6-Day Vancouver Coast & Mountains and Thompson Okanagan Heritage & History
Explore two of British Columbia's most fabulous regions within three hours of each other!
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains Region embraces an abundance of rich cultural heritage, from First Nations treasures to a symphony of sights, sounds and masterpieces. The breathtaking imagery provides an ideal backdrop for interpretive museums, unique festivals, and decorative First Nations exhibits.
Rich in history and colourful in culture - the Thompson Okanagan is yours to discover. From museums to art galleries, heritage sites to natural history tours and the wine capital of Canada, the region's display of diverse experiences is one to never forget This six-day tour through two regions of beautiful British Columbia will leave you wanting more!
Day 1
Begin your journey from Vancouver driving north along Hwy 99 “the Sea to Sky” Highway. View the sparking waves of the Pacific Ocean rushing to meet these majestic mountains, creating a gorgeous canvas of natural imagery.
Your first stop is the BC Museum of Mining (www.bcmuseumofmining.org) in Britannia Beach. Travel back through time at this unique British Columbia copper mine. A train ride through the mine, along with interpretive guides and hands-on activities brings history alive for an underground adventure that is not soon forgotten.
Not far down the road in Squamish is the West Coast Railway Heritage Park (www.wcra.org).
This is the Home of the Royal Hudson Steam Train and Western Canada’s largest collection of heritage Railway equipment - dating back to 1890. Cabooses, snowplows and locomotives are ready for you to climb aboard. It’s time for lunch and we recommend the Howe Sound Inn & Brewing Co. (www.howesound.com) in Squamish.
After lunch, your destination is the charming four-season destination resort of Whistler nestled in the Coast Range between world-renowned Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. We encourage you to explore the pedestrian-only pathways of Whistler Village leading to intriguing shops, charming boutiques and sidewalk cafes. New in 2008 is the Squamish- Lil’wat Cultural Centre (www.slcc.ca). Designed in the forms of a Squamish Longhouse and Lil’wat Istken (earthen dwelling with fire pit), this 30,400 square foot complex has been created by the Squamish and Lil’wat people to share their living cultures with the world.
This takes you to the end of a busy day and it’s time to head to your overnight accommodation at the Pemberton Valley Lodge (www.pembertonvalleylodge.com) in Pemberton, 20 minutes north of Whistler. While you’re here, take in the sights of this cultural town, once bustling with Gold Rush activity, now a resort town, with cafes, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, as well as many local craft shops. We recommend dinner tonight at the Wild Wood Bistro: www.wildwoodrestaurants.ca.
Day 2
Travel north along Duffey Lake road that winds from Pemberton to Lillooet. We encourage you to leave early as this highway offers spectacular views of lakes and glaciers over this 104-km. (62-mile) drive to Lillooet. Lillooet is one of the earliest aboriginal settlements in the interior of B.C., as well as “Mile 0” on the historic Cariboo Trail taken by miners heading to the goldfields in the 1800s.
After the long and winding road from Pemberton, you will definitely be looking for some sustenance. A quaint little stop called the German Bakery is a good stop (one of few) for perhaps coffee and a bagel in Lillooet. After your fuel stop, the first attraction today is a visit to is the Lillooet Museum. www.lillooetbc.com Here you can view First Nations and Gold Rush era relics. You may also like to visit the Old Bridge in Lillooet. It was built in 1913 and is a suspension bridge of steel cables and wood with ‘dead men’ embedded in the rock banks of the river. You may also want to tour the Miyazaki Heritage Home, called the most beautiful home in Lillooet. The former Miyazaki residence was built in the 1880’s.
Continue east along Highway 99 to the last attraction stop of the day at Historic Hat Creek Ranch. The ranch offers a rare opportunity to explore the original buildings of a key location in the transportation history of the Cariboo.
The site also presents the story of the early use of the Bonaparte Valley by people of the Shuswap Nation and their more recent contribution to the growth of the ranching industry. Tour Hat Creek House, learn about blacksmithing at the BX Barn, and visit the recreated Shuswap village complete with a kekuli (winter home) and many displays showing the First Nations way of life!
Tonight you’ll stay in Cache Creek. During the gold rush of the mid 1800's, Cache Creek served as a halfway point for many hopeful prospectors en route to the Cariboo Gold Fields. Today, travelers can follow the Historic Gold Rush Trail and Cache Creek still remains an excellent halfway stop. As a suggestion, consider the Desert Inn Motel overnight. Try the Bear’s Claw a short walk away for dinner and they’re open early for breakfast as well.
Day 3
Today is your biggest trek of the itinerary as you travel from on end of the Thompson Okanagan to the other to visit the famous Okanagan valley. You begin the day by taking a little detour to the community of Ashcroft that lies five minutes off of Highway 1. Here you can experience the history and charm of this intimate ranching community. Take time to visit the Ashcroft Museum and take a stroll through the Heritage Park and gardens. This was also the location for many scenes in the Hollywood movie “An Unfinished Life” starring Robert Redford and Jennifer Lopez.
The remainder of the morning will see you continue on Highway #1 through the amazing Thompson River canyon to the turn-off on Highway # 8 to Merritt – “the country music capital of Canada”, home of the Merritt Mountain Music Festival www.mountainfest.com held each July.
The landscape is remarkably different as you enter the lower Nicola Valley. You’re in cattle country and the home of some of the biggest and oldest ranches in B.C. The Quilchena Hotel is your destination for lunch. The hotel is situated on the Quilchena ranch. This heritage site was originally built in 1908 as a stagecoach stop and was popular as a tourist destination prior to WW1. It still exemplifies its European elegance in a western setting that not only boasts 16 guest rooms but a saloon with real bullet holes!
The afternoon will have you journeying on Highway # 5A to Princeton and then Highway #3 to the “Fruit Stand Capital of Canada” Keremeos. Stop at Harker’s Fruit Ranch, a few minutes east of Keremeos in Cawston. Harker’s Country Market provides you with samples of mouth-watering organic fruit. Try some of their delicious apple cider!
Next it’s on to the Grist Mill. This fully restored water-powered flour mill and historical gardens take you back in time to the pioneer days of pack horses, gold miners, and wood stoves. Living history performers invite visitors to share in the daily homestead chores, offering a truly hands-on experience of history.
The last leg of your trip today takes you further along Highway #3 into the southern Okanagan valley. Your accommodation tonight is at Spirit Ridge Resort which is conveniently located next to the first attraction you will visit tomorrow. Visit the bistro style Passa Tempo restaurant at the resort for some wine country comfort food.
Day 4
First up today is the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre (www.nkmipdesert.com) to explore the cultural heritage of the Osoyoos First Nations and their desert habitat. Self-guided interpretive trails lead you through 20 hectares of desert environment. Be sure not to miss Nk’Mip Cellars (www.nkmipcellars.com) located next door to the Cultural Centre. Nk’mip Cellars is North America’s first owned and operated winery. You can take a tour, enjoy a tasting or just relax on their patio and enjoy the view.
You will wind you way further north on Highway#97 through the “Golden Mile” area of the Okanagan known for hot temperatures and over 50 wineries. A lunch stop today will be in the town of Oliver, the “Wine Capital of Canada”. Located in the centre of town is your destination called the Toasted Oak Restaurant .
The Toasted Oak has the largest selection of Okanagan wine by the glass and features daily specials of local ingredients paired with wine pairing suggestions.
Journeying further north, you will arrive in Summerland. You’ve arrived in time to board the Kettle Valley Steam Train (www.kettlevalleyrail.org). This is a nostalgic ninety-minute journey along a preserved section of the original Kettle Valley Railway constructed between 1910 and 1915. Take in the beauty of the lush acres of Summerland’s orchards and vineyards and the Okanagan’s natural landscapes. Hear the history of the railway that helped develop southern British Columbia. Travel over the famous Trout Creek Bridge, the highest bridge built on the original line at over 72 meters high. All Aboard!
To round out the afternoon, a visit to the Summerland Ornamental Gardens located across near bye Trout Canyon is highly recommended. Established in 1916, this 15 acre public garden overlooking Okanagan Lake contains an English Style Garden, The Superintendent’s Residence (1920) housing a museum of Agriculture, Xeriscape and Meadow Gardens and the Canyon Walk with views of Brent Mountain and the KVR Trestle Bridge. A great way to stretch your legs and take in some of the Okanagan’s most fabulous views!
Return on Highway # 97 to Penticton. You’ll stay tonight at the Penticton Lakeside Resort (www.pentictonlakesideresort.com).
The resort is located downtown and is in a perfect location to take a stroll along Okanagan Lake or the many shops located on Main Street close bye. Dinner tonight is at the Hooded Merganzer Restaurant situated on a wharf next to the hotel: www.hoodedmerganzer.ca
Day 5
This morning your touring day begins at the S.S. Sicamous Museum located down the beach from your hotel on Okanagan Lake. It is the largest remaining steel-hulled sternwheeler in Canada.
Built in 1914 at Okanagan Landing for Canadian Pacific Railway, she plied the waters of Okanagan Lake until 1936, from her Penticton homeport. The ship also contains many Penticton historical exhibits relating to its’ growth and ties to the orchard industry:
Before you depart Penticton, we recommend a visit to the Wine Information Centre, located in the Penticton & Wine Country Visitor Information Centre. This is a worthwhile stop as the center sells wines from all the wineries located in the Okanagan Valley. An excellent one-stop shop!
Depart Penticton on Highway #97 south, then Highway 3A to return to Keremeos. Depending on what time it is, we recommend a coffee stop at one of the small restaurants downtown or a lunch visit to Crowsnest Vineyards. The dining room and patio feature exquisite German cuisine with weekly features driven by fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. Open from Wednesday to Monday:
Continue on Highway#3 to Hedley and the site of the former Mascot Mine. Perched high above the historic mining town, the gold mine produced a total of over 1.5 million ounces of gold and 4 million pounds of copper until closing in 1949. Today it is a heritage site with three hour tours taking visitors deep inside mine shafts and down hundreds of building site stairs situated 5,000 precarious feet above the town of Hedley. There are some fascinating displays at the Hedley Mining Museum and Wild Goat Gift Shop on Main Street.
Depart Hedley west on Highway#3 for Princeton, Manning Provincial Park and the town of Hope.
Hope (www.hopebc.ca) is known as “the Chainsaw Carving Capital” of Canada. You may want to take a tour to sites of 30 giant wooden sculptures, all carved by local artist Peter Ryan. You may also want to stroll through the cavernous Othello Quintette Tunnels built at the turn of the century for the defunct Kettle Valley Railway . Hope was also the location for filming of the original Hollywood feature film “Rambo” starring Sylvester Stallone.
This long day winds to a close as you travel west on Highway#1 and then a turn-off on Highway#9 to Harrison Hot Springs (www.harrisonbeachhotel.com).
This is an area with a rich history as well as an abundance of natural beauty. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of activities as Harrison hosts a number of annual events such as the Harrison Festival of the Arts and the always-popular, World Championship Sand Sculpture Competition.
Day 6
The last day of your tour this morning takes you on Highway #7 to a throwback in time and the heritage community Harrison Mills. The Kilby Historic Site (www.kilby.ca) is a 1920’s living history site, featuring a 100 year old General Store museum where costumed interpreters add to the time-traveling fun. Browse the unique gift shop featuring local artisans and visit the old-style Post Office or explore the pantry and kitchen, milk house, and the Product Packaging Gallery.
Your next stop this morning is westward to Mission and to the Xa:ytem Longhouse Interpretive Center. Xa:ytem is a 9000-year old village site that features a pit house, a sacred transformer stone, and “B.C’s Oldest House.” Xa:ytem has been a gathering place for “People of the River” for thousands of years, and continues to be a place of sharing and teaching of Sto:lo culture, history, archaeology and spirituality. www.xaytem.museum.bc.ca
Following Highway#11 south, a perfect lunch spot lies ahead at the secluded Clayburn Village (www.clayburnvillage.com) located across the Fraser River in Abbotsford. The site features the Clayburn Village Store & Tea Shop, farm produce, art gallery and gift store, heritage church and school, plus the remnants of an old brick plant. Founded in 1905, this village of brick bungalows was a company town to one of the country’s largest brick mills.
The final destination on this whirlwind tour of Vancouver/Coast Mountains and the Thompson Okanagan is the Fort Langley Village & National Heritage Site (www.fortlangley.com). Built in 1827, Fort Langley was part of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s network of fur trading posts across what is now Western Canada. Today, Fort Langley evokes a tremendous historical presence in its walled compound with one original building and several reconstructed buildings. The national site also features costumed interpreters, historic objects and special events.
Return to Vancouver
For additional city information, go to:
- Merritt Mountain Music Festival - Merritt
- Nk'mip Desert Cultural Centre - Osoyoos
- Download Itinerary (MultiRegionVCMTOTAItinCultHist.pdf - 2.1 MB)