K is for K places in BC

In keeping with my destinations theme during this round, I decided to take you on a little tour of places in British Columbia beginning with the letter K. I have to tell you, too, that I've been to ALL of these places!We'll start off in northern BC with KISPIOX, a pristine area about 500+ miles north of Vancouver. It boasts natural beauty and is well known for its steelhead and salmon fishing. It's also home to talented Gitxsan artists with many totem poles on display in the community.

Not far from Kispiox is the town of KITIMAT in the heart of the BC wilderness. Many outdoor activities are available here including fishing (both fresh and salt water), kayaking, canoeing, hiking, rock climbing, snowmobiling, and skiing. In the summer, every couple of weeks the town hosts things like bull riding or mud-bogging races! There are lots of natural mineral hot springs and wildlife, including the rare Kermode bear. The friendly locals call themselves "Kitimatonians."

Moving south to BC's "cowboy community," we come to the city of KAMLOOPS, which takes its name from a First Nations word meaning "meeting place" because it's right at the junction where the North and South Thompson Rivers meet. Major industries here are forestry, tourism, ranching, and mining. It's also a great place for year-round outdoor activities. My late husband's family had beautiful lakefront property on Shuswap Lake, a short drive east of the city, and we spent many wonderful summer (and Christmas) vacations there.

A bit south-east of Kamloops, you'll find our famous Okanagan Region where there is a real desert in the province. First, you'll find KELOWNA . Located on Okanagan Lake, it's famous for its wines and its four-seasons recreation, including skiing at Big White. There are also lots of smaller lakes around the area for fabulous trout fishing. We often visit Kelowna and its surrounding areas because we have friends living in the town of Peachland, a few miles south of Kelowna.

KEREMEOS takes its name from another First Nations word that means "creek which cuts its way through the flats" or "the meeting of the winds." (It can be rather windy there!) When I was a child, my parents would stop in Keremeos to buy fresh fruit, especially cherries, peaches, and apricots. It has always been known as the best place in BC to buy fresh fruit and vegetables from any of the stands lining the roads in and out of town. It's also one of the hottest spots in BC in the summer and boasts of over 2000 hours of sunshine per year.

Let's go into the city of Vancouver now to look at two communities that begin with the letter K. First, there is KITSILANO, where my friend Josie lives. With one of the best beaches in the city, Kits (as it's called) is home to unique boutiques, trendy restaurants, and upscale condos. Check out Josie's blog for more information about her little corner of the city. Another community in Vancouver that I like to visit is KERRISDALE, where my sister lives. It has the ambiance of an old-fashioned upscale village, with lots of beautiful older homes as well as condos and apartment buildings. It was at the Kerrisdale Arena where I met my late husband back in 1972 during an adults-only ice skating session. Check out my story here. Finally, here is a photo (from Google of course) of Kitsilano Beach, a place where I've been going since I was a little girl and where I nowadays go for strolls with my friend Josie. Can you imagine anything more beautiful than being right on the ocean with the mountains in the background?