Nikki

Have a 4 week stint to plan, both holiday and working. I have won a scholarship and am planning to work in Vancouver and Kamloops. I am on my own for the first week, which I will probably spend in Vancouver. How long should I spend in Kamloops? Where should I visit in both places and surrounding? The reason for coming in February through March is for the NHL!!!

gary

Nikki, you're leaving too many important questions unanswered. Like for instance - isn't how long you spend in Vancouver and /or Kamloops dependant on when, where and what your 'working' involves. <BR><BR>Frankly, during late February & early March Kamloops is only of interest to skiers and Cowboys. Sunpeaks Ski resort just north of Kamloops is a scaled down version of Whistler or Banff with excellant dry powder while early March sees the annual Bull Sale - Big doings in Kamloops if you're into talking Bull sperm and the like. Otherwise Kamloops is still in the grips of winter which is not a nice season there. Since I spend a few weeks a year there in all seasons I can give you some hints on where to stay etc. But first I have to know exactly how Kamloops fits into your plans. <BR><BR>Oh yes - Kamloops also has an excellant Junior Hockey team. Junior Hockey is made up of 17-20 year old future NHL'rs from all over the globe and is very entertaining if not as intense or fast as the big leagues. Vancouver also has a Junior team but it's well down the standings from Kamloops.<BR><BR>Vancouver in late February and early March is usually one of the happier times of year because spring - with the concommitant spring flowers and tree blossoms start showing and the days get longer and sunnier after two or three months not unlike your Scottish winters. The local mountains are still clad in snow but down in the city it is most definately spring.<BR><BR>The Canucks are doing real poorly this year - another dissappointment that we should be getting used to already but my son and I share season tickets and so we still go and the games are usually close to if not completely sold out. But there's always scalpers outside and last minute nosebleed section tickets go on sale about two hours prior to each game. Single tickets shouldn't be hard to come by thought the price for good seats will run around $50 depending on how attractive the visiting team is. Canadian teams are always a bigger attraction than US ones unless it's say the Pittsburgh Penguins with Lemieux in the lineup.<BR><BR>As i said - I'll be glad to fill you in on more specifics but you must also be more specific.

nikki

Hi Gary and thanks for taking the time to write.<BR><BR>I should have explained - I am a qualified veterinary nurse and I am one of 3 in the Uk to win a travel scholarship. I chose to go to Vancouver to visit the BCSPCA hospital in the city then the shelter in Kamloops. I have a plane ticket which lasts 4 weeks form middel february to middle march. I basically decide how long I work for!! As I am getting 2 weeks paid leave from my job then the other 2 weeks will beholiday I think it only fair that I work for 2 weeks!<BR><BR>My husband is coming out for 3 weeks so our first plannig has come out like this;<BR><BR>18/02 land in Vancouver stay in BandB somewhere in the city<BR>19/02 recover from jet lag and discover the city a little for myself; perhaps be able toget someone from the BCSPCA to put me up for the next week while working at the hospital until the MOnday 25/02 when hubby arrives.<BR>26/02 day off spend with hubby<BR>27/02 and 28/02 work at hospital<BR>01/03 spend in Vancouver with hubby<BR>02/03 travel to Whistler and spend night there<BR>03/03 travel to Kamloops and work there for 5 days<BR>the rest of the time until we fly back on 15/03 is ours and we are thinknig of spending it in Seattle and surroundings.<BR><BR>We are nto skiers but I really want to go into the mountains the weather doesnt bother me.<BR><BR>We are looking at BandBs as we doubt we can afford big flash hotels. Somone at BCSPCA Kamloops have offered to put me up though that was when I decided I would go to Kamloops for the first week myself,that is now changed so would have to ask if hubby can stay too or get a BandB. Is there much for hubby to do during the day up there?<BR><BR>We already have Stars and Blues games tickets and are considering the other game our last weekend in the city.<BR><BR>Been to toronto twice and loved it even if the weather took our breathes away! <BR><BR>want to see and do as muich as possible as well as do the nursing to justifiy the amount of money I got from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to go there!<BR><BR>Any help/tips appreciated and would love a Band B recommendation which is within walking distance of 1209 east 7th avenue!

Susan

I always stay with family and friends when I'm in BC, but I'm starting to look into a holiday in Nova Scotia for the summer. I found a really good site for B&B's - www.bbcanada.com. They are organized by province and then by area within the province. Kamloops would be in the Okanagan Similkameen area. I don't know Kamloops very well, but my brothers both live in the Okanagan (Kelowna and Vernon). Both are in a prettier area than Kamloops (in my opinion). They get a fair amount of snow and lots of people are into skiing there. There are also some wineries around Vernon, could be Kamloops as well, so maybe you could check out some of those. <BR><BR>You'll probably find BC considerably cheaper than Seattle area. I love Seattle, but it's kind of pricy, especially with our Canadian dollar. But it's fun for a few days. <BR><BR>I'm sure you'll love BC!

gary

Nikki I have to tell you that the 1200 block East 7th Avenue is not a great area to stay in. It's generally an area of low rent housing with quite a bit of street prostitution and drug dealing - so definately not a good walking area at night - which comes shortly after 5:15 PM in February. My suggestion would be to stay either in the Downtown core near a Sky Train station which could take you to within about 5 or 6 blocks of your work or there are some very nice B & B's in the South Granville area where you could take a Broadway Bus to within a block or two of your work. Of course this is assuming that you won't be renting a car while in Vancouver.<BR><BR>I agree with susan that Seattle is worth a couple of days visit but frankly it's not as attractive or as cosmopolitan as Vancouver. Add that to the fact that things are generally much more expensive there and I think you'll find a side trip to Victoria and the rest of vancuver Island, (Tofino on the Pacific Ocean is fantastic and I believe that's a good Whale Watching time), much more rewarding.<BR><BR>Unfortunately 'Hubby' is probably not going to love Kamloops. It's a great town to live in but you wouldn't want to visit there to reverse an oft used phrase. Most tourists just use it as a halfway point between the Rockies and the Coast and few stay to enjoy the local highlights. You will need a car there if you want to be mobile. The bus system is not that frequent outside of the central core. <BR><BR>There's a very nice Casino downtown if you enjoy gambling and as I said above you might want to take in some Junior Hockey games. Other than that not much in the daytime outside of winter sports.<BR><BR>Vancouver, Whistler and Vancouver Island on the other hand are wonderful places to visit at any time of year and unless the weather turns dreadful i think you and Hubby will have a ball.

nikki

Thanks susan and gary for taking the time to reply.<BR><BR>I had a funny feeling that Kamloops wouldnt be the most interesting of places and Vancouver will so we change our plans a little, to see as much of Vancouver and just enough of Kamloops!<BR><BR>Hubby is a new driver so he cant drive over there; we will probably get a car on our last week when we go to Seattle, but do bus and/or train for the first weeks.<BR><BR>Someone else told me that the area where the Hospital is, isnt very nice so will look into a BandB elsewhere.<BR><BR>As you say, we shall have a ball!!<BR>

Scott

Hi Nikki:<BR><BR>Your seven days in Kamloops is all you'll need there.<BR><BR>The BCSPCA hospital is...as has been said already....not in a very nice neighborhood, but it is easily accessible by public transit along the Broadway bus route....with buses every few minutes, and very close to the Broadway SkyTrain station(our Tube...such as it is), which connects with many areas. You can therefore stay almost anywhere in the city and get to the animal hospital easily. I'd suggest that you stay in a B and B in the West End or the West Side(Kitsilano). I live in Vancouver, so I'm not up on the B and B's, but I know there are many and you should be able to locate a good one on the web. <BR><BR>Enjoy!<BR><BR>Scott

Nikki

Thanks for your reply Scott.<BR><BR>We have decided that the first week that I am there on my own I shall travel to Kamloops and spend 3 or 4 working days there before hopefully if I can get a bus back that way, go back to Vacnouver via Whstler and spend a night there.<BR><BR>I have tried looking up Greyhound buses to see if they go from Kamloops to Vancouver via Whistler but it is not letting me on at present.<BR><BR>Dont know whether I shoud just hire a car? Suggestions?<BR><BR>By the way we dont really drive automatics over here in the UK, I have driven a little in Toronto but at least then I had my brother with me who is an acomplished driver in the US/Canada.<BR><BR>Dont know if the weather will be so bad that it would make driving difficult.

John

Nikki, Greyhound doesn't have a direct route between Kamloops and Whistler; you'd have to go to Vancouver (5 hrs) and switch to another bus (2 hrs) to get there. It's around 175 mi. driving direct from Kamloops to Whistler, but in February it might be a little hairy on the roads, albeit obviously quicker. Also don't forget it will still be getting dark pretty early, so all in all you might think about an overnight in Vancouver between legs, which would also let you ride the bus to and from Kamloops, thereby avoiding potential snowy roads. A car from Vancouver to Whistler will let you enjoy this most beautiful of roads. Rumour also has it there's a train (Via Rail) between Vancouver and Kamloops; runs once in awhile, takes 7+ hours.<BR><BR>The train from Vancouver to Seattle is a lovely ride, and based on present southbound border conditions (3 hours' wait for us yesterday) may well be faster than driving. An alternative for your husband and you would be to take the bus (& ferry) from Vancouver to Victoria, then fly on a float plane to Lake Union in Seattle. If you drop the idea of a car, the cost will be about the same, and you won't have to worry about cross-border car drop-off or all that nuisance. And the flight will be a blast - see www.kenmoreair.com. <BR><BR>You can rent a car for a day or two in Seattle if you want, but frankly in March the most attractive options (and they are) in either Vancouver or Seattle don't involve sightseeing in the countryside, unless you're a rain addict. <BR><BR>Vancouver more cosmopolitan? Maybe - you can get haggis there, unlike here in Seattle. I guess that proves it.<BR><BR>Happy planning, Nikki.

gary

I agree wholeheartedly with John's suggested Itinery Vancouver to Victoria via ferry,to Seattle by seaplane and back to Vancouver by Train. By the way from Vancuver to Victoria there is a bus/ferry option that goes from Downtown Vancouver to the very centre of Tourist Victoria at a very reasonable cost. <BR><BR>Even if you wern't inexperienced with right hand drive I would not reccomend mountain driving in the winter for any but the most snow smart drivers. Take the Bus to Kamloops and back. Even the trip to Whistler is a treacherous albeit beautiful road. You can see just as well from a bus, (sit on the right going up and on the left going <BR> down), and in Whistler itself you won't need a car for 90% of the attractions are either easily walkable or by gondola or chair lift.<BR><BR>In spite of what John said Vancouver IS more cosmopolitan - especially Asian - than Seattle. Seattle is a very American city and has a great many attractions especially for someone who has not seen much of the US. It's also one of the prettiest and most liveable of US cities but I'm betting that when you go home you'll agree that Vancouver is more cosmopolitan - and much more affordable!!

Jayne

er... I mean this in a nice way...<BR><BR>But often if you are from the England Victoria did not have that much of an appeal... Being a brit that emigrated to Vancouver - I was MUCH more impressed with places on the west side of the island, like Tofino... The natural beauty and open spaces - that is what impressed me - the architecture and e.g. the empress is a copy of much of what is in London.<BR><BR>I also volunteered and worked for the BCSPCA Vancouver Branch, and would say that compared to some areas of London that I have lived the area around the clinic is not that bank - powell street - well yes I understand.<BR><BR>I have walked shelter dogs many a time at 8.00 9.00 o'clock at night and as long as you keep to the lit areas you are ok... Also, you have college directly opposite - so it's not that bad...<BR><BR>I now live in Seattle, and because (i guess) I used to live and work in London I enjoy the vibrance and beauty of Seattle (Vancouver is very beautiful too - I lived on the North Shore and miss the mountains, deep cover, and dog walks terribly). However, Seattle is alive at night, Vancouver is not....<BR><BR>Sorry folks that's just my opinion...<BR><BR>

Jayne

apologises for the spelling -<BR><BR>bank = bad<BR><BR>cover = cove<BR><BR>duh!!!

nikki

Jane, email me please; wpuld ,love to hear about the BCSPCA!<BR><BR>Many thanks to all who replied, sounds like I am gonna have a whale of a time; hey, whale watching........cool!!!!!