My stay in the Revelstoke KOA left a lot to be desired. To me, KOA’s are the indulgence campground. I go there and pay a bit extra so I can have access to laundry, Wifi and clean showers while staying in a tidy campsite run by courteous hosts. I’m actually very surprised that this campground is considered part of the KOA chain. The sites are more like parking spots than campsites. The women’s restroom had painted plywood for doors on the three stalls. One stall didn’t have a latch, a second only latched if the door was opened an inch. The showers had no doors, only shower curtains. Nothing was as clean as one would hope. Their wifi only worked around their main building, where they set up picnic tables. Which would have been ok if it weren’t for the hoards of mosquitos. Add to that the trains running by constantly and the campground would’ve been suitable for a quick overnighter at half the cost.
I was up and out before sunrise, but didn’t get far because there isn’t much light for the first few hours so deep in the mountains. I did find a great cup of coffee (Maple Almond Milk Latte!) at The Modern. I had a few wonderful finds at the Farmer’s Market where several local artisans were plying their wares.
At 9 am, the Meadows In The Sky Parkway in Revelstoke National Park opened and I was able to head up. The entire drive is beautiful, and I’d consider this a future destination location rather than a pit stop. So…repeat trip needed!
Even their picnic areas were amazing, complete with this building:
I think I want to camp in there. I don’t care that there isn’t a bed.
At the top I took a hike. It was a little rough in spots, if only because my lungs weren’t quite loving the thin mountain air, but the views were more than worth it.
And then I was heading west again, stopping along the way to photograph.
And then, in what seemed like the middle of nowhere in the midst of pine-blanketed mountains, I made the most miraculous discovery: The Enchanted Forest. This amazing place has been in operation for 52 years. Set in one of the most beautiful forests I’ve seen yet, it has trails winding from fairy tale to fairy tale. Some scenes are but small figurines set to the side. Others are beautifully crafted and detailed abodes and plaques and characters. For a time I followed behind a young family whose father was acting out the tale with his young daughter as they went from one little piggie’s house to the next. It was smiles all around.
Not my usual subject matter, but it was a delight. I highly recommend it if you’re passing through British Columbia, and not just if you have wee ones.
Not much further on was the town of Kamloops where I stopped for a few supplies and got a recommendation for a campground not far down the highway. Which led me to Lac Le Jeune Provincial Park– a wonderful campground where I had a view of the lake, a small rounded mountain and was surrounded by wildflower meadows.
Today, after spending more time than is tolerable on the phone with Verizon trying to get my phone fixed (it suddenly stopped receiving calls and texts), I drove to Vancouver. I hadn’t thought a drive could be prettier than the one I’d had to Kamloops, but I was wrong. Wow…I took a few photos, which will have to wait, but I really think its a drive that needs to be experienced (I took 5 south from Kamloops).
So…Vancouver for the night and then…*drumroll*… USA! I’ll be heading back into the states by way of Washington State where my first stop will be North Cascades National Park.