Help planning a first trip to Canada
Jan 1st, 2007, 10:58 AM
#1
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Help planning a first trip to Canada
Hoping to get some help planning our first trip to Canada. We've done trips to Washington and Oregon, and now want to head farther north! Thinking around 8 nights, either in May or Sept 2007. When looking at forum posts, I think we'd like to see Vancouver, Victoria, Tofino, maybe Gulf Islands, Sunshine Coast and Whistler. That's probably too many ideas, so would love advice on must-sees. We like scenic drives, husband likes ferries, not hikers but walkers. We'd like to see alot of natural beauty. Is whale watching an option? Would a ferry pass be a good investment? Need help deciding how to apportion our time. We can fly into either Seattle or Vancouver. Thanks in advance for advice, others have asked for help with the same recently, but often for much longer vacations (lucky them).
Jan 1st, 2007, 11:47 AM
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Actually, I think we might try flying into Seattle, then out of Vancouver (to/from Austin) This only adds a bit to the price, and then we could do Vancouver island and end up flying out of Vancouver.
Jan 1st, 2007, 12:00 PM
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Why not just fly in and out of Vancouver so you don't have to deal with crossing the border, etc and the additional travel time to BC? Or did you have a specific reason you wanted to go to Seattle this trip?
In any case, I wouldn't try to do more than 3 locations--say, Victoria, Vancouver and Tofino. I would do 2 nights Victoria, 3 in Tofino and 3 in Vancouver (and you can do Whistler as a day trip from Vancouver). Yes, you can whale watch, from both Victoria and Tofino (orcas from Victoria, gray whales from Tofino). May would be the better time to see the tail end of the gray whale migration, and if you come in late May, that should work reasonably well for seeing the orcas too (June is actually the best time for being reasonably sure of seeing them, although they are usually in the area through the summer). September generally has better weather than May, though.
In any case, I wouldn't try to do more than 3 locations--say, Victoria, Vancouver and Tofino. I would do 2 nights Victoria, 3 in Tofino and 3 in Vancouver (and you can do Whistler as a day trip from Vancouver). Yes, you can whale watch, from both Victoria and Tofino (orcas from Victoria, gray whales from Tofino). May would be the better time to see the tail end of the gray whale migration, and if you come in late May, that should work reasonably well for seeing the orcas too (June is actually the best time for being reasonably sure of seeing them, although they are usually in the area through the summer). September generally has better weather than May, though.
Jan 1st, 2007, 12:12 PM
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These are some of my thoughts.
COST
You are looking only at air fares, which are only half of the equation. If you pick up a car in Seattle and drop it off in Vancouver, I believe you will incur a steep one-way drop off fee.
In a time frame that is as short as yours, I think it makes sense to fly into and out of Canada.
If you do choose to fly into Seattle and out of Vancouver, you could catch the passenger-only Victoria Clipper from Seattle to Victoria. Alhough you still would incur a one-way drop off fee for picking up a car in Victoria and dropping it off in Vancouver, I don't think it'll be as bad as it would be if you picked up in Seattle and dropped off in Vancouver.
WHAT YOU CAN FIT IN
I think you'd be able to squeeze in Victoria, Tofino, Whistler and Vancouver. Including Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast is unrealistic.
ITINERARY
You might consider this:
Saturday - Land in Vancouver, ferry to Victoria. (Even if all the stars are aligned in your favour, I cannot see you reaching downtown Victoria less than 4.5 hours after the time that your plane touches down in Vancouver.)
Sunday - Explore Victoria.
Monday - Drive to Tofino (at least 5 hours, but probably more).
Tuesday, Wednesday - Explore Tofino's environs.
Thursday - Drive to Whistler. This will take a minimum of 7.5 hours. It will involve driving from Tofino to Nanaimo (3 hours), catching the ferry from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay (1 hour wait and 1.5 hour crossing), and driving from Horseshoe Bay to Whistler (at least 2 hours).
Friday - Explore Whistler's environs in the morning. Drive to Vancouver in the afternoon.
Saturday - Visit Vancouver's centrally located attractions (Stanley Park and the like).
Sunday - Fly home.
MINIMUM SUGGESTED STAYS
I think you should try to spend the following number of nights in the following places:
Victoria - 2 nights
Tofino - 3 nights
Whistler - 1 night
Vancouver - 2 nights
Hope that helps.
THINGS NOT TO WORRY ABOUT
Vancouver's "North Shore" is very nice. It consists of the suburbs (technically separate municipalities) that are across Burrard Inlet from downtown (chiefly North Vancouver and West Vancouver). The most popular attractions there are the SkyRide up Grouse Mountain, one of two pedestrian bridges (fee-charging Capilano Canyon Suspension Bridge and free Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge), and Horseshoe Bay.
If you go to Whistler, you in any case will pass through Horseshoe Bay on your way to and from Whistler.
The mountains in which Whistler is located are better than Grouse Mountain, and the forests on the way to Whistler and all around Whistler are similar to those you could enjoy if you were to walk in the lovely forests of Lynn Headwaters Regional Park in North Vancouver.
The two museums that I know about that have good Aboriginal exhibits are the Royal BC Museum in Victoria and the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. If you are interested in Aboriginal culture, you would enjoy a visit to one of those two museums. However, there is no need for someone who is as stretched for time as you are to try to see both museums.
Hope that helps.
COST
You are looking only at air fares, which are only half of the equation. If you pick up a car in Seattle and drop it off in Vancouver, I believe you will incur a steep one-way drop off fee.
In a time frame that is as short as yours, I think it makes sense to fly into and out of Canada.
If you do choose to fly into Seattle and out of Vancouver, you could catch the passenger-only Victoria Clipper from Seattle to Victoria. Alhough you still would incur a one-way drop off fee for picking up a car in Victoria and dropping it off in Vancouver, I don't think it'll be as bad as it would be if you picked up in Seattle and dropped off in Vancouver.
WHAT YOU CAN FIT IN
I think you'd be able to squeeze in Victoria, Tofino, Whistler and Vancouver. Including Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast is unrealistic.
ITINERARY
You might consider this:
Saturday - Land in Vancouver, ferry to Victoria. (Even if all the stars are aligned in your favour, I cannot see you reaching downtown Victoria less than 4.5 hours after the time that your plane touches down in Vancouver.)
Sunday - Explore Victoria.
Monday - Drive to Tofino (at least 5 hours, but probably more).
Tuesday, Wednesday - Explore Tofino's environs.
Thursday - Drive to Whistler. This will take a minimum of 7.5 hours. It will involve driving from Tofino to Nanaimo (3 hours), catching the ferry from Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay (1 hour wait and 1.5 hour crossing), and driving from Horseshoe Bay to Whistler (at least 2 hours).
Friday - Explore Whistler's environs in the morning. Drive to Vancouver in the afternoon.
Saturday - Visit Vancouver's centrally located attractions (Stanley Park and the like).
Sunday - Fly home.
MINIMUM SUGGESTED STAYS
I think you should try to spend the following number of nights in the following places:
Victoria - 2 nights
Tofino - 3 nights
Whistler - 1 night
Vancouver - 2 nights
Hope that helps.
THINGS NOT TO WORRY ABOUT
Vancouver's "North Shore" is very nice. It consists of the suburbs (technically separate municipalities) that are across Burrard Inlet from downtown (chiefly North Vancouver and West Vancouver). The most popular attractions there are the SkyRide up Grouse Mountain, one of two pedestrian bridges (fee-charging Capilano Canyon Suspension Bridge and free Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge), and Horseshoe Bay.
If you go to Whistler, you in any case will pass through Horseshoe Bay on your way to and from Whistler.
The mountains in which Whistler is located are better than Grouse Mountain, and the forests on the way to Whistler and all around Whistler are similar to those you could enjoy if you were to walk in the lovely forests of Lynn Headwaters Regional Park in North Vancouver.
The two museums that I know about that have good Aboriginal exhibits are the Royal BC Museum in Victoria and the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. If you are interested in Aboriginal culture, you would enjoy a visit to one of those two museums. However, there is no need for someone who is as stretched for time as you are to try to see both museums.
Hope that helps.
Jan 1st, 2007, 12:26 PM
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Sorry, I didn't see NWWanderer's post when I posted my message.
I take NWWanderer's point that three destinations are enough in eight nights. Including Whistler and bumping it up to four destinations is pushing it. You'll have to decide what you're comfortable with, sformby.
I'll just add that some people do Whistler as a day trip from Vancouver. Indeed, there may be merit in your doing that, because it would be a decision you could make once you were there, and you would not have to be committed to it in advance.
I take NWWanderer's point that three destinations are enough in eight nights. Including Whistler and bumping it up to four destinations is pushing it. You'll have to decide what you're comfortable with, sformby.
I'll just add that some people do Whistler as a day trip from Vancouver. Indeed, there may be merit in your doing that, because it would be a decision you could make once you were there, and you would not have to be committed to it in advance.
Jan 1st, 2007, 01:10 PM
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Thanks for the quick replies. As far as airfare, I can take a non-stop to Seattle and be there by 10:30 am. Then I can take a connecting flight to Victoria and be there by 1:45 pm. So I thought that might beat wasting the day on the ferry! The airfare isn't much more ($421 vs. $358 RT to Vancouver + $50 people plus car ferry fee) but you are correct a $75 USD rental car drop fee would still apply. Opinions?
I agree that 3 destinations is more doable. I can add days if needed, maybe 10 days would be better if we add Whistler?
I am now thinking of going the day after our Labor Day (September 4), hoping we will miss crowds with school back in session. If we did travel over Labor Day, do you think the crowds would be much worse in Victoria?
I agree that 3 destinations is more doable. I can add days if needed, maybe 10 days would be better if we add Whistler?
I am now thinking of going the day after our Labor Day (September 4), hoping we will miss crowds with school back in session. If we did travel over Labor Day, do you think the crowds would be much worse in Victoria?
Jan 1st, 2007, 03:35 PM
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Ah, ok, I didn't realize you were going to fly from Seattle directly to Victoria. That sounds like a decent plan.
If you are going to add Whistler or another destination then yes 10 nights would make that more feasible, although since you're not big on hiking, a day trip or an overnight to Whistler might be plenty for you. What in particular are you interested in seeing/doing there?
I think Labor Day weekend itself would be a busy time to be in Victoria so if you can start your trip after that, that's probably a good idea. September overall is a very popular time to travel for people without kids in school so while it won't be as busy as July or August, you'll still have plenty of company.
If you are going to add Whistler or another destination then yes 10 nights would make that more feasible, although since you're not big on hiking, a day trip or an overnight to Whistler might be plenty for you. What in particular are you interested in seeing/doing there?
I think Labor Day weekend itself would be a busy time to be in Victoria so if you can start your trip after that, that's probably a good idea. September overall is a very popular time to travel for people without kids in school so while it won't be as busy as July or August, you'll still have plenty of company.
Jan 18th, 2007, 06:12 PM
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Many vacationers that do the Coastal Circle tour in less time then you have. If your husband loves ferry cruises than the Circle tour is a must. You will definately enjoy all the cruising across the straits. Folks say that the cruise between Saltery Bay and Earl's Cove is the most beautiful. You must buy a Coastal Circle Pac ticket and save 15% on all 4 ferries. You must purchase your ticket at your first point of departure from Vancouver, either across to Victoria and up the Island and across from Little River to Powell River and down the Sunshine Coast. www.discoverpowellriver.com for lots of opportunities of things to do in our area. Nice walks and many wonderful restaurants of ethnic diversity. September may be the best month for travelling and weather. Usually fairly warm still.
