Enjoying the view to the Coquihalla Canyon near Hope, BC
They say some of the best things in life are free. This is certainly the case with the Othello Tunnels Rail Trail. The trail is part of the Coquihalla National Provincial Park and it is located just outside Hope, BC. Hope, for those of you not familiar with it, is called Hollywood North since many movies have been filmed here. When you are in the Hope area and look at the rugged beauty around you, you see why action scenes in movies like the 80s Rambo where filmed here.
On my first visit to the tunnels my husband tricked me into believing we had to crawl though some caves filled with bats to get to the other side of the park. I was ready for it, camera in hand and all. I felt a little disappointed when I found out it was not the case but once I passed the first tunnel and saw the scenery that surrounded us my disappointment vanished.
The Coquihalla rapid waters roaring below me
The Othello Tunnels were part of the former Kettle Valley Railway
that passed through Southern BC. So they are big enough to fit a big,
steaming train. The Kettle Valley is said to be one of the most
expensive railways to have ever been built in the world. Its
construction took from 1911 to 1918 and it is said many workers, many of
them of Asian origin, died in the blasts that cut through the canyon
rock. This part of the Kettle Railway was declared out of service in
1959. The trail-tracks have been removed and now visitors can enjoy the 2 kilometers-hike that goes through the 5 tunnels (called the Quintette Tunnels). The tunnels are dark so it is a good idea to bring a flashlight but you will be OK without one because the tunnels are not all that long. The best part of the trail is the bridges; pause and enjoy the views of the Coquihalla river canyon that they offer. If you look close you could even see some fish jumping around in the roaring river waters.
There are picnics tables near the parking lot are and next to the river and also pit toilets. Keep in mind the trail is closed during Winter time, from November to March, due to the increase chance of rock slides so plan your visit accordingly. Check out people's opinions of the park on TripAdvisorhere.
This video offers more views of the scenery surrounding the Othello Tunnels.
At Stanley Park, Vancouver. The Lions Gate Bridge is in the background.
One of the first places I visited when I arrived in Canada was Stanley Park. We were living a couple of hours away from the city back then. I remember D didn't tell me where he was taking me so all I knew was that we were going to the city. I had seem lots of pictures of Stanley Park and I happen to be a sucker for coastal cities landscapes so visiting Stanley Park was first in my list of places to visit in Vancouver.
Stanley Park was officially opened in 1888 and at the same time the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation was created. This park was Vancouver's first official green space. Today is the third largest urban parkin North America and is definitely one of thebest urban parks in the world.
The Park extends 1,000 acres near downtown Vancouver. It has two beaches where you can swim and a lake, Beaver Lake, where actual beavers live and work. Another landmark of the park is the Hollow Tree. The area of the park was logged in the past and this huge and hollow stomp is a reminder of that. People love to have their picture taken next to the stump to show its size. You can check some imageshere.
Stanley Park has a lot of trails but probably the most famous one is the Seawall with its 8.8 km. You can enjoy a spectacular view of the city, the water, and the big commercial ships in the background while you walk or ride a bike on this trail . On one end of the Seawall you will find some nice swimming pools you might want to jump into during the Summertime. I still haven't tried any of the forest trails but if you have limited time to visit don't miss out on them. You can also practice several sports in the park besides the obvious jogging and cycling. Tennis is one of them and you can check the rest of them clicking right here.
If you plan to go to Stanley Park it might be a good idea to get there on public transport. You can leave your car parked in any of the city's Park and Ride spots. We spent well over an hour to travel through the few last blocks to get to the park. It was well worth it though. And also, check out the food venues; they are really good and some offer some pretty spectacular views as well.
Stanley Park is a huge park. You may want to bring some extra cash to get drinks and food. But be ready to pay a bit more than regular price.
