Canadians - Need some advice please...

Come June, I plan on taking an extended camping trip through B.C., and then over to Vancouver Island. I'll be visiting Revelstoke and Okanagan Valley/Kelowna areas, and then work my way West. I plan to catch a car ferry to Vancouver Island, as I'll be camping in my van. Anyway, if you've got a few moments, I would greatly appreciate any information and advice on the following:

1. Do you know of any nice natural, public hot springs (as opposed to commercially developed springs) along my route? I'm a hot springs fanatic, and need my soaks!

2. Where can I get information about the car ferries to Van. Island (schedules, cost, embarkation points, etc.)?

3. Know any good "Amsterdam style" coffee shops in the Okanagan, Vancouver, and Victoria areas?

And lastly, if there's anything you think is a "must see" along my route (which is completely flexible), or great camping spots, please let me know. My grandparents were from N.S., and later moved to the Milner, B.C. area, though I no longer have family there. Am looking forward to see my "roots" area!

Thanking you in advance for your help,
Hornito

For ferry info go to www.bcferries.bc.ca/schedules

A must see on Vancouver Island is the Tofino area on the west coast. It's quite a ways out there - about a 5-hour drive from Victoria - but worth the effort. Beautiful beaches and rainforests.

Have a great time.

n/t

Nova Scotia sez Cead Mille Failte to Hornito!

:hi:

n/t.....

http://www.bchotsprings.com/ Some good information there. On the Island (where I live) lots of places to camp. Points of interest: Goldstream Park, (where the salmon come back yearly), Port Alberni, Ucuelet, Tofino, Lake Cowichan, Little Qualicim Falls, Campbell River, Strathcona Park. Lots of fishing everywhere.

n/t

If you are as far east as Spokane Wash I reccomend crossing the border at Christina Lake, then west along Hwy 3 to Rock Creek. North along Hwy 33 gets you to Kelowna, West on 3 gets to Ossoyoos. I highly reccomend a slow drive up 33.

I'll be taking Hwy. 97 through Oregon and Washington, cross at Osoyoos, and then cut over to 33.