Helen Moore Shirley Lew Haidee Parker Richmond Public Library

Surf before you camp

Start by visiting Camping British Columbia at www.camping.bc.ca/ to find ideas for camping “tours” of the province. The search function makes it easy to find out about facilities available in every area. Travel British Columbia at www.travel.bc.ca provides information about private campgrounds as well as other types of lodging, and even has a calculator to help travelers determine distance and driving time to destinations throughout B.C. Be sure to check the “travel stories” link to find first hand accounts of “exhilarating” white water rafting trips, the peacefulness of Hot Springs Cove near Tofino, and more.

Another trip planning site is the B.C. Adventure Network at www.bcadventure.com/adventure/index.html, which is full of recreational and event information, as well as facts about B.C.’s wineries and even the wildlife of the province.

Provincial parks provide a wealth of recreational activities for campers, including swimming, boating and hiking. People heading off for a camping adventure should first check the B.C. Parks website at www.elp.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/, which provides information on over 600 parks in the province. Here people can search for their intended campground by park name or region, and learn everything from the history and cultural heritage of the area to tips on how to practice “no trace camping”, so that no signs of human use are left at campgrounds. Don’t forget to reserve your spot in B.C.’s great outdoors by visiting Discover Camping at www.discovercamping.ca/, which provides a reservation system for most provincial parks as well as Pacific Rim National Park.

More information about national parks in B.C., Alberta, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories can be found at parkscanada.pch.gc.ca/parks/Bc_np_e.htm. Those traveling even further afield can find links to campground information throughout Canada at Campgrounds Canada, www.campcanada.com/.

This column and its links can be accessed from the Internet version of the Richmond Review, found on the Richmond Public Library’s website. Please email comments/suggestions to column@rpl.richmond.bc.ca.