Beautiful B. C.

Readers respond with their favourite destinations

Last week we asked for your favourite B. C. destinations. Here are some of your favourites. This week we are asking: What’s your favourite destination in Mexico? In 150 words or less, tell us what your favourite trip to Mexico was. Where did you go and what made the trip so memorable? Send your reply to travel@ sunprovince. com and we’ll share your favourites with our readers in next Saturday’s paper.

Inside Passage day trip

There are many spectacular ferry trips to take in B. C., but the Inside Passage day trip from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert is a must- see because of the vast stretches of magnificent natural coastline you sail along.

And for 16 hours of cruising along 500 kilometres of waterways, you get serious bang for your buck.

We went in late June and the weather was clear and mild, so we staked out a spot on the outer deck, bundled up in fleeces and windbreakers, and slapped on sunscreen.

At first we watched for whales and birds, but we were soon mesmerized by the unbroken expanses of dense green forest.

For hours at a stretch, there was no evidence of other humans or human habitation. Only the steady thrumming of the ferry engines interrupted the silence.

My father once called ferries “the poor man’s cruise ship,” but sailing into Prince Rupert during a fiery sunset at the end of that day, we felt rich.

Christy Costello

Do it all

Sail around Gambier, Gulf Islands: Saltspring the market, Thetis for ice cream, Saturna for lamb roast, Pender fine dining, Galiano for the bus ride, Wallace tie to a ring in wall and visit Sidney harbour to be surprised by the smells in the morning.

Canoe/ kayak: Alouette River, Broken Group, Pitt Lake, Tweedmuir, Wells Gray, Borron loop, Tulameen River.

Road trip, bring fly rod: Penticton- Summerland highway, Nelson hot springs, Oliver for the best wines, Summerland Sweets for ice cream. Drive down Cassiar Highway to Dease Lake.

Hike Pitts River system, bring gold pan: hike up Golden Ears to glacier, stand to overlook Pitt Lake and Lower Mainland.

Fly- fish Stave River and Capilano.

There is too much to enjoy in BC Place a map on a wall, throw a dart and head out for a new adventure.

Steven L. St- Amour

Day tripper

I recommend a daylong excursion as one of the best of B. C.

Leaving Vancouver early, the trip begins with a drive to Hope along Hwy # 1 — crossing the Fraser River and passing through the valley’s rich agricultural scene with views of Mount Baker. In Hope, have breakfast at Rolly’s, where everyone is made to feel welcome before heading to the Othello Tunnels in the Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park just down the street. Follow the walking path through the tunnels, which were built for early rail traffic even though “they said it couldn’t be done.”

Marvel at the rushing water and sheer rock walls under the walkway where movies such as Rambo: First Blood and Cabin in the Woods were shot.

Continue driving on # 1 to Hwy # 12 and # 99. Enjoy the breathtaking drive through deep gorges in the lee of the Coast Mountains to Lillooet, considered one of the oldest continually inhabited locations on the continent. Then head on to Pemberton — in late summer, look for black bears feeding on roadside berries or swimming across the river. Finish up in Whistler for a relaxing stay at one of its first- class hotels or lodges. The value of this amazing excursion makes it one of the best of B. C.

M. E. Cooper

Close to home

Rivers choked with salmon, lakes to paddle, mountain trails to explore, and, one of the biggest Great Blue Heron colonies in the Pacific Northwest! And it’s all right in my own backyard.

Gold seekers travelled through in the 1860s and many decided the rich farmland and mild weather were the true treasure. Yes, Chilliwack is the best B. C. destination.

It’s only an hour and a half drive from Vancouver, so you can come for the day or stay for a while. Although the pace is slow, downtown Chilliwack, with its magnificent hanging baskets, is always bustling with a Saturday Farmer’s Market, charming fashion and decor shops, and freshly baked goods in every coffee shop and restaurant.

Colourful corn barns along the way offer Chilliwack’s famous sweet corn from Canada Day to Thanksgiving. There’s so much to see and do and eat that you’ll want to stay.

Proud to be from Chilliwack:

Debora Soutar

Get your fi x

The Broken Group Islands, located in Barkley Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island, is a mustsee destination.

It is a kayaking paradise offering the best of a wilderness experience in an ocean setting. Consisting of approximately 100 islands, you will find the area’s beautiful beaches, pristine water, tidal pools, ocean swells, caves, oysters and clams by the billions and a multitude of starfish in all colours and sizes.

Larger marine life that can be expected are humpback whales, killer whales, seals, dolphins and sea lions. Land animals include deer, martens, wolves and black bear.

Bald eagles and other birdlife are common. There are seven beautiful campsites, and ancient sites of First Nations Villages. I have kayaked in a number of beautiful locations including Haida Gwai, Desolation Sound, God’s Pocket, Bowron Lakes and Moose Valley Provincial Parks, all of which have their own beauty; but my favourite is the Broken Group.

Rod McDowell, Surrey

Liz’s Top 8

1: Wild Pacific trail from Ucluelet; beaches and islands to Tofino and Macmillan grove of giant trees on the way

2: Bute Inlet, travelling by boat under the glaciers up to the very end

3: Beaver Point, Saltspring Island

4: Desert conservation area trails near Osoyoos

5: Cathedral lakes park, wildflowers and Pikas

6: Manning Park mountain trails

7: Backroad from Clinton to Jesmond, behind the Marble mountains and going down to the tiny Fraser River ferry

8: Barkerville and the Cariboo country

There are almost too many special spots in B. C. WE are incredibly lucky to have such wealth.

Liz Thunstrom