Top Things to do in Cariboo
Top Hotels in Cariboo
- 1. Super 8 by Wyndham Williams Lake BC
- 2. Days Inn by Wyndham 100 Mile House
- 3. Best Western Williams Lake Hotel
- 4. Super 8 by Wyndham Williams Lake BC
- 5. Super 8 by Wyndham 100 Mile House
- 6. Ramada by Wyndham Williams Lake
- 7. Super 8 by Wyndham 100 Mile House
- 8. Sandman Hotel Quesnel
- 9. Wettstone Guest Ranch
- 10. Quality Inn Quesnel
What to do and see in Cariboo, Cariboo: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in Cariboo, British Columbia including 108 Mile Ranch Heritage Site, Station House Gallery & Gift Shop, Barkerville Historic Town & Park, Gold Rush Trail, Tourism Discovery Centre, Clinton Museum, South Cariboo Visitor Centre, Quesnel & District Museum & Archives, Cottonwood House Historic Site, Museum of The Cariboo Chilcotin.
Restaurants in Cariboo
1. 108 Mile Ranch Heritage Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 86 reviews
Reviewed By ronb712 - Mission, Canada
We stopped by on our way back to the Lower Mainland to stretch legs, take a break, and use the public washrooms. It's right beside the main Highway so super easy to stop there. It's free, just self guided, no admission etc. Loads of buildings to look at, really interesting, and benches to sit down and have your lunch or snack. There were a couple of booths with vendors selling their wares if you are so inclined. Next time you are driving by stop and have a break, it's worth it!
2. Station House Gallery & Gift Shop
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
The Station House Gallery & Gift Shop, situated in an historic #3 Rail Station, presents 16 - 20 monthly exhibitions yearly that feature local, regional and touring artists. The Gift shop showcases the works of regional artisans in a multitude of mediums. This gallery's charm is only exceeded by the quality of the artwork. Admission is Free.
3. Barkerville Historic Town & Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 476 reviews
Billy Barker’s legendary gold strike on Williams Creek triggered a multi-billion dollar industrial revolution that literally built a province. Today, the extraordinary historic town of Barkerville stands as a living testament to BC’s golden beginnings. With its unique street scape of more than 125 heritage buildings, period displays, satellite museums, restaurants and shops there is still so much to explore.
Reviewed By PookyCake - Victoria, Canada
Growing up, and when I attended school, there was always something intriguing to me about pioneer life and the gold rush. The history textbooks would write about the exploits and adventures of Simon Fraser as he navigated the canyon that now bears his name; the difficulties people experienced while building the Cariboo Wagon Road were elucidated in much detail; the efforts of Chinese and First Nations railroad workers was noted; and the routes taken by gold prospectors as they navigated north of the 49th parallel and into the Cariboo region was highlighted as the beginning of BC’s industrial boom. Indeed, the descriptors, adjectives and images we were exposed to painted a rosy – albeit very sanitized – picture of BC’s early gold rush beginnings. Because our view of the gold rush town is so sanitized and romanticized, you can understand my excitement the first couple of times I visited Barkerville in the early and mid-1990s. Back then, my textbook understanding of what a gold rush town is and should be was still firmly in place. I was coming to Barkerville, I thought, to strike it rich! Well, okay . . . maybe not; however, I DID have it in my mind that I was going to find some gold to take home . . . and get rich! I wasn’t totally wrong on this, but more on that in a moment. For now, I’ll just say that my early visits to Barkerville were a lot of fun. I didn’t pay much attention to the history or interpretive displays at the time; however, I did take note of the buildings and period actors. After we paid our entrance fee and entered the Barkerville Historic Town and Park site, I couldn’t help but be wowed by what was spread out before me: Over 100 original buildings; 21 reconstructed buildings; and a literal living history: Here I was . . . in Barkerville . . . transported back in time to the height of the Cariboo gold rush circa 1860s. Mind blown. During these early visits, the family and I had a lot of fun and spent the better part of a whole day on site. I remember walking or running to various buildings and being totally surprised at how people lived or worked at the time. Being of school age, the Williams Creek Schoolhouse caught my attention for both its compact size and limited teaching resources (a few books and a chalkboard); the dental office was both horrifying and funny – horrifying because of the questionable dental tools and funny because of the mannequin display; the Waterwheel show was intriguing and slightly humorous, thanks to the character actors, as they told a tale and demonstrated how to operate the vintage Cornish Waterwheel and flume; and, of course, the blacksmith shop captivated the whole family’s attention as we absorbed the tools of the trade during the Victorian era in BC’s gold rush capital. Being in a historic gold rush town, though, the inevitable highlight for me was the opportunity to pan for gold. Would I actually get some? Would I strike it rich? Such questions went through my mind as we approached the gold pan set up, received our tutorial and began actually panning for gold. And wouldn’t you know it! By happy coincidence, I did manage to get a few tiny flakes of gold, which were nicely put into a small bottle for me to keep. Little did I know, of course, that the gold panning was all staged: Everybody would get at least a couple of thin flakes in their pans to take home. Still, for young kids, it’s an exhilarating and fun experience. You just won’t strike it rich like Billy Barker did in 1862. Barkerville, as a town, has a lot of depth (literally and figuratively). Founded in 1862 and named after Billy Barker, whose Williams Creek gold strike triggered the Cariboo gold rush, it functioned as the epicentre of BC’s gold rush boom. At its zenith, in the mid-1860s, it’s reported to have had a population of about 5,000 people. As such, Barkerville was recognized for a brief period as being the largest town north of San Francisco. Even today that fact amazes me. Unfortunately, like most boom towns centered on a single resource, the population declined quite sharply in the 1890s as the gold rush waned. There was a brief resurgence in Barkerville come the 1930s – thanks to a surge in gold prices – but that didn’t last long. Barkerville was subsequently recognized as a “Historic town” in 1958 by the Provincial Government and turned into the major tourist attraction it is today. Barkerville’s last full-time resident passed away in 1979. The history of Barkerville, and its significance to the early development of BC’s economy is beautifully told in book publications available at the Park’s admissions building as well as on interpretive plaques placed throughout the site. On recent visits to Barkerville (i.e.: 2019), my focus was much more on the history of the town rather than the actors and their interpretive dance. The historic buildings and their accompanying information plaques thus took center stage. As I ambled about town, I couldn’t help but notice that fewer buildings were open to explore versus my visit a few years earlier and, especially, in the 1990s. I’m not sure why this was the case, but it was a little disappointing. Nevertheless, I did enjoy exploring the likes of St. Saviour’s Anglican Church (built 1870), the whore house (haha) and Barkerville’s historic China Town. The Chee Kung Tong building is itself a National Historic Site of Canada, concomitant with the delicious Lung Duck Tong Restaurant, give a good sense and overview of what gold rush life was like. Additionally, if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, I’d also recommend walking off-site about 15-minutes towards the Barkerville cemetery. The “roadway” from Barkerville to the cemetery is actually an original part of the old Cariboo Wagon Road. How’s that for cool? Of course, a bit of nostalgia played into my recent visit as well. It was nice to have my grandparents on site, just as they’d been some 25 years earlier. They moved a bit slower, but still had an enjoyable time walking along Barkerville’s main street, seeing the period actors, stagecoach, and then enjoying a quick bite at the Wake-Up Jake. In short, Barkerville is a wildly dynamic site and very much a form of “living history” as I’ve said elsewhere. Whether you’re young or old, there’s something here for you to see and enjoy. With its impressive set of historic buildings, period costumes, live performances and pleasant staff, Barkerville truly is an “authentic, unique, world-class heritage experience.” At minimum, one should devote at least a full day to explore the area; however, I’d argue that two would be more appropriate to take it all in. One final recommendation: While all of the restaurants in Barkerville are pretty decent, I must strongly recommend a visit to the House Hotel and Saloon. The hotdogs served here are worth their weight in gold ;)
4. Gold Rush Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27 reviews
The Gold Rush Trail starts in New Westminster and winds its way north to Barkerville. Travelling the Trail, you’ll experience many fascinating “nuggets” of history as you voyage through some of the most spectacular natural beauty in the world, meeting some of the friendliest people along the way. Ever had gold fever? You’re about to embark upon a journey along the Gold Rush Trail that was travelled by gold seekers since the late 1850s who had that “gold fever”, hoping to strike gold. Both men and women journeyed into the great wilderness of British Columbia due mainly to the stories they had heard about “easy gold.” Though only a handful struck it rich finding the precious metal, many of these early pioneers helped to build roads, railways and bridges and establish the great cattle ranches and timber enterprises in British Columbia’s early history. There are countless unique activities to take in too!
5. Tourism Discovery Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 105 reviews
The Williams Lake Visitor Centre is here to help you with all your travel needs! We provide information on Williams Lake, the Cariboo region, and the rest of Canada. The Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin is located in the back half of the building. The centre also boast a gift/coffee shop, interactive displays, washrooms, seating areas, and free internet. Contact us if you have any travel questions, or drop by if you need a rest during your trip! We currently are following Covid 19 procedure to ensure your safety.
Reviewed By sunnygirl0524
I’ve often admired this beautiful log building on our way through Williams Lake, but never realized it had a museum in it! What a treasure trove of local history, artifacts, and memorabilia! There is literally a whole log cabin IN this building! The architecture alone is worth stopping to take a look at. Exhibits showcase local history about the memorable ranchers and cowboys of the area, the Williams Lake Stampede, its indigenous people, local businesses over the years and even some of its celebrities (who knew “Elvis” came from Williams Lake?? (; ) There is no fee... but donations are welcome and encouraged. Great gift shop with many unique gifts as well. A wonderful way to learn about the area. I highly recommend!
6. Clinton Museum
7. South Cariboo Visitor Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 50 reviews
The South Cariboo Visitor Centre is a charming log building and home of the unofficial "World's Largest X-Country Skis". Located along the 100 Mile Marsh, it's a great stop for a picnic and bird watching. For your convenience, restrooms, wireless internet, fenced picnic area and tons of information are available to you! Ask a knowledgeable and friendly Visitor Information Counsellor for assistance with local or provincial information and you won't be disappointed! Also enjoy a lovely selection of unique souvenirs and books for sale. We are OPEN year round so stop on by!
Reviewed By BobJ100MileHouse - 100 Mile House, Canada
We walk the path around the pond and arena every day for exercise. 1 particular day, we stopped in to the visitor centre for a peak. We met 2 of the most wonderful ladies. They were so knowledgeable and helpful. They provided us with a folder and completely filled it with maps and lists of festivals as well as business cards of local contractors and businesses. We shopped as well and bought our son some very cool wooden travel games. We also bought healthy snacks and maple syrup and jewelry for our daughters. This place is definitely the coolest little place offering unique gifts and treats.
8. Quesnel & District Museum & Archives
9. Cottonwood House Historic Site
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
Cottonwood House, is one of the last remaining roadhouses in British Columbia. With over 75 years of Boyd family legacy, a visit to this historic site will allow you to experience the rich history of the Cariboo region first hand. Cottonwood House was built in 1864 offering accommodation, meals, hardware and provisions to many on their journey along the Cariboo Wagon Road to Barkerville or Quesnel. Today, this 26 acre wheelchair accessible provincial heritage site is a tourist destination offering food, heritage interpretation, accommodation and more.
10. Museum of The Cariboo Chilcotin
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 19 reviews
Welcome to the Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin. We are situated on Broadway Avenue South, Williams Lake serving on the traditional territory of the Secwepemc, Tsilhqot'in and Dakelh Nations. The Museum is a tribute to Williams Lake and the Cariboo Chilcotin regions. If you are looking to step back in time come on in we would love to open our doors to you. Nestled in the Cariboo Chilcotin, the Museum provides history and displays on the region, local ranching and rodeo heritage, it is also the home to the BC Cowboy Hall of Fame as well as exhibits on Indigenous Peoples, Railway, Mining, Medical, and Forestry just to name a few. Admission is by donation supporting local and provincial heritage. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Federal Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, as well as the City of Williams Lake and the Cariboo Regional District in partnership with the Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society.
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