 Vew from Sea to Sky Gondola--36800 Highway 99, Squamish BC (45 min drive north of Vancouver BC)--taken by Nicole Calvert Provincial Capitals of Canada
 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:National_flag_of_Canada "O Canada" Canadian National Anthem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RidIw0OXs9U In celebration of Canada Day--July 1 Canadian Thanksgiving--second Monday of October Must Do Canada National Parks of Canada
Note: I'm starting with Victoria, Vancouver Island, and making my way east as far as I have gathered content! Victoria BC—provincial capital of British Columbia The Parliamentary grounds are so beautiful, they are well worth wandering. For more about the Parliamentary complex of Victoria, and more links for things to do/see, scroll down to the bottom of
 Parliamentary Buildings with statue of Queen Victoria, Victoria BC on a glorious day mid October Coming into Victoria via the Ferry from Port Angeles WA The Black Ball Ferry Line--430 Belleville St., Victoria BC V8V 1W9, Canada
Surrounding the Parliamentary Complex
Government Street north to Wharf St/Humboldt St intersection
Wharf St Sites to see going north along Wharf St from Government St (I didn't get to see all on first trip to Victoria)
Government Street north toward Chinatown
Chinatown While the Chinatown gate is at Fisgard & Government St, Victoria's Chinatown covers an area from at least Pandora Ave north to Herald St, and east on Fisgard to Douglas St. It's a delight to explore! Victoria Chinatown Museum-- 10 Fan Tan Alley, Victoria, BC V8W 1W3, Canada Open Thurs-Sun 11am-5pm, and all statutory Monday holidays. It wasn't open when I was there. Bucket List Chinatown Victoria CRD (Capital Regional District) Square—across from the Chinatown gate at Fisgard & Government St. Worth a stroll or a roll, with a statue of Dr Sun Yat-Sen & Bright Pearl “As the centrepiece between Centennial Square and historic Chinatown, the Bright Pearl honors the many people who immigrated here from the Pearl River Valley in China. The Bright Pearl welcomes citizens and visitors alike to this civic square, especially those from our twin cities around the world . . . added the finishing touch to the official opening of the Capital Regional District [CRD] Building.” Yen-Wo Tsung Tsin (Hakka) Society Bldg—w/mural on the side (Government St north of Chinatown gate)
Douglas St--I wheeled south on Douglas St, but my phone battery died ☹ Victoria Public Market at the Hudson on Douglas St between Fisgard & Herald, Victoria BC Beehive Wool Shop--1700 Douglas St, Victoria, BC V8W 2G7, Canada; yarn store at Fisgard & Douglas St Centennial Square Parkade--645 Fisgard St, Victoria, BC V8W 1R7, Canada
Miniature World—649 Humboldt St (just west of Douglas St), Victoria BC The Maritime Museum of British Columbia--744 Douglas St--or 634 Humboldt St, Victoria BC Mungo Martin House in Thunderbird Park-- 475 Belleville St., Victoria, BC V8V 2P8, Canada; Belleville & Douglas Thunderbird Park-- 638 Douglas St, Victoria, BC V8V 2P8, Canada James Bay Inn--270 Government St, Victoria BC (a block west of Douglas St & Beacon Hill Park) Hotel, Suites, Cottages. Dating from 1911, “No air conditioning & no elevators. Access to a sunny verandah on floor 2 & 3. Art Deco Cafe & Restaurant and a friendly pub on site. No smoking, no pets.” Itinerary Ideas for 1-4 or so days in Victoria BC--choose what looks fun I suggest first going to see Confederation Fountain/Park at Belleville St & Menzies St, across from the Parliamentary campus. Next tour the Parliament buildings, or at least the grounds. After that, see the Royal BC Museum, and from there head north up Government St, past the historic Fairmont Empress Hotel. Stop for info at the Greater Victoria Visitor Center, and continue north on Government St as far as Chinatown. Return south on Wharf St (after crossing the Johnson St Bridge and seeing Songhees Park, if you like), check out the Fort Victoria National Historic Site and pass the Old Victoria Customs House, (optionally have lunch at Red Fish Blue Fish if that brings delight), see the Veteran Sailor Statue and the Homecoming Statue, and detour to walk along the Inner Habour Causeway. This could take a whole day, and if you have an electric wheelchair, may seriously deplete your battery. Return to Belleville St and head east to Thunderbird Park, then north again on Douglas St (aka Trans-Canada Hwy 1). See the Victoria Crystal Garden, The Maritime Museum of British Columbia at Victoria Conference Center, detour a half a block west on Humboldt St to see the Miniature World museum, before continuing north on Douglas St (half a block west on Courtney St is the Bug Zoo, half a block east on Broughton St is the Greater Victoria Public Library). St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, then Bay Center shopping mall are north on Douglas St, and Haunted Manor mini-golf & ping pong are just to the east on Yates St, as is Cineplex Odeon Victoria Cinemas. Victoria City Hall is at the corner of Pandora Ave & Douglas St, and next north of it is Centennial Square with it’s fountain & plaza, and restrooms on the first floor of the Centennial Parkade. Victoria Public Market is between Fisgard & Herald streets on Douglas St. This could well take a 2nd day, but if not, head south as follows. Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre arena is on Blanshard St at Caledonia (next street north of Herald St), and you can return south along Blanshard, stopping at what appeals (Capitol 6 Theatres are nearly opposite the Cineplex Odeon Victoria Cinemas at Yates St, and the Royal Theatre is at Broughton). An interesting detour east on Broughton is Pioneer Square, and south of that is Christ Church Cathedral, across from which is the Afghanistan Memorial. Returning to Blanshard on Burdette Ave is the Provincial Courthouse. Continue south on Blanshard St to St Ann’s Academy and Auditorium National Historic Site (enjoy the grounds of the complex), and if you have energy left, explore Beacon Hill Park, with it’s elegant gardens, ponds, bandshell, ball fields, pickleball, children’s farm (if open), sun clock, totem pole, etc (has restrooms). This could take a day or two as well. The long walk along the shore on Dallas Rd takes you past historic Holland Point Park, in view of The First Nations Breakwater Mural, and in sight of the Breakwater Lighthouse (a “massive white lighthouse, built in 1916, with scenic views at the end of a long breakwater walkway”, which the ferries pass, but I didn’t see). Continuing along Dallas Rd is the interactive Ogden Point Sundial, and eventually Fisherman’s Wharf/Fisherman’s Wharf Park (“Visitors can see seals & other marine life along this quaint floating pier with food kiosks & shops”). A few zigzags will get you back to Belleville St where you began. In all, there’s plenty here for 4-5 days, not even counting the sights of West Victoria, the famous Buchart Gardens, Craigdarroch & Hatley Castles, and so much else Vancouver Island has to offer! Holland Point https://beaconhillparkhistory.org/contents/appendix_C2.htm Ogden Point Breakwater Lighthouse (one of 4 active lighthouses listed for Victoria) https://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=1202 Brochures & Maps from the Ferry--choose the map that makes most sense to you Butchart Gardens—13.5 mi NW of Victoria, travel by car, bus, tour, taxi, boat Sunken Garden, Rose garden, Japanese Garden, Italian Garen, Mediterranean Garden; Visitor Centre, Gift Shop, Carousel, Wharf, places to eat Victoria Butterfly Gardens--1461 Benvenuto AVE Brentwood Bay BC V8M 1J5 (said to be 5 min from Butchart Gardens) Vancouver Island Vancouver Island Bucketlist Naturally, I couldn't do everything, but here are some more enticing ideas of things to do . . . Tofino--Vancouaver Island Langford--Vancouver Island Comox Valley--Vancouver Island Nanaimo--Vancouver Island Gulf Islands--between Vancouver Island and Vancouver BC on the mainland British Columbia BC Parks, Canada Top 12 Most Beautiful National and Provincial Parks in Western Canada, other than Banff  James Douglass--Father of British Columbia, display at Vancouver WA mall The other Vancouver—Fort Vancouver USA Before it was part of the US, this fort was part of British North America, essentially Canada. Vancouver BC Photos courtesy Nicole Calvert. Point Atkinson Lighthouse, West Vancouver BC Thanks to Nicole Calvert for publishing her photos of this lighthouse & hike; more photos: see 1st link below Stanley Park--photos courtesy Nicole Calvert Capilano Suspension Bridge Park--3735 Capilano Rd, North Vancouver BC; photos by Nicole Calvert Grouse Mtn Resort—15 min drive north of downtown Vancouver BC. 2024 Other than driving by car, you can travel by public transit, or take a free summer shuttle from downtown Vancouver (with the purchase of a roundtrip admission ticket). Photos courtesy Nicole Calvert Sea to Sky Gondola--36800 Highway 99, Squamish BC (45 min drive north of Vancouver BC) Shuttles, buses, tours from Vancouver available (see site below, photo at the top of this post) Whistler BC—77 mi/1 hr 45 min north of Vancouver BC; photos below courtesy Nicole Calvert Site of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Not far is the historic Whistler Train Wreck site. Golden Ears Park--24480 Fern Crescent, Maple Ridge BC V4R 2S1, Canada (40 mi/2 hrs east of Vancouver BC) Photos courtesy Nicole Calvert Cascade Falls, Hayward Reservoir Trail, & Steelhead Falls near Mission BC Fraser Valley Regional District. Cascade Falls is northeast of Mission BC, Steelhead Falls is north of Mission. There is no public transit to either of these falls. Hayward Reservoir Trail is at Stave Falls BC, moderate hike may need maintenance, popular, figure a half day for the whole trek. All photos below courtesy Nicole Calvert.
West Coast Express rail service from Downtown Vancouver BC to Mission BC Chilliwack BC--about ½ hr east of Mission by car Bridal Veil Falls Provincial Park, east of Chilliwack BC; all below photos courtesy Nicole Calvert Harrison Hot Springs—it’s about 20 mi/half an hour from Chilliwack BC to Harrison Hot Springs The easiest route is to travel east on Hwy 1 (Trans Canada Hwy) , then north on Hwy 9. One of many things to do there is to walk the Spirit Trail. Photos below courtesy Nicole Calvert. Hicks Lake, Sasquatch Provincial Park--north of Harrison Hot Springs All photos below courtesy Nicole Calvert. Clearwater BC—78mi/abt. 1 hr 20 min north of Kamloops BC (abt 2hrs by train, twice a week) Located where the Clearwater River empties into the North Thompson River. Its latitude is 51° 38' 42" N; longitude is 120° 1' 58" W. All photos below courtesy Nicole Calvert, intrepid hiker!Weather/Climate of Clearwater  Photo by Nicole Calvert Wells Gray Provincial Park—near Clearwater BC All photos below courtesy Nicole Calvert. Hinton/Jasper KOA (Hinton Alberta, is about an hour from Jasper via Trans-Canada Hwy 16) Hwy 5 is a north-south route in BC. South of Kamloops it’s known as the Coquilhalla Hwy. Photos courtesy Nicole Calvert. https://koa.com/campgrounds/hinton/ Hinton/Jasper KOA Holiday (east of the Rockies) https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Hinton/Jasper-AB-Canada by car, bus, train, taxi Jasper Alberta Skytram, Jasper National Park, and Whistler Summit at Jasper National Park. As ever, photos are courtesy Nicole Calvert Yoho National Park Located on the western slope of the Continental Divide, SE British Columbia (bordering Alberta). It includes several peaks over 10,000 ft high, at least 2 truly notable waterfalls. It shares a boundary with Jasper National Park, Banff national Park, and Kootenay National Park: in the heart of Canada’s Rockies. Field BC is the tiny community in the center of Yoho, on the Trans-Canada Hwy (Hwy 1), 475 mi/8.5+ hours from Vancouver BC by car. Photos courtesy Nicole Calvert
Golden BC Photos courtesy Nicole Calvert Banff, Alberta Photos thanks to Nicole Calvert
Yahk BC to Bonner’s Ferry ID Headed Home across the US PNW; photos courtesy Nicole Calvert
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Wheelchair WomanI've been in a wheelchair for 30+ years. It poses some challenges for traveling. Maybe others can benefit from my experiences. Archives
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