| Established in 1843 by James Douglas as a Hudson’s Bay Company Fort, the
City of Victoria has a proud history of British Columbia
The Greater Victoria region covers the extreme southern end of Vancouver Island, including the Saanich Peninsula, Victoria, Esquimalt, Colwood, Metchosin, and Sooke, with almost half of Vancouver Island’s population of 750,000 people living within the Capital Regional District (CRD) around Victoria.
Victoria has a temperate climate with mild, damp winters and relatively dry and mild summers.
It is sometimes classified as a cool-summer Mediterranean climate due to its usually dry summers.
There is a rich diversity of landscapes within the region, ranging from the Douglas fir forests along the coast to the drier, exposed conditions of the higher, rockier elevations that support arbutus (madrona) and Garry oak forests.
Victorians display their love for the natural world by cultivating flower gardens at every turn.
As you’d imagine in a region where a large urban population interacts with such a delightful natural tableau, a vast network of walking, hiking, and biking routes leads through the many parks with which the city is blessed.
It’s easy to imagine how sweet life was for Native Canadians who once had this all to themselves.
Beacon Hill Park in downtown Victoria was the site of a village that had been inhabited for thousands of years prior to the arrival of the colonial settlers in the 1840s.
A tangled web of events since then has displaced the original dwellers, but their history is evident in the petroglyphs that adorn the shoreline and in the middens of seashells mounded up beside the beaches on the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Totem poles new and old stand as proud reminders of this First Nation heritage.
To gain a fresh appreciation for the talents and skills of First Nations peoples, combine a visit to the outdoors around Victoria with a stop at the Royal British Columbia Museum, a world-class repository of native artifacts.
With the enriched perspective that such a visit will bring, you’ll look at the landscape with new interest and appreciation.
The figures on the totems will no longer be static representations from a mythological age.
Instead, combined with the presence of killer whales, seals, eagles, ravens, salmon, and other species that are as vibrant in the landscape today as they were in the past, you’ll enter a timeless realm and, in the process, discover a new place in nature for yourself.
Conde’ Naste Traveler Magazine reader’s poll rated Victoria one of the top ten cities to visit in the world. The picture-perfect Inner Harbour is surrounded by many of Victoria’s beautiful character buildings and premier attractions: the stately Empress Hotel, the BC provincial Legislative Buildings, museums and galleries.
As romantic as Victoria may be, with its delightful natural harbour and the Olympic Mountains of Washington State on the horizon, the provincial capital of British Columbia is less a museum piece nowadays than it is a tourist mecca.
Visitors pour in to view vast sculpted gardens and London-style double-decker buses, to shop for Irish linens and Harris tweeds, to sip afternoon tea, and to soak up what they believe is the last vestige of British imperialism in the Western Hemisphere.
Population: 78,659 Location: Victoria is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island which is situated off the southwest coast of British Columbia.
Visitors from the Lower Mainland of BC travel to Victoria by ferry from the BC Ferries’ Tsawwassen terminal in Delta.
Sailing time is 90 minutes for the 27-mile (44-km) distance across the Strait of Georgia to the Swartz Bay terminal, 20 miles north o f Victoria. Visitors from the United States can journey to Victoria via ferry from Seattle, Anacortes in northwest Washington, or from Port Angeles on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.
The Anacortes ferry arrives in Sidney, at the Washington State Ferries terminal, 3 miles (5 km) south of Swartz Bay.
The MV Coho from Port Angeles arrives in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, as does the Victoria Clipper from Seattle’s Pier 69.
The Olympic and Saanich Peninsulas are separated by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a 17-mile (27-km) stretch of (almost) open ocean.
By air, visitors arrive at either Victoria Harbour (by float plane) or Victoria International Airport on the Saanich Peninsula, about 17 miles (27 km) north of Victoria.
A coach service operates via BC Ferries between Vancouver and downtown Victoria (43 miles/69 km by road, excluding ferry travel).
Pick-up is available from various locations in Vancouver, including Downtown Vancouver, Vancouver International Airport, and major hotels. Visit our Transportation section for further information. View maps of the area: Victoria Weather: One of the glorious things about the Victoria region is that you can picnic, golf or hike here year round, something that much of the rest of the province has always envied.
Each season has its unique character, and life is always assuming new forms Spring and fall migrations of birds and fish animate the landscape Evergreen forests brighten a winter landscape that otherwise lies unveiled once deciduous trees drop their summer foliage.
Even snow makes the occasional appearance, though it rarely remains for long. Summer droughts and winter rains determine the songs sung by rivers and creeks. Hanging Flower Baskets adorn the city’s lampposts in a celebration of scent and bright colours, symbolizing Victoria’s passion for gardening. Flowers bloom year round in Victoria, which makes exploring the outdoors here enjoyable in any season.
Ferns and lichens colour the forest floor throughout the winter; come spring, an explosion of trilliums and calypso orchids heightens the effect before giving way to bushes lush with huckleberry, salmonberry, trailing blackberry, salal, and Oregon grape.
BC Legislature: If there’s a quintessential image of Victoria etched in the memory of all who visit the city, it must surely be British Columbia’s Legislative Buildings at night.
Adorned with 3,333 light bulbs, it takes on a magical quality. Take a free tour of the Legislative Buildings and learn about history and government of British Columbia,
The Royal British Columbia Museum is one of the finest of its kind in the world, offering dramatic dioramas of natural landscapes and full-scale reconstructions of Victorian storefronts.
The museum features outstanding displays on the province’s artifacts, documents, history and culture, as well as national and international feature exhibits.
Permanent Galleries include the First Peoples, Modern History and Natural History Galleries.
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia allows visitors to explore BC’s seafaring history through more than 5,000 artifacts.
Exhibits include the fort and the city of Victoria, explorers and pirates, whaling and fishing, shipbuilding and shipwrecks, ship models and paintings, the Coast Guard and Navy, and the courtroom once presided over by the notorious Judge Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie in the late 19th century.
The museum is housed in an elegant heritage building in Bastion Square.
Old Town Victoria is the oldest section of Victoria, built up between the 1860s and the 1890s. Explore Johnson Street and Chinatown, the galleries and sidewalk restaurants in Bastion Square, and historic Market Square, a restored 19th-century c ourtyard surrounded by three floors of charming heritage shops, restaurants, and offices.
Chinatown: The splendid lion-bedecked Gate of Harmonious Interest marks the entrance to Victoria’s small Chinatown, the second oldest in North America (after San Francisco).
Once a ghetto for newcomers, Chinatown is now a heritage area, a vibrant commercial community, and an intriguing part of Victoria’s past and present.
Visit the tiny shops and studios on Fan Tan Alley, the narrowest street in Canada – only 90 centimetres wide at its narrowest.
Relax in a horse-drawn carriage and capture the romance of an era when tall ships docked in the Inner Harbour.
Private carriage tours include Old Town, Chinatown, Beacon Hill Park heritage homes, and the Dallas Road waterfront. Fabulous horsedrawn carriages have been delighting visitors with rides through Victoria for over 100 years!
The National Geographic IMAX Theatre will delight you with crystal clear images and 12,000 watts of wraparound IMAX Digital surround sound. Six stories high and 81 feet wide, the IMAX screen pulls you in and brings images to life, letting you feel like you’re really there.
Located inside the Royal BC Museum. Click here for More Attractions in Victoria
THIS BLOG IS COURTESY OF CHERYL YOUNG, REALTOR, SAANICH PENINSULA REALTY SIDNEY B.C REALTOR AND RESIDENT OF VICTORIA B.C AND VANCOUVER ISLAND |
Established in 1843 by James Douglas as a Hudson’s Bay Company Fort, the city of Victoria B.C has a proud history
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Beacon Hill Park, Victoria B.C Has something for everyone. See for yourself
Located at the foot of Douglas Street, Beacon Hill Park in
is the grand showpiece of Victoria British Columbia,
a city with a long and proud tradition of gardening.
Set aside in 1858 by James Douglas, governor of Vancouver Island,
the 75-hectare (200 acre) plot of land was officially established
as a park in 1882.
Beacon Hill Park was named after a pair of masts strategically placed
on a hill to act as a beacon and navigational aid to mariners
approaching Victoria’s inner harbour.
Prior to the arrival of settlers, of course, the area was the
traditional territory of the Salish people, who had lived here for
thousands of years.
A tangled web of events since then has displaced the original
dwellers, but their history is evident in the petroglyphs that
adorn the shoreline and in the middens of seashells mounded
up beside the beaches on Strait of Juan de Fuca.
The first of the Indian people arrived in the region shortly after
the ice of the last glacial age had begun to retreat some 14,000 years ago.
Whilst the park boasts considerable areas of natural land in a native
habitat, most of the park is beautifully landscaped and manicured
with bridges, lakes and ponds, and an alpine and rock garden.
Wondrous displays of exotic and native trees, including Garry Oak,
Arbutus, Douglas-fir, Western Red Cedar, birch, willow and maples
grace the park – to name just a few of the many.
Amongst the pond lilies of Goodacre and Fountain Lakes, a variety
of waterfowl go about their business, thrilling visitors of all ages.
In a copse of Douglas-fir trees an active heronry raucously sounds
its presence whilst a pair of Bald Eagles nests nearby.
A delightful quiet envelops this sunny spot in Victoria, where walking
trails link with neighbourhood streets that lead down into the busy
hum of commercial activity.
Our Farm is located within beautiful Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, B.C.
We take pride in being able to bring the farm animal experience
into the city where some children may never see such animals
up close in real life.
Our hands on approach teaches respect for living creatures is memorable
Attractions in the park include the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm.
The children’s petting zoo at historic Beacon Hill Park gives hands-on
experience, which is enjoyed by young and old.
Spring Hours:
March 15 – April 30 / 10:00 – 4:00
Summer Hours:
May 1 – Labour Day / 10:00 – 5:00
Fall Hours: Labour Day – Thanksgiving / 11:00 – 4:00
This is Henry
Other attractions include sports fields and playgrounds, a bandshell
and the world’s tallest free-standing totem pole.
The 38.8-metre (128-foot) masterpiece was created by renowned
Kwakwaka’wakw artist Mungo Martin in 1956, and lovingly
restored to its original splendour 46 years later.
This is a goat birth at the farm
Beacon Hill Park is located south of downtown Victoria, between
the downtown core and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and has easy
access on Douglas Street, Dallas Road, and Cook Street.
Main entrances to the park are located east of Douglas Street between
Southgate Street and Dallas Road. The Park is within easy walking
distance of attractions and hotels around the Inner Harbour in Victoria
Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula is full of remarkable things to do and
here is one way that you can get to see some of the sights you might mis
CHERYL C YOUNG, REALTOR
SAANICH PENINSULA REALTY
SIDNEY BC. www.cherylyoung.ca
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From its boom town status at the turn of the twentieth century to its reputation as the Whiskey Gap, Fernie has inherited a unique and colourful history
From its boom town status at the turn of the twentieth century to its reputation as the Whiskey Gap during the prohibition era of the 1920s, Fernie has inherited a unique and colourful history. A town with a strong history of coal mining, Fernie was named after mining magnate William Fernie who helped develop the town into the industry’s largest centre in the Elk Valley region, after he hadreported a major coal discovery in 1897 that led to the formation of the Crowsnest Pass Coal Company.
The founder of the city met a tribe of Indians during one of his many prospecting trips. Enquiring about the source of the shiny black stones that adorned a necklace worn by the Indian Chieftain’s daughter, the Chief agreed to reveal the origin in return for the prospector agreeing to marrythe princess. William Fernie never kept his promise, and refused to marry the princess, whereupon the angered chief put a curse of fire, flood and famine on the valley. On August 15, 1964, Chief Ambrose Gravelle of the Kootenai tribe, known as Chief Red Eagle, smoked the pipe of peace with the then mayor of Fernie to finally lift the Fernie Curse.
Abandoned mines, museums and heritage sites invite visitors to step back in time to explore the area’s bustling boom years. The beauty of the Elk Valley entices campers and hikers, and a challenging world-class 18-hole golf course sits at the foot of towering peaks.
Population: 5,168 |
Location: Fernie is located on Highway 3 in the extreme southeastern corner of British Columbia, 15 miles (31 km)
south of Sparwood and 26 miles (42 km) from the Alberta/
British Columbia border.
To the south on Highway 3 is the small sawmill town of
Fernie boasts a world-class ski mountain.
The Fernie Alpine Resort gets heaped with snow and is
renowned for its fabulous powder conditions.
Skiing and Winter Recreation in the BC Rockies.
Experience the thrill of snowcat-skiing and snowmobiling
the terrain is ideal, leading to panoramic alpine vistas and
powder-filled bowls just waiting for you.
Grab a pair of snowshoes or cross-country skis and explore
powder filled forests, or hop aboard a dogsled for an
ultimate adventure as you glide past scenic vistas.
The ski area rises about 5 km above the town of Fernie;
you can see the massive bowls from Main St.
Trails on the lower mountain cut through dense forest.
Fifty named runs and countless other secret chutes and
gullies drop a total of 2,400 vertical feet (730 m). Experts,
intermediate, and novices can all get the chance to ski
powder, since all levels skier can utilize each lift.
Fernie is well patronized by skiers from British Columbia
- these savvy skiers have known about Fernie’s bounty
for years - photographers regularly descend after a major
snowfall to take those great magazine cover shots.
Mountain biking in Fernie caters to newcomers
experiencing their first-time high, as well as hard-core
muddy madmen pushing the envelope of extreme
competition, Fernie offers hundreds of miles of beautiful
riding terrain, through the pastoral beauty of the valley’s
farms and ranches,through the old townsite on the Coal
Creek Heritage Trail o lift-accessed exploration of the
Fernie Alpine Resort’s extensive trail system.
This Blog is brought courtesy of
CHERYL YOUNG, REALTOR www.cherylyoung.ca
SAANICH PENINSULA REALTY
SIDNEY BC. cbythesea@shaw.ca
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Caving on Vancouver Island will thrill you to the core!
Caving on Vancouver Island will thrill you to the core!
Vancouver Island contains over one thousand mysterious subterranean caves and tunnels, offering spelunkers a challenging underground maze of cathedrals and corridors, bones and skulls, mineral formations and ancient native pictographs
 If donning a headlamp and willingly descending into the murky, unmapped bowels of the earth is your thing, then spelunking on Vancouver Island will thrill you to the core!
Upana Caves, all 100 or so of them, are located about 17 km west of Gold River, on Head Bay Forest Rd.
They provide an awe-inspiring adventure for those who like to explore the interior of the earth.
There are fifteen known entrances within the system. The combined length of cave passages is approximately 450 meters (1 475 feet).
The individual caves vary in size from single rooms to branching passages of considerable length.
The overall passage and room dimensions are comparable with those of other Vancouver Island caves.
Dress warmly, as these caves, the deepest north of Mexico, extendmore than 2,000 feet (610 m) into the honeycombed limestone rock. You can take a self-guided tour through a network of caves or join a guided tour.
For an even deeper adventure, join a guided tour of the “White Ridge” caverns. Cavers named the system for the river that flows through one of the caves.
The underground sequences of the television series, Huckleberry Finn and His Friends, were filmed at the cave – Gold River is home to the B.C. Speleological Association.
There are about 1 050 known caves on Vancouver Island. Most of these caves are found in the Quatsino Formation limestone deposits of Northern Vancouver Island..
Little Huson Cave Park, nestled in the Nimpkish Valley near Port McNeill 0ffers visitors a chance to view the fascinating Quatsino System a network of caves that honeycomb Vancouver Island between here and the Strathcona Provincial Park/Gold River region.
If you’ve never experienced the sensation of spending time underground, it’s like mountaineering in the dark with the sight of a smooth, white world revealed in the beam of your headlamp. Cave climates are damp and clammy, so dress accordingly. Little Huson’s caves are a good place to begin caving or even to begin considering the possibility.
A short trail leads from the parking lot to a view of several caves through which the Atluck River bores.
Horne Lake Caves, is located north of Qualicum Beach – a gravel roadleads to the parking area and trailhead at the far end of Horne Lake,about 14 km west of Hwy 19A.
You can take a self-guided tour of Main Cave and Lower Main Caves throughout the year. Although the distance covered isn’t great, you’ll have to bend, duck,and squeeze your way through a series of narrow passages.
A footbridge spans the Qualicum River, from where a rough limestone trail leads to the Main Cave.
If you’re here in summer, plan on joining the challenging Karst Trail and Riverbend Trail tours, which last about two hours.
Tours leave the trailhead on the hour between 10am and 4pm.
No matter when you arrive, prepare yourself for a tour by dressing warmly, wearing sturdy boots, and carrying a bright flashlight.
(Helmets and lights are provided on guided tours). For those with a lust to squeeze deeper into the cave system, the three-to-four-hour Riverbed Bottoming trip leads down through a series of vertical pits, the deepest of which is nearly 19 m.  There are several hundred significant caves to explore on the island, including Karst Creek Trail in Strathcona Provincial Park.
A fascinating look at weathering appears along this trail, which begins beside the picnic area on the east side of Buttle Lake.
New caves and unusual land formations are being discovered all the time, especially in the North Islands region where amazing natural oddities such as the Artlish River Caves, the Quatsino Limestone Formation,
Devil’s Bath, Eternal Fountain, and Disappearing River are located.
The longest cave on Vancouver Island is Thanksgiving cave with a mapped length of 7.6 km (4.7 miles).
Several other island caves exceed 2 km (1.2 miles) in length Keen to spelunk further?
For the more ambitious and adventurous souls, wild cave tours can be arranged to larger and more dramatic North Vancouver
Island cave systems, with unique surface and subsurface features.
Local Info Centres provide details and maps and make suggestions regarding tours. Click for Companies that offer Caving Canada
WWW.BCADAYATATIME. BC A DAY AT A TIME TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT US
This blog is brought to you courtesy of
CHERYL YOUNG, REALTOR, VICTORIA B.C www.cherylyoung.ca Saanich Peninsula Realty.www.facebook.com/cherylcyoungcbythesea@shaw.cawww.twitter.com/CherylCYoung |
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The gateway to Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast and central Vancouver Island, Horseshoe Bay is a quaint and picturesque seaside village on the North Shore of Vancouver
The gateway to Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast and central Vancouver Island, Horseshoe Bay is a quaint and picturesque seaside village on the North Shore of Vancouver
Located to the northwest of Vancouver, Horseshoe Bay is best known for its BC Ferry terminal, serving Snug Cove on Bowen Island, Langdale on the Sunshine Coast, and Departure Bay in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.
Ferries glide in and out of Horseshoe Bay, and the wake from the larger boats creates surf as they hit the shoreline. Modest though these waves are, it’s an unusual sight in these sheltered waters.
The bedroom community of Horseshoe Bay is also the starting point of the intensely scenic Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99), which winds through the Coast Mountains, from coastal rain forest at Horseshoe Bay, through Squamish, alongside Garibaldi Provincial Park, through the Resort town of Whistler and on to Pemberton and Lillooet.
Journeys began and ended in Horseshoe Bay long before the arrival of the first Europeans.
For Native people, Horseshoe Bay was a traditional meeting place, used both as a seasonal fishing encampment and a place to spend a night when travelling between villages on the Squamish River and Burrard Inlet.
The sheltered bay was called ch’xay or Chai-hai, after the swishing sound made by schools of little fish stirring up the waters of Horseshoe Bay. In 1991, it was discovered that Horseshoe Bay Park stands atop an ancient shell midden
The pleasant waterfront of Horseshoe Bay offers quaint cafés, a wide variety of restaurants, shops and boutiques, with great views of the surrounding mountains, islands and scenic Howe Sound.
Recreation in and around secluded Horseshoe Bay includes sea kayaking, scuba diving, boating, hiking, skiing and cross-country skiing.
Location: The Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal is located on Highway 99, on Howe Sound, 12.5 miles (20 km) northwest of Vancouver.
North of Horseshoe Bay is the community of Lions Bay.
• Information on the BC Ferries’ Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal and other ferry routes is available in our Transportation section. •
The magnificent front doors of the Boathouse Restaurant, a large wooden-sided building on the far side of Sewell’s Marina, are well worth a look. Carved by Nisga’a artist Norman Tait in traditional West Coast style, the two large panels rival those at the entrance of the University of BC’s Museum of Anthropology. •
Journey from the bustling urban centre of Vancouver, north along the serene magical coastline of British Columbia, across the majestic waters of the Strait of Georgia to Vancouver Island.
Then travel south along its east coast of coves and bays, tasting the unique island lifestyle before returning to BC’s south coast.
For more information on our Coastal Circle Tour.
• Boaters can launch from the federal dock next to the park – beside the BC Ferries Terminal.
Fishing is excellent off Horseshoe Bay, and the waters around the mouth of Howe Sound are usually dotted with salmon fishermen and their boats.
• Paddlers can take guided kayak tours around a nest of islands at the mouth of Howe Sound, which is Flat-calm and an inviting place to paddle, or explore Bowen Island’s extensive shoreline and the nearby Gambier and Keats islands. • •
Boat Rentals, guided fishing charters, sea safaris and marine dockage facilities are available at Sewell’s Marina in Horseshoe Bay.
If you want to join the throng, you can rent a boat from Sewell’s Marina for fishing, sightseeing or wildlife viewing.
Bring a few friends and explore the islands and inlets of Howe Sound.
The family-owned marina has operated at Horseshoe Bay since the 1930s.
• One of Vancouver’s oldest golf courses (1927), Gleneagles Golf Course, is located in Horseshoe Bay, surrounded by the ocean and mountains. •
By far the longest hiking route on the North Shore is the almost 30-mile (48-km) Baden-Powell Trail, the thread that knits the North Shore together into one continuous strand.
The trail runs between its western terminus at Horseshoe Bay and Deep Cove on North Vancouver’s eastern perimeter.
Along the way, it climbs and descends a well-trodden route that passes through both Cypress and Mount Seymour Provincial Parks.
Altogether there are 12 entrances to the Baden-Powell Trail, most of which are located conveniently close to public transportation.
The varied terrain of the Vancouver, Coast and Mountains region of BC accommodates every outdoor recreation known to man.
• Hollyburn Ridge in Cypress Provincial Park is the domain of cross-country skiers. Hollyburn’s 10 miles (16 km) of groomed and track-set trails, as well as skating lanes, are cut through some of the most challenging terrain in Western Canada.
The tradition of skiing is an old one here, dating well back into the 1920s.
Evidence of this can be seen in the many rustic cabins that dot the woods.
There are trails here to suit all skill levels.
• Intermediate and advanced Downhill skiers and snowboarders gravitate to Cypress Mountain (25 groomed runs, 1,750 feet/537 m vertical, 3 chairlifts) in Cypress Provincial Park which is literally up the road. World-class skiing is also available at Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour in North Vancouver.
Skiing and Winter Recreation on the North Shore. •
• The North Shore is rightfully renowned for some of the most challenging offroad mountain biking trails in the world.
One of the attractions of the North Shore slopes, particularly at lower elevations, is that trails stay snow-free throughout most of the winter.
This is a prime reason why many of Canada’s elite mountain-bike riders live and train in North Vancouver.
• Cypress Provincial Park in the snow capped North Shore Mountains is a haven for all outdoor recreationists, and is one of the most popular year-round parks in B.C. Located just north of Horseshoe bay on Highway 99, the park encompasses several pristine mountain lakes, rugged snow capped peaks and forests of fir, hemlock and yellow cypress.
Cypress provides excellent wildlife-viewing opportunities, and as always in wilderness areas, hikers should be alert for wild animals, especially bears. •
Sightseers make their way into Cypress Provincial Park from the Upper Levels Hwy in West Vancouver along a 5-mile (8-km) paved highway.
Although most visitors ride up on four wheels, others make do with two.
There are four major switchbacks on the way to the top where the road ends at Cypress Bowl.
The Cypress Park Viewpoint is at the second of the switchbacks.
This is one of the most frequently visited locations in the park.
• Visit Porteau Cove Provincial Park for the day, and park beside the jetty.
This is a wonderful place to enjoy the spectacular views of Howe Sound while watching wet-suited divers enter or emerge from the cold waters of the Sound.
Eat your picnic at one of the numerous tables spread around the broad, driftwood-littered beaches on both sides of the jetty.
Take a walk to the viewpoint on the trail that leads west from the walk-in campsites and up onto the forested bluff. Porteau Cove Provincial Park provides vehicle camping spots and walk-in sites, and as this is the only provincial campground on Howe Sound, campsites are in constant demand. •
Whytecliff Marine Park’s rugged shoreline and cobble beach in Horseshoe Bay became Canada’s first Marine Protected Area.
Upwards of 200 marine animal species, with exotic names such as the speckled sanddab or the sunflower seastar call these waters home.
Beside the beach, interpretive signs explain in words and pictures the variety of marine life to be found beneath the waves. • Whytecliff Marine Park has become a magnet for local divers.
After a day at the office, scuba divers come to experience a little weightlessness as they float off into the nether world just offshore, where temperatures matter little year-round, provided you dress appropriately.
• A 20-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay lands you on Bowen Island. Bowen is a paradise of trails, from relatively easy loops around Killarney Lake in Crippen Regional Park to the burning climb up Mount Gardner.
The island is a world unto itself, so take the time to explore and revel in Bowen’s sedated pace. Although the tempo may be relaxed, mountain bikers will find the roads that ring the island demanding, with few level stretches and even fewer beach-access points for well-deserved breaks.
For a map of Bowen Island, stop at the island’s gas station near the ferry dock.
• See the best of the area on a driving Circle Tour.
Head north out of Vancouver for a scenic tour of the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island, or stay on the intensely scenic Sea to Sky Highway, passing through the magical winter resort town of Whistler and looping through the Coast Mountains.
To explore the rural farmlands and forests of the fertile Fraser Valley, travel outbound on the scenic route north of the historic Fraser River, returning westwards along the Trans Canada Highway 1 to Vancouver.
Circle Tours in BC.
i have doubled up on the last two days of the Olympicf Torch Relay because I have so many free venues and exciting thing that will be taking place at the olympics, incl the RCMP Musical ride
The Leonard DaVinci exhibit at the art gallery.
and not to forget the free ziptrek ride you can take downtown Vancouver and I am going to start tomorrow, so make sure you bookmark me so you don’t miss out on anything
CHERYL YOUNG, REALTOR,
SAANICH PENINSULA REALTY
SIDNEY BC www.cherylyoung.ca
To see this and more of my fine Semi precious gemstone jewelery
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Burnaby Amidst outstanding beauty to the east of Vancouver, with lakes,
| Burnaby |
| Amidst outstanding beauty to the east of Vancouver, with lakes,
rivers and mountain scenery within its boundaries the community of Burnaby is nestled around the high peak of solitary Burnaby Mountain.
As private secretary to Colonel Richard Moody, the Colony’s land commissioner, Robert Burnaby displayed notable talents as an explorer, legislator and speaker.
In 1859, when Moody received word from local natives that a fresh water lake existed north of New Westminster, Burnaby immediately volunteered for the survey party.
Moody would later name his discovery Burnaby Lake, a name that pioneer citizens would unanimously choose for the thriving municipality of Burnaby in 1892.
Burnaby is blessed with a remarkable number of interconnected parks and trails of different sizes and features.
Deer Lake Park, Burnaby’s hub of arts, culture and heritage, is the crowning jewel of this park system.
High atop Burnaby Mountain sits Simon Fraser University, designed by celebrated architect Arthur Erickson, and named after one of British Columbia’s foremost explorers.
Not long ago, it used to be easy to distinguish Vancouver from its neighbours.
Bridges spanned Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River to connect with communities to the north and south, while buffer zones of undeveloped land defined where the Big Smoke left off and all else to the east began.
By the 1970s, such distinctions had blurred to the point where one hardly noticed a transition from one city to the next, particularly between Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Port Moody.
Although mainly a residential area of Vancouver, Burnaby’s diverse sights and attractions are yours to discover.
Burnaby has the largest retail and entertainment complex in British Columbia and outstanding sports and recreation f acilities.
The Metrotown area, a 15 minute SkyTrain ride from downtown Vancouver, is where you’ll find over 500 stores – enough to keep even the most dedicated shopper happy.
Population: 205,477
Location: Burnaby is located in east Vancouver, 10 miles (16 km) east of downtown Vancouver.
Access is by Highway 7 and 7A, and the Trans-Canada Highway 1.
Take a trip down memory lane at the Burnaby Village Museum, a 10-acre open-air museum circa 1925.
Made up of more than 30 shops and homes depicting the 1890s through to the mid-1920s, the village includes a Chinese herbalist, a rural area, a blacksmith and an Ice Cream Parlour.
Ride on the vintage C.W. Parker Carousel, wander amidst costumed townspeople, view demonstrations and displays, and take part in the hands-on activities and self-guided tours.
Playland Amusement Park at PNE Fairgrounds on East Hastings Street is a seasonal amusement park offering a collection of 28 rides and attractions, midway games, and a variety of food venues.
Popular attractions include the historic wooden roller coaster, a spectacular woodie that has been operating since 1958, the Corkscrew upside down roller coaster, the Wild Mouse, and the 90-foot-tall giant Westcoast Wheel.
Visitors can also take a spin on one of a number of flat rides.
The Museum of Archeology and Ethnology at Simon Fraser University is home to displays of Northwest Coast Native art and culture.
Extensive and detailed, these exhibits allow visitors a glimpse into the natural and harmonious way of life pursued by the First Nations people of the West Coast before the arrival of Europeans.
The Museum is located in the Academic Quadrangle on the Concourse Level.
Set in the natural splendour of Deer Lake, Deer Lake Avenue recreates the turn-of-the-century era with over 30 buildings and outdoor displays.
In addition to the Burnaby Village Museum, visitors will find the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and the Gallery at Ceperley House, presented by Visual Arts Burnaby.
Naturalists will be amazed by Century Gardens, where hundreds of Rhododendrons, Burnaby’s official flower, burst into bloom each spring during the annual Rhododendron Festival.
While on Burnaby Mountain, visit the astonishing Playground of the Gods, a home away from home for 50 or so totem poles carved by Japanese artist Nubuo Toko and his son Shusheo.
The Tokos are members of the Ainu culture, Japan’s first inhabitants. Installed on the top of an open slope looking west over Coal Harbour, the poles honour the ties between Burnaby and its Japanese sister city, Kushiro.
The spectacular setting inspired Toko to imagine it as Kamui Mintara, or Playground of the Gods. The poles represent the story of the gods who descended to earth to give birth to the Ainu.
Animal spirits such as whale, bear, and owl adorn the tops of the slender poles that are bunched together in groups of twos and threes.
A killer whale and a brooding raven stand apart from the rest, looking west across the Strait of Georgia towards Vancouver Island (and Japan).
This is a stunningly beautiful setting, one of the best examples of art in a public place in the Lower Mainland.
You’ll want to photograph it, especially at sunrise or sunset, to take away with you as a memory of Vancouver. Enjoy a fascinating ride aboard the miniature railway, or discover trails, tennis courts, a skateboard park, and a spray pool at Confederation Park.
From the park, a 5.5-km network of trails wind along the picturesque Burrard Inlet.
Vancouver and Burnaby both have beaches on the Fraser River’s North Arm, and both are named Fraser River Park.
Watching activity on the Fraser is the main attraction from both beaches.
The beach at Burnaby’s Fraser River Park lies at the south end of Byrne Road off Marine Drive in Burnaby.
Although wading in the Fraser River is refreshing, full immersion is a dicier proposition and is not recommended.
Two trails take you inland: the western route, surrounded by wet brushland, leads to the Marine Way pedestrian overpass, and the eastern route follows Byrne Creek.
Children can pretend they’re pirates on the riverside pirate ship, an intriguing play area.
Hiking and Walking: A good stretch with a forested feeling is the Burnaby River Trail (easy; about 6 miles/10 km return).
This hard-packed, cedar-lined dirt pathway runs east beside the Fraser River from the south foot of Boundary Road near Marine Way towards New Westminster.
An alternate approach to the trail is at Fraser River Park.
Here in the park, the log booms that line the shoreline beside much of the trail give way to a long stretch of open beach.
One of the most attractive sights along the trail is Mount Baker’s snow cone, framed by the spires and guy wires of two bridges, the Queensboro and the Pattullo.
For more information on the trail and park, contact the Burnaby Parks and Recreation Department, (604) 294-7450.
The Mountain Biking trails on Burnaby Mountain (elevation 1,200 feet/365 metres) are not open to mountain bikes, but try telling that to the mountain bikers who regularly make their way along one of the dozens of trails that crisscross the mountain.
Its high usage stems in part from the fact that students attending Simon Fraser University at the top of Mount Burnaby want alternate paths up to and especially down from school other than the two roads that wend their way up Mount Burnaby (more often referred to as Burnaby Mountain).
Golf: The contemporary designed 18-hole layout at Burnaby Mountain Golf Course has always been a favourite with players of all levels.
It requires precise shot making to achieve par, but recreational players find it very forgiving.
The natural tree-lined beauty of its fairway and the gentle rolling terrain at the foot of Burnaby Mountain offer a blend of charm, character and serenity that will enhance your enjoyment of the game. Par 71, 6,431 yards.
Golf Vacations in an around Vancouver. Burnaby’s Barnet Marine Park is located on the site of an old logging community that flourished in the first half of the 20th century.
All that remains are the massive concrete towers and a squat scrap burner hunkered on the broad beach.
Burnaby has replaced the old wharfs with a pier from which visitors can scan Burrard Inlet for marine and birdlife. A large boomed-off swimming section fronts the hard-packed sandy beach. Picnic tables with barbeque stands are shaded by tall poplars. There’s also a boat launch here. A level pathway leads west of the park towards the Ironworkers
emorial Second Narrows Bridge.
It provides visitors to Barnet with a chance to cycle or stroll amid the lazy trails on those overcast days when the beach is not the exclusive reason for visiting this charming site.
Barnet has a paved driveway that can be used to launch canoes, kayaks or sailboats in Burrard Inlet.
No motorized boats can be launched from here.
True to its name, Central Park is situated in a key location on the Burnaby side of Boundary Road, the dividing line between Vancouver and Burnaby.
The park is a popular place for tennis, jogging, pitch-and-putt, cycling, picnicking, or just wandering about.
The numerous paths make the 222-acre (90-hectare) green space seem larger than it actually is.
A dense stand of towering Douglas fir blocks most of the noise from the three main thoroughfares that constitute the park’s north, south, and west borders.
City planners around the Lower Mainland seem to have deliberately placed parks bordering on major roads, perhaps to attract passersby, perhaps to contrast the natural and the artificial. For instance, Hwy 1 (the Trans-Canada Highway) runs through Burnaby’s largest green space, formed by Deer Lake Park, Burnaby Lake Regional Park, and Robert Burnaby Park.
Deer Lake Park was once a popular swimming destination, but poor water quality has forced the Burnaby Parks Board to keep the area closed for nearly a decade.
Still, it is an attractive picnic area or a good place to drift about in a canoe, rowboat, or sailboat for a few hours.
A Squamish legend tells of an underground river that runs from Deer Lake to False Creek.
The Deer Lake area is home to the Burnaby City Hall (including the Burnaby Parks and Recreation Dept at 101-4946 Canada Way, (604) 294-7450, a good place to pick up maps and information on municipal parks), the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, the Burnaby Village Museum, and the local Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) detachment.
Deer Lake Park has a pleasant, grassy picnic location: one look at the lake is enough to cool anyone down.
Too bad there’s no swimming. Robert Burnaby Park is located about a mile (1.5 km) east of Deer Lake, a peaceful setting of huge western hemlock, cedar and Douglas fir.
This large park is known for its wooded ravine and forest trails, which attract walkers, joggers and nature lovers enjoying the exercise and quiet surroundings.
Trails are laid out on hillsides, meandering through ravines and into open meadows.
Burnaby Lake Regional Park is on the north side of Hwy 1, across from Deer Lake, and is a blend of highly developed recreational facilities alongside a completely undeveloped wildlife sanctuary.
Special features in this 740-acre (300-hectare) park include both the Nature House (open mid-May to Labour Day), and a BC Wildlife Watch viewing tower at the Piper Avenue entrance.
An easygoing 6-mile (10-km) walking trail circles the lake.
There are three main access points to Burnaby Lake Park, including two off Winston Avenue and another off Sperling Avenue.
All are well marked. For more information on Burnaby Lake Regional Park, call (604) 520-6442.
Burnaby Mountain is Burnaby’s tallest landmark. Simon Fraser University sits on top, a crucible of learning designed by architect Arthur Erickson, who also put his imprint on the Provincial Courthouse and the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia.
Simon Fraser’s campus is surrounded by Burnaby Mountain Park.
The park is a warren of trails that cut through deciduous second-growth forest. Most visitors come to visit the Playground of the Gods.
In June, a formal rose garden nearby perfumes the air and makes the environment appear even more like the Elysian Fields. A grassy slope descends the mountain below the totems, contributing to the open feeling of this part of the park.
A special event in Burnaby is the Burnaby Village Museum Heritage Christmas in December.
See the best of the area on a driving Circle Tour. Head north out of Vancouver for a scenic tour of the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island, or stay on the intensely scenic Sea to Sky Highway, passing through the magical winter resort town of Whistler and looping through the Coast Mountains.
To explore the rural farmlands and forests of the fertile Fraser Valley, travel outbound on the scenic route north of the historic Fraser River, returning westwards along the Trans Canada Highway 1 to Vancouver. Circle Tours in BC.
CHERYL YOUNG, REALTOR SAANICH PENINSULA REALTY SIDNEY, BC www.cherylyoung.ca
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Fronting the Fraser River to the north and Washington State to the south, Langley is located in the geographic centre of the lower mainland
| Fronting the Fraser River to the north and Washington State to the south, Langley is located in the geographic centre of the Lower mainland
Nestled betweein Surrey to the west and Abbotsford and the lush farmland of the Fraser Valley to the east.
From Vancouver,it’s less than an hour’s drive east along Highway 1 or via Highway 7.
Take a short trip across the Fraser River on the Albion Ferry which enables motorists to make a direct connection between Highway 7 on the north shore and Highway 1 on the south.
Named after Thomas Langley, a prominent Hudson’s Bay Company director, Langley is considered to be the official birthplace of British Columbia.
The colony of B.C was originally proclaimed here, at Fort Langley, although the capital moved from here to New Westminster, before finally settling at Victoria on Vancouver Island.
The valley land between the Fraser River and the Canada- US border ripples away like the wake behind a troller.
Early settlers didn’t have an easy go of it; the land was boggy and thick with mosquitoes in summer.
But having come this far, they dug in, cleared the trees, farmed the land, and, in season, hunted and fished for wild game.
You can still get a scent of those years as you pedal the backroads along the border of Surrey and Langley.
In the 1830s, the Hudson’s Bay Company began to develop and farm approximately 810 hectares of land in the area known as Langley Prairie.
Today, Langley has almost 40 percent of the total agricultural land in the Fraser Valley, giving agriculture a major role in the economy of the region.
With more farms than any other municipality in BC, Langley has the largest number of horse farms, the largest number of rabbit farms, the most sheep, and almost half of the mushroom farms in the province.
Without a doubt, the most interesting and popular attraction in the Langley area is the Fort Langley National Historic site.
The fort, preserved and restored to its original 1850s’ condition, is a gateway to British Columbia’s early history.
Visit the lovingly restored buildings of Fort Langley in the summer months, when the park’s staff, dressed in period costumes of the era, go about their business blacksmithing, churning butter and making wagon wheels.
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Situated at the head of Howe Sound and surrounded by mountains, Squamish is cradled in natural beauty
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Situated at the head of Howe Sound and surrounded by mountains, Squamish is cradled in natural beauty as only a West Coast community can be.Growing in fame as the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada, visitors will discoverthe abundance of attractions , activities and opportunities to explore in thecommunity of Squamish. |
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Pender Harbour is a tough part of the Sunshine Coast to get
| Pender Harbour is a tough part of the Sunshine Coast to get a handle on
If you try to figure it out as you pass by on Hwy 101, you’ll have only a half-baked notion of where freshwater lakes end and saltwater coves begin. This place is a wonderful geographical mess. Even if you take the plunge and begin exploring the roads that connect the three oceanside communities that comprise Pender Harbour – Madeira Park, Garden Bay, and Irvines Landing – you’d be hard pressed to keep your bearings. You’d probably do just as well if you were blindfolded and spun around three times.
Pender Harbour, north of Sechelt, was once the winter headquarters of the Sechelt Nation, and on nearby Mount Daniel you can see the remains of moon rings (stone circles built by Sechelt girls as they entered womanhood), and Sechelt pictographs mark the cliffs above Sakinaw Lake. Originally famous for fabulous sport fishing, the tranquil and bustling Pender Harbour today is also a favourite spot for artists and photographers, as well as canoeists and kayakers. The 52 kilometres of jagged harbour shoreline support all sorts of housing, marine and recreational developments. World-class yachts make Pender Harbour their evening destination anchorage, where the sunsets are amongst the best in British Columbia. The deep, clear waters of the harbour are recognized, especially during winter months, as one of the world’s premier sites for underwater exploration and photography.
Population: 3,000 Location: Pender Harbour is located on the Sechelt Peninsula of the Sunshine Coast of BC. The Sunshine Coast is accessible from the rest of the Lower Mainland only by boat or airplane. Travellers aboard BC Ferries leave Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver for the 45-minute ride to Langdale on the Sechelt Peninsula. Highway 101 links Langdale with Pender Harbour, 31 miles (50 km) to the northwest. View Map of the Sunshine Coast. An accessible, year-round retreat, Pender Harbour can be reached by road and ferry or by yacht in a leisurely day’s journey from Vancouver, along the Sunshine Coast of BC. Built in 1930, the one-time St. Mary’s Hospital at Hospital Bay is now a privately owned lodge, available for dining and overnight accommodations. The popular recreation areas of Secret Cove, Buccaneer Bay, Thormanby Island and Texada Island are all nearby.
Attend the always popular Pender Harbour Jazz Festival. This three-day festival in September showcases musicians in a variety of venues throughout the area. Diving: The maze of coves, bays, and islands around Pender Harbour make it the most popular diving spot on the Sechelt Peninsula. You’ll need a boat to reach the four most popular sites at Fearney Bluffs, Nelson Rock, and Anderson and Charles Islands. Golf: Pender Harbour Golf Course was built with a unique combination of flat and hilly fairways, and water hazards scattered throughout to add challenge to your game. The fairways are tight, with elevated greens and tees that enable you to take in the great views of the surrounding mountains and scenery. Nine holes with four tee boxes allow 18-hole rounds. Covered driving range. Located just five kilometres north of Madeira Park at 13823 Sunshine Coast Highway. Golf Vacations in British Columbia.
The many lakes and streams in the Pender Harbour area offer plenty of excitement to freshwater anglers. Klein Lake offers private campsites and fine trout and Ruby Lake is an idyllic jewel surrounded by beautiful mountains offering panoramic vistas, abundant wildlife and exciting fishing. The eastern peak of Mount Daniel is of great ceremonial significance to the Sechelt First Nation, whose ancestors used it as a setting for puberty rites. The summit of Mount Daniel (like the cemetery on the waterfront) is a protected archeological site.
Two hiking trails lead to viewpoints overlooking Pender Harbour. Pender Hill (758 feet/231 m) rises sharply from the saltchuk (a Native term for water) above Irvines Landing, while Mount Daniel (1,375 feet/419 m) sits above Garden Bay. Both present moderately difficult, unrelentingly steep hiking. Packing a water bottle (or two) is a must. If time is of the essence, choose the Pender Hill Trail (moderate; 2 miles/3 km return) where a 30-minute cardiovascular workout will have you at the top. Plan on 90 minutes to reach the top of Mount Daniel (moderate; 5 miles/8 km return). Take a map to make sense of the view; NTS 92G/12 is the most detailed. Mount Daniel is too diminutive to be identified on most maps (tell that to someone who’s just made the ascent) but the surrounding lakes and bays are. Mount Daniel is west of Hwy 101 on Garden Bay Rd. Drive some 2 miles (3.5 km), watching for a trail sign on the left side of the road. Park here and hike a short distance along a dirt road to the trailhead. To find the trail for Pender Hill, stay on Garden Bay Road to Irvines Landing Road, then along to Lee Road. Watch for a sign on the right side of Lee Road that announces the trailhead.
Garden Bay Provincial Marine Park is a delightful 163-hectare forested park in Garden Bay on the north shore of Pender Harbour. Energetic hikers will be rewarded with spectacular views from atop Mount Daniel, known as “Kwiss Cham” by the local Sechelt people, and of great ceremonial and ritual significance. It was atop Kwiss Cham that young maidens made their rites of passage into puberty. Francis Point Marine Park protects pristine waterfront on the Francis Peninsula, west of Madeira Park. This extremely fragile and sensitive ecosystem combines the scenic and ecological attributes that have made the Gulf of Georgia world famous; intricate coves, windswept pines, mossy headlands and towering old-growth veteran Douglas fir. The park offers unlimited opportunities for kayaking and swimming, and some of the best diving on the Sunshine Coast. There is a short (one hour) wooded and rocky hiking trail that leads to the viewpoint at the top of the Francis Peninsula, with scenic views of Vancouver Island, Texada Island and the BC Gulf Islands. A branch of the trail leads down to the rocky oceanfront. The proposed park is easily accessible, and features cozy bays suitable for sheltering small craft. Spipiyus Provincial Park is documented as the oldest closed-canopy temperate rain forest in Canada. The park protects pockets of old-growth Douglas-fir stands, and contains groves of the oldest living Yellow Cedars, Mountain and Western Hemlocks in the world. Also known as the Caren Range, the 2,979-hectare Spipiyus park also protects prime habitat for the Marbled Murrelet, which was found breeding close to the many lakes and in the ancient forests of the Caren Range above Pender Harbour. Madeira Park is the main shopping centre for the Pender Harbour region, on the southeastern shore of Pender Harbour. The Madeira Park government floats provide over 400 metres of moorage space- only a brief walk from ‘downtown’ Madeira Park. In Joe Bay, at the mouth of Pender Harbour, is the historic community of Irvines Landing, a popular tourist and fishing stop. The lifestyle of Irvines Landing is centred around the water and the boat launch ramp, with many residents engaged in commercial fishing, sports fishing and pleasure boating. Irvines Landing offers a campsite, a grocery store, and a restaurant and pub. The small village of Garden Bay is tucked between Hospital Bay and Garden Bay in Pender Harbour. Postcard-pretty Garden Bay, with its yacht club, marinas, general store, restaurants and heritage inn, offers a gorgeous setting and terrific ocean views, amongst the prettiest in British Columbia. See the best of the area on a driving Circle Tour. Head north out of Vancouver for a scenic circle tour of the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island. Board a B.C. Ferries vessel at Powell River that will take you across the waters of the Strait of Georgia to Comox, on Vancouver Island’s east coast. Travel south to Victoria and return to Vancouver by ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen. Circle Tours in BC. CHERYL HOLMES YOUNG SAANICH PENINSULA REALTY SIDNEY B.C www.cherylyoung.ca |
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