More vacation adventures in Vancouver Island
British ColumbiaBritish Columbia - home to people of many different origins, cultural traditions, languages, ethnicities, and religions. From tropical rain forests to the open ocean to skiing the slopes, British Columbia is a natural wonderland. Travel through the wilderness or hang out in the ‘Hollywood North’ – the third-largest production centre in North America after New York and Los Angeles.
British Columbia boasts over 22 million tourists visiting each year. Most are seeking outdoor recreation, city activities and visiting attractions and cultural events . In 2010 the world will be watching the Winter Olympic games being held in Vancouver and Whistler, BC.
British Columbia is a huge province. About 10 percent of Canada’s land surface is B.C. 95 million hectares of land and freshwater area make up the province. That’s larger than France and Germany combined.
Fort St. James, is walk back in time to the oldest, continuously inhabited, non-aboriginal community in B.C. 62 kilometres (38 miles) north of Vanderhoof, is the town of Fort St. James. Here visitors can explore the Hudson Bay Company Trading Post, established as a fur-trading post by explorer Simon Fraser in 1806. Also located in the town are five original wood buildings built between 1884 and 1889. Period costumed staff in the interpretive visitor centre can help orient visitors to the town and the many special activities continuously running.
In many areas of Northern B.C. you can experience excellent fishing trips by horseback. Professional guides lead you to the perfect fishing spot by horseback packages through the wilderness.
Stroll over fossilized lake beds in Smithers and Hudson's Hope, where thousands of fossils were unearthed during the construction of the Peace Canyon Dam. An 11,600 year-old mammoth tusk. is located close to the dam for public viewing. You can even dig for your own dinosaur bones and fossils on the banks of the Peace River in Taylor.
Take a walk through Prince Rupert's Cow Bay waterfront district where the shops, galleries and cafes with specialty seafood menus are in lovingly restored historic buildings. Hike to the top of Mt. Hays (about 2-1/2 hours for the seasoned hiker) on a clear day for spectacular views of Alaskan islands.
The province strives at keeping it’s natural beauty preserved by permanently setting aside over 11.9 million hectares in protected areas and parks – 12.6 percent of the province. That area makes up more than 800 provincial parks and protected areas, attracting approximately 24 million visits each year.
Some of the internationally-know prot | 
