Vacations To Go

 

Summer Fun Up North

 

Day 1 Saturday    
9:00 a.m. Depart: Spokane  
    (Take Hwy 2. After Wilbur go right on Hwy 21. Take the first left on Hwy 174. In Grand Coulee turn right on Spokane Way. Turn right on Federal Ave. At Midway turn right on Hwy 155.)  
11:40 a.m. Arrive: Omak 139
  Do: Lunch  
12:30 p.m. Depart: Omak  
    (Turn right on Hwy 97. It will become Hwy 97/20. From Oroville, follow the signs from the intersection of Main and Central (at the gas station) towards Chesaw Road. Follow Chesaw Road for 10 miles until you see Molson Road on the left. Turn left onto Molson Road and follow it for 5 miles until you reach the town of Molson.)  
1:40 p.m. See:

Molson Ghost Town (April-November daylight hours)
The once booming town of Molson was first founded in 1900. In only about a year, the population shot up to 300 and the town had a newspaper, stores, an attorney, doctor, saloon and hotel. It didn't last long, though - by 1901, the mining was failing, and the population fell to only 12 people. 

By 1905, it rose again with news of a railroad was being built. In the meantime, a local who ran a barn and stage line filed for a homestead that included most of the area in town. By 1909, he published a notice for everyone on the land to depart, causing citizens to found the site of New Molson about 1/2 mile north. If you walk through what's left of this town near the Canadian border in Okanogan County, you'll find an outdoor collection of pioneer buildings, farm machinery and incredible artifacts.

In 1935 the ore supply was finally exhausted, so the railroad stopped its route to Molson. Most of the residents moved. The outdoor museum exhibit was established in 1960.

Schoolhouse Museum
(Memorial-Labor Day 10-5, donations)
The school closed to students in 1969. It reopened as a museum in 1982. It is a living exhibit that continues to have items added to it each year. Volunteers, many of them lifelong residents of the area as well as past students and teachers give first hand accounts of Molson's history.

55
6:00 p.m. Depart: Molson  
    (Go back on Molson Rd/Hwy 4777. Turn right on Chesaw Rd. In Oroville it will go left. Cross the river and go right on Central. Turn left on Main St.)  
7:10 p.m. Arrive: Oroville, WA 54
    Camaray Motel
1320 Main St.
(AC, pool, DVD player, microwave, fridge, wifi, rooms with a Q, 2 Queens or a suite with King, 2 twins, futon and kitchen)
 

 

Day 2 Sunday    
9:00 a.m. Depart: Oroville  
    (Go left on Main St. Turn left again on Cental Ave. It will become Loomis/Oroville Rd. After it crosses the river, make an immediate left. It will go right and left. At the next junction take the right road.)  
9:25 a.m. See: Nighthawk Ghost Town 14
    (Go back across the right and turn right on Loomis/Oroville Rd. In town go right on Central. In Oroville go right on Main St which turns into Hwy 97.)  
12:00 p.m. Depart: Nighthawk  
    (Go back out to Loomis/Oroville Rd. Turn right and cross the river. Continue right. Take the first left on Similkameen Rd. Cross the border. It will become Nighthawk Rd. At the junction go left on Hwy 3. Enter Hwy 97 going left/north. In Penticton, just before the road crosses the river, turn right on Riverside Dr. On the left side.)  
1:10 p.m. Arrive: Penticton, BC 50
  Do: Locolanding $38/once on everything (May-June 23 11-5, June 24-Sept 3 10-4)
75 Riverside Dr
Mini-Golf, Go-Karts, High-level Ropes Course and any 7 Fun Zone activities!
 
  Lodge: (Continue on Riverside Dr as it becomes Lakeshore Dr to hotels) (64)

 

Day 3 Monday    
9:00 a.m. Depart: Penticton  
    (Go back on Lakshore to Riverside Dr. Turn right on Hwy 97. After Trepanier exit onto Hwy 97C. It will go right and become Hwy 5A. Continue straight ahead as it becomes Hwy 8. Continue straight ahead again on Hwy 97C. It will become TC 1 for a short time before becoming Hwy 97 again. After going through Quesnel take a right on Hwy 26.)  
5:00 p.m. Arrive: Barkersville, BC 420
  Lodge:

http://www.barkerville.ca/places-to-stay/
Cabins have 3 bedrooms with 2 queens and 2 twins for $295 a night

(420)

 

Day 4 Tuesday    
  See: Barkersville Ghost Town (June 16-Sept 3 8-8)
Barkersville Cafe and Gift Shop, candy store etc., Theatre Royale plays, bakery, Wake-up Jake Restaurant, House Hotel Saloon, Lung Duck Tong Restaurant
 
  Lodge:    

 

Day 5 Wednesday    
9:00 a.m. Depart: Barkersville  
       
2:40 p.m. Arrive: Kamloops, BC  
       
6:40 p.m. Arrive: Golden, BC 528
  Lodge:   (528)

 

Day 6 Thursday    
9:00 a.m. Depart: Golden  
  See: Yoho National Park  
    Lake Louise  
       
  Arrive: Canmore, AL 103

 

Day 7 Friday    
9:30 a.m. Depart: Canmore  
       
9:50 a.m. Arrive: Banff 16
  See: Bow River Falls  
    Banff Springs Hotel  
    Sullfur Mountain Gondola  
4:00 p.m. Depart: Banff  
       
5:40 p.m. Arrive: Radium Hot Springs 85
  Do: Radium Hot Springs Swimming  
  Lodge:   (101)

 

Day 8 Saturday    
9:00 a.m. Depart: Radium Hot Springs  
       
10:30 a.m. Arrive: Cranbrook 89
       
12:00 p.m. Arrive: Bonners Ferry, ID 81
  Do: Lunch  
1:00 p.m. Depart: Bonner Ferry  
       
1:40 p.m. Arrive: Sandpoint 32
       
3:00 p.m. Arrive: Spokane 72
      (274)