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TravelTips24 : North America : Canada : British Columbia : Cariboo-Chilcotin : Prince George

Prince George

For other places with the same name, see Prince George (disambiguation).

Prince George is a major service centre in Northern British Columbia, Canada. It is the largest city north of Kamloops in BC, and known as BC's Northern Capital. Prince George is located at the crossroads of highway 16 (East-West) and highway 97 (north-south). It is situated in a large valley at the confluence of the Fraser river and the Nechako river, both significant, high flow rivers.

From the very beginning, Prince George was built around the forest industry. Today, the forest industry is still the largest employer in town. Prince George has a significant industrial areas North and South of town, along the Fraser River. This includes 3 pulp & paper mills, several chemical factories, several saw mills and an oil refinery. Since its beginnings, Prince George has diversified significantly. Today, Prince George has a large government presence, an important court house, a large provincial jail and the University of Northern British Columbia, one of five British Columbia universities.

In spite of several interesting and exciting natural features, and a few notable museums, a superb Prince George Folkfest in July, a fabulous art gallery, a fantastic seasonal farmer's market, and many other attempts by the city to make Prince George an interesting tourist destination, Prince George remains a stop; a service center for transiting tourists, and not a destination on most travelers' itineraries.

Travel to Prince George & Visa Requirements

By air

Air Canada [1] and Westjet [2] have regular, direct service from Vancouver, BC as well as connecting service to the rest of Canada. The Prince George Airport is located half an hour out of town. There is Taxi service available, as well the PG Airporter[3] offers shuttle service to major hotels in town.

By car

Prince George is located at the intersection of TransCanada 16 and Provincial Highway 97. It's an 8-10 hour drive north from Vancouver, and an 8 hour drive west from Edmonton. Prince George has all services in town, including dealerships for most major car manufacturers. Prince George is a frequent stop for people en route to travel the Alaska Highway.

Buses to Prince George

Greyhound Canada[4] has frequent service north to Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Whitehorse; south to Vancouver, Kamloops and Kelowna; east to Jasper, and Edmonton, and west to Terrace and Prince Rupert. The bus terminal located at 1198 Victoria Street.

By train

VIA Rail Canada[5] offers service west to Prince Rupert and east to Jasper. The train runs once a day, east and west on alternating days. The station is located at 1300 1st avenue. It is open only during arrivals and departures of the train in the early morning and late evening.

Tours & Getting around Prince George

By bus

BC Transit[6] operates Prince George's public transit system, which features 14 bus lines. The service is some what reliable with most buses running once every half hour. Fare options include single rides ($2.00/adult, $1.50/child) day passes ($4.50/adult, $4.00/child).

By taxi

Prince George has two taxi companies, they are:

  • Prince George Taxi - +250 564 4444
  • Emerald Taxi - +250 563 3333

Cab rates in Prince George are comparable to rates in other medium sized cities in North America.

By car

Personal car is the easiest way to get around P.G. Most major rental outlets in North America have offices in town, as well as at the airport.

Prince George attractions and sightseeing

  • Mr. PG: A large statue of man with tree stumps for legs and arms, around 10 metres high, has to be seen to be believed. Mr. PG stands near the tourist information centre at the intersection of Highway 16 and Highway 97. Mr. PG has been successfully burned down by repeated arson attempts, and is now constructed of fire-proof metal.
  • University of Northern British Columbia Grounds: Located high up above town, the view from campus is spectacular. There are lots of hiking trails and mountain bike paths in this area.
  • Fort George Park: Located just outside of downtown, Fort George is a pleasant river side park with a large playground.
  • Connaught Hill - A small hill in the middle of town, take the short drive to the top to see a spectacular view of town, as well as enjoy the gardens and shaded areas on the summit.
  • Prince George Courthouse: This impressive, new building features a prominent dome roof.
  • Nechako River Cutbanks: These large banks of sand along the Nechako river are an impressive view. In mid-summer, the cutbanks formerly hosted the Prince George Sandblast, where competitors ski and snow (sand?) board down the sandy cutbanks to the city below, but the annual event has been cancelled as a result of injuries and accidents. This competition has been featured in several of Warren Miller's ski movies over the years.
  • Forests for the World: Located on Cranbook Hill, this is a short drive from the downtown core, with hiking, a lake, a picnic area, and a lookout point with a fantastic view of the city. A good place to see wildlife without going too far.
  • Third Avenue: In recent years, this has been emerging as a revitalized downtown area. Though there are many pawnshops, there are also hidden treasures nearby, including Pizza Rico's (for concerts, coffee, and good cheap food), Homework (a arts and design store), Books & Company (a cafe/bookstore/concert venue), and Meow Records (not actually on Third, but nearby).
  • Prince George Railway & Forestry Museum:[7] is located north of downtown, on the other side of the railway yards along river road. The museum features lots of old railway equipment, including a number of coaches in the process of being restored. Some notable pieces of equipment include the Russel Wooden Snowplow, BC Rail Electric locomotives and the BC Government Coach "Endeavour". There is also a miniature railroad that operates seasonly and offers rides around the museum ground. Admission is $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for children.
  • Huble Homestead [8] This historic site located 40km north of Prince George just off Highway 97 consists of the house of trader Al Huble, who arrived in 1904, and various other buildings, including a blacksmith shop, general store, and trapper's cabin, some original and some reconstructed. The site is located at the south end of the historic Giscome Portage, once an important route between the Fraser and Peace River systems. During the tourist season interpreters in period costume are on hand and a blacksmith is at work at the forge. It is also a nice site for a walk or picnic. Admission is by donation.
  • Two Rivers Art Gallery:[9] This large, public art gallery is located right downtown in an impressive, purpose-built building. The gallery features art by artists from all over British Columbia. A highlight in Prince George, and well worth the low admission price. Admission is $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children and free for all on Thursdays.

Prince George city tours

  • The Exploration Place:[10] This small museum located in Fort George Park offers local history, as well as a hands-on natural history and science exhibit for children. Hours vary from season to season and should be verified before visiting. Admission is $8.95 for adults, $5.95 for children, students and seniors.
  • Canfor Forestry Tours:[11] Canfor offers a set of free tours of their facilities and several all day tours on forest management practices throughout the summer. Though not tremendously entertaining, they provide insight into the operations of the forest industry that plays such a strong role in the local and regional economy.

Activities

  • Skiing and Snowboarding: There are several ski areas around town. Hart Highlands is a small hill located right in town. 1/2 an hour west is Tabor ski area, another 1/2 hour west is Purden ski area. Both of these feature fairly long runs and interesting terrain.

Prince George souvenirs & shopping

Prince George is mostly a suburban community. This means that the major shopping areas are in shopping centers, usually filled with the typical chain stores you see everywhere. The major shopping centres in Prince George are: Pine Centre Mall, Parkwood Mall, and the Westgate Plaza which are standard shopping centres. Theres also several 'big box' style retailers, including a Walmart, which is in the Westgate Plaza, on the west side of town along highway 16.

Prince George also has a small downtown area, which has several local stores. Some of the more interesting ones are the very unique Centre City Surplus: which is a classic style outfitting shop; Books & Company, located on the edge of downtown is a very nice, local book shop that features books by local authors. Meow Records is another interesting local shop located on Brunswick Avenue, offering used and new records and cd's. It is also a great way to get connected with the local music scene. The downtown area has struggled to compete with the malls. There have been several revitalization efforts.

Many young entrepreneurs have decided to take a chance by opening their businesses downtown and give a pulse back to the core of Prince George. Some of these businesses are Meow Records, Plateau Clothing Co, Ruins, Riot Clothing, and there's more to follow.

  • Coast Mountain Sports, 195-1600 15th Avenue, ☎ (250) 563-9914‎.  edit

Prince George Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

  • Cimo Mediterranean Grill, 601 Victoria Street(Victoria and 6th), ☎ 2505647975. Good ingredients, excellent preparation, and good service come together at Cimo. A solid restaurant for any city, but a real find in such a small city. edit
  • Johnny's Pizza Currently rated as Prince George's favourite pizza. The pizzas are good (especially the garlic crust) but they are pricey. However they do serve 2 pizzas for the price of 1 which does compensate for the price.
  • Spicy Green serves up home made Indian cuisine that will keep your taste buds popping. The food is very good and the prices very reasonable. Be warned that it may take awhile to get your order during busy periods as it is basically a mom and pop shop.
  • Japan Wasabi Sushi Wonton House‎, 395 Quebec Street, ☎ (250) 562-8111‎. said to have good sushi edit

Prince George nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Prince George has many fine pubs and bars around town, some favorites include:

  • The BX: A favorite among locals, has good food and cheap beer, located just west of downtown.
  • Shooters Sports Pub: Located across from the multiplex, has very good food, but the prices are steep.
  • The Generator: If you want to have a good time the Generator is the place to be,they have beer specials monday,tuesday and highball specials wednesday and thursday...They have the best looking girls in town. Cover charge is typically $4.00
  • The Cadillac Ranch: Located in the heart of down town, has the best great drink specials in the downtown area, features country music every night. Great place if you know how to two-step (or get one of the cougars to show you how). Cover is typically $4.00.
  • The Rum Jungle: The place to be for the younger crowd on Saturday night (The Cadillac is your best bet for anyone). Free cover charge for girls, and good music.
  • The Westwood: Used to be a real dive, nowadays it's a fairly classy sports pub, with big TV's and god priced food. Located on Westwood Dr, South of Pine Centre Mall.
  • The College Heights Pub: Located in the suburb of College Heights, a way south of town. This English-style pub has very good food, but steep prices.
  • The Alpine: Neat pub located up in Hart Highlands, north of town. Very good food and low prices. Out of the way, but a good place to check out after an evening of skiing.
  • Jake's Steakhouse: Located near 3rd Ave and Vancouver St, this steakhouse has amazing steak for reasonable prices (~$20 for a meal). Try the coleslaw for a tasty salad.

Prince George cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

There are numerous motels in Prince George, along Highway 97/Central, along Highway 16 West, and downtown. For those seeking hostel level accommodations Prince George is not particularly well equipped to suit that style of travel. The CNC dorms (listed below) are one option available during summer, and camping is available in the outskirts of the city, but outside of the summer months budget accommodations will be difficult to find.

  • The Coast in of the North, located downtown, is generally considered the high-end accommodation in Prince George.
  • Ramada, Right in the downtown core on George St. Rooms start at $111 a night.
  • Treasure Cove, Right along Highway 97 South. Rooms starting at $139. Attached to the Treasure Cove Casino.
  • Sandman, Rooms start at $111.
  • Esther's Inn, just off Central, is popular with families with children because in addition to hotel rooms and a restaurant it has a swimming pool, a steam room, whirlpool baths, and water slides. Rooms starting at $68
  • College of New Caledonia Residences, $20 per person per night without linen, $25 with. Only available May through August.
  • Grama's Inn, just off Central, rooms starting at $55.
  • Economy Inn, right downtown, rooms starting at $60. Rooms are extremely spacious and clean, with free fast wifi. Staff are very friendly.
  • Downtown Motel, rooms starting at $48.
  • Bon Voyage Motor Inn, Located on Highway 16 West, this hotel is somewhat outside of the city itself. Connected to Bon Voyage shopping plaza.
  • Travelodge, Rooms starting at $85.
  • Four Points by Sheraton, Newest hotel in town, located on Hwy 97 just south of the Hwy 16 junction. Rooms starting at $130.

Get out

This page was last edited at 23:15, on 12 November 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Bill Poser, Wikitravel user(s) Hayfield, Texugo and Morph, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

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