Blog | Carol Patterson

Do you know more than a fifth grader about First Nation’s history?

December 17, 2019 by CarolPatterson Leave a Comment

Do you know more than a fifth grader about First Nation’s history?

I didn’t which is how I came to be at St. Eugene Resort near Cranbrook, British Columbia.

This is a great resort for golfing, hiking or going to the spa, but perhaps the most memorable vacation experiences come from learning about First Nation’s history and the dark period in Canada’s past where children were ripped from their families and their culture destroyed.

It sounds (and is) depressing but the Ktunaxa are focused on healing and the future. They want guests to learn about their culture while enjoying a special holiday. They have turned the former residential school into a tool to teach culture and create economic wealth. To learn why you should visit, read my recent story in Family Fun Canada here.

Learning First Nation skills is vacation fun

10 Things You Need To Do For A Perfect Day At Forillon National Park

November 27, 2019 by CarolPatterson Leave a Comment

Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula offers outdoor adventure and French maritime culture that may make you wonder why you haven’t visited sooner.

How do you reach the tip of Gaspé Peninsula?

The area is easily reached by car (it’s an 8- hour drive from Quebec City) or by flying to Gaspé Airport (YGP) from Quebec or Montreal.

Forillon National Park at the end of land on Quebec’s Gaspe Peninsula

Why should you visit Forillon National Park?

One of my favourite destinations on the Peninsula is Forillon National Park. To make the most of your time in the area I’ve listed the ten things I think you should you experience while visiting. You can read the list here.

Where can you stay?

There are plenty of places to stay but I’d recommend a stay in the park at one of the oTENTiks or micrOcubes.

Camping keeps you close to nature in Forillon National Park

Do you know how to watch a sunrise?

Don’t be too quick to answer. I thought I knew everything there was to know about watching the sun appear but I learned there’s an art to watching a sun rise. I share the tips I picked up in in Forillon National Park here.

I’d love to hear what you love about your experiences in Forillon National Park or the Gaspe Peninsula so please add a comment with your recommendations on what to see and do. If you’ve seen any usual wildlife I’m especially interested!

Thank you and Merci!

Recycling a beach in Quebec’s Forillon National Park

November 14, 2019 by CarolPatterson Leave a Comment

Have you recycled a pop bottle? How about a whole beach? Few can claim the latter but at Forillon National Park on Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, the Cap-des-Rosiers beach was suffering such rapid erosion (exacerbated by climate change) drastic action was needed.

Parks Canada has reduced erosion at Forillon National Park’s Cap-des-Rosiers beach

“Aside from the costs of repairs associated with this erosion it is increasingly apparent that beaches in the park have been shrinking – to the point of vanishing altogether, ” explained Marie-Claude Trudel, Education Officer – Parks Canada.

How do you save a beach from erosion? #ParksCanada has ways

Parks Canada got busy; a paved road along the shoreline was removed and hikers were encouraged to use new access trails through the forest. The monument for the Carrick shipwreck was also moved to drier and higher ground.

In years past ice protected the coastline from winter storms and erosion. Now there may be less ice or shorter ice seasons leaving the beach vulnerable. Parks Canada has planted more beach grasses to stabilize soil and driftwood and seaweed (natural beach protectors) are left where they wash up.

Several years on this environmental story has some good news. In 2018 beach observers found twice as many sites with capelin eggs as in 2016! Capelin – a small fish as important to birds and whales as cold beer to Maple Leafs’ hockey fans – is an important barometer of beach health so it appears Parks Canada’s efforts are helping. Now, if someone could find a way to recycle the Leaf’s playoff chances…….

For more information on the Cap-des-Rosiers project, go to https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/qc/forillon/decouvrir-discover/cote-coastal

Have you seen an innovative project to improve a tourism landscape? Please drop me a line or comment below. I’d love to hear more.

Brewing for bears

October 22, 2019 by CarolPatterson Leave a Comment

Perhaps not literally but a Squamish, British Columbia cidery is taking fruit that might attract bears and turning it into a tasty apple cider. “We live in bear country,” explained Northern Cidery Co. co-owner and head cider maker, Alison Round, “Bears frequent yards to eat apples. Some people cut down very unique varietal trees (to eliminate apples) and we didn’t want that to happen.”
Working with landscapers at SOLScapes they identified fruit tree owners needing help. Rather than letting apples languish and attract bears, volunteers picked them and brought them to Northern Cidery Co., a popular stop on Squamish’s Craft Tasting Trail.

Round went to work crafting a cider using the apples, many of them from trees planted by early immigrants and of varietals not easily found. “That’s the fun part of trying to save the bears,” laughed Round. The label on each bottle of Squamish Heirloom Cider explains how rescuing fruit rescues bears.

The program started in 2018 but Round has big hopes for this blend of conservation and hospitality. “We will be doing it every year. $1 for every bottle sold goes to conservation. People have been very receptive.”

So next time you’re in Squamish, drink a cider and save a bear.

You can learn more at https://northyardscider.com

TWEETABLES

Brewing for bears – Click to Tweet.

Next time you’re in Squamish, consider drinking a cider to save a bear: Click to Tweet.

My friend, @Reinventure, is sharing all about drinking a cider to save a bear in her latest blog post! Discover more: Click to Tweet.

Ivvavik National Park

July 20, 2019 by CarolPatterson Leave a Comment

You might not be able to pronounce it or may never have heard of it, but Ivvavik National Park should be on your bucket list if you like nature and outdoor adventure. Tucked into the northwest corner of Canada’s Yukon territory the park is bordered by Alaska on the west and the Beaufort Sea on the north.

Why Should You Go?

For the hiking, the cultural programs and the wildlife. To learn more, listen to my interview with Randy Sharman on The Informed Traveler from July 28.

Hiking Inspiration Point will leave you feeling inspired

Will you see caribou?

Maybe. They aren’t usually near base camp in great numbers while visitors are around but as I discovered, caribou are unpredictable.

My video of Caribou galore is what it looks like when tens of thousands wander by.

Will you be comfortable?

Yup. Parks Canada offers a glamping experience at its base camp. You bring your sleeping bag, they provide the tent, heater and warm showers. Food is tasty and prepared for you. Book in early June for best chance of seeing caribou, late June for green slopes and wildflowers.

Ivvavik base camp offers comfortable prospector tents

How do you get there?

To get there you need to get yourself to Inuvik (First Air and Air North offer departures from Vancouver and Edmonton) and then Parks Canada flies you into the Imniarvik base camp for a comfortable arctic clamping experience.