Alberta Badlands - Drumheller & area

Photos taken from various sites on the internet.

The Alberta Badlands is in the Drumheller Area and it is a haven for dinosaur lovers.  Its also referred to as Dinosaur Valley.  (see Drumheller website).  Drumheller itself is pretty tiny and is about a 90 minute drive from Calgary.  Dinosaur Provincial Park was designated a United Nations World Heritage site in 1979. 

Must See - Horseshoe Canyon.  I love to look at the striations in the sediments of the canyon.  This canyon is on the highway between Calgary and Drumheller so make sure you stop and take a look. You can go down and walk around - I didn't - it felt like it was rattlesnake infested, but GJA did.

Must see - Royal Tyrrell Museum.  (see website)  The main attraction in the area is the museum.  Its loaded with dinosaur stuff and is sure to entertain anyone who is into dinosaurs.  It is the home of Canada's largest collection of dinosaur fossils. 

Hoodoos - when GJA and I went here several years ago, we kept seeing these postcards about hoodoos and it looked so cool that we decided we'd find it on a map and take some photos.  It looked fairly close to Drumheller and to the suspension bridge so off we went.  As we were driving, I noticed a bunch of people parked up ahead and standing around staring at something, so as we drove by I looked and I recognized the hoodoos from the postcards.  It was hilarious - the post cards made them look like they were several stories high, when they were actually not even 6 ft tall...ha ha!  If there had been no one standing there, we would never have found them.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to Dinosaur Valley in Alberta!

Interior of British Columbia - the Okanagan Valley

Most photos are from various sites in the internet.

The interior of BC (or the Okanagan Valley) is fabulous. 

I've always entered it coming from the Rocky Mountains through Jasper.   After you approach BC, you'll  be in Mt. Robson National Park.  When its a clear day, you can see Mt. Robson.  I'm sure I've driven this route a few times as a kid...but I always had my nose in a book, so never bothered to see the landscape.  The 1st time through as an adult was in around 2003 and I couldn't stop looking at the mountains out my rear-view window.

The scenery is nice following the rivers towards Valemount and Clearwater.  As you continue to go south, it gets drier and drier.  There are often forest fires in these areas and the town of Barriere was hit with one the time I went through in 2003 - it was so sad to see all the burnt trees - I'm sure they are still standing there. 

We stop in Kamloops over night - even though its only another 1.5 hr to get to Kelowna.  I find it so strikingly dry when you arrive in Kamloops after leaving the mountains several hours earlier.  I found this photo on the internet and it looks alot more green than I remember, that's for sure.

I'm not sure I've spent alot of time here as its pretty small and we're always trying to get to Kelowna or onward to Vancouver.  (see Kamloops website: here)  There looks like there are some nice buildings to tour, but I've never been, so I can't comment.

The main attraction in the Okanagan is Kelowna! (well, in my opinion).  (see website:  Kelowna)

Dolphin statue - not sure why its there, but I like it

See this along the marina - not far from the dolphins

Ogopogo - I was SURE this was out in the lake (when I was a kid)

Ogopogo - like the Loch Ness Monster - you decide if its real.  (website) and (here)

Must See - Wineries!  I've been to a couple and they were both very different.  Mission Hill Winery (website) is fairly fancy for the area.  You get a great view of the Okanagan lake. It reminded me alot of the tour I had in California's Mondavi wine estate.  GJA and I enjoyed our time wandering around and looking at the views before our tour started.  The wine was yummy too!

I needed to bring my wider angle lens - oh well, next time

This is what happens when you get strangers using your camera

Another winery I went to was Summerhill Pyramid winery (see website).  Its bizarre because it has a pyramid there.  The views were very nice from there & we had a fabulous time tasting the wine.

My brother, his girlfriend, mom & me

Same gruesome bunch

My brother & father

Must See - Meal at the Gasthaus on the Lake (in Peachland - across the lake from Kelowna about 1/2 hr away - see website).  The food is fabulous and is worth the trip.  My brother owned a house in Peachland and the hamlet is right on the lake and is teeny tiny.  The boardwalk is nice to walk along - but for me, the draw is the Wiener Schnitzel YUM!

Must See - Orchards.  The Okanagan valley is the perfect place to grow grapes, apples, pears, peaches, cherries, plums and lots of other things.  The best part is going to orchards or to road-side fruit stands and buy some fruit.  The fruit is always HUGE compared to what Safeway (etal) get - and very juicy too.  I love the cherries, but I've never been there in cherry season (which is around June).  I've always been there in late August - so there's pears and peaches.  GJA and I just drove around randomly in Kelowna and found rows and rows of apple orchards.  I couldn't find my photos of the orchards, but I'll keep looking.

Must see - SS. Sicamous.  (see website) This is a sternwheeler (boat) and it is actually in Penticton and not Kelowna.  Its had been restored and is beautiful inside.  I believe that plays are performed in it and it can be rented out for gatherings.  I read that the group that is in charge of it might be going bankrupt (April 2011), so I'm not 100% sure its still there, which would be a shame.

Penticton, BC - (see website).  This city is about 1 hr south of Kelowna.  I've only been there 2x - each to see the SS Sicamous (well, and to watch my brother in the Ironman) so I'm not sure what there is to do there (other than wineries).  Its quite far south in BC and its very dry...so the only time I've heard of it, all I hear is that its really dry and really hot and these people just like to sit outside all day long and bake in the sun (not something that I do).

We like to take a different route through the mountains to get back home (i.e., not through Kamloops and Jasper).  Driving from Kelowna to Banff takes about 6.5 hr - without stopping.  This is when we typically stop for fruit (so we can take it home to enjoy) at fruit stands.  In places like Enderby and Sicamous.  I've only driven through these places but lots of people spend their summer vacation at Sicamous - they rent houseboats and float around in the Shuswaps (see website) for weeks at a time.

As you approach the mountains, you'll go through Revelstoke (see website).   We've only just stopped to get gas, but based on this website, its pretty popular for outdoor activities in the summer and winter.

Continuing onward, you'll hit Golden, BC. (see website)

Spiral train tunnels (see website) near Field, BC.  Because the grade was so steep and Canada wanted a train to go across the country, engineers designed this spiral train tunnel system that is still operating today (several trains a day).  If you're lucky, sometimes you can see the front and the end of a long train at different elevations as its goes through the tunnel.

Never witnessed it my self, but this photo is pretty cool

Then you cross the Continental divide - the border between BC and Alberta - at ~5300 above sea level - and it is the point where rivers on the west flow to the Pacific ocean and rivers on the east flow to the Atlantic ocean.

Then you arrive in Banff National park - but you still aren't in Banff town site - still a way to go through the mountains (you'll pass Lake Louise/Moraine Lake turn-off).

I love driving along the highway and seeing THIS in the distance - Banff Springs Hotel.

Travel times (with no stopping):
Vancouver to Kelowna - 4.5 hrs
Kelowna to Jasper - 7.5 hrs
Kelowna to Banff - 6.5 hrs
Banff to Calgary - 1.5 hr

I hope your enjoyed your stay in the Okanagan Valley, BC

Vancouver, BC

Most photos are from various sites in the internet.

Pretty much whenever I've been to Vancouver, I've taken at least 1 day (if not more) to go to Victoria.  When I've been by myself, I take a bus (that goes on the ferry) rather than renting a car.  It's convenient because it'll drop you off (and pick you up) right down near all the attractions in Victoria!  So...if you go to Vancouver and have at least 1 day...go to Victoria (see post on My Victoria Blog Post).

I've been pretty lucky in that its been pretty nice every time I've been to Vancouver (except once when it rained the entire time - in late August).  Its got the same weather as Seattle - tons of rain.  I always find that its very "bright" there - I don't know why that is...maybe because there's so much rain that any white is cleaned off regularly, so they look really bright.

Here's a great website about Vancouver (see Vancouver website).

MUST SEE - Gastown.  A trip to Vancouver is not complete (well for me it isn't) unless you go to Gastown.  This is supposed to be where Vancouver started in 1867.  There's still cobblestone and brick on some of the streets and sidewalks and the buildings are beautiful.  There are several touristy souvenir shops...some nicer than others. 
There's also some restaurants.  I have often gone to the Old Spaghetti Factory there - just because it seems like its from the right era - the food is only so-so.

Here are some photos from Gastown:

This clock is run by steam - I like it alot.

Aren't these old buildings great?!  What an odd shape.

MUST SEE - Storyeum - In Gastown, there's a theatre that is called Storyeum and they do a play about Vancouver.  We stumbled upon it, so I'm not sure if its still there or not (I seem to recall hearing it went bankrupt).  We purchased our tickets and then looked around Gastown until the play started.  (see Storyeum info)

MUST SEE - Canada Place  This is very close to Gastown too - just past Waterfront station (a lovely looking building - inside and out).  I love the look of Canada place - it looks like its covered in sails.  I enjoy walking around it and looking back at downtown.  There used to be an IMAX theatre there too, but I'm not sure its still there.  The cruise ships dock there, so its fun to see them if they are there.  (See more info here Canada place website). 

Canada Place

Close up of sails

Outside of Waterfront Station

Inside of Waterfront Station

MUST SEE - Chinatown  -  This is also near Gastown.  I actually stumbled onto it just wondering where the street went to.  (See Chinatown website)  It started being settled in 1890s.  There's lots of great shops to poke around in.

MUST SEE - Granville Island  This is right across from downtown (but take a bus or a little boat taxi from sunset beach) and is full of shops of arts, crafts, produce - lots of stuff!  If you're lucky, you can watch the artists make their beautiful creations.  There are also alot of theaters there, so if you can, go see a few plays!  Nice restaurants too.  (see more at Granville Island website).  Stop for lunch at Bridges (it was yummy the last time I was there).

View of Granville island - yellow building is Bridges resturant

Another view with part of Downtown in the back

Granville market

MUST SEE - Stanley Park.  Driving along the streets in the bustling city, get to Pacific street and Beach ave (where you get great views of Granville Island) and drive along the sea and magically you end up in Stanley Park - full of trees and parkland and you can't even see downtown any more - amazing.  (see Stanley Park website).  If you don't have alot of time (but have a vehicle) you can drive through it and make stops along the way to look (like at prospect point to see Lions Gate Bridge OR stop for a view of Canada Place and downtown OR to see Hollow tree or whatever looks interesting to you).  If you have MORE time, the Vancouver Aquarium is nice to visit too (see Vancouver Aquarium website).

Part of seawall - green is the park (duh) and well, there's the city to the right

Beautiful trees to see, even from your car

Nice and lush - there are paths to walk in the park too - however, don't walk alone

Hollow tree - there is also a huge Redwood tree that was featured in the National Geographic Magazine saying (at the time of publication) that its the largest Redwood in the world.

Totem poles

Lion's Gate Bridge - I think its beautiful.  I enjoy seeing it from Prospect Point

View of Lion's gate bridge as it enters Stanley Park

Another of Lion's Gate Bridge into Stanley park - notice the city to the top left

View of Canada Place and downtown from Stanley park as sunset approaches

Vancouver aquarium

MUST SEE -  Science World.  When I stumbled upon Chinatown...I continued to walk and stumbled upon Science World.  I had seen pictures of this thing that was built for the 1986 World's Fair, but I didn't know what it was so I walked over and found that it was a museum with exhibits about Science...who knew?  (See Science World website).  The last time I was there, they had a James Bond Exhibit - GJA was beside himself with excitement.

Its so pretty at night!

MUST SEE - Capilano Suspension Bridge.  This is a cool bridge to go over.  It was originally built in 1889 but has been completely re-built several times over the years (thankfully).  Its 446 ft long & 230 ft above the river.  (see Capilano Suspension Bridge website)  When I was there last (1981) the bridge was all there was to see.  Now they have a treetop walk, cultural centre, cliff walk and more!  OMG - I want to go and see all this new stuff!

All the trees are so beautiful

Don't look down!

So great!

Other things to do in this park

Look WAY up!

Tree top walk looks like great fun!

More of the tree top walk

Here we are, in 1981

My dad was annoyed that we stopped in the shadow, rather than moving back 6 ft to the sun for a better photo

SHOPPING - If you must shop, then here are 2 options that I"ve been too.  Since the stores are the same as what I can get, its not overly exciting, but they are nice malls.  Pacific Centre is downtown  (website) and Metrotown is just a few minutes away on the sky train (website)

Pacific Centre Mall

Metrotown Mall

DOWNTOWN - besides the mall, its nice to walk around and see the buildings.  The Hotel Vancouver is lovely (although, I've never been inside - but the photos I'm posting from their website make me want to take a look!).  Take a walk down Robson street.  Its full of stores - exclusive/fashion stores, souvenier shops - anything - plus a TON of resturants!

Hotel Vancouver - close to Pacific Mall

Lobby of Hotel Vancouver - I NEED to get inside this hotel!

Main Staircase in Hotel Vancouver

Robson Street

UBC Campus - I have had a few courses at UBC Campus and whilst there, I wandered around looking at the various sites - Nitobe Garden, Museum of Anthropology;  walk to Wreck Beach (once you get there...its clothing optional...I've been fortunate that I haven't seen any nude people there).

Nitobe Garden - just lovely and peaceful

Anthropology museum - go in and take a tour

Pathway to wreck beach

 Well - there are a TON more things to see and do in Vancouver...but this all I know about.

I hope you enjoyed your stay in Vancouver, BC!