Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.
Close to Kamloops you can find the British Columbia Wildlife Park. It offers visitors the chance to experience and learn about the diverse wildlife native to the region. Spanning over 106 hectares, the park features more than 65 species of animals, including black bears, bison, wolves, cougars, and birds of prey. The park is designed to provide a safe, natural environment for its residents, many of whom have been rescued or rehabilitated.
Continue reading “Wildlife”
Lost Lake is a serene alpine lake near Whistler Village, offering a peaceful escape with stunning mountain views, crystal-clear waters, and scenic trails surrounded by lush forests. The lake is a popular year-round destination, with hiking and biking trails in the summer and groomed cross-country skiing and snowshoeing routes in the winter. To reach Lost Lake on foot, start from Whistler Village and follow the Valley Trail, a well-maintained, easy path that takes about 20-30 minutes to walk.
Continue reading “Lost lake”
The Audain Art Museum, located in Whistler, British Columbia, is a stunning architectural and cultural landmark that showcases an impressive collection of Indigenous and contemporary Canadian art. One of its highlights is its extensive collection of First Nations artworks, including historical and modern carved masks, totem poles, and paintings from the Coast Salish, Haida, and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples. A key theme in many of these works is the Potlatch, a traditional ceremonial feast and gift-giving event among Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest.
Continue reading “Potlatch”
Whistler in summer transforms from a world-class ski resort into a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, offering everything from hiking and mountain biking to scenic sightseeing and alpine adventures. The lush Coast Mountains provide the perfect backdrop for exploring Whistler’s extensive trail networks, crystal-clear lakes, and vibrant village atmosphere. One of the best ways to experience Whistler’s breathtaking scenery is by taking its impressive gondola system, which provides access to high alpine terrain without the need for strenuous hiking. The Whistler Village Gondola carries visitors from the village to the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain, while the Blackcomb Gondola ascends to Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb Mountain, offering incredible views along the way.
Continue reading “Roundtrip”
The city of Whistler reminded me much of the beautiful towns of the Swiss Alps, but it is also a bit Disneylandish. It has it’s unique style, a car-free city center, lots of water in different colors passing the city center and the highest density of gondolas and lifts for winter and summer sports I’ve ever seen. Close to the pedestrian zone and the Whistler Conference Center you can find the Adara Hotel – a good hotel with nice rooms including terraces, a rooftop pool and a connected restaurant.
Continue reading “Adara”
When being close to Squamish, British Columbia, you can’t leave out a tour with the Sea to Sky Gondola (named after the road it can be found next to). The gondola offers breathtaking views of the Howe Sound fjord, towering coastal mountains, and lush forests. This scenic gondola ride takes visitors 885 meters above sea level, providing access to a stunning alpine landscape with a variety of outdoor activities.
Continue reading “Sea to sky”
Cathedral Grove is a nice stop next to the road passing the MacMillan Provincial Park near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. It is a wonderful old-growth forest that showcases some of the most majestic Douglas fir and red cedar trees in British Columbia. Some of these ancient giants are over 800 years old, reaching heights of 75 meters and diameters of nearly nine meters. The grove features a network of well-maintained (often wooden) walking trails that wind through the towering trees, allowing visitors to experience the serene beauty of the temperate rainforest up close.
Continue reading “Cathedral grove”
The Pacific Rim National Park is a wonderful place on Vancouver Island with many different beaches you can try out. A road and cyclist path connect them from Ucluelet until Tofino and thereby make them easily accessible. You’ll find paid parking areas in all these places, but there is one pain: you can only pay by app and connectivity via the mobile network is sometimes bad. The best beach in my opinion is Tonquin beach near Tofino.
Continue reading “Beach hopping”
On the west coast of Vancouver Island you can discover the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, a stunning natural destination known for its rugged coastline, lush temperate rainforests, and rich cultural heritage. The park is divided into three main areas: Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail. Long Beach, the most accessible and popular section, boasts expansive sandy shores, powerful waves ideal for surfing, and scenic trails through old-growth forests.
Continue reading “Pacific rim”
The Lighthouse Loop is a stunning section of the Wild Pacific Trail in Ucluelet, British Columbia, offering breathtaking views of the rugged coastline and the open Pacific Ocean. This 2.6-kilometer loop winds through windswept forests and rocky bluffs, leading to the historic Amphitrite Lighthouse, which has guided mariners since 1915. Doing the full round takes 45 to 60 minutes. The loop is easy to do, sometimes there is some inclination but everywhere you’ll find benches to sit down and relax.
Continue reading “Lighthouse”