Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
agencies usually have a limited supply). Don't forget to bring along favorite toys and games
from home—whatever you think will keep your kids entertained when the joys of sightsee-
ing wear off.
The websites of
Destination British Columbia
(
www.hellobc.com
) and
Tourism Van-
couver
(
www.tourismvancouver.com
)
have sections devoted to children's activities. Anoth-
er useful online tool is
Traveling
Internationally
with
Your
Kids
Compared to other parts of the world, Canada is a relatively safe place to visit. Vaccinations
are required only if coming from an endemic area. That said, wherever you are traveling,
carry a medical kit that includes bandages, insect repellent, sunscreen, antiseptic, antibiot-
ics, and water-purification tablets. Good first-aid kits are available at most camping shops.
Health care in Canada is mostly dealt with at a provincial level.
Taking out a travel-insurance policy is a sensible precaution because hospital and med-
ical charges start at around $1,000 per day. Copies of prescriptions should be brought to
Canada for any medicines already prescribed.
Giardiasis, also known as beaver fever, is a real concern for those heading into the back-
country of British Columbia. It's caused by an intestinal parasite,
Giardia lamblia,
that lives
in lakes, rivers, and streams. Once the parasite is ingested, its effects, although not instant-
aneous, can be dramatic: Severe diarrhea, cramps, and nausea are the most common symp-
toms. Preventive measures should always be taken, including boiling all water for at least
10 minutes, treating all water with iodine, or filtering all water using a filter with a pore size
small enough to block the giardia cysts.
Travel to Vancouver and Vancouver Island in winter is relatively easy, with snowfall only
rarely falling in these cities. Traveling beyond the coast during winter months should not be
undertaken lightly. Before setting out in a vehicle, check antifreeze levels, and always carry
a spare tire and blankets or sleeping bags.
Frostbite
is a potential hazard, especially when
cold temperatures are combined with high winds (a combination known as
windchill
). Most
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