Roadside Nature Tours through the Okanagan
Roadside Nature Tours through the Okanagan

Author: Richard Cannings

Publisher: Greystone Books

Published: 2012-01-06

Total Pages: 193

ISBN-13: 1926812247

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The Okanagan attracts thousands of visitors each year to enjoy its beaches and wine, but more and more people are discovering its natural beauty. With desert sands and deep lakes, towering rock cliffs and rich benchlands, cold mountain forests and hot grasslands, the Okanagan has an ecological diversity unequalled in Canada. Roadside Nature Tours through the Okanagan opens with an introduction to the region’s biodiversity, climate, geology, and human history, setting the stage for the route descriptions that follow. Richard Cannings then takes us on twenty-one tours through the valley, from the arid benchlands of Osoyoos to the snowy forests east of Vernon. The routes vary from main highways to quiet roads, and along each one we’re introduced to the animals, plants, and bedrock that create this national treasure. Each route also has a focal topic, ranging from owls to salmon and rattlesnakes to rock rabbits.

Okanagan Odyssey
Okanagan Odyssey

Author: Don Gayton

Publisher: Rocky Mountain Books Ltd

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 178

ISBN-13: 1897522819

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Okanagan Odyssey is a quirky and lyrical examination of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. Sticking to the backroads and byways, Gayton gently pokes and prods local ecosystems, histories, vineyards and people. From Osoyoos in the south to Armstrong at the head of the Valley, the author revels in the biological and social diversity while sampling local wines and fruit along the way. In his unique version of wine pairing, Gayton matches up local books and landscapes with local vintages, giving terroir a whole new meaning. An ecologist by profession, Gayton deftly negotiates the tension between the Okanagan that is home to many endangered species and ecosystems, and the same Okanagan that is a mecca for developers and urban refugees. Okanagan Odyssey is not a travel guide, but represents travel writing at its idiosyncratic best. Please visit Don at www.dongayton.ca.

Okanagan Slow Road
Okanagan Slow Road

Author: Bernadette McDonald

Publisher: TouchWood Editions

Published: 2014-04

Total Pages: 240

ISBN-13: 1771510366

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Explore the bucolic Okanagan Valley of south-central British Columbia with Okanagan Slow Road. A compilation of the best of the region's food, drink, and recreation, the book reveals local culinary secrets: crusty double-baked bread, lavender-infused pepper, seasonal vegetables, dark red cherries, sinfully rich double-cream brie, and farm-fresh eggs with yolks so dark they will startle. And of course, the wines. What would delicious local food be without famous vintages from the unique Okanagan terroir? Although not a definitive guide to Okanagan wines, this book is a personal journey from southern desert wineries with their "big reds" through to the northern Okanagan where crisp whites rule, and includes a list of the many wineries worth visiting. Explore the entire length of the Okanagan Valley, with experiences such as spying a rare canyon wren, cycling the historic Kettle Valley Railroad across heart-stopping trestle bridges or among neatly planted vineyards, hiking through fields of spring flowers, paddling in a protected bay, and climbing on the world-famous gneiss of the Skaha Bluffs. Use the wonderful resource of Okanagan Valley farmers' markets at the back of the book to guide your shopping in the region. Eat local, buy local, cook the food yourself, pair dishes with local vintages, and have a lot of fun in the process. Take your time. Slow down. Taste. Smell. Those are the messages of Okanagan Slow Road.

Flights of Imagination
Flights of Imagination

Author: Richard James Cannings

Publisher: Greystone Books Ltd

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 280

ISBN-13: 1553655354

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Bird-watching is one of the most popular recreational activities in North America -- North American birders are estimated to spend as much as $32 billion annually. Many of the world's greatest natural history writers have penned eloquent, informative and profound essays about these alluring creatures. This timeless evocation of our passion for birds features 20 works from such esteemed writers as Barry Lopez, Terry Tempest Williams, Jonathan Weiner, Barbara Kingsolver, Richard Mabey, and Candace Savage. Included in this diverse selection are excerpts from popular books as well as articles from science and natural history magazines, about birds from all over the planet, and the birders, pishers, twitchers, and listers who love them. Illuminating, entertaining, literary, and intimate, the varied writing reveals the numerous and often unexpected ways in which birds -- spiritual messengers, mythic symbols, personal obsessions, even harbingers of environmental catastrophe -- connect us to the natural world.

Birds of Interior BC and the Rockies
Birds of Interior BC and the Rockies

Author: Richard Cannings

Publisher: Heritage House Publishing Co

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 452

ISBN-13: 9781894974592

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Birdwatching is one of America's most popular activities, but many field guides are so comprehensive or advanced that they intimidate novice birders. Covering the region north of the U.S. border, south of Prince George, east of Manning Park and west into the Rockies, Birds of Interior BC and the Rockies is for beginning and intermediate birders who wish to identify the birds they regularly spot in this area. However, the book will also appeal to more experienced local and visiting birders who want to learn more about the behavior, habitat and seasonal occurrence of local birds. Packed with useful information, this handy, portable guide tells you how to identify local birds, find out where they live and what they eat, how to attract birds to your yard and how to select a pair of binoculars. Identification is made easy with more than 400 sharp, full-color photos illustrating over 200 species of birds, in the plumage most likely seen in the region and color-coded by species. There's even a checklist to record your sightings.

Roadside Nature Tours through the Okanagan
Roadside Nature Tours through the Okanagan

Author: Richard Cannings

Publisher: Greystone Books Ltd

Published: 2009-05

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 1553652886

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Biologist Richard Cannings, who was born and raised in the Okanagan Valley, guides the reader along his favourite road trips, describing the diverse geography, flora and fauna, and historical landmarks of British Columbia's spectacular wine country. The book includes: An introduction to the region's biodiversity, climate, geology, and human history Twenty-one tours through the valley, from main highways to quiet roads Sidebars focusing on different species and natural phenomena found in the region Maps Colour photographs Book jacket.

The New B.C. Roadside Naturalist
The New B.C. Roadside Naturalist

Author: Richard Cannings

Publisher: Greystone Books

Published: 2014-02-11

Total Pages: 352

ISBN-13: 1771000554

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In this fascinating guide to the roadside ecology of the major highways in B.C., you'll discover a whole new dimension to taking a car trip. This new edition has been updated and expanded to cover northern British Columbia and southern Yukon, giving readers a unique perspective on the northern wildlife and vegetation. Southern travellers "may find that this journey will redefine what 'northern British Columbia' means to them, or even what 'north' means." Sidebars tell stories about various species, such as the huge, endangered sturgeon and the Great Basin spadefoot toad, which spends most of the year underground. Full-colour photographs and black-and-white drawings illustrate numerous plants and animals that make their homes along the roadsides of British Columbia, and maps show the route of each highway discussed. In addition, the book offers suggestions for where to stop and look for crayfish, enjoy a swim in summer, or have a picnic lunch during your travels. An appendix provides a brief field guide of tree silhouettes and hints for identifying trees and shrubs. Whether you're taking a day trip or a two-week holiday, your drive along the highways of B.C. will be enriched by the storehouse of information in this facinating and informative guide.

109 Walks in British Columbia's Lower Mainland
109 Walks in British Columbia's Lower Mainland

Author: Mary Macaree

Publisher: Greystone Books

Published: 2014-04-04

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 1771000015

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From trails to spectacular waterfalls near Squamish and historic urban forests in South Surrey, coastal headlands in Howe Sound and ridgetop meadows in the Fraser Valley,109 Walks offers a route for everyone who likes to be outdoors. In this revised seventh edition are 109 of the region’s best walks of four hours or less to suit every taste, whether you’re a visitor to the city or life-long resident, occasional recreationalist or avid walker. The trails have been reorganized from north to south, west to east, and the book includes fourteen all-new walks along with another twelve that have been substantially modified or revived from previous volumes. Most of the classics remain and their trail directions and maps have been completely updated with GPS coordinates to make route-finding easier. Unchanged are the comprehensive indexes that help ensure a trail that’s right for the season, the time frame and the fitness level of the group; the photographs and notes about points of natural or historical interest plus estimated hiking times and distances; and the clearly written, carefully detailed route descriptions. Accurate, authoritative and highly affordable, 109 Walks is an indispensable guide for exploring British Columbia’s Lower Mainland in all seasons.