Canada Road Trip
Guest Post By Gina
(All images and writing by Gina)
Earlier this year, along with two friends and my boyfriend, I embarked on what I can only describe as the most epic of road trips… Canada! Here is my itinerary and tips for anyone wanting to give this amazing part of the world a visit.
(All images and writing by Gina)
Earlier this year, along with two friends and my boyfriend, I embarked on what I can only describe as the most epic of road trips… Canada! Here is my itinerary and tips for anyone wanting to give this amazing part of the world a visit.
Day 1-3: Whistler
Bear Viewings: 3
Location: Dusty’s Bar & the Whistler Mountain gondola
We caught a direct flight from Manchester to Vancouver, grabbed our bags, picked up a hire car and made our way straight down the picturesque Sea to Sky Highway to a well-known town named Whistler.
A cool stop-off on the way is the Sea to Sky Gondola lift in Squamish, which gives you amazing views of the ocean from the top. Try to arrange a visit when they host their live music and BBQ evenings in the Summer, it was so much fun having a beer at the top of a mountain!
Although Whistler is better known for skiing, it also offers an amazing Summer experience, one must-see is the Peak to Peak Gondola (buy tickets in advance online to get a discount). The gondola takes you up and down both of Whistlers stunning mountains; Blackcomb Mountain and Whistler Mountain where the 2010 Winter Olympics were held. There’s also a world record breaking gondola which connects both peaks, terrifying, but totally worth it.
There’s a lot of exploring to do in and around Whistler itself, so hire some bikes from the centre and follow the well sign posted lake trails or hit the downhill mountain bike course for the real adrenalin junkies out there.
For the foodies, check out Southside diner in Creekside (right next door to Whistler) for some amazingly huge pancakes, I still dream about them!
Location: Dusty’s Bar & the Whistler Mountain gondola
We caught a direct flight from Manchester to Vancouver, grabbed our bags, picked up a hire car and made our way straight down the picturesque Sea to Sky Highway to a well-known town named Whistler.
A cool stop-off on the way is the Sea to Sky Gondola lift in Squamish, which gives you amazing views of the ocean from the top. Try to arrange a visit when they host their live music and BBQ evenings in the Summer, it was so much fun having a beer at the top of a mountain!
Although Whistler is better known for skiing, it also offers an amazing Summer experience, one must-see is the Peak to Peak Gondola (buy tickets in advance online to get a discount). The gondola takes you up and down both of Whistlers stunning mountains; Blackcomb Mountain and Whistler Mountain where the 2010 Winter Olympics were held. There’s also a world record breaking gondola which connects both peaks, terrifying, but totally worth it.
There’s a lot of exploring to do in and around Whistler itself, so hire some bikes from the centre and follow the well sign posted lake trails or hit the downhill mountain bike course for the real adrenalin junkies out there.
For the foodies, check out Southside diner in Creekside (right next door to Whistler) for some amazingly huge pancakes, I still dream about them!
Day 3-5: Jasper National Park
Bear Viewings: 3 adults, 2 cubs
Location: Side of the road near Jasper and Maligne Lake
Now, this is when the real fun began! We picked up one of the most impressive camper vans I’ve ever seen, courtesy of Honest Camper. This would be our home for the next eight days while exploring The Rockies via the Icefield Parkway (with only one campsite booked, gulp!).
The first stop (after a very long drive) was Jasper, where we stayed at the Wapiti Campground (top tip, check out the huge river at the back of the campsite). Jasper is a lovely little town to wander around with lots of cafes and restaurants which all feel very Canadian (we also picked up our bear spray from the petrol station here).
We spent our first day on some walks around Maligne Lake and its surrounding woods. Some of the trails were closed due to bear sightings, but we still managed a good trek about and even came face to face with a huge female elk. On the way back to the campsite we stopped off at the Athabasca Falls, which has several walks around the falls and some amazing viewpoints out across the mountains.
Also, check out the Jasper Sky Tram which takes you up to the top of Whistlers Mountain, amazing views of Jasper and some stunning walks.
Location: Side of the road near Jasper and Maligne Lake
Now, this is when the real fun began! We picked up one of the most impressive camper vans I’ve ever seen, courtesy of Honest Camper. This would be our home for the next eight days while exploring The Rockies via the Icefield Parkway (with only one campsite booked, gulp!).
The first stop (after a very long drive) was Jasper, where we stayed at the Wapiti Campground (top tip, check out the huge river at the back of the campsite). Jasper is a lovely little town to wander around with lots of cafes and restaurants which all feel very Canadian (we also picked up our bear spray from the petrol station here).
We spent our first day on some walks around Maligne Lake and its surrounding woods. Some of the trails were closed due to bear sightings, but we still managed a good trek about and even came face to face with a huge female elk. On the way back to the campsite we stopped off at the Athabasca Falls, which has several walks around the falls and some amazing viewpoints out across the mountains.
Also, check out the Jasper Sky Tram which takes you up to the top of Whistlers Mountain, amazing views of Jasper and some stunning walks.
Day 5-7: Banff National Park
Bear Viewings: 1
Location: Peyto Lake hike
Next up, Banff National Park. To help break up the drive, we stopped off at a lovely little campsite called Mosquito (this is non reservable, so just rock up), along the Icefields Parkway just within the Banff National Park border.
Now, don’t let this put you off, but a lot of the campgrounds in the Rockies tend to be ‘dry’, meaning no running water and pit toilets. Now, as a Leeds Festival veteran, I was expecting the worst, but fear not, they are clean and well maintained, plus it’s all part of the camping experience, right?
We did a long hike around the shores of Bow Lake and right up to Bow Glacier Falls on the first day which was just stunning. We only saw around six other walkers the entire time, so is definitely one to add to the list if you’re after a less touristy experience.
On the second day we visited Peyto Lake, which was the typical vibrant blue, picturesque water you expect from Canada - simply breath taking. However, where lies beauty, the tourists follow, so don’t expect to have any of the hikes to yourself but visit this one anyway as it’s one of the prettiest in The Rockies.
Location: Peyto Lake hike
Next up, Banff National Park. To help break up the drive, we stopped off at a lovely little campsite called Mosquito (this is non reservable, so just rock up), along the Icefields Parkway just within the Banff National Park border.
Now, don’t let this put you off, but a lot of the campgrounds in the Rockies tend to be ‘dry’, meaning no running water and pit toilets. Now, as a Leeds Festival veteran, I was expecting the worst, but fear not, they are clean and well maintained, plus it’s all part of the camping experience, right?
We did a long hike around the shores of Bow Lake and right up to Bow Glacier Falls on the first day which was just stunning. We only saw around six other walkers the entire time, so is definitely one to add to the list if you’re after a less touristy experience.
On the second day we visited Peyto Lake, which was the typical vibrant blue, picturesque water you expect from Canada - simply breath taking. However, where lies beauty, the tourists follow, so don’t expect to have any of the hikes to yourself but visit this one anyway as it’s one of the prettiest in The Rockies.
Day: 7-9 Banff
Bear Viewings: 1
Location: Side of the road near Banff centre
Heading further down the Icefields Parkway to Banff itself we stayed at Tunnel Mountain Village Campsite, with a stop off on the way at the unmissable Lake Louise. To visit the lake, make sure you get there early, and I mean 7am early, or the car park fills up and the park rangers close it all off.
It was full of hundreds of tourists around the lake itself but take the long 12km hike around the lake and up to The Plain of Six Glaciers for a quieter experience, and some out-of-this-world views. This was my favourite hike of the trip and should not be missed. We even saw an avalanche up at the glacier, which was an unforgettable experience.
The last day in Banff called for some down time, we had a lazy mooch around the town, sampled the local beer and poutine (Google it!) and then spent an afternoon in the natural hot springs. In the evening we booked a table at an amazing fondue restaurant, Grizzly House which features some weird and wonderful meats including snake and alligator!
Location: Side of the road near Banff centre
Heading further down the Icefields Parkway to Banff itself we stayed at Tunnel Mountain Village Campsite, with a stop off on the way at the unmissable Lake Louise. To visit the lake, make sure you get there early, and I mean 7am early, or the car park fills up and the park rangers close it all off.
It was full of hundreds of tourists around the lake itself but take the long 12km hike around the lake and up to The Plain of Six Glaciers for a quieter experience, and some out-of-this-world views. This was my favourite hike of the trip and should not be missed. We even saw an avalanche up at the glacier, which was an unforgettable experience.
The last day in Banff called for some down time, we had a lazy mooch around the town, sampled the local beer and poutine (Google it!) and then spent an afternoon in the natural hot springs. In the evening we booked a table at an amazing fondue restaurant, Grizzly House which features some weird and wonderful meats including snake and alligator!
Day 9-10: Emerald Lake & Revelstoke National Park
As we finished our tour of The Rockies, we started the journey back west towards Vancouver with a stop off at Emerald Lake (my second favourite lake). We hired a canoe and did the typical tourist photos, then ate lunch by the shore.
Another couple of stop offs on the way were a boardwalk through a natural rainforest with giant cedars and also the strange but oddly amazing Ghost Town in Three Valley Gap. It had an abandoned village, antique cars and trains, and a whole host of other weird and wonderful artefacts.
Check out the Craft Brierhaus pub in Revelstoke centre to mix with the locals and sample some tasty local brews.
Another couple of stop offs on the way were a boardwalk through a natural rainforest with giant cedars and also the strange but oddly amazing Ghost Town in Three Valley Gap. It had an abandoned village, antique cars and trains, and a whole host of other weird and wonderful artefacts.
Check out the Craft Brierhaus pub in Revelstoke centre to mix with the locals and sample some tasty local brews.
Day 11-12: Kelowna
If you like wine, you need to visit Kelowna in the Okanagan valley. Kelowna is surrounded by vineyards which are all conveniently positioned around one area. No need to book for most, just pull up, taste their wine and visit the next one! My favourite was Quails’ Gate, where the staff were amazing and really passionate about the wine, plus the views out across the Okanagan Lake were stunning. This was the perfect last stop in the camper van before hitting the bright lights of Vancouver.
Day 12-14: Vancouver
One of the prettiest cities I think I have ever visited. We were in Vancouver on Canada Day too, so we had a very fun experience. The streets were filled with food stalls and everyone was dressed in red and white with painted faces. Make sure you have a good wander around Gastown and hit up some of their trendy cocktail bars.
Visit Granville Island for some amazing street food and sweet treats, go with an empty stomach and a big appetite! Head up the Vancouver Lookout tower for some immense 360 views of the city, buy a ticket (which is valid for the whole day), see the city in the morning and then head back up to watch the sunset. It’s amazing, and not rammed to the rafters with tourists either, bonus!
Hire some bikes and cycle the bike path around Stanley Park, take a picnic and get some amazing views back on the city. Make sure you take some time to check out their beaches on the way back too, well worth a visit for some relaxing people watching. The path is really well sign posted and even visits some hidden lakes along the route.
So, there you have it folks, a two week road trip around amazing Canada. It’d be great to hear in the comments below if anyone else has done a similar trip, has any Canadian nuggets of knowledge to share, or if you’re planning on doing a trip there yourself. Happy camping!
Visit Granville Island for some amazing street food and sweet treats, go with an empty stomach and a big appetite! Head up the Vancouver Lookout tower for some immense 360 views of the city, buy a ticket (which is valid for the whole day), see the city in the morning and then head back up to watch the sunset. It’s amazing, and not rammed to the rafters with tourists either, bonus!
Hire some bikes and cycle the bike path around Stanley Park, take a picnic and get some amazing views back on the city. Make sure you take some time to check out their beaches on the way back too, well worth a visit for some relaxing people watching. The path is really well sign posted and even visits some hidden lakes along the route.
So, there you have it folks, a two week road trip around amazing Canada. It’d be great to hear in the comments below if anyone else has done a similar trip, has any Canadian nuggets of knowledge to share, or if you’re planning on doing a trip there yourself. Happy camping!