Canada - Must do's around Calgary - Vancouver
Discussion
Head South on Highway 2 to Lethbridge then West on 3 through Fernie Cranbrook Creston and up over The Salmo Pass and keep going all the way to Hope ,which is 2hrs from Vancouver .This route could take 2 days or 2 months , it's your choice .
2nd thought , miss out Lethbridge , go via Ocotoks and down through the Turner valley on 22 . Kelowna isn't too far off route and is stunning year round .
2nd thought , miss out Lethbridge , go via Ocotoks and down through the Turner valley on 22 . Kelowna isn't too far off route and is stunning year round .
Edited by fttm on Monday 26th June 19:19
Banff. Hiking and around Lake Louise. Up the Icefields Parkway to Jasper, more hiking and decent mountain biking. Then wind west. The wine region around Kelowna or better Penticton is fantastic. There’s the Kettle Valley Rail Trail to walk/cycle. Joffre Lakes for more hiking. Work your way down the Sea to Sky highway to Whistler. Amazing mountain biking there and a nice little town even in summer. Ferry over to Vancouver island for a little explore, Victoria is a nice town. Then back to the big smoke for a few days.
You could spend a lifetime just doing the above. It’s vast, it’s stunning, the food is superb, the wine is surprisingly good, the people are fantastic. Bloody love Canada.
You could spend a lifetime just doing the above. It’s vast, it’s stunning, the food is superb, the wine is surprisingly good, the people are fantastic. Bloody love Canada.
Where are you going to park a motorhome in Vancouver?
BC is a vast, empty expanse whereas Vancouver is an urban city like San Francisco or Detroit.
Some may recall that Harry and Meghan claimed they were leaving UK to live in BC, on Vancouver Island. I never believed one word of it. They were never heading anywhere other then L.A. and just wanted to "spin" their departure as looking "a bit British"!
Victoria, on Vancouver Island (which extends half way down to Seattle), really is quite British.
BC is a vast, empty expanse whereas Vancouver is an urban city like San Francisco or Detroit.
Some may recall that Harry and Meghan claimed they were leaving UK to live in BC, on Vancouver Island. I never believed one word of it. They were never heading anywhere other then L.A. and just wanted to "spin" their departure as looking "a bit British"!
Victoria, on Vancouver Island (which extends half way down to Seattle), really is quite British.
Kelowna/Lake Country/Okanagan Valley area for wines. If that's your thing. 180+ vineyards or so in the region.
As others have said, where in Vancouver are you planning to park your RV?
BC Parks campsites book up well in advance, but they do have some first come first served spots where you can just rock up and park. BC Parks sites are well maintained, clean and spacious. Basic, not all have showers or proper flush toilets etc, but they are in some beautiful spots with fire pits, park bench in each individual lot.
https://camping.bcparks.ca/
As others have said, where in Vancouver are you planning to park your RV?
BC Parks campsites book up well in advance, but they do have some first come first served spots where you can just rock up and park. BC Parks sites are well maintained, clean and spacious. Basic, not all have showers or proper flush toilets etc, but they are in some beautiful spots with fire pits, park bench in each individual lot.
https://camping.bcparks.ca/
Edited by Rich_AR on Tuesday 27th June 03:04
Honest advice? If this is in the next two or three months, get booking campsites then use what you could secure to determine your route. There is nowhere outside campsites to park up an RV. There are no laybys, dead end roads, quiet car parks (although Walmart is an option at a push but you may be moved by security in the middle of the night).
If you haven't driven there before, it's slow. Really slow. Count on average speed of 60km/h which will limit how far you can drive between parking spots. Outside of the main cities, there are nearly zero towns or facilities of any sort. In BC, what is a named town on a map, anywhere outside the lower mainland is going to be 20 houses around the road.
Be prepared for breakdowns and have 24 hours of food and water with you. Always have plenty of gas in the tank. Cellphones don't work outside the lower mainland/main highways.
On the plus side, you've chosen a stunningly beautiful part of the world
A list of places to tick off I can personally recommend
Banff
Lake Louise
Emerald Lake
Moraine Lake
Peyto Lake
Jasper - Maligne Canyon
Wells Gray Park/Helmcken Falls
Whistler - Hiking, biking, lakes, food, art
Britannia Beach Mining Museum
Vancouver Downtown and Granville Island
Vancouver Island - Victoria, Sooke, Tofino.
In two weeks I'm holidaying on the Sunshine Coast for the first time. I've been going 20 years and still exploring.
If you haven't driven there before, it's slow. Really slow. Count on average speed of 60km/h which will limit how far you can drive between parking spots. Outside of the main cities, there are nearly zero towns or facilities of any sort. In BC, what is a named town on a map, anywhere outside the lower mainland is going to be 20 houses around the road.
Be prepared for breakdowns and have 24 hours of food and water with you. Always have plenty of gas in the tank. Cellphones don't work outside the lower mainland/main highways.
On the plus side, you've chosen a stunningly beautiful part of the world
A list of places to tick off I can personally recommendBanff
Lake Louise
Emerald Lake
Moraine Lake
Peyto Lake
Jasper - Maligne Canyon
Wells Gray Park/Helmcken Falls
Whistler - Hiking, biking, lakes, food, art
Britannia Beach Mining Museum
Vancouver Downtown and Granville Island
Vancouver Island - Victoria, Sooke, Tofino.
In two weeks I'm holidaying on the Sunshine Coast for the first time. I've been going 20 years and still exploring.
Hi, Thanks for your help guys.
I'll elaborate a bit about our basic plan, it was;
Calgary 3 nights for the Stampede
RV for 22 nights starting and finishing in Calgary; going to Drumheller, Jasper, Kelowna, Revelstoke, Lake Louise, Banff, Calgary.
Then fly across to Vancouver for 10 nights, possibly hire car and Vancouver Island or up to Whistler.
I've taken your points on board, particularly about pre-booking a few campsites and letting that guide us.
I'm thinking more now about trying to not do too many places but spend more time at each stop. It does sound as though we could just drive up to Jasper and spend a month there though!
Is it worth buying/renting cheap MTBs for getting about for the duration or just renting the days we need them?
I'll elaborate a bit about our basic plan, it was;
Calgary 3 nights for the Stampede
RV for 22 nights starting and finishing in Calgary; going to Drumheller, Jasper, Kelowna, Revelstoke, Lake Louise, Banff, Calgary.
Then fly across to Vancouver for 10 nights, possibly hire car and Vancouver Island or up to Whistler.
I've taken your points on board, particularly about pre-booking a few campsites and letting that guide us.
I'm thinking more now about trying to not do too many places but spend more time at each stop. It does sound as though we could just drive up to Jasper and spend a month there though!
Is it worth buying/renting cheap MTBs for getting about for the duration or just renting the days we need them?
We did an RV around Alaska some moons ago then down to BC for some Bear viewing.
See if you can get upto one of the bear viewing lodges up BC. We went to Spirit Bear lodge and it was amazing the huge grizzlies we witnessed, We were lucky enough to see the Kermode Bear too.
We ski Banff every year but from speaking to many folk I would be swerving Banff national Park due to it being so busy. Think they have pedestrianised banff in the summer. Banff and surrounding is beautiful in the winter and quiet.
Alberta and BC though as many have stated is stunning and for one I could live over there. It has everything and the people are really nice.
Will never tire going to The Rockies it's a magical place.
See if you can get upto one of the bear viewing lodges up BC. We went to Spirit Bear lodge and it was amazing the huge grizzlies we witnessed, We were lucky enough to see the Kermode Bear too.
We ski Banff every year but from speaking to many folk I would be swerving Banff national Park due to it being so busy. Think they have pedestrianised banff in the summer. Banff and surrounding is beautiful in the winter and quiet.
Alberta and BC though as many have stated is stunning and for one I could live over there. It has everything and the people are really nice.
Will never tire going to The Rockies it's a magical place.
Whoozit said:
Cellphones don't work outside the lower mainland/main highways.
It's a very valid point, which most overlook... Download Google maps offline for the areas you'll visit. Even screenshots or printings of bookings as well. I was camping in the lower mainland few weeks ago, no phone signal and i couldn't access my Gmail to show the campsite attendant I'd prepaid for the extra vehicle parking. Annoying 
Lanby said:
Hi, Thanks for your help guys.
I'll elaborate a bit about our basic plan, it was;
Calgary 3 nights for the Stampede
RV for 22 nights starting and finishing in Calgary; going to Drumheller, Jasper, Kelowna, Revelstoke, Lake Louise, Banff, Calgary.
Then fly across to Vancouver for 10 nights, possibly hire car and Vancouver Island or up to Whistler.
I've taken your points on board, particularly about pre-booking a few campsites and letting that guide us.
I'm thinking more now about trying to not do too many places but spend more time at each stop. It does sound as though we could just drive up to Jasper and spend a month there though!
Is it worth buying/renting cheap MTBs for getting about for the duration or just renting the days we need them?
Rev (Revelstoke) is great. I visit a few times a year mostly in winter though.I'll elaborate a bit about our basic plan, it was;
Calgary 3 nights for the Stampede
RV for 22 nights starting and finishing in Calgary; going to Drumheller, Jasper, Kelowna, Revelstoke, Lake Louise, Banff, Calgary.
Then fly across to Vancouver for 10 nights, possibly hire car and Vancouver Island or up to Whistler.
I've taken your points on board, particularly about pre-booking a few campsites and letting that guide us.
I'm thinking more now about trying to not do too many places but spend more time at each stop. It does sound as though we could just drive up to Jasper and spend a month there though!
Is it worth buying/renting cheap MTBs for getting about for the duration or just renting the days we need them?
I'd personally recommend renting a MTB for sure. Most places will have bike rental shops.
The island is beautiful. Victoria reminds me of a very clean, sunny English seaside town, like Whitby.
Edited by Rich_AR on Tuesday 27th June 14:59
Lanby said:
I'm thinking more now about trying to not do too many places but spend more time at each stop. It does sound as though we could just drive up to Jasper and spend a month there though!
Good call First big road trip to Alberta and BC, I spent 2 nights in each location and regretted it. Now we pick two or at most three locations in two weeks and get to know it better. Lanby said:
Then fly across to Vancouver for 10 nights, possibly hire car and Vancouver Island or up to Whistler.
Whistler is very easy to access. There are express buses from downtown to Whistler Village. Local bus service is good as well to get around. However the moment you want more flexibility, a car is a must. Just not in Vancouver (Uber works there). Vancouver Island definitely need a car. Tofino is a magical place to spend time in just chilling.
Edited by Whoozit on Tuesday 27th June 15:12
Lanby said:
Can anyone recommend a horse riding place where you go out for a two day ride and stay overnight in a camp somewhere?
Not personally done it, but there's a place in Squamish (on the way to Whislter from Vancouver) that I've heard is pretty good. https://www.cheekyeranch.com/
Lots of camping in that area as well.
Lanby said:
Cool, thanks
When people get a spot at an RV park, do they go out by bike/foot for the day or can you go out in it and come back and park up in the same spot?
You can come and go as you please. They tag a little post outside your little parking spot/campsite area with Reserved, Available, or the date you're booked up till. Park attendants often are checking things many times throughout the day, so I'd not worry. When people get a spot at an RV park, do they go out by bike/foot for the day or can you go out in it and come back and park up in the same spot?
We embarked on a helicopter journey from Squamish, proceeding towards one of the distinguished Rocky Mountain peaks. The helicopter was able to land on this terrain, providing us with the opportunity to disembark and appreciate the pristine snowy landscape. A few photos were taken.
A nice experience of you’ve never been in a chopper before.
A nice experience of you’ve never been in a chopper before.
Vancouver Island, definitely.
We did a day-trip there and wished we'd had more time.
Victoria is a great town, you HAVE to do a whale-watching tour (we did this by large speedboat...more ground covered and a very entertaining journey back, courtesy of twin inboard-somethings that you could hear over the water roar), and that completely ignores the other 90% of the island.
Plus it's completely different from all the mountain stuff you'll have done up at Banff/Jasper/Whistler.
We did a day-trip there and wished we'd had more time.
Victoria is a great town, you HAVE to do a whale-watching tour (we did this by large speedboat...more ground covered and a very entertaining journey back, courtesy of twin inboard-somethings that you could hear over the water roar), and that completely ignores the other 90% of the island.
Plus it's completely different from all the mountain stuff you'll have done up at Banff/Jasper/Whistler.
havoc said:
Vancouver Island, definitely.
We did a day-trip there and wished we'd had more time.
Victoria is a great town, you HAVE to do a whale-watching tour (we did this by large speedboat...more ground covered and a very entertaining journey back, courtesy of twin inboard-somethings that you could hear over the water roar), and that completely ignores the other 90% of the island.
Plus it's completely different from all the mountain stuff you'll have done up at Banff/Jasper/Whistler.
Hi, We’ve booked the whale watching tour from seaplane then covered boat as I thought the speedboat option might be a bit uncomfortable for 1.5-2 hours. Is the speedboat a better option?We did a day-trip there and wished we'd had more time.
Victoria is a great town, you HAVE to do a whale-watching tour (we did this by large speedboat...more ground covered and a very entertaining journey back, courtesy of twin inboard-somethings that you could hear over the water roar), and that completely ignores the other 90% of the island.
Plus it's completely different from all the mountain stuff you'll have done up at Banff/Jasper/Whistler.
Lanby said:
Hi, We’ve booked the whale watching tour from seaplane then covered boat as I thought the speedboat option might be a bit uncomfortable for 1.5-2 hours. Is the speedboat a better option?
Possibly depends on the size and the weather.We (13 years ago) did a half-day (~4hr) afternoon cruise with Eagle Wing, did loads, saw loads (the boats all talk to each other, so a faster boat can reach a sighting quicker, but it's nothing like a safari where 6 jeeps all crowd round a lion with kill...we saw one other boat the whole trip), good crew, who stayed out as late as possible then sat us all down and turned the taps on full to get back before twilight!
The boat we were on was open and had a capacity of ~20 pax or so, so not a little speedboat, but definitely not slow either. Weather was good, so hard to comment on what it might be like in rough seas, but neither my wife nor I (both 30-somethings at the time) had any problems whether cruising, sitting watching or full-chat, and she notoriously gets seasick on sailing boats.
Some photos from our trip on this link...also with Jasper and Banff in.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/48052912@N05/albums/...
Seaplane + covered boat sounds like it might be a good alternative, to be fair. You're wrong time of year for the migration of the grey whales, so it'll probably be orca pods, seals and whatever pot-luck might throw-up.
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