BC Ferries Top Ten List

[Northern Exploration]

Ok so I phrased that to get your attention.

Instead of Letterman I am referring to a book my Dad got for Christmas from my brother. I just looked at it this evening. The book is National Geographics "Journeys of a Lifetime - 500 of the Worlds Greatest Trips."

The first section is called "Across Water." Seattle to Alaska is the first trip. They don't mention the Ferry possibilities there but are assuming the trip is by cruise ship. The St. Lawrence from Kingston to Quebec City and the Trent-Severn Waterway are two other Canadian trips mentioned.

In the middle of this section is a two page "Top Ten City Boat Trips" subsection. The first one cited is "Vancouver Ferries". So they treat the BCFerries system as part of the city of Vancouver.

"State-of-the-art ferries cross sparkling waters between Vancouver and the surrounding islands, passing dense deciduous forests and snowy peaks, glimpsed distantly across the water. Ferries run more frequently in summer."

The remaining top ten is:
#2 Staten Island Ferry, New York City
#3 San Francisco to Sausalito Ferry, California
#4 New Orleans to Algiers Ferry, Louisiana
#5 Star Ferry, Hong Kong, China
#6 Brisbase CityCat, Australia
#7 Bosphorus Ferry, Instanbul, Turkey
#8 Venice Vaparetto, Italy
#9 Naples to Capri Ferry, Italy
#10 Mersey Ferry, Liverpool, England

Another interesting section for some on this board is "By Rail." The Rocky Mountaineer is mentioned besides the California Zephyr, Shinkansen, and Venice Simplon-Orient-Express among others. In the "Top Ten Trolley Rides" #1 is Toronto's #501 Queen Streetcar, Canada. The call it one of the longest streetcar routes in North America.

I wouldn't get it for these small sections of the overall book. But if you want one resource for dream trips for the future it may be a good one for you. Check it out at your local library if you just want to read about these sections.

[WettCoast]

"State-of-the-art ferries cross sparkling waters between Vancouver and the surrounding islands, passing dense deciduous forests and snowy peaks, glimpsed distantly across the water. Ferries run more frequently in summer."

Do they really say dense deciduous forests? National Geographic? Are they not supposed to specialize in geographic accuracy?

[Mill Bay]

wetcoastkidjst said:

"State-of-the-art ferries cross sparkling waters between Vancouver and the surrounding islands, passing dense deciduous forests and snowy peaks, glimpsed distantly across the water. Ferries run more frequently in summer."

Do they really say dense deciduous forests? National Geographic? Are they not supposed to specialize in geographic accuracy?

Well, the Southern Gulf Islands are the ecosystem in which lives the oft-pictured Arbutus Tree, which is the only broad-leaf evergreen tree native to Canada.

Maybe all Nat-Geo says is forests of Arbutus trees.

[WettCoast]

Do you think that there are enough arbutus to qualify as dense?

[Mill Bay]

wetcoastkidjst said:

Do you think that there are enough arbutus to qualify as dense?

I dunno, but check this out...

Arbutus Trees. We are Canadians
www.bceh.com/arbutus_trees.htm

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

wetcoastkidjst said:

Do you think that there are enough arbutus to qualify as dense?

Which...the trees, or National Geographic...

[Northern Exploration]

Well since the whole BC Ferries system is treated as if it is a "city" boat trip under Vancouver it tells you something. Makes you wonder how many other little things that may be technically correct but misdleading there are in the book. Likely the whole thing was split up and many contributors. Either that or it is reprints from National Geographic Traveler and other sources and just amalgamated into a book format. I am going to give a quick read over the listings I am familiar with and see what else jumps out. I really skimmed everything quite quickly except the Ferries listing.

[Mike C]

On the top ten ferries list, I've done the top 3... BCF, Staten Island on the M/V John F Kennedy (I think it was the JFK, not 100% sure about that) and Sausilito on the M/V Marin.

Personally, I think the SeaBus should be on there somewhere too...