Merritt travel guide

The City of Merritt is a city in the Nicola Valley in south central British Columbia, Canada. Situated at the confluence of the Nicola and Coldwater rivers, it is the first major community encountered after travelling along Phase One of the Coquihalla Highway and acts as the gateway to all other major highways to the B.C. Interior. The city developed in 1893 when part of the ranches owned by William Voght, Jesus Garcia, and John Charters was surveyed for a town site.
Once known as Forksdale, the community adopted its current name in 1906 in honour of mining engineer and railway promoter William Hamilton Merritt just prior to its incorporation in 1962. The city limits consists of the community, a number of civic parks, historical sites, an aquatic centre, a local arena, and a civic centre. Merritt has dozens of bronzed hand prints of country music stars that have been in the city for the annual Merritt Mountain Music Festival displayed throughout town. Merritt is also home to a local radio station, Radio NL, two weekly newspapers, the Merritt Herald and the Merritt News, and the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology campus. Nearby, there are 4 provincial parks, more than 100 lakes, and several recreational trails. Merritt is officially branded as the Country Music Capital of Canada. (...) more....