Welcome to the summer edition of Vancouver,
Coast & Mountain’s
Travel Talk!
This edition is devoted to Adventure
of all kinds: daring feats, remarkable occurrences, stirring
encounters, or major life undertakings.
When visiting Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Region,
adventure is not limited to solely jumping off bridges but involves
an exploration to new areas where your clients should expect
the unexpected.
We’ll begin by discussing that ultimate adventure, Space
travel. Then, with the growth of “adventure travel” for
families, groups and FIT’s ever increasing, we’ll
tell you why Vancouver, Coast & Mountains should be on the
top of your list for packages that include: kayaking, river rafting,
trekking and more. Next, we’ll visit Highway 99-“The
Sea to Sky” Highway- recently named one of the “World
5 best road trips”, followed by a continuation tour route
from Highway 99 through the “Mighty Fraser Country”.
Finally, we end with some new experience ideas for your Vancouver-based
itineraries.
You probably missed this on the news,
but the Canadian Arrow, Canada’s first privately developed
space ship, is close to launch.
Canadian Arrow is a privately developed 54-ft
long, three person sub-orbital vehicle designed to launch the
first commercial passengers
into Space. The PlanetSpace Corporation has been created to operate
the Canadian Arrow and become the leader in the emerging space
travel and tourism industry. The first unmanned launch is expected
to happen sometime this year to be followed by sending crews
of two pilot astronauts on each of the early manned test flights.
By 2008, PlanetSpace hopes to bring space tourism within grasp
of anyone with $250,000 US in their pocket for a 20 minute suborbital
flight, including fourteen days training.
Until the price comes down a bit for
your clients, why not embark on a cosmic tour of the solar
system right here in Vancouver,
at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. Travel through space in the
30-passenger Virtual Voyages™ simulator ride, enjoy multimedia
shows and demonstrations in the Planetarium and GroundStation
Canada theatres, and explore the universe with hands-on exhibits,
computer simulations and artifacts in the Cosmic Courtyard.
Contact:
Erika Korstrom
HR MacMillan Space Centre
Phone: 604-738-7827
Fax: 604-736-5665
www.spacecentre.ca
ekorstrom@hrmacmillanspacecentre.com
According to a recent report, families are
increasingly booking Rafting, Rock Climbing, Trekking and Biking
vacations. Adventure
travel represents the fastest growing segment of the travel industry,
with an estimated 2006 U.S. expenditure of $55 billion, according
to the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Families are enthusiastically
jumping aboard the adventure travel train. In fact, families
that trek, bike, rock climb and raft are increasingly a part
of the social mainstream rather than an exception to the rule.
Nowhere is more perfectly situated to provide
adventure like Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Tourism Region.
Rivers cascading in bubbly plumes off sheer clifs, towering rock
faces that plunge
into the Pacific Ocean, mountains of glimmering ice, sparkling
rivers and lakes and immense natural forests – all memories
waiting to happen for your clients. Each of our Regions- Sea
to Sky Country, Sunshine Coast, Mighty Fraser Country and Greater
Vancouver – have world class adventure recreation options
for both summer and winter. As we say, All things are possible!
For a complete list of adventure operators,
visit: www.vcmbc.com/page.cfm/1093
Featured Adventure Operators:
Hyak Wilderness Adventures
Randy Loor
Phone: (604) 734-8622, Tollfree: (800) 663-7238,
Fax: (604) 734-5718
www.hyak.com
info@hyak.com
Sunwolf Outdoor Centre
Fiona Dyer and Trina Ellis
Phone: (604) 898-1537, Fax: (604) 898-1634
www.sunwolf.net
sunwolf@sunwolf.net
REO Rafting Resort
Bryan & Karen Fogelman
Phone: 604-461-7238,
Tollfree: 1-800-736-RAFT,
Fax: 604-461-4436
www.reorafting.com
info@reorafting.com
The UK’s Guardian newspaper has recently declared the
drive along British Columbia’s “Sea to Sky highway” (Highway
99) as one of their “Worlds 5 Best Roadtrips”. This
stretch of highway travels the region we fittingly call “Sea
to Sky Country”.
Starting in picturesque Horseshoe Bay, site of a B.C. Ferries
terminal, the road winds through mountain communities that started
as logging, mining, ranching and farming outposts. Today, they
have also become welcoming havens for lovers of every manner
of outdoor recreation on land, and in water and air. This country
is also rich in archaeological and historical lore. Salish First
Nations have lived here for thousands of years, and prospectors
streamed north from Lillooet for the Fraser River gold rush back
in the 1850s.
Traveling north along the Sea to Sky highway, stops should include:
Squamish
One of Canada’s top 10 recreational destinations and site
of the West Coast Railway Heritage Park, Britannia Beach Musuem
of Mining and more. Once a rough and tumble logging town, Squamish
now also offers restaurants, galleries and shops all with snow-tipped
Mount Garibaldi as a fabulous, fairy-tale mountain backdrop.
For more information visit: www.vcmbc.com/page.cfm/934
Shannon Falls
From a viewing platform, photographers can get fabulous shots
of the cascading water falls (BC’s third highest), which
drops 335 m. (1,099 ft.)
Whistler
Surrounded by the rugged Coast Mountains, just 120 kilometres
(75 mi.) north of Vancouver, the year-round destination of
Whistler offers boundless activities, fine dining, vibrant
nightlife, eclectic boutiques, revitalizing spas, and luxurious
hotels. Whistler Village blends the charm of an alpine village
with the amenities of an urban centre.
For more information visit: www.vcmbc.com/page.cfm/1096
Pemberton Valley
Located north of Whistler and the gateway to the interior of
British Columbia, the town of Pemberton is becoming more of
a resort town, with cafes, restaurants, bed and breakfasts,
as well as many local crafts and craft shops. The whole region
is threaded with rivers coursing through steep walled alpine
valleys and dotted with glacier-fed lakes, forests, hot springs,
parks and campsites. With abundant snow in winter and warm
summers, it’s a year-round playground for every sort
of outdoor pursuit, from golf and llama treks to fishing and
glider or jetboat tours.
For more information visit: www.vcmbc.com/page.cfm/935
Lillooet
The Duffey Lake Road that leads from Pemberton to Lillooet offers
spectacular views of lakes and glaciers over its 104-km. (62-mile)
length. The road traverses the Cayoosh Range, taking travelers
from the lush green of the coast to the dusty browns of the
semi-arid ranchland Cariboo and the interior. Lillooet is one
of the earliest aboriginal settlements in the interior of B.C.,
as well as “Mile 0” on the historic Cariboo Trail
that miners took north to the goldfields in the 1800s. Rich
in history and aboriginal sites, it is also a four-season playground
for outdoor enthusiasts.
For more information visit: www.vcmbc.com/page.cfm/936
Now that you’ve traveled the Sea
to Sky highway, why not complete the tour back to Vancouver
following the mighty Fraser
River?
Journey from Lilloet down the “Fraser Canyon” stopping
at Lytton – the rafting capital of Canada. Raft the Thompson,
fish the rivers, gold pan along river banks, ride the reaction
ferry to access the Stein Valley, picnic and hike at Skihist
park, or visit the Lytton Museum and Art Galleries. For the interest
of train buffs, this is an excellent area for taking photos of
trains going through the tunnels in the canyons
For more information visit: www.lytton.ca
Learn how the ruggedness of the Canadian
landscape created formidable challenges for early explorers
at the Hell’s Gate. Located
in the Scenic Fraser Canyon, an Airtram takes you down to the
banks of the Fraser River which squeezes through this 35 metre
wide gorge where over 200 million gallons of water per minute
flow through at spring run off – that’s twice the
volume of Niagara Falls! While visiting Hell’s Gate, have
your clients try their luck at Gold Panning. A mother lode of
opportunity awaits as they sift their way through actual gravel
taken from Hills Bar along side the Fraser River. Hills Bar is
home to the biggest claim ever staked in the Fraser Canyon during
the great Fraser River Gold Rush in the mid 1860's.
For more information visit: www.hellsgateairtram.com
From Hell’s Gate, stop at the town of
Hope, cradled between the Cascade and Coastal Mountain Ranges.
Natural beauty abounds
in this outdoor-oriented community. No visit is complete without
the self-guided tour of over 20 large wooden sculptures in the
downtown core. These give rise to Hope's title as Canada’s
Chainsaw Carving Capital. A new privately owned Chainsaw Carving
Gallery is now open for your clients to view.
For more information visit: www.hope.ca
Travelling west along Highway 1- the TransCanada Highway – you’ve
entered the abundance of the Fraser Valley with its massive fields
of corn and flowers. Learn about the history of the aboriginal
peoples and the integration of Europeans into the western region.
Experience the rush of spectacular mountain waterfalls. Get wet
at family fun-filled water parks. Highlights include:
An overnight stay in scenic Harrison Hot Springs:
www.harrisonresort.com
A visit to the 11 themed show gardens at Minter
Gardens in Chilliwack: www.mintergardens.com
Experiencing the historic Fort Langley, the
birthplace of British Columbia: www.fortlangley.com
Tour the new emerging Wineries in and around
the town of Langley: www.vcmbc.com/page.cfm/9118
For more information about the entire Mighty
Fraser Country visit: www.mightyfrasercountry.travel
Or to order copies of the Coast Mountain Circle Tour, or any
one of our other publications visit:
www.vcmbc.com/page.cfm/1136
If you are looking for new, innovative products
to add to your Vancouver itinerary, then this is the right place
to be!
SHOPABOUT TOURS-CUSTOM SHOPPING TOURS
Take an adventurous tour through the best shopping districts
in Vancouver, including Main Street, Trendy Yaletown, or High
Fashion Robson Street. Shop as you walk and receive exclusive
Shopabout discounts. Our Vancouver shopping experts will share
fashion tips, help you get oriented, and make sure you never
miss a fashion "find" or one-of-a-kind store! See
www.shopabout.ca for more information
VANCOUVER ART GALLERY- PRIVATE GUIDED TOURS
Ever wondered how many wives Picasso had or why Canada’s
beloved icon Emily Carr call her summer home the “Elephant”?
Our Animateurs are friendly and professional staff who give brief
introductory tours to the current exhibitions and then answer
visitor’s questions which can range from straight forward
factual queries to deeply profound inquires into the nature of
art. . Private tours take approximately 1 hour and there must
be a minimum of 10 people for this group rate. Max 40 / tour.
Visit: www.vanartgallery.bc.ca for more information.
VANCOUVER TOURS GROUP
Looking for garden or attractions tours? Clients interested in
whale watching tours? Ever tour the movie-shoot locations of
Vancouver? The Vancouver Tours Group provides these and more
to provide your clients the best visit possible. Visit: www.vancouvertoursgroup.com for more information.
For all Trade related questions or for further
information, contact Jason Knibbs, Sales Manager - Tour & Travel at jason@vcmbc.com
