| This circle tour in British Columbia starts in | | | | of seafaring warriors that controlled most of the |
| Vancouver and begins by traveling east on Hwy 1 | | | | BC coastline at one time and you can learn about |
| to the Fort Langley National Historic Site. Continue | | | | them at the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve |
| on through the rich farm country of the Fraser | | | | and Haida Heritage Site. There is a 10,000 year |
| Valley to Hope, where you can walk through the | | | | connection between the land, sea and Haida |
| Othello Quintette Tunnels, part of the Kettle | | | | culture.Back in Prince Rupert, you can take the BC |
| Valley Railway built between 1910 and | | | | Ferry down the Inside Passage through dramatic |
| 1916.Continue on Hwy 1 to Lytton for a guided | | | | fjords and green forested channels to Port Hardy |
| rafting trip down the Fraser River if you are | | | | on Vancouver Island. You'll probably get glimpses |
| hungry for some unforgettable thrills, then take | | | | of whales, seals, porpoises and black bears on the |
| Hwy 12 to Lillooet (lil-lou-ETTE) where you can try | | | | full day's passage along the rugged coastline. In |
| your hand at panning for gold. Take Hwy 99 east | | | | Port Hardy you can visit the Copper Maker |
| to Hwy 97 and travel north to Clinton and on to | | | | Gallery, where you can savor the redolent smell |
| 100 Mile House. This town got its name because it | | | | of red cedar as the native carvers create |
| was 100 miles from Lillooet on the old Caribou | | | | beautiful original Northwest Native art |
| Wagon Road. Here the only surviving stage coach | | | | works.Driving south to Port McNeill, where you |
| of the Barnard Express and Stage Line is on | | | | can take a short ferry trip to Alert Bay on |
| display, complete with an authentic bullet hole | | | | Cormorant Island. Here you can visit the U'Mista |
| from being held up for the gold dust it once | | | | Cultural Center, which preserves the history and |
| carried. From here north to Williams Lake and | | | | artefacts of the Kwakwaka'wakw Aboriginals and |
| Quesnel where you can take a short side trip | | | | see the totems of a nearby burial ground. Back |
| east to Barkerville, an historic gold rush town built | | | | on Vancouver Island, from Port McNeill you travel |
| in 1862. It has over 125 restored heritage | | | | south through Campbell River to Courtenay |
| buildings.Back on Hwy 97 and leaving Quesnel, | | | | where you can look for fossils in the 80 million |
| travel north to Prince George, a bustling city in | | | | year old sea bed at Puntledge River.Farther south |
| north central BC. Take Hwy 16 west to Hwy 27 | | | | you'll come to Qualicum Beach which is renowned |
| then travel north on a side trip to Fort St. James, | | | | for its flower gardens and also its fantastic views |
| a restored Hudson's Bay trading post from the | | | | of the Georgia Strait. Sunny Parksville further |
| mid 1800s. Back on Hwy 16, going west again to | | | | south has 7 kms of sandy beaches and may |
| Smithers where you can see the 50 million year | | | | offer the warmest saltwater swimming on |
| old fossils at nearby Driftwood Canyon Provincial | | | | Vancouver Island. In Nanaimo you can visit the |
| Park. Farther west, in The Hazeltons, you can visit | | | | Petroglyph Park to see 10,000 year old stone |
| the world famous 'Ksan Historical Village. 'Ksan is | | | | engravings of mythological sea creatures. The |
| the Gitxsan name for the Skeena River. This | | | | Nanaimo District Museum also provides a unique |
| replicated ancient Gitxsan village features house | | | | glimpse into the lives of Nanaimo's First Peoples |
| fronts and totem poles facing the Skeena River. | | | | dating back more than 2000 years.The ancestral |
| Continue on to view the totems at Kitwancool | | | | home of the Cowichan Tribe and the famous |
| and the Nisga's Memorial Lava Bed where a | | | | Cowichan Sweaters is in Duncan. In Victoria, plan |
| volcano erupted over two centuries ago, leaving a | | | | to spend a few days visiting the many splendors |
| pocked lava moonscape.With Terrace as a base, | | | | of the city and its environs, including the famous |
| you can take a side trip on Hwy 37 to Kitimat; a | | | | Butchart Gardens. Then take the BC Ferry across |
| stunning playground in the coastal rainforest, its | | | | to Tsawassen, south of Vancouver, where you |
| scenery is reminiscent of Norway's fjords. In | | | | started.This Circle Tour by car is designed to take |
| Terrace you can hike a part of the Grand Trunk | | | | from seven to fourteen days, more if you wish |
| Pathway. Now go west again on Hwy 16 to Prince | | | | of course. Reservations need to be booked well |
| Rupert, a seaport and a terminus for handling | | | | ahead for the ferries from Prince Rupert to the |
| shipments of coal and grain from the Prairies. | | | | Queen Charlottes and down the Inland Passage to |
| Here you can board a ferry for the Queen | | | | Vancouver Island. Google "BC Ferries" for the |
| Charlotte Islands called Haida Gwaii by the local | | | | websites and online reservation forms. |
| aboriginals. The Haidas were once a proud nation | | | | |