Gateway to
Yoho, Glacier and Mount Revelstoke National
Parks by
Jerry W. Bird
We've
visited Revelstoke and area many times during that
great, relaxing drive from Calgary to Vancouver via
Rogers Pass, the Okanagan, Shuswap and Kamloops.
The chain of snow tunnels through the montains east
of the city are something to marvel at, and make
you wonder how folks coped with avalanches in the
early days. We've also experienced that same scenic
route by rail, perched like royalty in the spacious
Dome Car, which is a whole different ball game - a
laid back world of pure travel pleasure. The
conductor read off the points of interest every few
miles from a journal that was printed almost a
century ago - and believe it or not, few things had
changed in the interim. While I've never stayed in
Revelstoke overnight, not long ago I was assigned
the task of writing a hotel profile of the area for
Inn Focus, official magazine of the BC Yukon
Hotels' Association
(BCYHA)ow for
BC Scene and Air Highways Journal, we have the
opportunity to tell the full story as we see it. I
have always been impressed by Revelstoke's location
with the broad river running by the highway, and
tall, snow-capped mountains in the background
framing the scene.
On
last summer's trip from Calgary to Vancouver via
the Trans Canada Highway, we stopped for dinner at
Revelstoke, where I copied down some local prose
from a beautiful stained glass window. The artist
pays homage to the many brave and adventurous souls
who came this way during the Cariboo Gold Rush and
its various offshoots. I took other copious notes
while talking to the owner a delightful lady who
was most helpful, even though her restuarant was
loaded with guests at the time. This incident has
spurred me to add a major chapter in my book
"Adventure Rails, on the vital role Revelstoke
played in during the building and subsequent
operation of passenger service on Canada's great
transcontinental railway.
My maternal
grandfather, Ernie J. Somerton, spent some time
working there many decades ago and had fond
memories, just like my own. We will talk about the
attractions nearby such as the Hot Springs (east on
Trans Canada) and the museum at Three Valley Gap, a
delightful lakeside attraction where I went nuts
with my camera shooting everything in sight. By the
way, Sicamous, Mara Lake and the Mighty Shuswap are
just down the road. Been there and done that many
times, but never get tired of the trip, the people
and the countryside.
In the meantime,
for more details on Revelstoke and area,
contact:
We've
visited Revelstoke and area many times during that
great, relaxing drive from Calgary to Vancouver via
Rogers Pass, the Okanagan, Shuswap and Kamloops.
The chain of snow tunnels through the montains east
of the city are something to marvel at, and make
you wonder how folks coped with avalanches in the
early days. We've also experienced that same scenic
route by rail, perched like royalty in the spacious
Dome Car, which is a whole different ball game - a
laid back world of pure travel pleasure. The
conductor read off the points of interest every few
miles from a journal that was printed almost a
century ago - and believe it or not, few things had
changed in the interim. While I've never stayed in
Revelstoke overnight, not long ago I was assigned
the task of writing a hotel profile of the area for
Inn Focus, official magazine of the BC Yukon
Hotels' Association
(BCYHA)ow for
BC Scene and Air Highways Journal, we have the
opportunity to tell the full story as we see it. I
have always been impressed by Revelstoke's location
with the broad river running by the highway, and
tall, snow-capped mountains in the background
framing the scene. 
On
last summer's trip from Calgary to Vancouver via
the Trans Canada Highway, we stopped for dinner at
Revelstoke, where I copied down some local prose
from a beautiful stained glass window. The artist
pays homage to the many brave and adventurous souls
who came this way during the Cariboo Gold Rush and
its various offshoots. I took other copious notes
while talking to the owner a delightful lady who
was most helpful, even though her restuarant was
loaded with guests at the time. This incident has
spurred me to add a major chapter in my book
"Adventure Rails, on the vital role Revelstoke
played in during the building and subsequent
operation of passenger service on Canada's great
transcontinental railway. 
Revelstoke
Chamber of Commerce