Since
the completion of the Coquihala Highway, the once famous highways
of the vacationing traveler have been all but abandoned to the
faster routes. Our tour will take you back in time to these picturesque
and less traveled routes. We stop at all the historic sites and
towns along the way and travel into yesteryear to once again explore
Canada's Historic Routes.
Day
1
Early morning coach departure through the lush lower mainland
delta for the mighty Fraser Canyon. Our first stop will be in
Hope: the gateway to the
mountains. We stop briefly in the town of Yale. Gold once made
Yale the largest town west of Chicago and north of San Francisco.
It was the trading post for the Hudson's Bay Company. It was also
the head of navigation, as it was the sternwheelers first town
to be incorporated on mainland British Columbia. Once established
it brought prospectors from Victoria and Vancouver up to Yale
where they would continue on foot to the gold fields.
We drive
through Spuzzum, which is
known, to most Canadians as the smallest town in the world. This
was the site of a Cariboo Wagon Road toll station that collected
fees on the freight headed for the gold fields further north.
We now take
a wild ride on the 'Hell's Gate Airtram'.
Here the towering rock walls of the Fraser plunge toward each
other forcing the waters through a passage only 100 feet wide.
The foaming canyon torrent and the grandeur of the surrounding
mountains make Hell's Gate a photographer's dream. Aboard the
Airtram you'll enjoy a fascinating commentary by your flight host.
We continue
on our journey through the many towns along the forgotten highways.
We pass through Boston Bar, Lytton, Spences Bridge, Cache Creek.
We visit the famous 'Hat Creek Ranch'
and learn about this early historic settlement. (lots of photo
stops along the way) We stop for the night in the big city of
Kamloops.
Overnight Kamloops (BLD)
Day
2
Its more nostalgia as we now travel south through the Okanagan
(home of the legendary 'Ogopogo') with stops in Vernon, Kelowna,
(Calona Winery Tour) Penticton,
Oliver, Osoyoos, Grand Forks and finally stop for the night in
the ancient Canadian mining town of "Trail".
Overnight Trail (BLD)
Day
3
Today we venture along more forgotten highways and visit Castlegar,
Nelson, Salmo, Creston, (Creston Museum)
Cranbrook, Kimberley. We stop for the night at the Bavarian City
of Kimberley.
Overnight Kimberley. (BLD)
Day
4
After a relaxing morning we head north through the Columbia Valley
where we stop for a relaxing and rejuvenating soak in the hot
pools at 'Radium Hot Springs'.
Leaving Radium we travel further north on Highway #95. The highway
follows the 'Columbia River Wetlands', known as the "Serengeties"
of North America, all the way to the picturesque village of Golden.
offering spectacular vistas. The Columbia River Wetlands is the
major migratory path for over 265 species of birds. View the wonder
of waterfalls, whitewater rapids, alpine lakes, and majestic mountains,
as they are the crown jewels of the Canadian Rockies
Overnight Golden (BLD)
Day
5
We now travel through the Rockies and into the legendary city
of Banff in "Banff National Park".
Some of the sights we will be seeing are Bow
Lake, Peyto Lake,
Lake Louise, and of course
the magnificent and world famous Banff
Springs Hotel. (some time will be allowed for shopping
for souvenirs) After spending ample time in Banff we will venture
north via the Icefield Parkway and stop to view the Columbia
Glacier and take a wild ride on the Snow-Coach
to the top of the glacier. We now head for Jasper
National Park, which is famous, for its wildlife and
beautiful mountain scenery.
Overnight Jasper Area (BLD)
Day
6
This morning we travel homeward through the Great Canadian Rocky
Mountains (We stop to view Mt. Robson
- Canada's Highest Mountain) to the historic town of Lillooet.
One of the
stops we make are to visit "Painted Chasm" At the close
of the Ice Age about 10,000 years ago, a stream fed by melting
ice cascaded over a falls forming this chasm by cutting into some
of the lava flows that helped to build the Fraser Plateau. The
horizontal layering shows individual lava flows here. When the
glacial ice finally disappeared the flow of the meltwater stopped.
The Chasm is a brilliant display of bright orange and pink rock
and a must see.
Lillooet's history is entrenched in the B.C. Gold Rush of 1860.
Here you can step back in time and see the offerings of the past
as chronicled at the local museum. Lillooet is on the Cariboo
Pavilion Road (the first wagon road to be surveyed in B.C. and
the route to the gold fields).
Overnight Lillooet (BLD)
Day
7
Today we travel on another forgotten highway through the Pemberton
Valley and eventually end up back in Vancouver. We
stop in the luxury resort town of Whistler and take in some of
the sights of the world's best resort area. The snowy peak of
Mount Currie shadows the
gorgeous landscape of the Pemberton Valley. At the valley floor,
a distinct hometown pride exists within the villagers who have
made their livelihood from the fertile soil for generations. Pemberton
became a hub of activity in the 1860's for the men travelling
to the Cariboo Gold Rush. As we approach Vancouver we will stop
for a photo opportunity because the view is really out of this
world
