^Variations on Vancouver
Outdoor enthusiasts and city dwellers
find worthy pursuits in dose proximity
By Jeff Frawley I Freelance Reporter
Aspring adventure north of the
United States means a chance to
hit the mountain slopes for some
University students. The drive north
from Vancouver, British Columbia, to
the ski lifts of Whistler resort provides
countless breathtaking views of the
snow-covered peaks that dominate the
landscape of British Columbia.
But those who never leave the
mountains may miss out on an entire
region of outdoor pursuits and city ex
ploration.
"No way — skiing isn't the only fun
thing to do in Canada," said junior
Scott Read, who drove to Vancouver
with five other University students
during spring break.
For every black diamond run, there
exists a secluded shoreline in the Gulf
Islands National Park Reserve waiting
to be explored by sea kayak, a unique
pub in downtown Vancouver or a
whale-watching tour. British Colum
bia offers plenty of cheaper alterna
tives to pricey lift tickets and resort
lodges for vacationing students.
Junior Kyle Busacker and two
friends recently drove to his parents'
cabin on remote Pender Island in
the Gulf Islands off the coast of Van
couver.
The five major Gulf Islands jut out
of the ocean like green mountains
and are encircled by dozens of small
er islands. Although the islands re
ceive less than 30 inches of rain per
year, according to the Gulf Islands
Guide's online travel manual, dense
forests and expansive farmland blan
ket the landscape.
With a permanent residency of
2,000 people, Pender Island's popula
tion triples in the summer months,
according to the island's tourism bu
reau.
"There is only one pub on Pender,"
Busacker said. "That's where everyone
goes on weekend nights. Everyone
knows each other."
But in mid-March, the island of
fered exactly what Busacker and his
traveling partners wanted after finals
week: peace and quiet.
Accessible by two daily ferries from
the town ofTsawwassen on mainland
British Columbia, Pender Island is a
remote paradise that offers plenty of
recreation.
"We heard that the Gulf Islands
were just as nice as the San Juan Is
lands but with less people," Busacker's
father Brian Busacker said. "We fell in
love with Pender Island ... because we
have access to the ocean, sailing, fish
ing and crabbing, and there are more
days of sun than in Vancouver."
Junior Francis Shonk, who ac
companied Busacker, described
watching a bald eagle hunt and kill
a Canadian goose 100 yards away
while playing golf in the island's
lush farm country.
"The islands around Vancouver
have so much wildlife," Shonk said.
"There are seals, tons of deer, even
whale watching. We saw at least 50
bald eagles on the trip, too."
Busacker said there are plenty of
places to rent kayaks and scuba gear,
as well as numerous cottages and
provincial park campgrounds for visi
tors, on the Gulf Islands. Whale
watching tours cost roughly $80, ac
cording to tourism operator Adven
ture BC's Web site. Busacker said
whales can be seen for free off the
shores of the Gulf Islands.
Visitors should expert an hour-long
ferry ride that costs between $25 and
$35 per car, Busacker said. Otherwise,
a trip to the island is extremely cheap,
he added.
The dynamic downtown of Van
couver offers a variety of beautiful
parks and a vivacious nightlife.
The city is home to the 1,000-acre
Stanley Park, the largest urban park in
Canada, according to Tourism Van
couver's "Official Visitor's Guide." A
maze of walking paths and gardens
weave through the park, which is also
home to the Vancouver Aquarium.
"Stanley Park was the highlight of
Vancouver," Read said. "There were
trails leading everywhere. You could
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spend three days there alone."
The Gastovvn area of Vancouver is
known for its bars, unique coffee
shops and stores. Read said there are
many hostels in Gastown.
The Cambie House Hostel costs
about $15 per night and has its own
restaurant and bar.
"(The hostel) gives you locks and
lockers for your stuff," he said. "The
front desk doesn't allow anyone not
staying there to enter the rooms. Plus,
the bed was more comfortable than
my one at home."
Read estimated he spent $230 dur
ing four nights in Vancouver but said
the total could have been much more.
"During the day, there is a lot to just
walk around and see downtown," he
said. "But at night, drinking at the
bars is pretty expensive. It's fun and
easy to blow money. The trick is to
limit yourself."
Read added that hockey was
everywhere. He said one restaurant
and bar had huge glass windows in
place of walls that overlooked two
indoor hockey rinks. Tickets to
watch the Vancouver Canucks, the
city's professional hockey team, cost
around $30.
But perhaps what makes urban
Vancouver so distinctive is its sur
rounding beauty — mountains, the
Pacific Ocean and even a rainforest.
"Walking around a major city and
seeing mountains everywhere made
me feel like 1 was in a totally differ
ent place from the United States,"
Read said.
If travelers can't resist the allure of
snow-covered summits, Whistler Re
sort is only a 2.5-hour drive away,
and the cliff-side road that winds to
ward the resort overlooks majestic
rock formations that emerge from
the Pacific Ocean.
"Especially with a car, you can go to
so many different places within a few
hours," Read said. "There are the out
doors, die cities and the places to ski,
all in the same area."
Jeff Frawley is a freelance reporter
for the Emerald.
Courtesy Jeff Frawtey
Pender Island and surrounding islands
have numerous campgrounds as well
as rentals for kayaks and scuba gear.
Vancouver, B.C.;
Pender Island
Eugene to Pender Island: About
420 miles; seven hours driving and a
two-hour ferry ride
Eugene to Vancouver: About 425
driving miles; seven hours driving.
Total expenses for a five-night stay:
$375, including gas, food, hostel,
ferry ride, bar-hopping and one
outdoor gear rental.
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