5 Great pit-stops when traveling from Vancouver
/Author: Mike Glen
A lot of our guests make the trip from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland area to reach our property, which is just North of Kamloops. It takes roughly four and a half hours to reach the property from Vancouver and, while a true keener could power through the drive, it will generally involve a couple of pit-stops along the way.
Here are my five top spots to stop and break up the drive:
1. Town of Hope, BC
The town of Hope marks the halfway point of your journey and an excellent spot to stretch your legs and take your first breath of mountain air before hitting the Coquihalla. If you have the time to explore, there are a number of landmarks to check out. I'd recommend taking a walk through the Othello Quintette Tunnels in the Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park. These man-made tunnels that wind through solid granite mountains were built in 1914 to connect the BC Coast to the Kootenay region via rail.
Admittedly, I usually stop into Hope on the way back from Vancouver for a dirty feed of McDonalds and a fuel top-up before hitting the sometimes unpredictable Coquihalla highway.
http://hopebc.ca/
2. Reservoir Coffee - Kamloops, BC
This is my staple spot in Kamloops for excellent coffee and atmosphere. The decor is hipster-industrial with chill music and a friendly crew at the counter. Honestly, I had never even heard of a dirty chai latte (chai spiced latte with a shot of espresso) before visiting this cafe and now it's all I can order here. Seriously try it, there's no going back...
https://www.facebook.com/reservoircoffee
3. Jamaican Kitchen - Kamloops, BC
You may not have thought of Kamloops being the city that you would experience delicious, authentic Jamaican cuisine, but guess what? That's exactly where you will find it. In fact, their first restaurant was so successful that they now have two locations in Kamloops. There is a small, hole in the wall style restaurant in the Summit Drive shopping centre, which is just off the highway and likely where you will end up shopping for groceries and alcohol before the last leg of the trip to our property. You usually can't go wrong with their daily special, just make sure you get a side of Johny cakes!
http://jamaicankitchen.ca/
4. Red Collar Brewery - Kamloops, BC
Red Collar recently celebrated their 3rd anniversary and is a family owned and operated brewery and pub in Downtown Kamloops. Owner and head brewer David Beardsell has a lifetime of experience brewing exceptional quality beers, with a focus on classic English and European styles. Their modestly sized pub has pet-friendly seating outside and offers growler fills and bottles to takeaway.
http://redcollar.ca
5. Mittz Kitchen - Kamloops, BC
I don't remember how I stumbled upon this brunch/lunch/dinner gem in Downtown Kamloops, but I'm sure glad I did. This is my number one pick for brunch on the weekend and a great option for those travelling back to Vancouver after their stay on our property. Having worked in hospitality for a long time, I am a super critic when it comes to service and have always been impressed by the genuine friendliness of the staff and their willingness to help. I find it very hard to go past their "Which Came First?" item on their brunch menu. You'll see what I mean.
Enjoy the drive Vancouverites, and stay safe on those roads!