British Columbia travel experience

My wife and I just returned from 10 days in British Columbia (end of
August). We stayed at a variety of places ranging from hostels to
Holiday Inns. Here's a summary of the trip. Hope it helps others with
their travel plans:

-- Just about every day was overcast with some period of rain. For the
most part the rain was light and passed quickly. If you plan to do any
hiking, definitely bring warm boots, rain jackets, and umbrellas. Also,
try to keep a flexible schedule and get outdoors when it's sunny. You
never know how much good weather you'll get!

-- We started out driving up from Vancouver to Whistler, stopping at the
provincial park sites along the way. Brandywine Falls, Alice Lake, and
the hike to Cheakamus Lake were particularly memorable. Be sure to keep
lots of $1 coins on hand for the many parking fees. The machines don't
take bills, just coins and credit cards. Also, keep in mind that some of
the parks in BC have "logging roads" that lead to the trailheads. If
you're a US suburbanite like me, this means a dirt road with lots of pot
holes. If you're driving anything other than a truck or SUV, leave extra
time. The 8.5km to Cheakamus Lake ended up taking us about 40 minutes in
our sedan.

-- In Whistler we stayed at the Whistler Hostel on Alta Lake and the UBC
Lodge. The Whistler Hostel was a bit out of the way, but very nice and
well-managed. The staff was friendly and they offer free canoes for
guests to use. In contrast, the UBC Lodge was dumpy and practically
unmaintained. The floors were dirty (yet shoes aren't allowed?), lots of
dead moths, empty soda cans/bottles in some of the rooms. The only
consolation was that it was nearly empty so we had an entire wing to
ourselves.

-- We visited Golden Ears Provincial Park, 45 minutes east of Vancouver.
Great place to spend a day, especially the Lower Falls Trail and
Allouette Lake. We stayed at the Best Western in Maple Ridge. Good
service, nice experience overall.

-- We spent several days on Vancouver Island. We made ferry reservations
by phone for the trip over, but it wasn't really necessary. On the way
back (via Nanaimo) we showed up 30 minutes before departure and boarded
without trouble. I'm sure this varies by season and time of day.

-- We spent many hours at Buchart Gardens just outside of Victoria. It's
definitely well maintained and worth seeing. Bring lots of film if
you're a photo buff.

-- In Victoria we learned that at a parking meter, "25 cents for 10
minutes, $1 for 40 minutes" does NOT imply 20 minutes for 50 cents!
After adding a second quarter the time stayed at 10 minutes. Strange...

-- We visited a few of the parks near Nanaimo. Newcastle Island
(www.newcastleisland.ca) is very nice place to picnic and hike. There's
a $7 ferry that runs hourly. Horne Lake Caves (www.hornelake.com) was
worth the extra drive north. They offer a $17/adult family cavern tour
that gives you a feel for caving. I expected a dull walk on a paved
path, but instead found myself scrambling over boulders with a helmet and
headlamp. Don't let the "family" part fool you, the 90 minutes can be
strenuous if you're out of shape! Still, lots of fun.

-- From Nanaimo we headed west to Pacific Rim National Park. The entire
park is gorgeous and well worth the drive. The Rainforest and Schooner
Cove trails were especially scenic and interesting. It was too cold to
swim, but a few lunatics and surfers braved the weather. We hoped to
take a whale watching tour but the weather never cleared up. (Again, if
you get a sunny day, take advantage of it!) We spent three nights at the
Whalers on the Point Guesthouse, a beautifully maintained hostel built in
1999.

-- We wrapped up the trip with a visit to Stanley Park. The aquarium is
a great way to spend the day if you're interested in animals. In the
Vancouver area we stayed in Richmond at the Best Western Abercorn Inn,
the Holiday Inn, and the Holiday Inn Express. All three had nice rooms
and helpful staff. BW was cheaper (online, corporate rate), but in an
older building, not quite as nice as the others.

Aside from some intense questioning from a rude Canadian immigration
officer (jerks are universal, eh?), most of the people we encountered
were incredibly friendly. Thanks to all who've posted BC info, it was
very helpful. Enjoy!

Mike

thanks for the summary, we are flying to Vancouver on Tuesday. I didn't know
there was such a thing as dollar coins, is this new ? Will keep that in
mind. Any good restaurants to recommend in Vancouver ?

We are doing a different route than you, via kamloops to the Rockies, but
your summary was interesting to read.

Joanne

"MG" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
My wife and I just returned from 10 days in British Columbia (end of
August). We stayed at a variety of places ranging from hostels to
Holiday Inns. Here's a summary of the trip. Hope it helps others with
their travel plans:

-- Just about every day was overcast with some period of rain. For the
most part the rain was light and passed quickly. If you plan to do any
hiking, definitely bring warm boots, rain jackets, and umbrellas. Also,
try to keep a flexible schedule and get outdoors when it's sunny. You
never know how much good weather you'll get!

-- We started out driving up from Vancouver to Whistler, stopping at the
provincial park sites along the way. Brandywine Falls, Alice Lake, and
the hike to Cheakamus Lake were particularly memorable. Be sure to keep
lots of $1 coins on hand for the many parking fees. The machines don't
take bills, just coins and credit cards. Also, keep in mind that some of
the parks in BC have "logging roads" that lead to the trailheads. If
you're a US suburbanite like me, this means a dirt road with lots of pot
holes. If you're driving anything other than a truck or SUV, leave extra
time. The 8.5km to Cheakamus Lake ended up taking us about 40 minutes in
our sedan.

-- In Whistler we stayed at the Whistler Hostel on Alta Lake and the UBC
Lodge. The Whistler Hostel was a bit out of the way, but very nice and
well-managed. The staff was friendly and they offer free canoes for
guests to use. In contrast, the UBC Lodge was dumpy and practically
unmaintained. The floors were dirty (yet shoes aren't allowed?), lots of
dead moths, empty soda cans/bottles in some of the rooms. The only
consolation was that it was nearly empty so we had an entire wing to
ourselves.

-- We visited Golden Ears Provincial Park, 45 minutes east of Vancouver.
Great place to spend a day, especially the Lower Falls Trail and
Allouette Lake. We stayed at the Best Western in Maple Ridge. Good
service, nice experience overall.

-- We spent several days on Vancouver Island. We made ferry reservations
by phone for the trip over, but it wasn't really necessary. On the way
back (via Nanaimo) we showed up 30 minutes before departure and boarded
without trouble. I'm sure this varies by season and time of day.

-- We spent many hours at Buchart Gardens just outside of Victoria. It's
definitely well maintained and worth seeing. Bring lots of film if
you're a photo buff.

-- In Victoria we learned that at a parking meter, "25 cents for 10
minutes, $1 for 40 minutes" does NOT imply 20 minutes for 50 cents!
After adding a second quarter the time stayed at 10 minutes. Strange...

-- We visited a few of the parks near Nanaimo. Newcastle Island
(www.newcastleisland.ca) is very nice place to picnic and hike. There's
a $7 ferry that runs hourly. Horne Lake Caves (www.hornelake.com) was
worth the extra drive north. They offer a $17/adult family cavern tour
that gives you a feel for caving. I expected a dull walk on a paved
path, but instead found myself scrambling over boulders with a helmet and
headlamp. Don't let the "family" part fool you, the 90 minutes can be
strenuous if you're out of shape! Still, lots of fun.

-- From Nanaimo we headed west to Pacific Rim National Park. The entire
park is gorgeous and well worth the drive. The Rainforest and Schooner
Cove trails were especially scenic and interesting. It was too cold to
swim, but a few lunatics and surfers braved the weather. We hoped to
take a whale watching tour but the weather never cleared up. (Again, if
you get a sunny day, take advantage of it!) We spent three nights at the
Whalers on the Point Guesthouse, a beautifully maintained hostel built in
1999.

-- We wrapped up the trip with a visit to Stanley Park. The aquarium is
a great way to spend the day if you're interested in animals. In the
Vancouver area we stayed in Richmond at the Best Western Abercorn Inn,
the Holiday Inn, and the Holiday Inn Express. All three had nice rooms
and helpful staff. BW was cheaper (online, corporate rate), but in an
older building, not quite as nice as the others.

Aside from some intense questioning from a rude Canadian immigration
officer (jerks are universal, eh?), most of the people we encountered
were incredibly friendly. Thanks to all who've posted BC info, it was
very helpful. Enjoy!

Mike

Jo wrote:

thanks for the summary, we are flying to Vancouver on Tuesday. I didn't know
there was such a thing as dollar coins, is this new ? Will keep that in
mind. Any good restaurants to recommend in Vancouver ?

One dollar coins have been around for quite a while. They re known as "Loonies"
.. There are also $2 coins..... Toonies. :-)

Jo wrote:

thanks for the summary, we are flying to Vancouver on Tuesday. I didn't know
there was such a thing as dollar coins, is this new ? Will keep that in
mind. Any good restaurants to recommend in Vancouver ?

One dollar coins have been around for quite a while. They re known as "Loonies"
.. There are also $2 coins..... Toonies. :-)

You think our loons and toons are bad you should go to Norway the 5 kroner
coin I called the washroom coin cause you needed it for same and it is the
biggest coin I have ever encountered.
For as I know the US is one of the few countries in the world that still
has the $ 1 bill..
Kamloops to the Rockies. Bring the sweater cool weather next week
at least in Edmonton.

"Jo" wrote in message
...
thanks for the summary, we are flying to Vancouver on Tuesday. I didn't
know
there was such a thing as dollar coins, is this new ? Will keep that in
mind. Any good restaurants to recommend in Vancouver ?

We are doing a different route than you, via kamloops to the Rockies, but
your summary was interesting to read.

Joanne

"MG" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
My wife and I just returned from 10 days in British Columbia (end of
August). We stayed at a variety of places ranging from hostels to
Holiday Inns. Here's a summary of the trip. Hope it helps others with
their travel plans:

-- Just about every day was overcast with some period of rain. For the
most part the rain was light and passed quickly. If you plan to do any
hiking, definitely bring warm boots, rain jackets, and umbrellas. Also,
try to keep a flexible schedule and get outdoors when it's sunny. You
never know how much good weather you'll get!

-- We started out driving up from Vancouver to Whistler, stopping at the
provincial park sites along the way. Brandywine Falls, Alice Lake, and
the hike to Cheakamus Lake were particularly memorable. Be sure to keep
lots of $1 coins on hand for the many parking fees. The machines don't
take bills, just coins and credit cards. Also, keep in mind that some of
the parks in BC have "logging roads" that lead to the trailheads. If
you're a US suburbanite like me, this means a dirt road with lots of pot
holes. If you're driving anything other than a truck or SUV, leave extra
time. The 8.5km to Cheakamus Lake ended up taking us about 40 minutes in
our sedan.

-- In Whistler we stayed at the Whistler Hostel on Alta Lake and the UBC
Lodge. The Whistler Hostel was a bit out of the way, but very nice and
well-managed. The staff was friendly and they offer free canoes for
guests to use. In contrast, the UBC Lodge was dumpy and practically
unmaintained. The floors were dirty (yet shoes aren't allowed?), lots of
dead moths, empty soda cans/bottles in some of the rooms. The only
consolation was that it was nearly empty so we had an entire wing to
ourselves.

-- We visited Golden Ears Provincial Park, 45 minutes east of Vancouver.
Great place to spend a day, especially the Lower Falls Trail and
Allouette Lake. We stayed at the Best Western in Maple Ridge. Good
service, nice experience overall.

-- We spent several days on Vancouver Island. We made ferry reservations
by phone for the trip over, but it wasn't really necessary. On the way
back (via Nanaimo) we showed up 30 minutes before departure and boarded
without trouble. I'm sure this varies by season and time of day.

-- We spent many hours at Buchart Gardens just outside of Victoria. It's
definitely well maintained and worth seeing. Bring lots of film if
you're a photo buff.

-- In Victoria we learned that at a parking meter, "25 cents for 10
minutes, $1 for 40 minutes" does NOT imply 20 minutes for 50 cents!
After adding a second quarter the time stayed at 10 minutes. Strange...

-- We visited a few of the parks near Nanaimo. Newcastle Island
(www.newcastleisland.ca) is very nice place to picnic and hike. There's
a $7 ferry that runs hourly. Horne Lake Caves (www.hornelake.com) was
worth the extra drive north. They offer a $17/adult family cavern tour
that gives you a feel for caving. I expected a dull walk on a paved
path, but instead found myself scrambling over boulders with a helmet and
headlamp. Don't let the "family" part fool you, the 90 minutes can be
strenuous if you're out of shape! Still, lots of fun.

-- From Nanaimo we headed west to Pacific Rim National Park. The entire
park is gorgeous and well worth the drive. The Rainforest and Schooner
Cove trails were especially scenic and interesting. It was too cold to
swim, but a few lunatics and surfers braved the weather. We hoped to
take a whale watching tour but the weather never cleared up. (Again, if
you get a sunny day, take advantage of it!) We spent three nights at the
Whalers on the Point Guesthouse, a beautifully maintained hostel built in
1999.

-- We wrapped up the trip with a visit to Stanley Park. The aquarium is
a great way to spend the day if you're interested in animals. In the
Vancouver area we stayed in Richmond at the Best Western Abercorn Inn,
the Holiday Inn, and the Holiday Inn Express. All three had nice rooms
and helpful staff. BW was cheaper (online, corporate rate), but in an
older building, not quite as nice as the others.

Aside from some intense questioning from a rude Canadian immigration
officer (jerks are universal, eh?), most of the people we encountered
were incredibly friendly. Thanks to all who've posted BC info, it was
very helpful. Enjoy!

Mike

You think our loons and toons are bad you should go to Norway the 5 kroner
coin I called the washroom coin cause you needed it for same and it is the
biggest coin I have ever encountered.
For as I know the US is one of the few countries in the world that still
has the $ 1 bill..
Kamloops to the Rockies. Bring the sweater cool weather next week
at least in Edmonton.

"Jo" wrote in message
...
thanks for the summary, we are flying to Vancouver on Tuesday. I didn't
know
there was such a thing as dollar coins, is this new ? Will keep that in
mind. Any good restaurants to recommend in Vancouver ?

We are doing a different route than you, via kamloops to the Rockies, but
your summary was interesting to read.

Joanne

"MG" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
My wife and I just returned from 10 days in British Columbia (end of
August). We stayed at a variety of places ranging from hostels to
Holiday Inns. Here's a summary of the trip. Hope it helps others with
their travel plans:

-- Just about every day was overcast with some period of rain. For the
most part the rain was light and passed quickly. If you plan to do any
hiking, definitely bring warm boots, rain jackets, and umbrellas. Also,
try to keep a flexible schedule and get outdoors when it's sunny. You
never know how much good weather you'll get!

-- We started out driving up from Vancouver to Whistler, stopping at the
provincial park sites along the way. Brandywine Falls, Alice Lake, and
the hike to Cheakamus Lake were particularly memorable. Be sure to keep
lots of $1 coins on hand for the many parking fees. The machines don't
take bills, just coins and credit cards. Also, keep in mind that some of
the parks in BC have "logging roads" that lead to the trailheads. If
you're a US suburbanite like me, this means a dirt road with lots of pot
holes. If you're driving anything other than a truck or SUV, leave extra
time. The 8.5km to Cheakamus Lake ended up taking us about 40 minutes in
our sedan.

-- In Whistler we stayed at the Whistler Hostel on Alta Lake and the UBC
Lodge. The Whistler Hostel was a bit out of the way, but very nice and
well-managed. The staff was friendly and they offer free canoes for
guests to use. In contrast, the UBC Lodge was dumpy and practically
unmaintained. The floors were dirty (yet shoes aren't allowed?), lots of
dead moths, empty soda cans/bottles in some of the rooms. The only
consolation was that it was nearly empty so we had an entire wing to
ourselves.

-- We visited Golden Ears Provincial Park, 45 minutes east of Vancouver.
Great place to spend a day, especially the Lower Falls Trail and
Allouette Lake. We stayed at the Best Western in Maple Ridge. Good
service, nice experience overall.

-- We spent several days on Vancouver Island. We made ferry reservations
by phone for the trip over, but it wasn't really necessary. On the way
back (via Nanaimo) we showed up 30 minutes before departure and boarded
without trouble. I'm sure this varies by season and time of day.

-- We spent many hours at Buchart Gardens just outside of Victoria. It's
definitely well maintained and worth seeing. Bring lots of film if
you're a photo buff.

-- In Victoria we learned that at a parking meter, "25 cents for 10
minutes, $1 for 40 minutes" does NOT imply 20 minutes for 50 cents!
After adding a second quarter the time stayed at 10 minutes. Strange...

-- We visited a few of the parks near Nanaimo. Newcastle Island
(www.newcastleisland.ca) is very nice place to picnic and hike. There's
a $7 ferry that runs hourly. Horne Lake Caves (www.hornelake.com) was
worth the extra drive north. They offer a $17/adult family cavern tour
that gives you a feel for caving. I expected a dull walk on a paved
path, but instead found myself scrambling over boulders with a helmet and
headlamp. Don't let the "family" part fool you, the 90 minutes can be
strenuous if you're out of shape! Still, lots of fun.

-- From Nanaimo we headed west to Pacific Rim National Park. The entire
park is gorgeous and well worth the drive. The Rainforest and Schooner
Cove trails were especially scenic and interesting. It was too cold to
swim, but a few lunatics and surfers braved the weather. We hoped to
take a whale watching tour but the weather never cleared up. (Again, if
you get a sunny day, take advantage of it!) We spent three nights at the
Whalers on the Point Guesthouse, a beautifully maintained hostel built in
1999.

-- We wrapped up the trip with a visit to Stanley Park. The aquarium is
a great way to spend the day if you're interested in animals. In the
Vancouver area we stayed in Richmond at the Best Western Abercorn Inn,
the Holiday Inn, and the Holiday Inn Express. All three had nice rooms
and helpful staff. BW was cheaper (online, corporate rate), but in an
older building, not quite as nice as the others.

Aside from some intense questioning from a rude Canadian immigration
officer (jerks are universal, eh?), most of the people we encountered
were incredibly friendly. Thanks to all who've posted BC info, it was
very helpful. Enjoy!

Mike

You think our loons and toons are bad you should go to Norway the 5 kroner
coin I called the washroom coin cause you needed it for same and it is the
biggest coin I have ever encountered.
For as I know the US is one of the few countries in the world that still
has the $ 1 bill..
Kamloops to the Rockies. Bring the sweater cool weather next week
at least in Edmonton.

"Jo" wrote in message
...
thanks for the summary, we are flying to Vancouver on Tuesday. I didn't
know
there was such a thing as dollar coins, is this new ? Will keep that in
mind. Any good restaurants to recommend in Vancouver ?

We are doing a different route than you, via kamloops to the Rockies, but
your summary was interesting to read.

Joanne

"MG" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
My wife and I just returned from 10 days in British Columbia (end of
August). We stayed at a variety of places ranging from hostels to
Holiday Inns. Here's a summary of the trip. Hope it helps others with
their travel plans:

-- Just about every day was overcast with some period of rain. For the
most part the rain was light and passed quickly. If you plan to do any
hiking, definitely bring warm boots, rain jackets, and umbrellas. Also,
try to keep a flexible schedule and get outdoors when it's sunny. You
never know how much good weather you'll get!

-- We started out driving up from Vancouver to Whistler, stopping at the
provincial park sites along the way. Brandywine Falls, Alice Lake, and
the hike to Cheakamus Lake were particularly memorable. Be sure to keep
lots of $1 coins on hand for the many parking fees. The machines don't
take bills, just coins and credit cards. Also, keep in mind that some of
the parks in BC have "logging roads" that lead to the trailheads. If
you're a US suburbanite like me, this means a dirt road with lots of pot
holes. If you're driving anything other than a truck or SUV, leave extra
time. The 8.5km to Cheakamus Lake ended up taking us about 40 minutes in
our sedan.

-- In Whistler we stayed at the Whistler Hostel on Alta Lake and the UBC
Lodge. The Whistler Hostel was a bit out of the way, but very nice and
well-managed. The staff was friendly and they offer free canoes for
guests to use. In contrast, the UBC Lodge was dumpy and practically
unmaintained. The floors were dirty (yet shoes aren't allowed?), lots of
dead moths, empty soda cans/bottles in some of the rooms. The only
consolation was that it was nearly empty so we had an entire wing to
ourselves.

-- We visited Golden Ears Provincial Park, 45 minutes east of Vancouver.
Great place to spend a day, especially the Lower Falls Trail and
Allouette Lake. We stayed at the Best Western in Maple Ridge. Good
service, nice experience overall.

-- We spent several days on Vancouver Island. We made ferry reservations
by phone for the trip over, but it wasn't really necessary. On the way
back (via Nanaimo) we showed up 30 minutes before departure and boarded
without trouble. I'm sure this varies by season and time of day.

-- We spent many hours at Buchart Gardens just outside of Victoria. It's
definitely well maintained and worth seeing. Bring lots of film if
you're a photo buff.

-- In Victoria we learned that at a parking meter, "25 cents for 10
minutes, $1 for 40 minutes" does NOT imply 20 minutes for 50 cents!
After adding a second quarter the time stayed at 10 minutes. Strange...

-- We visited a few of the parks near Nanaimo. Newcastle Island
(www.newcastleisland.ca) is very nice place to picnic and hike. There's
a $7 ferry that runs hourly. Horne Lake Caves (www.hornelake.com) was
worth the extra drive north. They offer a $17/adult family cavern tour
that gives you a feel for caving. I expected a dull walk on a paved
path, but instead found myself scrambling over boulders with a helmet and
headlamp. Don't let the "family" part fool you, the 90 minutes can be
strenuous if you're out of shape! Still, lots of fun.

-- From Nanaimo we headed west to Pacific Rim National Park. The entire
park is gorgeous and well worth the drive. The Rainforest and Schooner
Cove trails were especially scenic and interesting. It was too cold to
swim, but a few lunatics and surfers braved the weather. We hoped to
take a whale watching tour but the weather never cleared up. (Again, if
you get a sunny day, take advantage of it!) We spent three nights at the
Whalers on the Point Guesthouse, a beautifully maintained hostel built in
1999.

-- We wrapped up the trip with a visit to Stanley Park. The aquarium is
a great way to spend the day if you're interested in animals. In the
Vancouver area we stayed in Richmond at the Best Western Abercorn Inn,
the Holiday Inn, and the Holiday Inn Express. All three had nice rooms
and helpful staff. BW was cheaper (online, corporate rate), but in an
older building, not quite as nice as the others.

Aside from some intense questioning from a rude Canadian immigration
officer (jerks are universal, eh?), most of the people we encountered
were incredibly friendly. Thanks to all who've posted BC info, it was
very helpful. Enjoy!

Mike

thanks Edward, we were expecting chilly weather and will try and be
prepared. What are loons and toons ???

Joanne

"Cactus" a écrit dans le message de news:
Tqa_c.300011$M95.201208@pd7tw1no...
You think our loons and toons are bad you should go to Norway the 5 kroner
coin I called the washroom coin cause you needed it for same and it is
the
biggest coin I have ever encountered.
For as I know the US is one of the few countries in the world that still
has the $ 1 bill..
Kamloops to the Rockies. Bring the sweater cool weather next week
at least in Edmonton.

"Jo" wrote in message
...
thanks for the summary, we are flying to Vancouver on Tuesday. I didn't
know
there was such a thing as dollar coins, is this new ? Will keep that in
mind. Any good restaurants to recommend in Vancouver ?

We are doing a different route than you, via kamloops to the Rockies,
but
your summary was interesting to read.

Joanne

"MG" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
My wife and I just returned from 10 days in British Columbia (end of
August). We stayed at a variety of places ranging from hostels to
Holiday Inns. Here's a summary of the trip. Hope it helps others with
their travel plans:

-- Just about every day was overcast with some period of rain. For the
most part the rain was light and passed quickly. If you plan to do any
hiking, definitely bring warm boots, rain jackets, and umbrellas.
Also,
try to keep a flexible schedule and get outdoors when it's sunny. You
never know how much good weather you'll get!

-- We started out driving up from Vancouver to Whistler, stopping at
the
provincial park sites along the way. Brandywine Falls, Alice Lake, and
the hike to Cheakamus Lake were particularly memorable. Be sure to
keep
lots of $1 coins on hand for the many parking fees. The machines don't
take bills, just coins and credit cards. Also, keep in mind that some
of
the parks in BC have "logging roads" that lead to the trailheads. If
you're a US suburbanite like me, this means a dirt road with lots of
pot
holes. If you're driving anything other than a truck or SUV, leave
extra
time. The 8.5km to Cheakamus Lake ended up taking us about 40 minutes
in
our sedan.

-- In Whistler we stayed at the Whistler Hostel on Alta Lake and the
UBC
Lodge. The Whistler Hostel was a bit out of the way, but very nice and
well-managed. The staff was friendly and they offer free canoes for
guests to use. In contrast, the UBC Lodge was dumpy and practically
unmaintained. The floors were dirty (yet shoes aren't allowed?), lots
of
dead moths, empty soda cans/bottles in some of the rooms. The only
consolation was that it was nearly empty so we had an entire wing to
ourselves.

-- We visited Golden Ears Provincial Park, 45 minutes east of
Vancouver.
Great place to spend a day, especially the Lower Falls Trail and
Allouette Lake. We stayed at the Best Western in Maple Ridge. Good
service, nice experience overall.

-- We spent several days on Vancouver Island. We made ferry
reservations
by phone for the trip over, but it wasn't really necessary. On the way
back (via Nanaimo) we showed up 30 minutes before departure and boarded
without trouble. I'm sure this varies by season and time of day.

-- We spent many hours at Buchart Gardens just outside of Victoria.
It's
definitely well maintained and worth seeing. Bring lots of film if
you're a photo buff.

-- In Victoria we learned that at a parking meter, "25 cents for 10
minutes, $1 for 40 minutes" does NOT imply 20 minutes for 50 cents!
After adding a second quarter the time stayed at 10 minutes.
Strange...

-- We visited a few of the parks near Nanaimo. Newcastle Island
(www.newcastleisland.ca) is very nice place to picnic and hike.
There's
a $7 ferry that runs hourly. Horne Lake Caves (www.hornelake.com) was
worth the extra drive north. They offer a $17/adult family cavern tour
that gives you a feel for caving. I expected a dull walk on a paved
path, but instead found myself scrambling over boulders with a helmet
and
headlamp. Don't let the "family" part fool you, the 90 minutes can be
strenuous if you're out of shape! Still, lots of fun.

-- From Nanaimo we headed west to Pacific Rim National Park. The
entire
park is gorgeous and well worth the drive. The Rainforest and Schooner
Cove trails were especially scenic and interesting. It was too cold to
swim, but a few lunatics and surfers braved the weather. We hoped to
take a whale watching tour but the weather never cleared up. (Again,
if
you get a sunny day, take advantage of it!) We spent three nights at
the
Whalers on the Point Guesthouse, a beautifully maintained hostel built
in
1999.

-- We wrapped up the trip with a visit to Stanley Park. The aquarium
is
a great way to spend the day if you're interested in animals. In the
Vancouver area we stayed in Richmond at the Best Western Abercorn Inn,
the Holiday Inn, and the Holiday Inn Express. All three had nice rooms
and helpful staff. BW was cheaper (online, corporate rate), but in an
older building, not quite as nice as the others.

Aside from some intense questioning from a rude Canadian immigration
officer (jerks are universal, eh?), most of the people we encountered
were incredibly friendly. Thanks to all who've posted BC info, it was
very helpful. Enjoy!

Mike

thanks Edward, we were expecting chilly weather and will try and be
prepared. What are loons and toons ???

Joanne

"Cactus" a écrit dans le message de news:
Tqa_c.300011$M95.201208@pd7tw1no...
You think our loons and toons are bad you should go to Norway the 5 kroner
coin I called the washroom coin cause you needed it for same and it is
the
biggest coin I have ever encountered.
For as I know the US is one of the few countries in the world that still
has the $ 1 bill..
Kamloops to the Rockies. Bring the sweater cool weather next week
at least in Edmonton.

"Jo" wrote in message
...
thanks for the summary, we are flying to Vancouver on Tuesday. I didn't
know
there was such a thing as dollar coins, is this new ? Will keep that in
mind. Any good restaurants to recommend in Vancouver ?

We are doing a different route than you, via kamloops to the Rockies,
but
your summary was interesting to read.

Joanne

"MG" a écrit dans le message de news:
...
My wife and I just returned from 10 days in British Columbia (end of
August). We stayed at a variety of places ranging from hostels to
Holiday Inns. Here's a summary of the trip. Hope it helps others with
their travel plans:

-- Just about every day was overcast with some period of rain. For the
most part the rain was light and passed quickly. If you plan to do any
hiking, definitely bring warm boots, rain jackets, and umbrellas.
Also,
try to keep a flexible schedule and get outdoors when it's sunny. You
never know how much good weather you'll get!

-- We started out driving up from Vancouver to Whistler, stopping at
the
provincial park sites along the way. Brandywine Falls, Alice Lake, and
the hike to Cheakamus Lake were particularly memorable. Be sure to
keep
lots of $1 coins on hand for the many parking fees. The machines don't
take bills, just coins and credit cards. Also, keep in mind that some
of
the parks in BC have "logging roads" that lead to the trailheads. If
you're a US suburbanite like me, this means a dirt road with lots of
pot
holes. If you're driving anything other than a truck or SUV, leave
extra
time. The 8.5km to Cheakamus Lake ended up taking us about 40 minutes
in
our sedan.

-- In Whistler we stayed at the Whistler Hostel on Alta Lake and the
UBC
Lodge. The Whistler Hostel was a bit out of the way, but very nice and
well-managed. The staff was friendly and they offer free canoes for
guests to use. In contrast, the UBC Lodge was dumpy and practically
unmaintained. The floors were dirty (yet shoes aren't allowed?), lots
of
dead moths, empty soda cans/bottles in some of the rooms. The only
consolation was that it was nearly empty so we had an entire wing to
ourselves.

-- We visited Golden Ears Provincial Park, 45 minutes east of
Vancouver.
Great place to spend a day, especially the Lower Falls Trail and
Allouette Lake. We stayed at the Best Western in Maple Ridge. Good
service, nice experience overall.

-- We spent several days on Vancouver Island. We made ferry
reservations
by phone for the trip over, but it wasn't really necessary. On the way
back (via Nanaimo) we showed up 30 minutes before departure and boarded
without trouble. I'm sure this varies by season and time of day.

-- We spent many hours at Buchart Gardens just outside of Victoria.
It's
definitely well maintained and worth seeing. Bring lots of film if
you're a photo buff.

-- In Victoria we learned that at a parking meter, "25 cents for 10
minutes, $1 for 40 minutes" does NOT imply 20 minutes for 50 cents!
After adding a second quarter the time stayed at 10 minutes.
Strange...

-- We visited a few of the parks near Nanaimo. Newcastle Island
(www.newcastleisland.ca) is very nice place to picnic and hike.
There's
a $7 ferry that runs hourly. Horne Lake Caves (www.hornelake.com) was
worth the extra drive north. They offer a $17/adult family cavern tour
that gives you a feel for caving. I expected a dull walk on a paved
path, but instead found myself scrambling over boulders with a helmet
and
headlamp. Don't let the "family" part fool you, the 90 minutes can be
strenuous if you're out of shape! Still, lots of fun.

-- From Nanaimo we headed west to Pacific Rim National Park. The
entire
park is gorgeous and well worth the drive. The Rainforest and Schooner
Cove trails were especially scenic and interesting. It was too cold to
swim, but a few lunatics and surfers braved the weather. We hoped to
take a whale watching tour but the weather never cleared up. (Again,
if
you get a sunny day, take advantage of it!) We spent three nights at
the
Whalers on the Point Guesthouse, a beautifully maintained hostel built
in
1999.

-- We wrapped up the trip with a visit to Stanley Park. The aquarium
is
a great way to spend the day if you're interested in animals. In the
Vancouver area we stayed in Richmond at the Best Western Abercorn Inn,
the Holiday Inn, and the Holiday Inn Express. All three had nice rooms
and helpful staff. BW was cheaper (online, corporate rate), but in an
older building, not quite as nice as the others.

Aside from some intense questioning from a rude Canadian immigration
officer (jerks are universal, eh?), most of the people we encountered
were incredibly friendly. Thanks to all who've posted BC info, it was
very helpful. Enjoy!

Mike

As others said, there are $1 and $2 coins, "loonies" and "toonies".

About restaurants, the closest we came to eating in Vancouver was a Chinese
restaurant in Richmond called Hon's close to the Yaohan plaza. Not exactly
a major tourist area, but if you have a car, there are lots of neat
Chinese/Japanese shops there.

"Jo" wrote in
:

thanks for the summary, we are flying to Vancouver on Tuesday. I
didn't know there was such a thing as dollar coins, is this new ? Will
keep that in mind. Any good restaurants to recommend in Vancouver ?

We are doing a different route than you, via kamloops to the Rockies,
but your summary was interesting to read.

Joanne