British Columbia : Adventure Guide

by Readicker-Henderson, Lynn

• ISBN13: 9781588433664
• ISBN10: 1588433668
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-10-14
• Publisher: Hunter Pub Inc

Summary

From early explorers and Gold Rush days to modern times, British '! Columbia has always attracted visitors. Its rich landscape is filled with forests, glaciers and rivers that draw outdoor enthusiasts; more rugged adventurers ride the Alaska Highway, an engineering marvel that cuts across the territory amid stunning scenery. Visit Vancouver, the biggest city in the province, or Victoria, considered by many to be the nicest spot in North America. Scenic railways offer a unique opportunity for relaxed sightseeing. Offshore are the Queen Charlotte Islands, where kayaking is a popular sport. Written by the authors of our best-selling "Adventure Guide to the Inside Passage & Coastal Alaska.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Who We Are, What We Do & What You're in For	1	(1)
Geography	2	(1)
History	3	(4)
Climate	7	(1)
Wildlife	8	(28)
Catching A Glimpse	8	(2)
Land Animals	10	(9)
Marine Life	19	(14)
Birds	33	(2)
Other Beasts	35	(1)
Economy & Government	36	(1)
People & Culture	37	(8)
BC's Top 20 Destinations	45	(2)
Practicalities
Transportation	47	(1)
When to Go, For How Long	48	(1)
Costs	48	(1)
Tourist Information	49	(1)
Lodging	50	(1)
Shopping	51	(1)
Ethical Issues	51	(1)
Getting Out	52	(6)
Boating	52	(2)
Charters/Outfitters	54	(1)
Wilderness Hiking & Camping	55	(3)
Fishing	58	(1)
Health	58	(2)
Legalities & Customs	60	(1)
Electricity	61	(1)
Metric Conversion	62	(1)
Money	63	(2)
Victoria & Vancouver Island
Victoria	65	(23)
History	65	(3)
Basics	68	(1)
Museums & Attractions	69	(5)
Tours	74	(2)
Adventures	76	(1)
On Foot	76	(1)
On Water	76	(2)
In Nature	78	(1)
In the Air	79	(1)
Adventures with Monsters	80	(1)
Shopping	81	(1)
Where to Eat	82	(2)
Tea	84	(1)
Where to Stay	84	(2)
Transport	86	(2)
Vancouver Island	88	(1)
West Along Highway 14	88	(6)
Sooke	89	(2)
Port Renfrew	91	(3)
North Along Highway 1	94	(4)
Duncan	94	(1)
Cowichan Valley	95	(1)
Nanaimo	96	(1)
Qualicum	97	(1)
Highway 4: The Road to the Edge of the World	98	(10)
Port Alberni	99	(1)
Bamfield	99	(1)
Sproat Lake	100	(1)
Ucluelet	100	(2)
Pacific Rim National Park	102	(1)
Tofino	103	(4)
Courtenay-Comox Valley	107	(1)
Highway 19: Campbell River to Port Hardy	108	(13)
Campbell River	109	(2)
Quadra Island	111	(2)
Cortes Island	113	(1)
Strathcona Provincial Park	113	(1)
Gold River	114	(1)
Nootka Sound	115	(2)
Onward to Port Hardy	117	(1)
Telegraph Cove	118	(1)
Alert Bay	119	(1)
Malcolm Island	119	(1)
Port Hardy	120	(1)
The Gulf Islands	121	(1)
Northern Gulf Islands	122	(1)
Southern Gulf Islands	122	(5)
Vancouver & Environs
Vancouver	127	(23)
History	129	(1)
Basics	130	(1)
Downtown Attractions	130	(7)
Out-of-Town Attractions	137	(4)
Adventures	141	(1)
On Water	141	(1)
On Foot	141	(1)
Shopping	142	(1)
Where to Eat	143	(2)
Where to Stay	145	(3)
Transportation	148	(2)
North from Vancouver	150	(19)
Powell River	151	(2)
Squamish	153	(4)
Whistler	157	(8)
Leaving Whistler, Heading North	165	(1)
Lillooet	166	(3)
Central British Columbia
Along Highways 1 & 7	169	(5)
Hope	172	(2)
North from Hope	174	(3)
Yale	176	(1)
Yale to Lytton	177	(3)
Lytton	179	(1)
Lytton to Cache Creek	180	(2)
Cache Creek	181	(1)
Cache Creek to Williams Lake	182	(3)
Williams Lake	183	(2)
The Road to Bella Coola	185	(5)
Bella Coola	188	(2)
Williams Lake to Quesnel	190	(4)
Quesnel	190	(2)
Barkerville & the Bowron Lakes	192	(2)
Barkerville to Prince George	194	(1)
The Okanagan, Kootenays & Eastern BC
The Okanagan Valley	195	(14)
Valley Basics	197	(1)
Osoyoos	198	(1)
Oliver	199	(1)
Wineries	199	(2)
Penticton	201	(3)
Kelowna	204	(4)
Vernon	208	(1)
Highway 97 to Kamloops	209	(8)
Kamloops	210	(4)
Revelstoke	214	(3)
South from Revelstoke: The Arrow Lakes	217	(8)
Glacier National Park	219	(2)
Golden	221	(4)
The Kootenays	225	(1)
Creston	225	(1)
Highway 3A	226	(3)
Cranbrook	227	(2)
Heading to the Parks	229	(4)
Radium Hot Springs	229	(4)
Northern British Columbia
The Yellowhead Highway	233	(1)
Jasper to Prince George	233	(5)
Prince George	235	(3)
West from Prince George	238	(15)
Vanderhoof	239	(2)
Onward from Vanderhoof	241	(1)
Smithers	242	(1)
The Hazeltons	243	(2)
Terrace	245	(1)
Kitmat	246	(1)
Prince Rupert	247	(6)
Queen Charlotte Islands	253	(15)
Transport	254	(2)
Masset	256	(3)
Old Masset	259	(1)
Port Clemens	260	(1)
Tlell	261	(1)
Skidegate	262	(1)
Queen Charlotte City	263	(1)
Sandspit	264	(1)
Gwaii Haanas National Park	265	(3)
The Cassiar Highway	268	(17)
Kitwanga & Gitanyow	270	(1)
Onward from Kitwanga & Gitanyow	271	(1)
Stewart-Hyder	272	(4)
Onward from Stewart-Hyder	276	(1)
Iskut	277	(1)
Dease Lake	278	(1)
Telegraph Creek & the Stikine River	278	(6)
The Stikine River Corridor	284	(1)
The Alaska Highway	285	(10)
The History of the Highway	286	(6)
Dawson Creek	292	(3)
Dawson Creek to Fort St. John	295	(4)
Kiskatinaw Provincial Park	295	(1)
Peace Island Regional Park	296	(1)
Taylor	296	(1)
The Peace River Area	297	(1)
Fort St. John	297	(2)
Fort St. John to Fort Nelson	299	(4)
Along Charlie Lake	299	(1)
Wonowon & Moose Territory	300	(1)
Fort Nelson	301	(2)
Fort Nelson to Muncho Lake	303	(6)
Muncho Lake	307	(2)
Muncho Lake to Watson Lake	309	(6)
Liard Hot Springs	310	(2)
Watson Lake	312	(3)
Even Farther North: Atlin & Roads to Alaska	315	(3)
Atlin	315	(2)
The Tagish Road	317	(1)
The South Klondike Highway	318	(13)
Carcross	318	(1)
Skagway	319	(12)
The Haines Highway	331	(14)
Tatshenshini-Alsek Wilderness	332	(2)
Haines	334	(11)
The Parks
Kootenay National Park	345	(2)
Banff & Banff National Park	347	(4)
The City	347	(3)
The Park	350	(1)
Yoho National Park	351	(3)
The Icefields Parkway: Lake Louise to Jasper	354	(3)
Jasper & Jasper National Park	357	(6)
The Town	357	(2)
The Park	359	(4)
APPENDIX
Recommended Reading	363