travelling from Vancouver to Churchill

Old Jan 28th, 2015, 08:43 PM
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travelling from Vancouver to Churchill

We have booked a 4day/3night Polar Bear Experience departing Winnipeg on Oct 22-2015.
We plan to spend about 3 weeks in Canada departing Vancouver by rental car about October 10 and driving across to Thunder Bay staying in motels arriving in Winnipeg on Oct 22. We do not wish to travel further east that Thunder Bay..
On our return to Winnipeg on Oct 25 we propose to drive back to Vancouver using a different road if possible than that on the way over,
On previous visits to Canada, which we thoroughly enjoyed, we have spent time in Jasper, Edmonton, Banff, Lake Louise and Calgary and do not necessarily wish to revisit those locations.
Coming from Australia we have no experience whatsoever in driving on roads which are covered with snow or ice and would hope that those conditions would not prevail during our visit. Chains for us is something you might wear around your neck as jewellery.
What we would very much appreciate is your suggestions on a suitable route from Vancouver to Thunder Bay and return over a period of about 3 weeks, which might provide us with some sights and amazing scenery.
Thanks
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Old Jan 29th, 2015, 05:17 AM
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Hi OBIE31,

Everything could go well but personally, I'd be anxious about hitting snow or ice storms along the way, which might make the drive not fun at all. My suggestion: enjoy areas along the Pacific Coast from October 10-20 which won't have snow (ideas: Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, maybe go into the States and see some of Washington State or Oregon's highlights) and then fly to Winnipeg, flying back after Winnipeg. Or if you want to do something different and trains appeal to you, you could consider a sleeper car on VIA Rail which runs three times weekly from Vancouver to Winnipeg (I've done this a few times and love it, but disclaimer: I'm a train fan).

I hope you make it to Churchill to enjoy the tundra buggies. I tried to go last year, but sadly there was a derailment on the tracks so I ended up just exploring Winnipeg instead (only way to get to Churchill other than expensive plane).

Hope you have a great trip, whatever you do!

Best wishes, Daniel
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Old Jan 29th, 2015, 02:30 PM
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Thanks Daniel,
We werent sure about when it was likely to start snowing in that area. Will certainly look at the options.
Anne
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Old Jan 31st, 2015, 10:11 PM
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Like Daniel, I'm a train fan. In late October 2001 I rode on the ViaRail train from Winnipeg to Churchill. I didn't pay the big bucks to go out in a tundra buggy to see polar bears.
It was cold in Churchill and we had a minor snow flurry for a few minutes. The train returns from Churchill exactly 12 hours from the time it arrives in the morning. I can tell you that ViaRail coach seats are not as comfortable as Amtrak seats.
Several years later I took my DW to Churchill on the train.
That time I hired a taxi along with a Japanese tourist and we went out of town to see a polar bear. I did get to see a sleeping polar bear on the other side of a narrow channel. I also saw the polar bear "jail" and the wreck site of "Miss Piggy". Expect cool to cold weather without much snow.
The fire department is out with floodlights to protect the kids from the bears on Halloween night.
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