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	BC Profiles Abbotsford Alberni Bella Coola Boundary Bay Campbell River Castlegar Comox Cranbrook Dawson Creek Fort St. John Fort Nelson Golden Grand Forks Kamloops Kelowna Langley Nanaimo Masset Penticton Pitt Meadows Port Hardy Powell River Prince George Prince Rupert Quesnel Revelstoke Salmon Arm Sandspit Smithers Terrace-Kitimat Tofino Whistler Williams Lake Whitehorse Vancouver Index Intro to section Victoria Index Intro to section Sites to Explore www.growingtogether.ca www.gov.bc.ca/for How Rocky Mountaineer sparked a Western Canada Railway Travel Renaissance by Jerry W. Bird Many of our readers who've lived in Canada for several decades will know about the love-hate relationship that existed between previous generations and the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). To a train fanatic like myself, riding the train has always been a positive, fun experience. After all, it was that same vast system that brought and a vast army of free spirits to Western Canada - to work hard, dream big and sink their roots. Among them were my great-grandfather Henry Morgan, who was one of Vancouver's first blacksmiths, and my grandfather Walter Bird, who left Guernsey for Alberta, and eventually to Palos Verdes Estates, Los Angeles, CA. His brother Frank Bird became a dominant force in the BC Auto Association for decades. Yet, when I launched the series "Railways of the World," in 1989, several so called travel experts scoffed at my idea of promoting rail travel in Canada, or anywhere else. A chorus of doubting Thomas's kept singing the same tiresome tune, until I turned the tables, and they saw the color of money. The rather lukewarm response to my flash of inspiration was not unusual; few other travel magazines in North America bothered to find space for railway-related items. Such topics usually appeared no larger than a quarter column, tucked away in the nether regions, or drowning in a sea of ads. After months of research and a mountain of faxes sent to various railway contacts, I managed to bring rail travel front and center for the first time in decades. To everyone's surprise, "Railways of the World" quickly became the hottest at the magazine. That's why we are proud to bring you "Adventure Rails." Watch for it on this web site - and at newsstands. Rocky Mountaineer to Banff and Jasper About the same time as I was attempting to revive rail travel in the public's mind, Peter Armstrong (the bellhop with a dream), launched the Rocky Mountaineer. It operated from Vancouver's (art deco) Pacific Station on Main Street, via Banff and Jasper National Parks, to Calgary and Edmonton. His Great Canadian Rail tour Company Ltd. became our first railway advertiser, taking the outside back cover. The nonbelievers and scoffers were out in full force on Peter's idea too - but look who has the last laugh. Great Canadian Rail tours has earned a prominent role on the Western Canada scene, and is packaging its exciting railway experience with cruises and motor coach combinations. There is no limit to the multimode travel options, offered by the geography of Alberta, British Columbia and the US Pacific Northwest. All it takes is a good idea and people to take up the challenge. Rail Travel in North America's National Parks is an ideal way to enjoy the complete view in a laid back setting.   Sample Canadian Rockies Escape Rail tour 6 nights / 7 days   DAY I Vancouver Arrival Arrive in Vancouver for an overnight stay. DAY 2 Vancouver to Kamloops Transfer (included) to Pacific Central Station where you will board the Rocky Mountaineer. Follow the Fraser River through the Coastal Mountains and witness the force of Hell's Gate before it meets with the mighty Thompson River. Pass into Canada's desert belt, then on to Kamloops for the evening. Breakfast and lunch included onboard the train both days. Optional evening at Two River Junction Dinner and Musical Revue. DAY 3 Kamloops to Jasper Your rail adventure continues as you follow the North Thompson River between the Cariboo and Monashee Mountain ranges. Pass by Little Hell's Gate, through the Rocky Mountain Trench and feel the mist of spectacular Pyramid Falls on route to the Canadian Rockies. View the majesty of Mount Robson, the Rockies' highest peak at 3,954 meters (12,972 feet), before arriving in Jasper and transfer (included) to your hotel. Overnight in Jasper. DAY 4 Jasper to Banff Depart Jasper in the morning for an all-day motor coach tour down the awe-inspiring Ice fields Parkway with a stop at the Columbia Ice field. A Snowcoach ride on the glacier is included. Continue your tour along the Parkway and view Peyto Lake, Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier. Stop at fabled Lake Louise before arriving in Banff late afternoon. Overnight in Banff. DAY 5 Banff to Kamloops Transfer (included) to Banff Station to board the Rocky Mountaineer. Travel through the legendary Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Pass, over Stony Creek Bridge and under Rogers Pass as you race wild mountain rivers into Kamloops for an overnight stop. Breakfast and lunch included onboard. DAY 6 Kamloops to Vancouver Back onboard the Rocky Mountaineer, follow the path of the salmon down to the Pacific Ocean, winding through the Thompson and Fraser Canyons as well as the Coastal Mountains before arriving in Vancouver late afternoon for your overnight stay. DAY 7 Vancouver Check-out this morning ends your Canadian Rockies Escape. Package Includes 4 day Rocky Mountaineer Red Leaf Service; 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches; 6 nights accommodation; Ice fields Parkway Tour & Snowcoach ride; Rail Station transfers in Vancouver, Kamloops, Jasper and Banff. ..... E- mail us for prices. Continued from above Railways of the World: Building a Great Tradition For "Railways of the World," in 1989, I contacted every known railroad operation worldwide, and spread the word to selected media in the USA and Canada, . Advertising support and a gallery of great photos came from every source - South Africa's Blue Train, Rovos Rail, Venice-Simplon-Orient Express, Trans Siberian, Malaysian Rail, Australian Rail, Spanish Rail and India's Palace on Wheels, to Colorado's Durango & Silverton. Canada's railways were totally onside. Every passenger railway and rail tour operator in existence, was on my editorial agenda, and still is ten years later. Experts like Don Primi, of Gold Coast Royal Rail, a organizer of executive rail charters across North America, lent sage advice. Few escaped my scrutiny, including many short lines, with strange names that most so called travel experts have never heard of. Did it work? The railway features I wrote for a Seattle newspaper, filled our mailbox in Point Roberts, Wa., whenever they ran. Virtually overnight, came a flood of of requests and anecdotes from readers in Seattle, King County, Portland, and far beyond. Results were similar in Canadian media that carried my 'Railways of the World' features. But now being our own publishers, there are absolutely no holds barred, as we lay plans for a bigger and better edition, serving a far larger market. Question: What about a return to Historic Street Cars as a year-round tourist attraction and revenue generator? See our new series Streetcars & Street Sense.   Make Canada's elegant Railway Castles part of your Grand Railway Tour:? It's on our agenda. In my book of fondest memories, a Christmas - New Years fortnight at the Banff Springs Hotel, and a week at Chateau Lake Louise rank high. Here in the Canadian Rockies this pair of European style castles reek of elegance from the grand old days, when the world's rich and famous arrived by train, making these grand resorts their private playground. Ontario Rails to the Great White North: From Lake Ontario to James Bay on the Arctic Coast, Ontario Northland Railway, the Little Bear and Polar Bear Express, offer a uniquely Canadian experience. This popular "Northern Rails" tour begins at Toronto's famous Union Station, next to the Royal York Hotel, with connections to North Bay, Temagami, Cobalt and points north. Blue Train with 'White Glove' Service? Only in South Africa! by Muguette M. Goufrani. For years I had read that South Africa held many pleasures for those of an adventurous or romantic nature, so one summer, taking a month's vacation from my job as a travel agent in West Africa, I headed south. Here at last was my chance to spend some leisurely, laid back weeks getting to know that fascinating country. Street Cars and Street Smarts: Vancouver's Railway Renaissance: Historic Street Cars at Granville Island. It's about time! Like many Canadian cities, Vancouver is a child of the CPR, which was British Columbia's one way ticket to Confederation in 1867. Choo Choo through Calgary's Heritage Park: Canada's largest historical village: Being in Calgary for Heritage Park's opening, and sharing its pleasures with my children, guests and clients on countless occasions, the park was a 'must see' on this summer's return trip Whistler Northwind: Howe Sound, Fraser Canyon, Cariboo, Prince George. Is Prince Rupert next? The Whistler Northwind Vacation Packages begin in May 2001 and the route shows promise of becoming a very popular option for those of us who get white knuckle syndrome from driving the Sea to Sky Highway in winter. Vancouver's SkyTrain, SeaBus and a Shopping mall 15 miles long: Remember the grand old department stores of yesteryear - where a pert, petite, uniformed elevator operator sang out the stops as you rose at a stomach- churning rate? So, it was only Woodwards Department Store, but in your 12 year old mind it felt like you were zooming to the top floor of the Empire State Building. Continued. Amtrak across the USA and into Canada: Fly-Rail Vacations are an ideal choice for vacationers and business travelers who share our viewpoint - that getting there is often more than half the fun. We've enjoyed the "Amtrak Experience" on the Pacific Coast, from California to British Columbia and count this as one of our decade's highlights.		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