Summer holidays are approaching leaving some of us wondering where time has gone this year.
However, there are so many great things going on all over the north this year which make for lots of fun for the younger ones. Locally, there are some great camps like the wilderness ones offered at the Bear Claw lodge for kids of all ages or the River Rafting course offered by the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition for the older teens. Then of course there is a variety of soccer programs for children of all ages. If you so desired there are some really fun courses ranging from a day to weeks in Smithers through the Bulkley Valley Recreation Centre which.
Now if you are looking for something less time demanding and less costly, lets not forget about our amazing local parks and recreation areas such as Seeley and Ross Lake or take a longer drive to one of the great lakes up the Kispiox Valley or Kitwancool or even Bell Lake which is a favourite for us. However, the deactivation of the Kitwanga back road makes for a longer journey to get to the lake but it is still worth it when it comes to top notch recreation site.
If fishing and camping aren’t your thing, we sure have amazing day hikes around too, such as the lookout or waterfall behind New Hazelton for short excursions. Hospital Lake and the network of trails in Two Mile are wonderful day hikes and then for the more adventuresome there are always places like Blue Lakes, Komo Road or even Red Rose Mine.
Now that the water is receding, fishing in the Skeena and Bulkely Rivers is almost back to normal but please, get legal and get a fishing licence no matter where you fish this year and be respectful of the limits, rules and guidelines.
There are many of us who will venture elsewhere for holidays and while the first few years I was here I always headed south or east, I now know some amazing places here I really enjoy seeing every year. The drive to Hyder is a must if you haven’t done it. The glaciers and sights are worth the drive. Kitimat and the Nass offer some amazing day trips and Prince Rupert is always great for an awesome seafood dinner.
However, one of my favourites without a doubt is Haida Gwaii. I am surprised that so many people who live here have never made the day trip to this amazing and almost untouched paradise. If you haven’t been, I hope you think about making the trip as I am yet to meet someone who was not thrilled about their journey there.
Whatever you decide to do this year, have fun, love and appreciate where you live and make sure you play and drive safely. And tell us all about it when you get a chance!
Shannon Hurst is the correspondent for the Three Rivers Report and writes the weekly My Town column.