CONTENTS LIST OF MAPS vii 1 THE BEST OF BRITISH COLUMBIA & THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 1 1 The Best Travel Experiences . .1 8 The Most Dramatic Drives. .8 2 The Best Active Vacations . .2 9 The Best Walks & Rambles. .8 3 The Best Nature- & 10 The Best Luxury Hotels & Resorts. .9 Wildlife-Viewing . .3 11 The Best B&Bs & Country Inns . .10 4 The Best Family-Vacation 12 The Best Rustic Accommodations: Experiences. .4 Lodges, Wilderness Retreats & 5 Native Canadian Culture & Log-Cabin Resorts . .11 History. .5 13 The Best Northwest Regional 6 The Best Museums & Cuisine . .12 Historic Sites . .6 14 The Best Festivals & Special 7 The Most Scenic Views . .7 Events . .14 2 BRITISH COLUMBIA & THE CANADIAN ROCKIES IN DEPTH 15 1 British Columbia & the Canadian 4 Books, Film & Music: British Rockies Today. .15 Columbia & the Canadian 2 Looking Back at British Columbia Rockies in Popular Culture . .23 & the Canadian Rockies . .16 5 A Taste of British Columbia & 3 The Lay of the Land . .21 the Canadian Rockies . .26 3 PLANNINGCOPYRIGHTED YOUR TRIP TO BRITISH MATERIAL COLUMBIA & THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 29 1 When to Go. .29 3 Getting There & Getting Around. .36 Calendar of Events . .33 4 Money & Costs. .39 2 Entry Requirements . .34 5 Health . .40 Bringing Children into Canada . .35 6 Safety . .41 002_591536-ftoc.indd2_591536-ftoc.indd iiiiii 44/28/10/28/10 110:510:51 AAMM iv 7 Specialized Travel Resources . .41 10 Escorted General-Interest Tours . .45 8 Sustainable Tourism. .43 11 Staying Connected. .46 9 Active Vacation Planner . .43 4 SUGGESTED ITINERARIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA & THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 48 1 The Canadian Rockies in 1 3 The Wild & the Sophisticated on Week. .48 Vancouver Island in 1 Week . .51 2 The Back Roads of Interior B.C. 4 The Best of Vancouver in 1 Day. .53 in 1 Week . .50 5 The Best of Victoria in 1 Day. .54 5 VANCOUVER 57 1 Essentials . .57 5 Exploring Vancouver . .81 2 Getting Around . .64 6 Outdoor Activities. .86 Fast Facts: Vancouver . .66 7 Vancouver Shopping. .92 BRITISH COLUMBIA & THE CANADIAN ROCKIES CANADIAN THE & COLUMBIA BRITISH 3 Where to Stay. .67 8 Vancouver After Dark. .96 4 Where to Dine . .74 6 VICTORIA 103 1 Essentials . 103 Taking Afternoon Tea . 115 CONTENTS 2 Getting Around . 106 5 Exploring Victoria . 116 Fast Facts: Victoria . 107 6 Outdoor Activities. 121 3 Where to Stay. 108 7 Victoria Shopping. 124 4 Where to Dine . 112 8 Victoria After Dark. 127 7 SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND & THE GULF ISLANDS 131 1 Essentials . 132 4 North of Victoria: Goldstream 2 The Gulf Islands . 135 Provincial Park . 155 3 West of Victoria: Sooke & 5 Duncan & the Cowichan Valley. 156 Beyond . 152 6 En Route to Nanaimo . 163 8 CENTRAL VANCOUVER ISLAND 166 1 Essentials . 166 4 En Route to Vancouver 2 Nanaimo & Gabriola Island . 168 Island’s West Coast. 180 3 Parksville & Qualicum Beach. 176 5 The West Coast Trail & Pacific Rim National Park . 181 002_591536-ftoc.indd2_591536-ftoc.indd iviv 44/28/10/28/10 110:510:51 AAMM Broken Group Islands . 187 7 Courtenay & Comox . 197 v 6 Denman & Hornby Islands . 194 BRITISH COLUMBIA & THE CANADIAN ROCKIES THE & COLUMBIA BRITISH 9 NORTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND 203 1 Essentials . 203 Forbidden Plateau: 2 Campbell River & Quadra What’s in a Name?. 213 Island . 204 4 West to Gold River & Nootka 3 Strathcona Provincial Park. 212 Sound . 214 5 Telegraph Cove, Port McNeill, Alert Bay & Port Hardy . 215 10 THE SUNSHINE COAST & WHISTLER 223 1 The Sunshine Coast . 223 From Peak to Peak . 232 2 Whistler: North America’s Premier Ski Resort. 228 11 NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA 246 1 The Inside Passage & 4 The Yellowhead Highway: From CONTENTS Discovery Coast. 247 Prince Rupert to Prince George . 260 2 Prince Rupert . 248 5 Prince George. 266 3 The Queen Charlotte Islands . 256 6 The Alaska Highway. 270 12 THE CARIBOO COUNTRY & THE THOMPSON RIVER VALLEY 272 1 Cariboo Country Essentials . 272 6 Quesnel. 282 2 En Route to 100 Mile House. 274 7 East to Barkerville & 3 100 Mile House & the South Bowron Lakes . 283 Cariboo District . 276 8 The Thompson River Valley. 285 4 Williams Lake . 278 Houseboating on the 5 West on Hwy. 20 to Bella Coola . 280 Shuswap Lakes . 288 13 THE OKANAGAN VALLEY 293 1 Essentials . 293 4 Oliver . 295 2 Touring the Wineries . 294 5 Penticton . 297 3 Osoyoos . 294 6 Kelowna . 302 002_591536-ftoc.indd2_591536-ftoc.indd v 44/28/10/28/10 110:510:51 AAMM vi 14 SOUTHEASTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA & THE KOOTENAY VALLEY 312 1 Revelstoke . 312 5 The Kootenay Valley: 2 Mount Revelstoke National Cranbrook & Nelson. 326 Park. 318 6 The Upper Columbia Valley: 3 Glacier National Park . 319 A Golfing & Recreational Paradise . 334 4 Golden. 321 Exploring the Columbia River Wetlands. 323 15 GATEWAYS TO THE CANADIAN ROCKIES: CALGARY & EDMONTON 337 1 Calgary: Home of the Annual 2 Edmonton: Capital of Alberta . 356 Stampede . 337 Fast Facts: Edmonton . 359 Fast Facts: Calgary . 340 BRITISH COLUMBIA & THE CANADIAN ROCKIES CANADIAN THE & COLUMBIA BRITISH The Calgary Stampede . 343 16 THE CANADIAN ROCKIES: BANFF & JASPER NATIONAL PARKS & MORE 371 1 Exploring the Canadian Rockies. 371 4 Jasper National Park. 401 CONTENTS 2 Kananaskis Country & 5 British Columbia’s Rockies: Canmore . 377 Mount Robson Provincial Park & Yoho & Kootenay National Riding Herd at a Guest Ranch. 381 Parks. 413 3 Banff National Park . 382 6 Waterton Lakes National Park . 417 17 FAST FACTS 421 INDEX 425 002_591536-ftoc.indd2_591536-ftoc.indd vivi 44/28/10/28/10 110:510:51 AAMM LIST OF MAPS British Columbia . 30 Whistler Village . .229 The Canadian Rockies or Prince Rupert . .249 Interior B.C. in 1 Week . 49 The Cariboo Country & the Vancouver Island in 1 Week . 52 Thompson River Valley . .273 The Best of Vancouver in 1 Day . 54 Kelowna . .304 The Best of Victoria in 1 Day . 55 Southeastern British Columbia . .313 Greater Vancouver Area . 58 Mount Revelstoke & Glacier Vancouver . 60 National Parks . .319 Victoria . .105 Alberta . .339 Vancouver Island . .134 Calgary . .341 The Gulf Islands . .138 Edmonton . .357 Nanaimo . .170 The Canadian Rockies . .372 Pacific Rim National Park . .183 Banff Townsite & Banff National Park . .383 Campbell River . .205 Jasper Townsite & Jasper Southwestern British Columbia . .225 National Park . .403 002_591536-ftoc.indd2_591536-ftoc.indd viivii 44/28/10/28/10 110:510:51 AAMM.