Western Canada in August
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Western Canada in August
We are planning to visit British Columbia and Alberta in August 2017 for 20 days. Our flight from Italy will land in Vancouver. Can you recommend a tour? Do you think the Inside Passage is worth? Thanks for your help
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What you do want to see? What are your interests?
Three weeks (more or less) may seem like a lot of time, but it's actually not much time to cover Alberta and BC. Based on your interests/foci and budget, you'll need to make some choices.
And make them quickly - it's shaping up to be a record breaking summer in terms of tourist numbers - especially in the national parks. More than a few hotels are already booked solid for the summer. So you need to start booking accommodations as soon as you can. Note that the first Monday in August is a holiday and that long weekend is likely to be extremely busy. You'll want to be in one place for the whole weekend (many places probably won't take partial bookings anyway), and try to avoid big tourist spots that weekend.
Three weeks is enough to do a round-trip from Vancouver to the Rockies and back, but if you want to hit Vancouver Island (especially the Inside Passage), it might be well worth flying from Vancouver to Calgary and doing a one way trip. We'd suggest 6-7 days in the Rockies (3-4 in the Banff area and 2-3 in the Jasper area), then anywhere from 2-6 days driving across BC. Probably 3 days around Vancouver and the rest of your trip on the island. You could also fly from Calgary back to Vancouver or to Vancouver Island to get more time out there. Really depends on what you want to see & do.
Three weeks (more or less) may seem like a lot of time, but it's actually not much time to cover Alberta and BC. Based on your interests/foci and budget, you'll need to make some choices.
And make them quickly - it's shaping up to be a record breaking summer in terms of tourist numbers - especially in the national parks. More than a few hotels are already booked solid for the summer. So you need to start booking accommodations as soon as you can. Note that the first Monday in August is a holiday and that long weekend is likely to be extremely busy. You'll want to be in one place for the whole weekend (many places probably won't take partial bookings anyway), and try to avoid big tourist spots that weekend.
Three weeks is enough to do a round-trip from Vancouver to the Rockies and back, but if you want to hit Vancouver Island (especially the Inside Passage), it might be well worth flying from Vancouver to Calgary and doing a one way trip. We'd suggest 6-7 days in the Rockies (3-4 in the Banff area and 2-3 in the Jasper area), then anywhere from 2-6 days driving across BC. Probably 3 days around Vancouver and the rest of your trip on the island. You could also fly from Calgary back to Vancouver or to Vancouver Island to get more time out there. Really depends on what you want to see & do.
#3
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Thanks a lot for your info. Please find attached my idea of the trip. Yes, I am having a lot of difficulties in booking hotels/lodges.
3) Italy-Vancouver
4) Vancouver
5-6) Victoria
7-8-9) Tofino (I have already found availability at ocean village)
10-11) Campbell River
12) Telegraph Cove
13) Parksville/Port Alberni
14) Whistler
15-16) Clearwater (Well's Gray)
17-18-19) Jasper
20-21-22) Banff/Lake Louise
23) Calgary flight back to Italy
3) Italy-Vancouver
4) Vancouver
5-6) Victoria
7-8-9) Tofino (I have already found availability at ocean village)
10-11) Campbell River
12) Telegraph Cove
13) Parksville/Port Alberni
14) Whistler
15-16) Clearwater (Well's Gray)
17-18-19) Jasper
20-21-22) Banff/Lake Louise
23) Calgary flight back to Italy
#4
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I can't help much with Vancouver Island, but I think you might be trying to do too much there. You want to spend at least 2 if not three nights in each location. Otherwise you'll be doing more driving that seeing/enjoying/experiencing. And you may have trouble making one or even two night bookings. Plus, I think you will want a couple of days to see the Vancouver area. And avoid too many ferries - they are expensive and will have to be booked well in advance for August.
Don't know who would have info here, but there's lots of good advice on BC/Vancouver Island on TripAdvisor.
I would also skip Clearwater and go to Banff, then Jasper, then back to Banff/Lake Louise. The Icefields Parkway (Lake Louise to Jasper) is one of the most scenic drives in the world, and you don't want to risk it rainy/cloudy on your one chance to see it. Go via the TransCanada to Lake Louise/Banff - that way you get to see Glacier and Revelstoke NPs - the stretch of road from Revelstoke to the Alberta border is very, very scenic.
Don't know who would have info here, but there's lots of good advice on BC/Vancouver Island on TripAdvisor.
I would also skip Clearwater and go to Banff, then Jasper, then back to Banff/Lake Louise. The Icefields Parkway (Lake Louise to Jasper) is one of the most scenic drives in the world, and you don't want to risk it rainy/cloudy on your one chance to see it. Go via the TransCanada to Lake Louise/Banff - that way you get to see Glacier and Revelstoke NPs - the stretch of road from Revelstoke to the Alberta border is very, very scenic.
#5
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REgarding Vancouver Island. Trip advisor does have a lot of information on the island.
I assume you are renting a car?
You are trying to put a lot into a few days.
5/6 Victoria. It will take you most of day 5 to take the ferry and get to Victoria, (4 hours at least) so that leaves you 1 1/2 days there. Do able however. I would suggest finding a hotel near the inner harbour to walk around and explore that area.
If you also want to visit Buchart Gardens then you would do so after getting off the ferry as it is close to there. The ferry, Buchart Gardens is on one highway, and the way to Tofino on another highway so you don't want to back track.
It will take most of day 7 to get to Tofino but the drive and sights along the way are great. You could stop en route at Coombs to have lunch and stretch your legs at the market there (goats on the roof)
Another nice stop is Little Qualicum Falls for a walk around the falls through the forest ( an hour stop)
Cathedral Grove is just a bit further for another walk through old growth forest (an hour)
Port alberni is the last town before reaching Tofino. There is a great produce store there across from the river called Naesgards. Coombs Market also sells good local produce at a reasonable price. All other food stuffs can easily be bought at the Co Op in Tofino.
From Tofino you are going to Campbell river which will be around 4 hours. What is it you are hoping to see there? Don't get me wrong it is beautiful, but depending upon why you are going you may be better off somewhere closer. Telegraph cove is another couple hours from there. Whale Watching? You can do the whale watching in either Victoria or Tofino as well.
Most people will just do Victoria and Tofino with that amount of time. There is so much to explore in between as well.
day 13. Port alberni is not on the route back from Campbell river, as said it will be on the way to Tofino, or return. Parksville however is on the way and worth a stop.
I assume you will take the ferry back to Vancouver from Nanaimo. You can head to Whistler right from the ferry in Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver)
I would book the ferries if you are on such a tight schedule. You pay an extra fee, ($18 I think) and still have to arrive at the ticket booth at least 30 minutes before departure. The ferries can get very busy in August and you don't want to spend you vacation waiting in a line up. bcferries.com
If you can tell us what activity that you want to do in each of the places on the island I can better advise you on streamlining. As said above it looks like a small island but it is not, and you may or may not want to spend most of your holiday in the car.
https://vancouverislandvacations.com...sland+Map.html
I assume you are renting a car?
You are trying to put a lot into a few days.
5/6 Victoria. It will take you most of day 5 to take the ferry and get to Victoria, (4 hours at least) so that leaves you 1 1/2 days there. Do able however. I would suggest finding a hotel near the inner harbour to walk around and explore that area.
If you also want to visit Buchart Gardens then you would do so after getting off the ferry as it is close to there. The ferry, Buchart Gardens is on one highway, and the way to Tofino on another highway so you don't want to back track.
It will take most of day 7 to get to Tofino but the drive and sights along the way are great. You could stop en route at Coombs to have lunch and stretch your legs at the market there (goats on the roof)
Another nice stop is Little Qualicum Falls for a walk around the falls through the forest ( an hour stop)
Cathedral Grove is just a bit further for another walk through old growth forest (an hour)
Port alberni is the last town before reaching Tofino. There is a great produce store there across from the river called Naesgards. Coombs Market also sells good local produce at a reasonable price. All other food stuffs can easily be bought at the Co Op in Tofino.
From Tofino you are going to Campbell river which will be around 4 hours. What is it you are hoping to see there? Don't get me wrong it is beautiful, but depending upon why you are going you may be better off somewhere closer. Telegraph cove is another couple hours from there. Whale Watching? You can do the whale watching in either Victoria or Tofino as well.
Most people will just do Victoria and Tofino with that amount of time. There is so much to explore in between as well.
day 13. Port alberni is not on the route back from Campbell river, as said it will be on the way to Tofino, or return. Parksville however is on the way and worth a stop.
I assume you will take the ferry back to Vancouver from Nanaimo. You can head to Whistler right from the ferry in Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver)
I would book the ferries if you are on such a tight schedule. You pay an extra fee, ($18 I think) and still have to arrive at the ticket booth at least 30 minutes before departure. The ferries can get very busy in August and you don't want to spend you vacation waiting in a line up. bcferries.com
If you can tell us what activity that you want to do in each of the places on the island I can better advise you on streamlining. As said above it looks like a small island but it is not, and you may or may not want to spend most of your holiday in the car.
https://vancouverislandvacations.com...sland+Map.html
#8
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I mentioned in my post for Victoria is inner harbour. IE Laurel Point hotel, or on a lower budget Days inn on the harbour. If you go to Booking.com and look at the map any hotel near these two is good location IMO.
In Vancouver I always like to be near downtown, Robson area. I don't stay in 5 star hotels so look for deals myself. The last time I went to Vancouver in the summer my husband and I stayed at the YWCA, which was a great location, private room with bath and only $155 a night. It was a delightful surprise.
It depends upon your budget.
In Vancouver I always like to be near downtown, Robson area. I don't stay in 5 star hotels so look for deals myself. The last time I went to Vancouver in the summer my husband and I stayed at the YWCA, which was a great location, private room with bath and only $155 a night. It was a delightful surprise.
It depends upon your budget.
#9
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Thanks a lot for your help! We are still planning our trip and have some doubts.
3-4) Vancouver
5-6) Victoria
7-8-9) Port ALberni/Tofino/Ucluelet
10) telegraph cove
11) Telegraph Cove-port hardy
12)port hardy- prince rupert
13-16) grizzly tour-khutzemaiteen lodge
16) prince rupert- Smithers
17)Smithers-Prince George
18)Prince George-Jasper
19)Jasper
20-21-22) Banff/Lake Louise
23) Calgary flight to Italy
My doubts:
-shall I skip Victoria and add two nights in Tofino?We have found a marvellous resort called ocean village with chalets directly on the beach. We are interested in whale watching, waterfalls, easy trails in the rainforest, easy mountain bike tour, rafting (I think we will do it in the Rocky Mountains). we will do bear watching in the grizzly park.
-shall we go direct from smithers to jasper on 17 (Ithink it's about 9-10 hour drive) to have one more day to spend in jasper or you believe the stop at prince george is necessary?
-Please note we cannot modify dates of flights and the grizzly tour.
Thanks a lot!
3-4) Vancouver
5-6) Victoria
7-8-9) Port ALberni/Tofino/Ucluelet
10) telegraph cove
11) Telegraph Cove-port hardy
12)port hardy- prince rupert
13-16) grizzly tour-khutzemaiteen lodge
16) prince rupert- Smithers
17)Smithers-Prince George
18)Prince George-Jasper
19)Jasper
20-21-22) Banff/Lake Louise
23) Calgary flight to Italy
My doubts:
-shall I skip Victoria and add two nights in Tofino?We have found a marvellous resort called ocean village with chalets directly on the beach. We are interested in whale watching, waterfalls, easy trails in the rainforest, easy mountain bike tour, rafting (I think we will do it in the Rocky Mountains). we will do bear watching in the grizzly park.
-shall we go direct from smithers to jasper on 17 (Ithink it's about 9-10 hour drive) to have one more day to spend in jasper or you believe the stop at prince george is necessary?
-Please note we cannot modify dates of flights and the grizzly tour.
Thanks a lot!
#11
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I have stayed at ocean village many times. It is on a small calm beach and nice. It looks like you are more into the nature side of things on this trip so maybe missing Victoria and adding to Tofino is a better idea.
A great tour out of ucluelet is on archipelago tours who do whale watching and bear watching from a beautiful yacht . A fantastic day on the water. Hiking in uclulet, easy hike, on the wild pacific trail is a wonderful way to spend a few hours. There are lots of kayak companies but telegraph cove will be calmer I think
Another option for Vancouver is the YWCA right downtown. A double with private bath is $155 in the summer. I have stayed there and it was all we needed.
A great tour out of ucluelet is on archipelago tours who do whale watching and bear watching from a beautiful yacht . A fantastic day on the water. Hiking in uclulet, easy hike, on the wild pacific trail is a wonderful way to spend a few hours. There are lots of kayak companies but telegraph cove will be calmer I think
Another option for Vancouver is the YWCA right downtown. A double with private bath is $155 in the summer. I have stayed there and it was all we needed.
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thanks for your help. you know...when we see pictures of canadian nature we get enthousiasti,c when we look at VIctoria pictures there is a sort of disappointment. I don't if it depends on the fact we live in Italy so we have all you can desire from architecture and historical towns, and on the other side it is impossible to see wild nature for us. So when I think of Victoria I feel like I am wasting time I could dedicate to wild nature (unknown in Italy!). In Europe we have so many historical cities...but many Italians recommend anyway to visit Victoria. Ah, this decision is going to make me crazy!
#13
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Victoria is a beautiful city, so is Vancouver. If it is nature you want and time is short, give Victoria a miss. You are right Italy has amazing buildings and gardens. Go for the nature, it sounds like like is more your focus
#14
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I agree with live42day, if it is nature you want then don't go to Victoria, put more time elsewhere.
You must be renting a car? You can take the ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo and then drive to Port Alberni and on to Tofino. It is a long day of travel to get to Tofino, but very beautiful and you will get a lot of nature there.
It will be a long day of driving too from Tofino to Telegraph Cove but Telegraph Cove is an interesting/charming tiny little place. There is a nice place to stay called Telegraph Cove Resort and a good whale watching company called Stubbs Whale Watching.
We took Australian friends to both Tofino and Telegraph Cove. We were lucky in both places to see black bears along the side of the road, mothers with their cubs. Do not approach them! One of our friend's children saw a little cub "by itself" by the road and wanted to run up to it. Mother is always watching and believe me, you do not want to get a mother bear angry.
Are you planning to take the ferry from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert? This is a 15 hour long journey. You can read reviews on Trip Advisor about the ferry service itself and how scenic people found it.
There are grizzly bear tours out of Campbell river and Port Hardy I believe if that is why you are going all the way to Prince Rupert, or is it for the Inside Passage scenery?
I grew up in Port Hardy but live now in Vancouver, if I can help with any questions about Vancouver island or Vancouver please feel free to ask.
The part of your journey that concerns me is Prince Rupert to Smithers and then on to Prince George...why those places?
I would want to cut those places out and put more time in Jasper and Banff which are really gorgeous places.
You must be renting a car? You can take the ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo and then drive to Port Alberni and on to Tofino. It is a long day of travel to get to Tofino, but very beautiful and you will get a lot of nature there.
It will be a long day of driving too from Tofino to Telegraph Cove but Telegraph Cove is an interesting/charming tiny little place. There is a nice place to stay called Telegraph Cove Resort and a good whale watching company called Stubbs Whale Watching.
We took Australian friends to both Tofino and Telegraph Cove. We were lucky in both places to see black bears along the side of the road, mothers with their cubs. Do not approach them! One of our friend's children saw a little cub "by itself" by the road and wanted to run up to it. Mother is always watching and believe me, you do not want to get a mother bear angry.
Are you planning to take the ferry from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert? This is a 15 hour long journey. You can read reviews on Trip Advisor about the ferry service itself and how scenic people found it.
There are grizzly bear tours out of Campbell river and Port Hardy I believe if that is why you are going all the way to Prince Rupert, or is it for the Inside Passage scenery?
I grew up in Port Hardy but live now in Vancouver, if I can help with any questions about Vancouver island or Vancouver please feel free to ask.
The part of your journey that concerns me is Prince Rupert to Smithers and then on to Prince George...why those places?
I would want to cut those places out and put more time in Jasper and Banff which are really gorgeous places.
#15
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thanks a lot raincity and live 42 for tour help!
-we rent a suv car in vancouver ad drop it off in calgary
- we think we are staying 5 nights in tofino (insted of two nights in victoria and 3 in tofino), I really love the nature and outdoor activities you can do over there!
-I'm waiting a reply from telegraph cove resort to make a reservation, it seems really lovely
- do you thing it's better to do 4 nights in tofino and 1 in campbell river before arriving to telegraph cove? in my opinion, I prefer a long journey and then relax in telegraph cove. What can you tell me of campbell river?
Please consider we will do whale watching in Tofino
- we will take the ferry Inside Passage to go to prince rupert, where we will leave for a 4 day grizzly tour in the grizzly sanctuary. we have already booked the ferry choosing a cabin and chairs so we can take a rest when we are tired of the trip
-I think the only way to go to Rocky Mountains is to pass Smithers and Prince George. Is there a fastest way to get to Jasper?
Thanks again for your help!
-we rent a suv car in vancouver ad drop it off in calgary
- we think we are staying 5 nights in tofino (insted of two nights in victoria and 3 in tofino), I really love the nature and outdoor activities you can do over there!
-I'm waiting a reply from telegraph cove resort to make a reservation, it seems really lovely
- do you thing it's better to do 4 nights in tofino and 1 in campbell river before arriving to telegraph cove? in my opinion, I prefer a long journey and then relax in telegraph cove. What can you tell me of campbell river?
Please consider we will do whale watching in Tofino
- we will take the ferry Inside Passage to go to prince rupert, where we will leave for a 4 day grizzly tour in the grizzly sanctuary. we have already booked the ferry choosing a cabin and chairs so we can take a rest when we are tired of the trip
-I think the only way to go to Rocky Mountains is to pass Smithers and Prince George. Is there a fastest way to get to Jasper?
Thanks again for your help!
#16
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I don't think you need to spend the night in Campbell River. The drive from Tofino to Telegraph Cove is about 5 hours and 40 minutes at a conservative estimate. You might want to stop in Campbell River (or somewhere else before Campbell River to stretch your legs and get a bite to eat if necessary), because once you leave Campbell River there is not much between it and Telegraph Cove apart from trees and road and some scenery. ( and do not be alarmed if at some point on this road you lose your cell phone service, it will pick up again in Telegraph Cove)
Campbell River has a lovely setting right on the ocean and there is good fishing there and tours for that plus other nature things but you are doing those things already in other places. I don't think it has anything else very interesting to offer you.
Telegraph Cove is tiny, tiny tiny. But they have preserved the rustic/charming buildings clinging to the edge of the little harbour, plus the boardwalk which meanders along. To you of course our history is nothing, but this place is a good little example of western Canada coastal living where people came from all over the place to make a living fishing, logging and those kinds of things. It was a hard life they had and the little village has preserved a bit of that history. There is also a little museum with interesting whale bones and other things related to sea creatures.
Will you stay the night in Port Hardy or drive to the ferry from Telegraph Cove on the day of your journey?
You are wise to book the cabin for the ferry so you can rest when needed. And yes, if you wish to drive to Banff from Prince Rupert you will have to pass those other places. Otherwise maybe you could fly to Calgary, rent another car and drive to Banff.
Campbell River has a lovely setting right on the ocean and there is good fishing there and tours for that plus other nature things but you are doing those things already in other places. I don't think it has anything else very interesting to offer you.
Telegraph Cove is tiny, tiny tiny. But they have preserved the rustic/charming buildings clinging to the edge of the little harbour, plus the boardwalk which meanders along. To you of course our history is nothing, but this place is a good little example of western Canada coastal living where people came from all over the place to make a living fishing, logging and those kinds of things. It was a hard life they had and the little village has preserved a bit of that history. There is also a little museum with interesting whale bones and other things related to sea creatures.
Will you stay the night in Port Hardy or drive to the ferry from Telegraph Cove on the day of your journey?
You are wise to book the cabin for the ferry so you can rest when needed. And yes, if you wish to drive to Banff from Prince Rupert you will have to pass those other places. Otherwise maybe you could fly to Calgary, rent another car and drive to Banff.
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Thanks lovely rain city girl. I happy to hear the story of telegraph cove. This is what made me more keen on it than on Campbell. I you can sleep in cabins of very old fishing houses and this is fascinating me and my family!
We cannot fly to Calgary because we cannot drop the car off in prince Rupert. Unfortunately! That's why we try to drive to Smithers and then directly to jasper. Maybe tiryng but finally we are directly in the Rocky Mountains. Thanks for your suggestions of gas station! Looking forward to being in your lovely country!
We cannot fly to Calgary because we cannot drop the car off in prince Rupert. Unfortunately! That's why we try to drive to Smithers and then directly to jasper. Maybe tiryng but finally we are directly in the Rocky Mountains. Thanks for your suggestions of gas station! Looking forward to being in your lovely country!
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You are most welcome and if I can think of anything else that would be helpful I will add it here. Or feel free to ask any other questions.
I will just add as an aside that I am completely crazy about your country, Italy, and have had about 5 trips there and hope to do many more.
My father once lived in Telegraph Cove as a very young boy with his family and he had many interesting and funny stories about the adventures he had there with his brothers.
I will just add as an aside that I am completely crazy about your country, Italy, and have had about 5 trips there and hope to do many more.
My father once lived in Telegraph Cove as a very young boy with his family and he had many interesting and funny stories about the adventures he had there with his brothers.