Hope

The Gateway to Holidayland

For those living in the Metropolitan Vancouver and Fraser Valley areas, Hope is the Gateway to Holidayland. From here the highways diverge into the mountains and forests away from the hustle and bustle of city life and into the world of clean air and relaxation

History
In 1808, fur trader Simon Fraser became the first European to follow a wild river south that would one day bear his name. His journey down the Fraser River took him through Mighty Fraser Country. Guided by Salish natives, his expedition paddled giant birch-bark canoes through boiling rapids to reach Lytton. His expedition portaged past Hell’s Gate and past where Hope is located today on his way to the Pacific Ocean.

Since that time the town of Hope has played many roles, including a fur trading centre, a place to leave from on your way to the Cariboo Gold Fields, the backdrop for the film "First Blood" (an early Sylvester Stallone movie), The Gateway to Holidayland and the beginning (or end) of British Columbia's only toll highway,

Things to See and Do
If you like museums, be sure to visit the Hope Museum for a history of Simon Fraser and the history of Hope. You will learn more about Simon Fraser here than just about any where else in the province. Throughout the town you will find the giant wooden sculptures carved with a chain saw by local carver Peter Ryan. Mr. Ryan has talent which can be appreciated from both afar and close up. Minters gardens is just west of Hope and it is the only place in Canada that has a banana tree growing on the grounds.

River Rafting
The area is great for hiking, biking, boating, golfing or mountain biking. Like most of British Columbia, the majority of activities are based on the great outdoors. Besides the standard activities, there is river rafting. Not for the faint of heart, if you are looking for a thrill to last a lifetime, take a drive from Hope, north through the Fraser Canyon to Hells Gate. If, after you have seen the raw power of the Fraser River, you want to ride it, there are tour companies who will do their utmost to ensure your safety, then take you for a ride.

Heading out of Town
Heading east you have three routes to choose from. Highway 3 to the south takes you through the awesome Hope Land Slide which in 1965 tumbled into the valley taking 1/2 half of the mountain. There is a pull off from the highway where thousands of people take pictures every year, or just wonder at the power to the slide which still has people buried.

Highway 1 to the North is the Trans Canada, the longest highway in the world, passing through the Fraser Canyon, and the route taken by Simon Fraser 189 years ago. The Trans Canada highway continues through all 10 provinces and ends over 7,000 kilometers away in Newfoundland.

Highway 5, the Coquihalla route, is the newest super highway that cuts the travel time between Hope and the Thompson and Okanagan Valleys, by 2 -3 hours heading north and joining Highway 1 just west of Kamloops. There is a toll booth halfway along the route which charges $10.00 per car each direction. For larger vehicles there is an additional charge. Motorcycles are $5.00.

Weather Warning
Hope is located at the lowest possible point of the Fraser Canyon, at the end of the Fraser Valley, and surrounded by mountains. As a friend from Vancouver once told me:

"... if you can see the mountains it is going to rain, if you can't see the mountains, it is raining".

Such is the weather forecast for Hope. If you want something a little more scientific, there is a weather station close by. If you are planning on hiking into the mountains, please check the conditions first and remember they can change very quickly and without warning.

What to Bring
Things you should take with you:

Where to stay
With over 30 hotels and motels in Hope there are enough accommodations to handle suit every taste in comfort levels. There are two Bed and Breakfasts locations to choose from, but if you want a little less "homey" feeling to your holiday, try the Inn Town or the Maple Leaf Motels

How to get to Hope
Hope is located just one hour drive east from Vancouver on Highway 1, located on the mighty Fraser River and ringed by the snowcapped Cascade Mountains, at the junctions of Highways 1 (Trans Canada), 3 (Crow's Nest), 5(Coquihalla) and 7 (Lougheed)... or you can just follow the rain clouds. :-)