Tyler's Road Trip Adventure: Day 1 - Barkerville and Quesnel

Hey everyone! Yesterday was the first day of my Road Trip Adventure, presented by O’Connor RV and it was a day jam packed with excitement to kick things off. I’m super excited to share with you everything that I saw and did!

With all my gear for the next week loaded in to the STAR Cruiser, I departed Chilliwack early in the morning and began making my way north towards Quesnel and Barkerville. Though it is easy to get caught racing through the Fraser Canyon in an attempt to shorten the length of a long day’s drive, I had to remind myself to slow down and enjoy the awesome scenery along the highway. From the shear, jagged mountain sides that border the Fraser River to the grassy, rolling farmland of the north, this is easily one of the most photogenic drives I’ve ever experienced.

In the early afternoon, I arrived in Barkerville, which is just an hour east of Quesnel down the Barkerville Highway. I instantly felt like I had taken a journey back through time to 1862 to take part in the great gold rush of the north west. There was so much to be done in this busy little town to keep it running and there was no time to waste for neither the historical characters or myself. While the blacksmiths worked on tools for the miners and the reverend led a Sunday communion service, I joined Mr. George Wallace, the founder of the Cariboo Sentinel (1865), for a tour of the historic town. I was fascinated to learn that in 1868, the town of Barkerville burnt entirely to the ground. But as Mr. Wallace pointed out, “the people of Barkerville were not ones to sit on their ashes” and they soon after rebuilt the town.

Among others, some of the highlights that you need to check out on your trip to Barkerville include the St. George Bed & Breakfast Hotel (rumour has it this place is haunted!), the horse-drawn wagon rides, and the Theatre Royal, where you can view some of the best entertainment from the 1800’s. I was impressed at how much there is to do in the small little town of Barkerville. With authentic gold panning and dozens of historical exhibits, Barkerville has something to offer for the whole family to make your summer vacation fun and educational!

Our time in Barkerville was short, but sweet, but alas there was still more to be done before the day was through! I was now on my way back towards Quesnel to enjoy some back-country horseback riding at the Triple J Ranch. On my way down the Barkerville Highway, I stopped in at the Cottonwood House for a quick snack. They serve some of the best home-made soup around!

Within the hour, I was at the Triple J Ranch, learning the proper techniques for mounting, dismounting and riding a horse. Kristoff and Julie, the owners of the ranch, were super informative and eager to teach me all about riding a horse. For the next two hours we got to ride through their 800 acre ranch, exploring rivers and forests, as well as taking in some breath taking views from their beautiful property. Through our two hour ride together, I could quickly see how horseback riding remains to be so popular in an age of automotive transportation. Triple J Ranch is a must have on any family’s summer bucket list.

Nearing the end of my day, I was able to check in to my room at the Billy Barker Casino and Hotel in Quesnel in the late afternoon and relax for a little bit. Staying in the Captain’s Suite on the top floor of the hotel, I feel like I’m staying in a luxurious 5-star resort. The room is beautifully decorated to make it feel less like a hotel room and more like a home, and there’s tons of room to move around and spread out. Within walking distance of my hotel, Savalas Steakhouse provided me with a delicious New York steak dinner to complete my relaxing evening in Quesnel.

If you’d like to experience everything that I’m experiencing this week for yourself, we’d love to send you! All you have to do is go to the STAR status club and enter today’s first promo code: BILLY BARKER (expires midnight tonight)

Continue to follow Tyler’s Road Trip Adventure on Facebook and here on our website for more chances to win this awesome road trip, presented by O’Connor RV. I’ll be giving away two bonus codes daily for the next week! I’m stoked for Day 2 in Quesnel! In just a few hours, I will be getting on the river to do some river rafting with Big Canyon Rafting and I can’t wait to share the experience with you!

– Tyler