Monday, November 7, 2016

Enjoy The Good Things In Life With Fraser Valley Tours

By Helen Howard


You don't always have to travel to the end of the Earth to have a magical time. Sometimes the good life can be found right on your doorstep. For instance, if you live in the Vancouver area or the Pacific Northwest, Fraser Valley tours can offer a quick but unforgettable weekend getaway.

The Fraser Valley region is the area that makes up the lower basin of the Fraser River, one of the longest rivers in Canada. The valley starts at Hope, a town that lies a little over 150 km to the east of Vancouver in British Columbia and lies just downstream from the beautiful Fraser Canyon. From here the river flows southwest past Chilliwack and down to Abbotsford, where it turns northwest and flows into the Pacific Ocean just south of Vancouver.

Long before settlement by people of European descent, First Nations people lived in the area, which had an abundance of food and a strategic location. When the settlers moved here, they quickly saw too how useful the river was as a way of transporting goods. A gold rush in the middle of the nineteenth century brought more people and regular steamboat traffic and once the rush was over, farmers stayed to work the fertile soil along the river banks. Today many people live here and some of the towns in the region are really becoming suburbs of Vancouver.

Today there are many people living in the valley but you'll still find it a haven for nature lovers and active travelers. Bird-watching is a popular activity, as are horse-riding, cycling and hiking. The lakes in the area offer stand-up paddleboarding and the rivers and streams offer fantastic fishing.

The small region is extremely productive, providing more than half of the province's food. You'll find a wide range of agricultural produce here, from dairy to berries. Wineries abound too. If you have a passion for food, you should definitely explore the farm stalls, markets and eateries and stock up on farm-fresh produce and homemade treats.

There are several ways to discover everything the region has to offer. A self-drive tour is the easiest if you like doing things your own way but on a guided tour you may discover treasures you never knew existed. Travel companies offer tours by shuttle, bicycle or even on horseback. You can also opt for a boat tour and try to catch salmon for the pot or a giant sturgeon for the bragging rights.

With its mild climate, the area makes for a pleasant experience no matter what time of year you visit. It can be rainy, though, especially during winter, and snow is not unusual. Instead of planning your trip around the weather, it's a great idea to check out the many local festivals and events and visit accordingly.

You'll find a wide range of accommodation options to suit different budgets. Getting here is easy too, with frequent buses from Vancouver and international airports in Vancouver, Abbotsford, Bellingham and Seattle. Remember though that if you travel up from Bellingham or Seattle, you will need a valid passport to cross into Canada.




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