FIVE REASONS TO EXPLORE B.C. THIS YEAR
929 VINEYARDS
Covering 10,260 acres
Nothing says summer in B.C. like a crisp Pinot Gris overlooking Okanagan Lake.
The province has five established wine regions and several emerging areas such as the Shuswap, West Kootenay and even the Fraser Canyon. But the hills between Kelowna and Osoyoos are where most of B.C.’s best-known grape farms are.
And you don’t have to wait for summer. Kick off the year at the Sun Peaks Winter Okanagan Wine Festival, Jan. 14-24 (the Wine Crawl is Jan. 15).
Other wine festivals run through spring, summer and fall, including Mile High Wine & Music at Silver Star Aug. 13 and outdoor concerts at Mission Hill’s amphitheatre.
36 TONNES
Grey whale is guest of honour
There aren’t many better places to see Pacific grey whales than off the west coast of Vancouver Island.
After giving birth and fattening up their calves, about 20,000 of the giant mammals travel from the waters off Mexico’s Baja Peninsula up the Pacific coast to the Bering Sea.
But many stop and remain to feed in the waters off the island, joining resident grey whales, orcas, humpbacks and, once in a while, minke whales that swim those waters year-round.
The Pacific Rim Whale Festival runs March 14-22 off Tofino, Ucluelet and the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
500 KILOMETRES
To travel 350 metres
There are many reasons to visit Hornby Island, but one you haven’t thought of is to see proof of the insanity that rules B.C.’s liquor laws.
The Island Spirits distillery sits 350 metres from Hornby Island’s liquor outlet — but to sell it there, distillery’s operators must first ship it to Vancouver, where it’s sent to Victoria and finally delivered to Hornby.
There are also are three wineries. And a small golf course. Breakfast and lunch is divine at Jan’s Cafe at the Ringside Market, as are the pizzas at the Cardboard House Bakery and Chef Ben’s fish and chips at Ford’s Cove. Tribune Bay and Honeywell Park are must-sees and the island hops with all sorts of summer festivals.
90th ANNIVERSARY
Rodeo one of Canada’s best
The Williams Lake Stampede is up there with the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair, held each May, and the Calgary Stampede.
It began in 1919 with the arrival of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in Cariboo ranch country (the rodeo went on hiatus during the Second World War, so 2016 is the 90th).
What began as competitions between local cowboys and cowgirls now attracts top rodeo performers from across North America.
A campground operated by the Stampede has 58 powered spots and there are six hotels in the vicinity.
Another option is the Armstrong Interior Provincial Exhibition and Stampede in early September.
40 MUSIC FESTIVALS
From Victoria to Fort St. John
From Rifflandia in Victoria and the bluegrass, folk and jazz festivals dotting Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, to the big-name Pemberton Music Festival and Squamish Valley Music Festival, Vancouver jazz and folk fests and all the other celebrations of sound and dance from Nelson, Revelstoke, Kamloops, Whistler, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Fort St. John and everywhere in between, there are all sorts of events to enjoy and celebrate.
The point being, pretty well every inch of this beautiful province is worth a visit. The destination is up to you, the journey will be worth it.