British Columbia - Sightseeing

During its heyday around 1870, Barkerville was the biggest city west of Chicago and north of San Francisco.... As early as 1858, the gold fever lured numerous soldiers of fortune into the country. Billy Barker, a deserted seaman, who gave the name to the city, arrived in 1862. He blew 600,000 dollar that he could claim from banks and eventually ended up in a pauper’s grave. As the resources were exhausted in 1875, the city emptied quickly and became an almost abandoned ghost town. 1958 it was declared Barkerville National Historic Park. By now, about 100 buildings have been restored or reconstructed. The historical museum is located right at the entrance of the park. Everywhere, costumed villagers convey a lively picture of those turbulent days. The Theatre Royal stages a show about the gold digger’s time and an actor plays in the legendary judge Begbic in the Richfield courthouse. Armed with a gold pan, the visitors themselves have the opportunity to try their luck as gold diggers. more

The settlement of the Gitksan, indigenous people who used to live on salmon fishing and trade, was rebuilt... as an open-air museum on the area of the historic village Giranmmax. You can view the typical longhouses whose carved facades are aligned facing the river, totem poles, a smoke house as well as the museum. There are 600 artifacts displayed that are used for ceremonial acts or daily use. These are for example masks, hunting weapons and fishing equipment, tools as well as ritually used objects of the shamans. In summer, films and theater productions are shown. In the museum's gift shop you can buy books as well as native-Canadian artwork, produced in the on-site ateliers. more

In Pacific Rim National Park stretching for 130 km (80 mi.) along the west coast of Vancouver Island,... persistent beach hikers enjoy a lot of room to move. The famous West Coast Trail in the southern part between Bamfield and Port Renfrew stretches for nearly 80 km (50 mi.), which can be walked in five to four days, depending on the fitness. The partially difficult terrain is quite demanding, especially with frequent rain. A registration with the park administration is required. The area in the middle of the park, the Broken Group Islands in Barclay Sound consisting of over 100 islands, is ideal for sea kayaking. With a length of 16 km (10 mi.), Long Beach between Ucluelet and Tofino is well suited for short hikes. Widely curved beaches with piles of driftwood and tide pools full of life can be found here as well. Further, seals and sea lions can be watched, in spring and fall even whales. more

The reason why the huge Wells Gray Provincial Park is relatively unfrequented may be due to the fact... that most of the travelers feel drawn to Banff and Jasper in the east. The more patient visitors, however, are rewarded with a breath-taking landscape characterized by thick forests, tarns, waterfalls and volcanic cones. There are black bears, grizzlies, wolves, coyotes and mountain goats. The main entrance in the south can be reached on a dead-end street from Clearwater. First, it leads through the small Spahats Creek Provincial Park, where Spahats River dug a 122-m (400 ft.) deep canyon into the lava formation. Leading to the park, the 60 km (37 mi.) long road passes the Dawson Falls (18 m / 59 ft.), the spectacular Helmcken Falls (137 m / 450 ft.) and finally reaches Clearwater Lake offering boat trips and canoe expeditions. At the end of the eastern entrance to the park, which branches off from Blue River, a footpath leads to the wonderfully-situated Murtle Lake. more

Anyone who does not flinch from extreme weather conditions – it rains or snows on two of three days... – gets his money worth in the Glacier National Park. The rough world of the Selkirk Mountains does not only offer 400 almost impassable glaciers, but also 87 miles (140 km) of hiking trails – and sometimes you might even see a black bear or a grizzly from a distance. The Trans-Canada Highway, leading from Vancouver to Banff in Alberta, turns into one of the world’s most beautiful mountain roads in Glacier National Park. It follows the railroad line of the Canadian Pacific Railway (1885), which had been built through the 5-mile (8-km) Connaught Tunnel, the longest railroad tunnel of Canada after numerous avalanche accidents had occurred in the pass section. At least at the highest point, the 1,327 m (4,354 ft.) high Rogers Pass, one should stop at the visitor center, where a memorial consisting of two crossed arches reminds of the completion of the road in 1962. There is an informative exhibition with film showings on the development of the region. Rangers provide useful hiking tips in the summer. more

North of Cache Creek, at the crossroad of the highways 97 and 99, lies this restored stagecoach station.... Employees, dressed in historical costumes, take the visitors on a tour through the compound to the times of the gold fever. After the precious metal had been found in Fraser River in 1858, countless gold diggers were attracted by the Cariboo Mountains. In order to supply the new settlements, the Cariboo Wagon Road was built. Horseback rides from the Hat Creek Ranch along the famous gold digger routes are offered. On the ranch grounds, one can see the old stagecoach station, the store, nowadays a souvenir shop, stables and haystacks as well as a village that used to be inhabited by the Shuswap Indians. more

Via the 26-kilometer-long cul-de-sac Summit Road, through three different vegetation levels, one can... reach the 1938-meter-tall Mount Revelstoke. The Giant Cedar Trail, only one kilometer long, leads up to the lowest level with a rain forest consisting of huge giant cedars, which are up to 600 years old. An alpine zone follows, in which tsugas prevail. The third zone with its mountain meadows starts above the tree tops. Summer is only three months long in this rough alpine landscape. But then the peak turns into a colorful sea of wild flowers. Mount Revelstoke offers great hiking opportunities with well-signposted trails and a great panorama view over Columbia River, Monashee Mountanis, Selkirk Mountains and the Glacier National Park. more

The Science World, a relic of the Expo 1986, is located in the southeast of downtown at the end of False... Creek. Silvery shimmering, the huge stainless steel sphere with its honeycomb outer structure is a landmark of Vancouver that can be seen from afar. Scientific phenomena, such as light and sound, are explained with the help of interactive animations, which especially fascinate the kids. The electricity show “Arcs and Sparks”, the laser show and, last but not least, Jim Henson’s Muppets are the most popular attractions. Another big visitor attraction is the Omnimax movie theater on the top floor. On an 89-feet (27-m) curved screen, appearance and reality become blurred; especially when watching a film with 3D effects, the audience experiences breathtaking dizziness. A cafeteria and a souvenir shop complete the offer. more

A garden like the ones of the Chinese Ming Dynasty in the midst of Canadian Vancouver? This must be the... Sun-Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, named after the first president of the Republic of China. Located in Chinatown, the park offers a multitude of plants, bizarre rocks, idyllic ponds and creeks as well as classic-Chinese architecture. All this represents a harmonious ensemble which is meant to have a soothing and at the same time stimulating effect. You can stroll through the park on your own or join a guided tour to learn about the secrets of this green gem. more

The home of the Haida Indians, “Haida Gwai” in their language, is a first-class paradise of nature.... The archipelago with 150 thickly wooded islands in the Northern Pacific can be reached by ferry from Prince Rupert. Queen Charlotte is the biggest city on Graham Island, the northern one of the two main islands. In the nearby town of Skidegate, the Queen Charlotte Islands Museum shows the culture of the formerly bellicose Haida, who even hunted wales on their seaworthy cedar wood canoes. Besides others, woodcarvings, wickerwork and a lot of imposing totem poles are exhibited. On Moresby Island in the south, the pugnacious Haida people succeeded in the struggle against the lumber industry for the establishment of South Moresby Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve (http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas). The wildly rugged landscape is known as an ideal area for kayaking. On Anthony Island (Skun Gwai), Ninstints, a well-preserved village with 32 totem poles and ten longhouses, which is part of the UNESCO world cultural heritage, can to be visited. more

Vancouver is surrounded by breathtaking nature, huge mountains and majestic forests. Those who want to... experience the fascinating wilderness of Grouse Mountain can get on the small SkyRide train only a few minutes from the city center, which climbs to a height of 3,600 feet (1,100 m) in only twelve minutes. Up there, in the clean air of the mountains, you have a captivating view of the city, neighboring mountains and the coastal strip. Additionally, two grizzly bears and other animals can be watched in the Grouse Mountain Refuge. A movie theater on site shows films of Grouse Mountain from the bird’s eye view and provides information on grizzly bears. more

Whoever steps in the spacious garden enters a tranquil oasis in the midst of a lively city. Winding paths... over gentle hills and small wood bridges across ponds lead through the park, which is home to 250,000 plants from all over the world, e.g. from South Africa, the Himalaya, Canada’s polar region and the west coast. Between the plants, carved totem poles, huge stone sculptures and a Korean pavilion in the center of the Asian section can be discovered. A maze built of hedges, which has driven mad many a visitor, is a special attraction. more

Equally popular among locals and tourists, Victoria preserved a lot of the “Merry Old England” charm.... There are double decker buses, an offshoot of the Royal London Wax Museum (http://www.waxmuseum.bc.ca), red brick houses and lovingly-tended gardens. The oldest settlement in British Columbia experienced an enormous boom during the gold rush and became the capital of the newly founded crown colony of British Columbia. The historical center at Inner Harbour can be easily explored on foot. The Victorian Parliament Buildings (1898) as well as the huge ivy-covered Empress Hotel in château style (1905; http://www.fairmont.com/empress) cannot be overlooked. There, a cup of tea can be enjoyed in a stylish ambience, and Indian art of high quality can be acquired. The nearby Royal British Columbia Museum (http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca) offers a fascinating overview of the settlement history and the art of the Northwest Coast Indians. The Thunderbird Park with lots of imposing totem poles is part of the museum. Nice cafés and a shopping mall can be found at the Market Square with Canada’s oldest China Town right next to it. more

The quaint fishing hamlet on Vancouver Island attracts many visitors each summer, dropping by because... of the pretty little harbor with its fishing cutters, the countless art cafes and galleries, e.g. the gallery of the Indian artist Roy Henry Vickers, to surf or kayak.. Whale observation and hiking tours at the nearby Pacific Rim National Park are also very popular. Whoever wants to know more about the whales in Clayoquot Sound can visit the interesting Whale Center and museum, where you can see a complete gray whale skeleton among other things. The rain forests on Meares Island and boating tours to the Hot Spring cove are nice traveling destinations in the Tofino area. more

The more than 250 ha big park is dominated by snow covered mountains almost all year long. The highest... spot is the 2,200 m Golden Hinde. The highest waterfall of Canada is in the southern part of the park: the impressive Della Falls drops in three levels 440 meter deep. The forbidden Plateau with its little crystal-clear lakes, attracts fly fishermen during the summer, and Battle Lake is also a paradise for anglers. Only experienced hikers should dare taking the tour to the Comox glacier. The Strathcona Provincial Park can be reached best via the Campbell River. Only the Forbidden Plateau and Battle Lake, with its visitor center and outgoing circular routes, are open to the public. Elks, cougars and black bears live in this untouched park. more

The third biggest Chinatown of North America - after those in San Francisco and New York - developed... when 10,000 Chinese were brought to the country in the 1880s to build a railroad network. Today, about 150,000 Chinese live in the metropolis. Chinatown stretches along Pender Street between Carral Street and Gore Avenue in downtown. After having passed the colorful gate, you immediately feel as if you have entered another world: everything is busy here; countless small stores offer exotic delicacies in abundance; restaurants have specialized in various regional Chinese cuisines. With a pond and a small temple that was erected by Suzhou craftsmen in the style of the Ming era on the occasion of the Expo 1986, Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden (http://www.vancouverchinesegarden.com) is an oasis of silence. Those who are interested in curios may want to go to the Sam Kee Building right at the entrance of Chinatown; with a width of 5.9 feet (1.80 m) only, it is allegedly the narrowest building in the world. more

The inconspicuous 5 km (3 mi.) long Cormorant Island, which can be reached by ferry from Port McNeill... in the north of Vancouver Island, holds one of the biggest treasures of Indian art. In the U’Mista Cultural Centre (http://www.umista.ca) of the old Kwakiutl settlement, a unique array of masks and other cult objects can be admired – and not behind glass but lying about openly. They had been confiscated at an illegal potlatch (ceremonial feast) in 1922, and were given back to the legitimate owners not until 1979. A part of the collection is exhibited in the Kwagiulth Museum on Quadra Island. The U’Mista (meaning as much as “save return of someone who has been abroad”) is an impressive longhouse building with a painting at the front showing a thunderbird over a whale. The row of totem poles near the beach is another sight. Several short nature paths can be walked in the Gator Gardens Ecological Park. more

Port Hardy is located way up north on Vancouver Island and is the port of departure for sea voyagers,... traveling to Queen Charlotte Islands or for those who want to travel to Prince Rupert via the famous Inside Passage. Landscape-wise, the route is – good weather provided – especially enticing, and leads to the far north in about 15 to 20 hours, along countless islands and majestic mountains with waterfalls and glaciers. Port Hardy is also famous for its First-Nations stores, where one can buy original souvenirs like paintings, masks or jewelry. Whale and grizzly bear watching tours as well as diving tours can be booked with local suppliers. Hikers can experience nature during an eight-hour hike along the North Coast Trail to Cape Scott at the Cape Scott Provincial Park. more

The little city way up north in British Columbia, is the terminal for ships that ride on the Inside Passage... from Vancouver Island to the north. In the vernacular, Prince Rupert is also called the “City of Rainbows” because of the frequent rainfalls. The white population increased at the beginning of the 20th century, after the Grand Trunk Railroad had been finished. Up to this day, 32 % of the people are of Indian heritage. One learns a lot about the “First Nations” at the museum of Northern British Columbia and one can also look at several artifacts of the native people. Furthermore, the little city is a good starting point for whale watching tours. At the nearby Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary, home to 50 grizzly bears and several black bears, one can look at the impressive wild creatures from close up. more

You can immerse yourself in the life of the first settlers in Fort St. James on Lake Stuart. The trading... post's foundation was ordered by the North Western Trading Company, was executed by Simon Fraser in 1806, and has been completely restored. Some of the wooden houses were built in 1880. Employees of the open-air museum show old methods of crafts, dressed in historical costumes, and educate the visitors on how the people uses to live back then. One can see old shops, where furs are stored, the Men's House, an accommodation for the workers, the fur trading post, the Officer's House, the track-equipped landing for cargo vessels, as well as a hut in which fish was hung to dry. more

Close to the little city of Boston Bar lies the spectacular “Hell's Gate”. With a width of only 30... meters it is the narrowest point of the 270 kilometer long Fraser Canyon. The steep faces tower up to a 1,000 meters at this point above the roaring rapids. Here the water flows at 8 meters a second. Hell's Gate Airtram or the hanging bridge over Fraser River offer the best view over the spectacle. At the gondola station lies an observation platform with a little museum, cafes and shops. If you feel the view on the Gate from above is not enough, you can get your kicks on a jet-boat tour (further information at: http://www.hellsgatejetboattours.com). more

The 150 ha big nature park on the verge of the Cariboo Mountains is especially popular among canoeists... because a six-to-ten-day canoe tour can be undertaken through its 116 kilometer-long, mountain-framed and river-linked chain of lakes. If that is too long for you, you may solely focus on the western part of the tour. This route is accomplished in two to four days. From the campgrounds, close to the registration center at Lake Bowron, nice hiking and mountain bike trails branch off. The lake landscape is great for fishing (license required). Animal lovers, if lucky, can see beavers, caribous, elks, mountain goats and all kinds of birds. more

Located on a cliff above the English Bay, the spectacular glass-concrete building designed by Arthur... C. Erickson harbors one of the largest collections of the lost culture of the west coast Indians. The great museum is an absolute must-see. Flooded with light, the Great Hall keeps the most beautiful old totem poles and a Kwakiutl lintel with a massive doorframe. Showcases present handicraft products, jewelry, Chilkat blankets, lovingly braided hats and chests, the sides of which are entirely made of bentwood (Bentwood Boxes). The huge dancing masks of the Kwakiutl are especially fascinating. In a rotunda below the glass dome, “The Raven and the First Men”, the famous huge sculpture designed by the renowned Haida artist Bill Reid, can be admired: a huge raven observes the still clumsy attempts of tiny human beings working their way out of a clamshell. Right next to the museum, the Totem Park gives an insight into a life in harmony with nature. more

Measuring 285 acres (115 ha), the mostly artificial peninsula in False Creek below Granville Bridge... had been a rundown industrial slum before it was transformed into a masterpiece of successful urban redevelopment. Today, it is a lively meeting point of the alternative scene with bars, cafés, handicraft stores, buskers and jugglers. On the northern side of the peninsula, the roofed Public Market attracts the crowds with overflowing stands and snack stalls. The Arts Club Theatres are located right next to the market (http://www.artsclub.com). With an attached exhibition hall, the Emily Carr College of Art & Design (http://www.eciad.ca), is situated at the northeastern side. In front of it, the Sea Village, a picturesque houseboat settlement, floats on the water. On a guided tour in the southern part, you can taste the excellent beer of the Granville Island Brewery Co. (http://www.gib.ca). In this area you also find the Kids Only Market, a shopping and playing paradise for children (http://www.kidsmarket.ca): In the supervised Water Park behind the Waterfront Theatre they can splash each other with rotary water guns. more

Little Mountain, the highest point in the city, rises 410 ft (152 m) in the middle of Queen Elizabeth... Park. On a clear day, you can enjoy the marvelous view of the downtown skyline against the background of the Coast Mountains. Even Mount Baker, located far south in the State of Washington, can be made out occasionally. Originally, there had been two quarries up here to supply the first roads with building material. Today, the area is a beautifully landscaped park measuring 125 acres (50 ha) and giving home to azaleas, rhododendrons and many other plants. An arboretum at the eastern edge of the park shows the trees and bushes that live in the coastal area. Another attraction is the Bloedel Conservatory (http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/parks/bloedel): a multitude of tropical plants thrives under its triodetic dome; in bad weather you find shelter here; during a stroll through the different climate zones, noisy exotic birds are flapping around. more