Page 62 - Travel Guide to Canada 2019

BC
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THE GREAT OUTDOORS and waters to sail right in their own resources in the 18 and 19 centuries
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In British Columbia, the great outdoors truly backyard. come to life in Barkerville, a former Gold
is just that—great: from ocean playground Rush town turned living museum (www.
to mountain peaks, windswept plains and barkerville.ca ), or the Fort Langley National
fertile farmland. Quick Fact Historic Site (www.parkscanada.gc.ca/
Head for the hills. This mountainous HUNDREDS OF SPECIES OF BIRDS VISIT langley ). The Asian experience is captured
province boasts 13 major ski resorts (and B.C. EACH YEAR—INCLUDING THE in the historic Chinatowns of Victoria and
DESIGNATED IMPORTANT BIRD AREA
many smaller ones) with epic powder, Vancouver, as well as in the City of
(IBA) BOUNDARY BAY—WHEN THEY
heart-stopping descents and pristine Richmond, with its modern Asian shop-
MIGRATE ALONG THE PACIFIC FLYWAY
backcountry bowls, as well as miles of trails FROM ALASKA TO PATAGONIA. ping malls (www.visitrichmondbc.com ).
for those who prefer skinny skis and And all three traditions come together at
snowshoes. In summer, the resorts turn the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National
their lifts and trails over to daredevil HERITAGE AND CULTURE Historic Site (www.parkscanada.gc.ca/
mountain bikers and hikers eager to First there were the Indigenous Peoples gulfofgeorgiacannery ).
explore the alpine meadows. who fi shed, hunted and traded for some
But you don’t have to climb a mountain 10,000 years in what is now British MUST SEE, MUST DO
to fi nd adventure here. Awash as it is with Columbia. Then the Europeans arrived, Climb the Via Ferrata—an “iron road” of
rivers, lakes and the Pacifi c Ocean, B.C. is followed by newcomers from Asia. Today, cables, ladders and handholds up Whistler
popular for water sport enthusiasts. You the three cultural strands are woven Mountain (www.whistler.com). Then swing
can sail alongside orcas in Desolation together here, vibrantly and indelibly. over to Whistler’s Audain Art Museum to
Sound, paddle the Bowron Lakes, raft down First Nations culture is preserved in take in a remarkable collection of works by
the Fraser Canyon, surf the waves near many galleries and museums, including B.C. artists (www.audainartmuseum.com).
Tofi no or cast for trout in Lake Country. the renowned UBC Museum of
Those who prefer to stay on dry land Anthropology (www.moa.ubc.ca ), and In Vancouver, take the foot passenger ferry
can also hike through dozens of national thrives in authentic experiences such as across False Creek to Granville Island and
and provincial parks or ride a horse under the Kamloopa Powwow (www.indigenous its galleries, shops, restaurants, theatres
the endless skies in the grasslands. Even bc.com). Stories of the Europeans who and popular Public Market (www.granville
city slickers can fi nd mountains to climb arrived to extract B.C.’s vast natural island.com).

SNOWMOBILE TOUR, WHISTLER • WHISTLER TOURISM/THE ADVENTURE GROUP