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Sea
to Sky Highway to Whistler:Resort of the Rich and
Famous
 WHISTLER
OFFERS LUXURY AT LOW COST
Whistler is at the
top in terms of Best Vacation Value in North
America and the Caribbean according to a survey of
223 U.S. travel agents. The survey published by the
weekly U.S. News & World Report underscores the
emphasis affluent vacationers are putting on value
without compromising service. Whistler's high-end
amenities, natural setting and great prices have
made it an attractive destination. Value hunters
can enjoy summer packages including four nights
accommodation and their choice of resort or
wildlife sightseeing tours, or golfing starting at
$339 Cdn per person. COTA member Tourism Whistler
confirms that last year Whistler as a destination
generated$1.1 billion in visitor spending for 2001,
just over 10 per cent of all tourism spending in
the province.
Recognized
by Lives of the Rich and Famous as the Number One
ski resort in North America, Whistler is 2 hours
north of Vancouver on the Sea to Sky Highway. While
it's not an air gateway, many vacationers, property
owners and business travelers fly in to this great
resort area by helicopter or via Pemberton Airport.
Spring
through fall: As a four season alpine resort,
Whistler offers 4 golf courses, whose designers
include Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent
Jones Jr. and Robert Cupp. In summer, the weather
is ideal for hiking, biking, tennis, and horseback
riding, windsurfing, sailing, or canoeing on one of
five lakes nearby.Since getting there is half the
fun, we'll describe the drive north from Vancouver.
We could fill many pages extolling the joys of life
in and around Whistler, however in the interest of
saving space we will provide some recommended links
below. Much more to come on this site. For specific
information on accommodation, etc. contact
Whistler
Online:
 A
Great Drive En Route to
Whistler
One
of our favourite drives is the Sea-to-Sky Highway
from Horseshoe Bay in North Vancouver to the
Whistler- Blackcomb area. There are many unique
tourist attractions on the way, including the town
of Squamish, home of Logger's Days and a
Railway Museum. It is fast becoming a hikers' and
climbers' haven for city dwellers seeking a quick
escape. One unique spot that stands out in my mind
is the museum at Britannia Beach- a salute to
British Columbia's Mining industry and those who
made their living underground.
BC Museum of Mining
Leaving Vancouver's North Shore via the "Upper
Levels" you round the bend at Horseshoe Bay, where
the BC ferry fleet departs for Nanaimo, the
Adventure Islands and Sunshine Coast, then weave
northward along the aptly-named Sea-to-Sky highway,
to Whistler and points beyond. Those who marvel at
history and man's ingenuity will discover a real
treasure at Britannia
Beach, a few
scenic miles along the cliff-hugging route. Here on
the shores of Howe Sound, British Columbia's mining
heritage is preserved intact at the Britannia
Copper Mine, which served world markets from 1888
to the 1970s.
Survivor of fire, flood and avalanche, this hardy
community harbors a national treasure, and has
become a favorite location for major motion
pictures. In a word - awesome. Little wonder most
motorists make an abrupt stop for a close
encounter, many staying for several hours of fun
and exploration. For history buffs like me, the BC.
Museum of Mining and adjacent area is a destination
all by itself. In the boom days of the 1920s and
'30s, Britannia was the largest producer of copper
ore in the British Empire- a jewel in her imperial
crown. Today, it's a National Historic Site
destined to become a world-class venue for mining,
geology and social history, thanks to a recent
restoration program.'
Looming like a
centurion at the entrance is a mammoth 235-ton
Wabco "Super Truck" - part of a fleet which
revolutionized low-grade mining worldwide. Guided
tours begin with "The Britannia Story," featured in
rock displays, ore samples, realistic models, maps,
drawings, documents and artifacts. Along with the
dramatic portrayal of hard-rock mining and other
methods used in the province, you get a feeling for
the human side of the industry, reflected in the
life and times of workers and families. Displays on
two other levels present an overview of British
Columbia's rich mining heritage, plus a showcase on
Craigmont, a copper mine in central BC. near
Smithers.
While the dominant
physical feature at Britannia Beach is
the mine's enormous concentrator building, which
sprawls
for eight levels up the cliff side, the true
highlight is your journey underground . The mine
train (which once toted its own privy) takes your
group into the mountainside where you'll witness
the "tried and true," as well as more current
methods of drilling, blasting, mucking, sluicing
and rock stabilization.
Emerging from the
mine, you'll have a close-up look inside the
immense gravity-fed concentrator - a spectacular
sight, and a regional landmark for more than 75
years. During peak operations, this monstrous
complex processed more than 7,000 tons of ore
daily, and is the only facility of its kind in
North America still accessible to the public.
At the "Mining
House", where all tours begin and end, you'll be
treated to a "magic lantern" show - a slide
presentation which traces Britannia's colorful
history, recapping your experience inside the heart
of Mt. Sheer.
A walking tour
includes the Assay Office, containing a variety of
rock creations donated for auction this fall.
Across the way stands the "Ritz Hotel" and assorted
mine buildings under restoration. As a token of
your visit, the museum offers complimentary drill
core samples, many of which date prior to the first
world war. Later you can try gold
panning.
The BC Museum of
Mining is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. , Wednesdays
through Sundays and legal holidays - from May until
October. Britannia Beach is 45 minutes from
Vancouver, and is served by Maverick Coach Lines (5
times daily) and by BC Rail.
During tourist
season, there's a likely chance you'll
spot BC's most famous locomotive - The
Royal
Hudson,
an elegant steam train, which connects with the
tour ship Britannia for an exciting day trip from
Vancouver to nearby Squamish.
Another reminder
of an earlier era at Britannia's dockside was the
SS Prince George, once a proud member of Canadian
National's Alaska fleet. Part of the "Britannia
Opportunity" plan, is a pocket cruise dock, public
pier and marina, along with an integrated
transportation depot. The community features craft
shops, an impressive live-action display of native
Indian stone sculpture and several dining spots. We
enjoyed a grand home-cooked meal recently, topped
by a miner's sized slab of lemon meringue pie at
the Tea Shop, a cozy corner of
Canadiana.
For free
information on this fascinating attraction, call or
write: BC. Museum of Mining, Box 188, Britannia
Beach, BC VON 1JO. phone(604) 688-8735. For group
tour arrangements, fax (604) 892-9152
Whistler Info:
http://www.whistler-blackcomb.com/html/dssk/index.html
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