This One Tank Trip as seen in the 2010 Woodall’s North American Campground Directory.
Starting off in Vancouver, one of the first things you notice about the city is how clean it is. In fact, it’s rated as one of the cleanest cities in North America. Even though it’s a major metropolitan area, the air is surprisingly clear. The streets are swept and the buses and trolleys are graffiti-free. You’ll find a coffee shop on virtually every corner, and there’s always a poetry reading or live music going on somewhere. Take a walk through Stanley Park, which sprawls over several acres and allows you to lose yourself among the trees as you follow the winding trails. Be on the lookout for the dark brown ground squirrels, which are only too happy to block your way and demand food for allowing you to pass through their turf. The aquarium at Stanley Park features many exhibits of fresh and salt water fish, some of which are rare or endangered. Traverse further through the park and you’ll find yourself transported to the Amazon rain forest and will come face-to-face with several types of wildlife from that region, including the dreaded anaconda. Up in North Vancouver, you can traverse the Capilano Suspension Bridge, which is touted as being the number one tourist attraction in Vancouver. The swaying boards take you across a 200-foot chasm that provides you with a world-class view, and the surrounding park is filled with restaurants, shops, and activities guaranteed to make this an experience to remember. What makes this area great for one tank trips and vacations is that you’ve got every type of terrain available to you within a short driving distance. Beaches, snow-covered mountains, marshland, even desert, are all easily accessible, and waiting for your exploration at this South British Columbia camping destination.
Heading north out of Vancouver via the PR-1A, take it for 12 miles until you come to the PR-1. Along the way, you’ll see signs for the Sea to Sky Highway, which runs alongside a steep fjord that offers up unparalleled views between the West Vancouver and Squamish areas. Take the PR-1 for 7 miles, then head north on the PR-99 for just under 30 miles until you pull into the Squamish/Britannia Beach area. This area is considered to be the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada, with more opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, rappelling, or watching wildlife than just about any other part of the province. In the fall, avian enthusiasts from all around gather to get lingering looks at the rarely-sighted bald eagles, which return to Squamish every year and make it their winter home. In nearby Britannia Beach, the BC Museum of Mining provides a change of pace, and gives visitors a comprehensive look at the mining operations at work in the Vancouver area, dating back to the earliest prospecting days.
Take a drive through 40 miles of breathtaking greenery via the PR-99 and before you know it you’ll find yourself in Whistler, site of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Walk in the steps of some of the world’s greatest athletes and try your luck with the downhill ski courses, or maybe just sip a hot toddy by a warm fire in any one of the numerous ski lodges in the area. In the summertime, you’ll have your pick of such fair weather activities as golf, tennis, canoeing and kayaking, rock climbing, and renting an ATV for some off-road adventure. Go whitewater rafting down the Elaho-Squamish River, or ride the gondolas to the top of a 6,000 foot mountain peak and work up an appetite by hiking back down. Add to this a myriad of shopping and fine dining opportunities, and you’ll see why Whistler is considered one of the most treasured jewels in British Columbia’s crown of tourist destinations and the perfect spot for ending South BC one tank trips when possible.
When you experience this area for yourself, you’ll see that British Columbia camping blends elegance and ruggedness, relaxation and adventure, like no other area in the world can.
Other Area Sponsors in British Columbia:
Hazelmere RV Park & Campground
Burnaby Cariboo RV Park
Planning a British Columbia camping trip? Don’t miss this other great route on one tank of fuel:
2009 British Columbia One Tank Trip
For a complete list of one tank trips visit Woodalls.com.
