You could say we’re working our way through a “local tourist” bucket list. I’ve been meaning to visit the Othello Tunnels in Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park near Hope for a while now. Every summer, I see articles and social media posts about the place. It just looks so fascinatingly beautiful. So, we finally decided to make this little road trip a reality. Of course, I had to vlog it.

While not quite as creepy as ghost hunting on the Oregon Coast, the Othello Tunnels are pitch black inside. It’s a good idea to bring a flashlight or lantern so you can see where you’re going. Or, you can use your cell phone light in a pinch (as I saw many people do).

I wanted to visit the Othello Tunnels as part of our #5DadsGoWild camping trip last year, but we really didn’t have the time to squeeze it into our already busy weekend. You might recognize the Othello Tunnels from Rambo: First Blood, Cabin in the Woods, and War for the Planet of the Apes too. Apparently, it’s a popular spot for Hollywood. And for good reason.

Oh, and here’s another fun factoid. The tunnels really are named after the Shakespearean character of the same name. Well, sort of. The tunnels got their name from a nearby railway station. Engineer Andrew McCulloch was a big fan of the Bard. Other stations on the Kettle Valley Railway include Shylock, Portia, Romeo, Juliet, Iago and Lear.

This “local tourist staycation” idea just might become an annual tradition for the Kwan family. We did Squamish and Whistler last summer, and the Othello Tunnels and Cultus Lake this year. Is it crazy that I already want to start planning for next summer? Where should we go next?