In the morning, we will head to Manning Provincial Park to visit Lightning Lake. The park is located in the heart of the Cascade Mountains and is one of the most popular parks in British Columbia. Lightning Lake in the park is named after its shape that resembles lightning. The lakeside scenery is beautiful, and the trail around the lake is a great choice for a family hike. After that, we will travel along Highway 3 and take a short break in Princeton. After lunch, we will take a visit to Spotted Lake. The lake surface shows large "spots" due to the evaporation of lake water, and it will also show different colors according to the mineral composition and seasonal precipitation. Afterwards, we'll drive to Greenwood. The Greenwood Museum is small in size, but has a rich collection. You can appreciate the historical photos and collections of heyday of mining. Finally, we will stay overnight at Castlegar. You will pass through Grand Forks.

Vancouver → Hope (pass-by) → Manning Provincial Park → Lightning Lake (30 mins) → Princeton (45 mins, lunch time included)  → Spotted Lake (15 mins) → Osoyoos (pass-by) → Greenwood → Greenwood Museum & Visitor Center (20 mins) → Grand Forks (pass-by) → Castlegar



Greenwood Museum & Visitor Center 

The Greenwood Museum, located at 214 S. Copper Avenue, is a 'must see' for visitors to the area. There is an excellent collection of historical artifacts and regularly changing exhibits. Visitors will enjoy the many fascinating photographs, collectibles and ephemera from Greenwood's mining boom era, and from the Japanese internment period. Exhibits of old mining equipment and images of the B.C. Copper Company's ore smelter operation are brought to life alongside displays of a vibrant boom town with its many hotels, eateries and business enterprises. There are wonderful displays of military memorabilia and turn of the century social activities, such as the Greenwood hockey team, who was a founding member of British Columbia's first hockey league.

In the morning, we will depart for the famous Ainsworth Hot Springs. The hot spring area is located on the shores of Kootenay Lake. You may soak in the outdoor hot spring pool while admiring the scenery of the lake and mountains. Don't miss Canada's only all-natural stalactite cave hot spring! We will then take Highway 31 to the historic town of Nelson. The cultural heritage capital of BC - the ancient town of Nelson, more than half of the houses in the town are over a hundred years old. The houses are built against the mountains, as if they are in a paradise in fairy tales. It is listed as one of the "Top 10 Beautiful Towns in Canada". Folloe us and take a visit to  two of Nelson's famous museums to learn about local culture and the rich history of trams. Afterwards, we will head to Christina Lake, where we will stop for a while to take photos and check in. This area is known as the "Border Country," which separates the Okanagan region from the Kootenay region. Stay overnight in Osoyoos.



Castlegar → Kootenay Lake (pass-by) → Ainsworth Hot Springs (Optional, 120 mins) →Nelson → Nelson City Hall & Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery & Nelson Tramway Association Museum (120 mins, lunch time included) → Christina Lake (pass-by) → Osoyoos

In the morning, we will go to Keremeos along Highway 3. Keremeos is known as the "Fruit Capital of Canada". If you like to taste fresh agricultural products, you can't miss this place. There are all kinds of fruits on the fruit street, and the sweet peaches and corn are especially worth a try. We will have lunch in Hope Town at noon and finally return to Vancouver, our warm home.



Osoyoos → Keremeos (20 minutes) → Hope (90 minutes, including lunch time) → Vancouver