surrounded by tall reeds and floating grass islands, was almost spiritual.

I paddled past a beaver house - nobody home - and kept my eyes out for moose, which I was told could be spotted foraging in the shallow waters of the marsh. I startled two herons, which leapt from the water and took flight, their odd squawking cries echoing among the hills. Looking across the lake as sunlight crests the treetops and the mist begins to burn off, I think to myself: this is truly a magical place.

I spent four gloriously relaxing days at Spring Lake Ranch doing nothing but canoeing, horseback riding and walking the trails. Next year, I'm coming back for a week!

2011 RBC GranFondo Whistler

Chris Wheeler — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:44:04 GMT

The 2011 RBC GranFondo Whistler brought together 7,000 cyclists that rode a 122 kms from the start gate in downtown Vancouver to the finish line in the natural playground of Whistler. The ride travels the world's most scenic coastal mountain corridor, British Columbia's Sea to Sky highway.

Tourism British Columbia Field Reporter Chris Wheeler joined in on this epic journey to capture what is now the largest mass cycling event of its kind in North America!

Eagle Rock Bed and Breakfast in Chemainus

jkc05@live.com — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:04:09 GMT

Wonderful experience, beautiful guesthouse, lovely surroundings... What more can I say? We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this bed and breakfast. The house is beautiful and the view of the ocean is spectacular. The bed accommodations were great; we slept peacefully. The owners are very friendly and cooked a delicious breakfast for us. We went on walks down by the beach, on a nature trail by a salmon creek and through lush greenery.

This B and B is located in a pleasant small town, Chemainus with quaint shops, friendly people and an easy drive to larger cities such as Victoria and Nanaimo.

We will be returning to this bed and breakfast again.

Windy Shuswap Lake - 01 September 2011

Shuswap Kayaks — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 12:51:37 GMT

Kayak trip from Canoe public wharf to Engineer's Point, the entrance to Salmon Arm Bay, where strong winds force Shuswap Kayaks to turn around and "ride" the wind and waves back...

Exceptional Views at Odgen Point

jillianwalker — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:29:08 GMT

I was born and raised on Salt Spring Island. I spent 19 of my years there before I moved away. Last weekend I visited a friend of mine in Victoria. We were trying to decide what to do -- and I say, "Can we go downtown? I'd love to see the waterfront." Her: "You have never seen the waterfront? You're from Salt Spring Island." She was immediately confused. It's funny that people often don't enjoy their own backyard -- no matter how beautiful it is.

After 27 years on this planet and inside-and-out a BC resident, my first time in downtown Victoria was a week ago. It was a gorgeous day on the island and the streets were lively. Tourists roamed from store to store, while each patio was packed with laughter.

I wasn't surprised by what I saw... the islands are home for me. I felt at peace being surrounded by water, sunshine and the hearty smell of the ocean air. We walked around in the inner harbour, checking out the Parliament buildings and fancy hotels. There were buskers and food vendors in the streets. Children perched by the waters edge waiting for seals to swim by.

My friend asked if I wanted to walk out to the point. I exclaimed: "Sure!" The walk felt like it was forever. Dallas Road runs alongside the water, so it was an enjoyable walk. We eventually reached a sign stating "Odgen Point."

At first glance, I was rather confused. Tourists were leaving the point on scooters and there were vehicles everywhere. But just around the bend was why we had come. A beautiful pier led out into the water and to the Odgen Point Lighthouse.

I have been away from the ocean for a bit and I was honestly completely overwhelmed. To be so close to the ocean with a breathtaking view of the mountains was absolutely pristine. People were fishing off the pier, the sunshine was gleaming off the water and silence filled the air.

Some 'tourists' may arrive at Odgen Point Pier and be disgusted by seaweed in the water. I loved every part of Odgen Point. There were beautiful views of the beach, the endless ocean and of island life.

Odgen Point was absolutely stunning. Downtown Victoria is picturesque. Both are sights to be seen.

Fishing charter from Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island

Anton — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:14:13 GMT

Port Renfrew is one of Vancouver Island's best fishing hot spots. The starting point for the famous West Coast Trail hiking route, it also offers saltwater anglers excellent salmon and halibut fishing opportunities.

Our charter, from Victoria's Island Outfitters, was scheduled to depart the Port Renfrew dock at 6 am, so we left Victoria just after 4 am - yikes! A quick stop at a 24hr Tim Hortons gave us a much needed boost: sugar and caffeine, the classic fisherman's breakfast.

From Port Renfrew it was a 20-minute run to the fishing grounds. Within minutes our guide, Dan, had the lines down and was working hard to get us "on the fish". As we trolled the shoreline the fog burnt off, revealing colourful tents and campfire smoke from hikers on the West Coast Trail. We could see boats around us landing fish, and our excitement grew as we figured we were due for one soon...

Bam...fish on!! The rod tip was wrenched down and line started peeling off the reel as I fumbled to get the rod out of the holder. Once in my hands, the fight was on...and it was a good one. Ten minutes later we had the fish aboard - a beautiful 20lb chinook salmon. After the morning "bite" died down we decided to head offshore to try for halibut. Along the way we dropped the lines for pink salmon and picked up 6 in only 10 minutes - sweet!

We anchored on one of Dan's halibut hot spots on Swiftsure Bank - this is definitely offshore water! Even on calm days there is an ever-present ocean swell. This is where the big ones are, though, and we weren't disappointed - after landing two "chickens" (the name given to 15-20 lb halibut) we hooked a beauty. After 15 minutes of hard cranking we could see it just below the surface - and when I heard Dan call for the harpoon, I knew it was a big one. When the 65 lb halibut hit the deck I was officially the happiest guy on the water.

We headed back to Port Renfrew tired, worn out and content. We stopped to check a crab pot on the way in and ended up with 15 Dungeness "keepers", a nice bonus to end the day.

This was my third fishing trip to Vancouver Island; two from Ucluelet and one from Port Renfrew. I can't wait for my next BC fishing adventure!

East Point Resort, Saturna Island, B.C

KCB — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 06:37:04 GMT

Highly recommend a stay at East Point Resort, Cabins 3, 4, or 6 only. These cabins are upgraded, clean and comfortable. The owners are extremely helpful and professional. The location of these 3 cabins give guests a clear view of Tumbo Channel and easy access to East Point where Orcas are known to pass by. We did see two pods. Unfortunately, cannot say the same about cabins 1 and 2, owned separately.

10 Things To Do On Vancouver Island

vireviews — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:59:03 GMT

I have compiled this random list of what I think are the best things to do on Vancouver Island (mainly in the summer months).

10. Go Fishing: There are so many fishing hot spots off of Vancouver Island it's amazing, so many choices of location (Port Alberni, Campbell River, Sooke, Port Hardy, etc) and so many choices of fish! (salmon, trout, cod, etc).

9. Nanaimo's International World Championship Bathtub Race: This occurs near the end of July and is one of the biggest events of the year for Nanaimo.

8. Vancouver Island MusicFest: This happens July 10-12 in the Comox Valley, the organizers try to keep it as green as possible, local food, recyclable products, etc! 3 days of great music!

7. Saratoga Speedway: Located halfway between Campbell River and Courtenay, drag racing, monster trucks and modified stock cars will keep everyone entertained!

6. West Coast Trail: This 75km hike that stretches in between Gordon River and Pachena Bay is a popular one, reservations required! Experience the natural world of Vancouver Island.

5. Strathcona: This is BC's oldest provincial park and the location of Vancouver Island's highest mountain. Plenty of hiking, mountain biking and camping can be done.

4. Camping: Lake Cowichan, Port Alberni, Goldstream, and Tofino are some popular camping areas, but any community on the island is campable! (is that even a word?)

3. The Beach: There are many beaches but the most popular ones would probably be Parksville, Rathtrevor, Long Beach and Pachena Bay.

2. The River: River swimming is very popular on Vancouver Island. Sooke Pot holes, Nanaimo River, Nimpkish, and Englishman River are some good areas to check out.

1. Long Beach, Tofino: With a population of about 1900 (this triples in the summer), Tofino is the place for surfing, classy resorts/spas, amazing beaches, fishing and the true West Coast.

Did I miss anything?

The Richmond Reel - The Steveston Wharf

VideoChris — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:27:24 GMT

It???s 30+ degrees on a sunny Saturday afternoon- what to do? In my case, I headed down to the Steveston Wharf to check out the bustling activity and meet a few of the fishermen that frequent the docks. I???ve done a fair amount of video on Steveston before, and I???ve even mentioned the wharf a couple of times???however, today I wanted to show you in much greater detail what is in my opinion the heart and essence of this quaint little fishing village.

Every weekend the docks absolutely come alive with activity. Why is this? It???s because this is when all of the fishing boats return with their delicious wares on full display for everyone to see and buy. It???s a lot of fun heading down there, regardless of whether you???re buying seafood or not, to see the beehive of activity. There are always shoulder-to-shoulder people strolling the boardwalk, checking out wares on the wharf, relaxing in small waterfront cafes, and eating delicious ice cream everywhere you look. This is the main appeal of the wharf area of Steveston and why so many people come to visit it every weekend.

While I was there I met up with Fisherman Joe and his son Chad. Fisherman Joe is a local fisherman, a regular on the docks, and without question owns one of the busiest stalls on the entire wharf! The pair has been selling fish for about 25 years now and is very well known on the docks! This particular day he was selling halibut and lingcod. I had a chance to talk to him and his son about their lives working out of Steveston. They typically do most of their fishing in the Queen Charlotte Sound and bring back lots of fish every trip, often times sold out before they even reach the harbour. Yes, that???s how popular Fisherman Joes fish is! My parents have bought off of him for years now and we are always notified by telephone before he comes in. I???ve had more than one plate of delicious halibut from Fisherman Joe!

If you???d like to check out Fisherman Joe yourself, their season typically runs from April to September. Their last trip this year will be September 1st!

If you???re a seafood fan, the Steveston wharf has an incredible selection of goods. There are ton of vendors there offering everything from fresh prawns, salmon, halibut, lingcod, to even sea urchins! (and much more??? this is just what I saw in my brief time there today!)

The Steveston wharf is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon in Richmond! You???ll meet all sorts of interesting people down there as well as experience a multitude of sights, smells and sounds! Fresh seafood! Yum! Get out there this summer and enjoy it!

Return to Paradise - Salmon Arm Bay - 26 August 2011

Shuswap Kayaks — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:39:37 GMT

Kayak trip to the bay of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada.

The bird sanctuary along the bay's shore offers protection for many bird species. Raptors, especially eagles and ospreys are often spotted fishing on the water or nesting on poles or navigational marine installations.

Off-road Adventures along the Alcan

LUNA — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 19:57:21 GMT

On our last day in the Stone Mountain area my friend and I did some adventuring off the highway. We went by quad into what is called Moose Lake to do some fishing. In less then an hour we caught three fish. Just some small Dolly Varden, none the less it was exciting. It was my first catch of the summer! We then ventured on up to a creek he referred to as 'Sheep Creek,' who knows what it's really called. We continued through the rock cut, it was spectacular. Sun shining, water flowing, just an all around gorgeous day.

On the way back out my friend pointed out a very old native grave yard, he said it was a resting place for some people who lived in the Wokpash many years ago. It was hard to even notice it as it was on top of a large hill, and you could really only see a few crosses poking out of the hillside.

We ripped along the trails and creek beds, and in the mid-afternoon came about ten feet away from a deer. It was so neat to be up close, kind of scary but I felt fairly safe on a quad.
I took lots of photos of the beautiful wilderness. Being out in these kind of places is such a nice change of scenery. It's especially nice when the weather is good. Exploring by quad made it even more fun, since it allows you to go some places that would otherwise be difficult.

We ended off our day with dinner at the Toad River Lodge, which has always proved to serve delicious home style meals.

This great adventure was only a couple hours up the highway from town, it still amazes me every time I head up that way the grand "back yard" that is available to me.

Sikanni River Falls

leef — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:00:46 GMT

Sikanni River falls is a beautiful little hike that can help break up the long drive from Fort Nelson to Fort St. John. The turn-off to these falls is located about 183km south of Fort Nelson, 15km before the campground on the Sikanni river.

The turn off may look like a generic gravel trucker road, but after turning down it you will start to see signs pointing to the trail head. I chose to drive it after it had rained for about three days so there were some wet sections that some smaller vehicles might have trouble with. I would advise driving in a larger truck or SUV if it has been rainy, or just waiting for a dry day.

After the 17km drive down the road you will get to the parking lot for the falls. As you begin the short 1.5km hike to the falls you go down through the forest and come out to a 3 way fork in the trail. Going straight will take you down to the base of the falls, while going left or right will take you up on the rock beside the falls which provides the perfect opportunity for pictures showing the height of these falls.
The falls are a very nice little stop along this stretch of the Alaska Highway, but as with all hiking trails in this area, keep in mind that you could always run into some sort of wild animal. Make sure to prepare accordingly whether that means bringing your dog along with you, having noise makers like Bear Bells, or a can of Bear Spray.

Stone Mountain Safaris: Bed & Breakfast

LUNA — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:45:31 GMT

During the end of July I went up to the Stone Mountain Safaris Lodge for an overnight trip with a friend. This was the first time I'd stayed there, however I had been to the Lodge in May just to stop in and see it. Being a counsellor at the Fort Nelson Visitor Information Centre, our boss thought it was a place we should be familiar with and I completely agree. It is such a wonderful place. The B&B should stand for beautiful & bliss instead.

Leif & Kellie Olsen along with their two charming young children Madison and Bryce run the place. They are excellent hosts, and Kellie is a fabulous cook. Breakfast is included in your stay and lunch and dinner are available upon request.

Their place is located just 6 miles north of the Toad River Lodge, you turn to your right off the highway at the sign and drive another 3.5 miles in.

During our stay we took in the wonderful surroundings and explored the area on a quad we brought up ourselves. We went up the Nonda Creek Radio Tour Road which has amazing views from the top. Approximately 26km in one way. We did this little excursion right after we arrived. When we got back to the house a bit late, Kellie along with some of their other workers were nestled into the living room watching a movie. They were so open and inviting, she pulled us up some chairs, got us a bag of popcorn and told us to relax and watch with them if we so pleased.

As already mentioned Kellie is an awesome cook, we had a delicious breakfast ready for us in the morning. As we were only able to stay for one night we headed out shortly after breakfast to do some more quadding and fishing. But I can't praise enough how delightful the Olsen family's hospitality was. I highly recommend spending a night or more there. You do have to have a reservation to stay there, if you're interested, which how could you not be after reading this, give them a call at 1-250-232-5469.

Please also note that although I am giving a great review of the Stone Mountain Safaris Lodge, there are also other options for you to stay at along this stretch of road. All of which are great accommodations! If you have the time check out as many as you can, and explore each unique section of the Alaska Highway.

..Photo credit goes to my fellow co-worker: Laurisha Bardal, this snap shot is of the front entry of the Lodge. Gorgeous.