Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/651528
TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA province. To the west is the cowboy country of the Thompson region, with its dude ranches and vast grasslands. To the east, the Okanagan is B.C.'s wine country, with its vineyards, orchards and sophisticated culinary culture. Both offer plenty for outdoor enthusiasts to do, whether it's houseboating on Shuswap Lake, scaling the Skaha Bluffs or cycling along the trestles of the abandoned railway line that hurtles across Myra Canyon. UP NORTH Back in the 1860's, gold was discovered up in the Cariboo region, and the Rush was on. Today, people are more likely to visit the wide open spaces of B.C.'s north for the unparalleled wilderness experiences. That could mean bear-watching along the northern coast, fl y fi shing in a rushing river, paddling through the still waters of the Bowron Lakes, camping out under the northern lights or panning for gold in historic Barkerville. WHAT'S NEW? Whistler Blackcomb celebrates its 50 th anniversary with a series of exciting events throughout the year (www.whistler.com). Also in Whistler, the highly anticipated Audain Art Museum opens late this year with a remarkable collection of First Nations masks and works by B.C. artists (www.audainartmuseum.com). The Richmond Olympic Experience (ROX) becomes North America's fi rst and only offi cial member of the Olympic Museums Network (www.therox.ca). Clayoquot Wilderness Resort's new "Cloud Camp" pitches luxury tents high in the sky—at 1,372 m (4,500 ft.) above sea level (www.wildretreat.com). In Cariboo country, Siwash Lake Ranch has launched heli-adventures that include high alpine hikes and a safari-style picnic along the Fraser River (www.siwashlake ranch.com). Kicking Horse Mountain Resort's newly installed Via Ferrata, an "iron road" of cables, ladders, bridges and handholds, scales towering Terminator Peak (www. kickinghorseresort.com). Vancouver has recently welcomed North America's fi rst McArthurGlen designer outlet mall (www.mcarthurglen.com), as well as the Nordstrom (ca.nordstrom. com) and Simons (www.simons.ca) department stores and countless new boutiques. SPECIAL EVENTS JanUarY • Dine out Vancouver • Winter eagle festival & Count, Brackendale feBrUarY • Vancouver international Wine festival MarCH • Pacifi c rim Whale festival, tofi no/Ucluelet APRIL • World Ski & Snowboard festival, Whistler MaY • Cloverdale rodeo & Country fair MaY – oCtoBer • richmond night Market and Summer night Market (to october) JUne • aboriginal Cultural festival, Victoria • Vancouver international Jazz festival JUne – SePteMBer • Bard on the Beach Shakespeare festival, Vancouver JUne – JULY • Pride Week, Victoria JULY • Harrison festival of the arts, Harrison Hot Springs • Honda Celebration of Light fireworks Competition, Vancouver • nanaimo Marine festival & World Championship Bathtub race • Williams Lake Stampede JULY – aUGUSt • filberg arts festival, Comox • Kamloopa Powwow, Kamloops • Pride Week, Vancouver SePteMBer • Vancouver fringe theatre festival • Victoria international Chalk art festival SePteMBer – oCtoBer • Vancouver international film festival OCTOBER • okanagan fall Wine festival noVeMBer • Cornucopia, Whistler noVeMBer – DeCeMBer • Canada's national Gingerbread Showcase, Victoria www.HelloBC.com/Events PoWDer SKiierS • toUriSM VanCoUVer/toUriSM WHiStLer QUICK FACT HOME TO / OF NORTH AMERICA'S GRIZZLIES, B.C. BOASTS CANADA'S ONLY GRIZZLY BEAR SANCTUARY, KHUTZEYMATEEN PROVINCIAL PARK. BRITISH COLUMBIA