Andrew Hempstead - Moon British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway

HANDBOOKS

ANDREW HEMPSTEAD

British Columbia, the westernmost province of Canada, stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the towering heights of the Rocky Mountains. Sandwiched between is some of this planets most magnificent scenery: an enormous variety of terrain, including towering mountain ranges, ancient glaciers, endless rivers, crystal clear lakes, old-growth temperate rainforests, rugged coastline, hundreds of islands, and even a desert. Wildlife is abundant: The forests provide a home for bears, moose, deer, and elk, while the ocean is alive with whales, dolphins, and all manner of other sea life.

Settled by Europeans just 200 years ago, this landscape has been home to civilization for thousands of years. World-class facilities such as the Museum of Anthropology and the Royal BC Museum preserve the culture of the First Nations, which can also be experienced by visiting abandoned villages, tasting indigenous dishes, and learning about meaningful art, such as colorful totem poles.

The provinces largest city is Vancouver, a splendid conglomeration of old and new architectural marvels, parks and gardens, and sheltered beaches. Just across the Strait of Georgia is the provincial capital, old-world Victoria. But the soul of British Columbia lies away from the cities, in the surrounding vastness. Continuing north along the Alaska Highway through the Yukon Territory, the wilderness grows wilder and more remote.

British Columbia is one of the most beautiful, exciting, and inspirational places on this planet. You have to experience it for yourself.

Dramatic snowcapped mountains rise high above a modern city clinging to the coastline. A downtown core of century-old buildings and steel-and-glass skyscrapers overlooks busy waterways. Sandy beaches and rocky shorelines fringe manicured suburbs. Magnificent old-growth forests and brilliant flower gardens overflow with color. And residents in love with the outdoors eagerly take advantage of its magnificent natural surroundings.

The elegant capital of British Columbia couldnt be more different from its much larger neighbor, Vancouver. Well-preserved buildings line the streets. Totem poles sprout from shady parks. Restored historical areas house trendy shops, offices, and exotic restaurants. Meanwhile, double-decker buses and horse-drawn carriages compete for the tourist summer trade. Beyond city limits, the rest of Vancouver Island beckons, with outdoor experiences ranging from hiking the rugged West Coast Trail to whale watching at Telegraph Cove.

Exploring southwestern BC is like taking three very different vacations. The Sunshine Coast spreads out to the north, attracting families, scuba divers, and sun-loving Canadians. The Sea to Sky Highway leads to Whistler, a hip, outdoorsy resort town of epic proportions. Traveling east from Vancouver, the road forkshead through the scenic Fraser River Canyon to central British Columbia or to a winding mountain highway through Manning Provincial Park.

Around 180 kilometers (112 miles) from end to end, the gorgeous Okanagan Valley is dotted with orchards and wineries, the latter a major attraction. But if the only thing you know about wine is that you like it, no worrieswine -tasting in the Okanagan Valley is a completely unsnobby affair. The entire valley brims with bustling tourist towns, world-class golf courses, marvelous resorts, and enough fun parks to keep the kids busy for an entire vacation.

Named for its original inhabitants, the Kootenay region is monotonousin an overwhelmingly beautiful, mountain-and-lakes kind of way. Alpine snowfields feed mighty rivers and massive lakes, creating a recreational playground for anglers, canoeists, and kayakers. Several parks merit special attention: White Grizzly Wilderness for the opportunity to view grizzly bears, Kokanee Creek to watch fish spawning along a shallow creek bed, and Akamina-Kishinena for its solitude.

Welcome to the Canadian Rockies, a vast wilderness where wildlife is always abundant and hiking trails always scenic. The region is at its most breathtaking at Lake OHara in Yoho National Park, while adjacent Kootenay National Park offers up more magnificent Canadian wilds, along with hot springs.

Cutting a swath across the province, the central region of British Columbia is extremely diverse. To the east, a series of glaciated mountain ranges are protected by