It’s easy to get beyond the bustle of Vancouver city and into the natural wilderness that makes British Columbia so magical.  With so much space, there is a huge diversity of environments to inspire; from primordial rainforests and roaring rivers to magnificent waterfalls and towering mountains. BC even boasts Osoyoos, Canada’s one true desert terrain.  Whether you’re setting out on a lengthy hike to gain the vistas of the vast and sublime BC interior, or picking your way through ancient forests on a mountain bike, you’ll be hard pressed not be moved and inspired by the landscape here.

A mountainous region peppered with lakes and rivers, BC is a prime boating, swimming and fishing province. The lakes in calm weather are mirror perfect and clear, reflecting the towering rocky crags that burst skyward.  Often the dense firs and cedars that fill the lower reaches of the mountains rush all the way to the water’s edge, though there are plenty of clear beaches to bask on.

That is what BC has always been celebrated for. From its famous provincial parks to its fertile farmland yielding the best produce in the country; it is the natural environment that truly delivers here. Unarguably the best way to experience the wonders of the natural world is to fully emerge oneself, to be the master of one’s own destiny and truly appreciate the freedom the province delivers. Self-reliance cannot be better celebrated anywhere else; it’s time to leave the hotel behind and take your home with you, on the road or on the lake.

Dubbed “Houseboating Capital of Canada”, the lakeside town of Sicamous is located about halfway between Calgary and Vancouver, in the Shuswap region and provides all the amenities you would expect for summer by the lake. Waterways Houseboats in Sicamous offers a professional houseboat rental service, and boasts one of the largest fleet on Shuswap Lake . Their gentle giants allow you to cruise over 1000km of water of the famous ‘H’ shaped lake at a leisurely 7mph. And they really are giants too; the largest multi-tiered vessels can accommodate up to 30 people and feature their very own water slide and all the comforts of a luxury apartment. Bring a driving licence, listen to the instruction briefing and it’s yours. Or, if it’s something a little smaller you need, choose the ten berth boat for a romantic couples retreat on the lake. Whichever vessel you chose, you can moor up and rest assured that it has been fitted with top of the range equipment to keep you safe and comfortable, and allow you to experience it at its fullest.  In addition to the comfortable furnishings and all the amenities for your home-away-from-home vacation, Waterways Houseboats have recently rolled out their wireless internet access to all their boats, meaning you can stay connected and don’t go completely feral on your floating holiday.

The houseboating peak season is in summer when the lake is more like a bath and continues until September when the weather is still warm and mild. Geared towards an active outdoors crowd, any and all water sports are yours to cherry pick from the nearby lake front communities. Activities like parasailing, jet skiing, water skiing, and tubing, are all within easy reach.

Of course, sport fishing and angling are a big part of life here. The water is teeming in the season with the biggest freshwater fish in North America. Lakeside fishing lodges are dotted throughout BC, but you’ll need a licence before you can cast your lines. You can also fish straight from your houseboat, so can get to the deep waters in the middle of lake, where the best catches are to be had. With a little luck you can land some heavyweight trout and kokanee.

As an alternative, the Recreational Vehicle (RV) allows holidaymakers to shrink the vast BC interior down to size and do as much or as little exploring as they like, and you’re easily able to move from town to town or park to park to join the dots.

Carrying your home on your back summons up the wagons of the western frontier and the fur trade that opened up this territory, and there’s still no better way to get into the endless BC interior in comfort and luxury than on your own four wheels—or the fifth wheel as they say! Situated in Delta in the Vancouver metropolitan area, CanaDream offers a range of motorhome rentals to get your perfect BC road trip started. You’ll find no pokey camper here; the largest in the range sleeps six people and is a king of the road. You can stop where and whenever you want, giving you the freedom of the open road that has to be experienced first-hand. There are hundreds of campsites to settle down in too if you want a camping community for the night. CanaDream hosts dozens of planned routes to get you on a true adventure, right at your doorstep!

The Pacific Northwest is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty. Furthermore, you’re never far away from BC’s famous provincial and national parks, area of outstanding natural beauty preserved for the benefit and enjoyment of the public. The founders had visions of a democratic open space founded to maintain the beauty and functionality of the surrounding forested areas, and to protect them from development and logging. The recreational attraction of the parks and the enjoyment of the guests are paramount providing many hiking trails. These places of special ecological beauty were heralded by the burgeoning environmentalist movement, whose legacy today is an environmentally conscious population who live out of doors and enjoy life’s adventurous side. On the houseboat or in the RV, you will be in the thick of it, able to freely explore this beauty easily.

Whether you decide to take to the lake or the road on your BC vacation, you’re bound to have an unforgettable experience that will stay with you forever.

John Dunn, My Destination
January 2012

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