(about Prince Rupert, BC Canada, last edited on Oct 02, 2007)
Most of the cities have or are trying to include tourism on the list of priorities. How much they succeed to get a profit out of it and attract tourists depends on the facilities and activities they provide and on the scenery.
Prince Rupert has not done less that any other city to attract tourists and its hard-working residents of about 17,000 in number that make a mix of First Nations and European-heritage Canadians, have done their best. The location helped them as the city lies on the northern coast of British Columbia next to some excellent rivers and in the protected waters of Chatham Sound plus it is a major fishing and timber port.
Without being able to offer much entertainment in the city residents have turned to fishing as the main activity they can offer and word has spread that Prince Rupert is and excellent spot for sport fishing. You can decide on the length of time you want to spend on fishing be it from a few hours to a week and there are plenty of boats and cruises to hop on. Which one you choose really depends on your budget.
But fishing is not the only activity around. The city makes for a perfect base to explore the surrounding area and you can choose to go to Vancouver Island or Alaska. Northern British Columbia is also an attraction for those who want to see Queen Charlotte Islands, Dodge Cove and Port Edward.
You can visit all the major attractions in a day or two depending on your pace but there’s not much to do around Prince Rupert especially on a rainy day and you get quite a few per year as you will find yourself in the wettest city in Canada. Not a too inviting prospective, but if you come to consider the mild climate of the area maybe you’ll lighten up. Summers do not get to be too hot and winters are quite mild with rare snowfalls so if you don’t mind a bit of rain coming to Prince Rupert will turn out to be a good decision. You might want to avoid the wettest season though, which is autumn.
But rainy days are perfect for visiting museums and galleries and Prince Rupert has a few: Kwinitsa Railway Museum, the Museum of Northern British Columbia, and the North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site, Studio 9 Gallery and others. The Museum of Northern British Columbia houses many galleries and exhibits on local history and an interesting collection on the beginning of human inhabitance in the area. The fishing history of the place can be traced at North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site which was proposed to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once a salmon cannery now the place is a lively museum which fishing enthusiasts will definitely love.
On a sunny day you can walk around the city and discover that its rich historical heritage has been preserved in its massive old churches and old storefronts. The downtown area and the Cow Bay district are the most visited parts of the city.
At Prince Rupert you can put yourself in touch with Mother Nature and choose one of the outdoor activities you like best: fishing, mountain biking, kayaking, hiking or camping.
Prince Rupert mixes history and culture with a picturesque landscape to deliver a vacation destination worth taking into consideration.
