Hope On a Budget
Hope, located in British Columbia, Canada, is a small town in the far east of the Fraser Valley. It's at the cross section of several major highways making it a pass through point for many visitors to the area. Hope is also the location of the filming of the 1980's film Rambo: First Blood, a fact which many locals take much pride in.The average highs in Hope during the summer months are around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The highs during the winter months are in the low 40s and high 30s Fahrenheit. The lows during the winter months are around freezing. Precipitation peaks during the winter months.
Sights
There are a handful of places worth visiting in town. When you arrive, make sure you visit the Hope Visitor Centre & Museum for an overview of the area. They can give you maps and brochures of activities in the area, and can answer many of your questions. Also worth a visit is the Hope Museum. It highlights the area's history and culture.If you have time, swing by the Hope Arts Gallery or Doc's Carving Gallery, both of which have artwork from locals. Another unique experience, if you are particularly interested, is to take a self-guided walking or driving tour of areas featured in the Rambo: First Blood filming. You could also do a self guided tour of chainsaw carvings, or which there are more than 30 around town. Most carvings are of wildlife found in British Columbia. The visitor centre can give you a tour map.
Memorial Park and Friendship Garden is next to the District Hall. The Friendship Garden is a Japanese garden that is dedicated to the Japanese Canadians who were interned nearby at Tashme during World War II. Hope Memorial Park hosts a concert series on Sunday afternoons in July and August.
Neighborhoods
Hope is a small town. Most of the things you need, including restaurants, banks, and other amenities, can be found in the downtown area. It's easy to walk most places.There is no shortage of cheap motels in town, most of which are located in the downtown area. You'll find many chains and a handful of locally owned places, most at a reasonable price.
Activities
Hope is surrounded by plenty of outdoor activities. There are many trails in the area that are fun to explore. The visitor center can give you a brochure and map of trails, and make recommendations for trails that best meet your needs. If you want to see salmon spawn, you can head to Kawkawa Creek. Fall is the best time to visit. Mountain Biking and whitewater rafting are also popular activities. The rafting on the Fraser River is good and there are a handful of companies that offer rafting trips in the area. You must book in advance.Hope Recreation Complex has a pool, arena, and fitness center. It's run by the Hope and District Recreation Complex and is a good place to spend a few hours.
Food and Dining
There are a small handful of restaurants in town where you can grab a bite to eat. The Blue Moose Cafe has an attached internet cafe and live music on some evenings. Skinny's Grille is a good option for a sit down meal, or if you're looking for something international, there's even a Korean restaurant nearby, Kimchi Japanese & Korean Restaurant, which has both sushi and Korean food. Hope Pizza Place is also a reliable option of you're looking for quick and simple.If you want to grab a drink, head to Silver Chalice Pub & Liquor Store. This is the neighborhood pub and they offer daily drink specials, a pool table, and an outdoor patio.
Transportation
Most people arrive in Hope with a private vehicle. Highway 1 connects Hope to Vancouver in the west and Cache Creek and Kamloops in the north. The town is also accessible with Highway 5, Highway 3 and Highway 7. Vancouver has the closest major international airport, 155 kilometers away. There is also the Abbotsford International Airport that is 70 kilometers away.Once you're in town, the community is small and you can easily walk or take a bicycle to most destinations. There is no public transit.
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