Adventures in British Columbia

British Columbia is among the most popular destinations in Canada.

Whistler the center of the biggest winter sports area in Canada is located at the foot of the Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. It is a world-class ski resort and hosted the downhill ski events for the Winter Olympic Games in 2010.

It is not just a winter destination because it also has many hiking and mountain biking trails. There is also golfing. Among the main attractions is the Peak 2 Peak Gondola that joins the Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.

Whistler Village is a town with luxury hotels, high-end shopping, and fine dining.

It connects with the city of Vancouver via the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

The Okanagan Valley is a lush, sunny valley. There are lakes, rolling mountains, orchards, and beaches. In the heart of the region, you'll find the Okanagan Lake with the city of Kelowna on its eastern shore.

Yoho National Park has rugged and scenic mountain terrain. There are waterfalls, rivers, and crystal-clear lakes like Lake O'Hara.

Many hiking trails with one of the highlights being Takakkaw Falls, one of the highest falls in North America.

Emerald Lake is among the most spectacular lakes in the Canadian Rockies. It is near the Alberta border in Yoho National Park. A gravel trail stretches along one side of the lake for 5.2 km. Visitors enjoy canoeing on the lake. Rentals are available at the concession stand near the lakeshore.

Historic Emerald Lake Lodge is a great place to stop to dine. You can sit on the patio and enjoy the surroundings.

British Columbia has some of the world's most intact old-growth forests. Cathedral Grove is one of the best places to see these trees. There are walkways throughout the giant trees with informational exhibits.

Pacific Rim National Park near Tofino is another place to see old-growth trees. There are trails with raised boardwalks winding through the trees, small valleys, and over brooks.

The remote islands of Haida Gwaii offer breathtaking natural beauty. Formerly they were known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. This is an isolated group of over 150 islands in the Pacific Ocean at the western edge of the continental shelf.

The two main islands are Graham and Moresby.

The Haida people were the native inhabitants living on these islands at least 8,000 years ago. They're known for the skill and artistry of their carving. Totem poles and elaborate argillite carvings can be found in every ethnographic museum on the Canadian Pacific coast.

Both Glacier National Park and Mount Revelstoke National Park, a few miles further west are scenic areas and popular with hikers and climbers. The landscape is a mix of jagged peaks, steep descents, and narrow valleys cut deep into rock. There are dense forests with western red cedars, hemlocks, and firs. The wildlife here includes mountain goats, woodland caribou, black bears, and grizzly bears.

Rogers Pass National Historic Site is located in Glacier National Park.

Salt Spring Island is part of the Gulf Islands. This is a scenic island with farms selling cheese and homemade products and artists' studios.

The main town is Ganges where you can find shops, cafes, and restaurants. There is a provincial park on the oceanfront with walking trails, camping facilities, and day-use areas.

Kootenay National Park is located in southeastern British Columbia. It adjoins Banff National Park and Yoho National Park. The landscape features rugged rocky ridges and sawtooth peaks, snow and ice-covered mountains, glaciers, valleys, and narrow gorges.

The highlights are the narrow gorge of Marble Canyon, hiking around Sinclair Pass, and Stanley Glacier.

The town of Nelson lies on the western arm of Kootenay Lake. It is surrounded by the snow and ice-covered peaks of the Selkirk Mountains. The town has preserved Victorian buildings.

Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park has many lovely mountain lakes. Kokanee Peak towers above the rest of Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park.

Kokanee Creek Provincial Park is nearby with campsites and sandy beaches.

Mt. Robson Provincial Park is located north of Jasper near the BC-Alberta border. It is home to Mt. Robson the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. There is a mountainous landscape with huge waterfalls.

Among the most popular hikes is the 25-kilometer trail through the Valley of the Thousand Falls to a lovely turquoise lake at the foot of Mt. Robson.

Barkerville Historic Town was founded when in 1858 there was news of gold in the fluvial sand of the Fraser River. Billy Barker found gold at Williams Creek in 1862 and a gold-digging town sprung up with wooden huts, tents, saloons, and shops. Unfortunately, in 1868 it burned down. Even though it was once again rebuilt the end of the gold boom was coming. After the town was inhabited by settlers and lumberjacks.

Today you can see the restored gold-mining town with 75 historic buildings. In the summer costumed interpreters dressed in period costumes act out “living history” so visitors can visit a smithy, a typical general store, a barber shop, and the Historic St. George Hotel.

The Fraser Canyon is one of the most impressive gorges in Canada. The raging torrents of the Fraser River force their way through a narrow passage called Hell's Gate.

The Hell's Gate Airtram is the best way to view this part of the Fraser Canyon. The funicular railway offers amazing views of the wild gorge below and leads down to the lower bank 150 meters below. At the base are souvenir shops, a small information center, and a restaurant. Visitors can climb down a path to the white- foaming river below.

The opposite bank can be reached by a suspension bridge.