We are planning a celebration for my father's 80th birthday next July and would like to explore areas of BC other than the Banff/Jasper/ Vancouver areas. There will be 11 adults and one teenager. We are considering a stay near Koontenay or Yoho National parks. Ideally, we'd like to rent a house or cabin for a week . Do you have any suggestions for lodgings or other lesser-known parks?

Well, first of all, Banff/Jasper are not in BC. You would have to move over to Alberta if you wanted to celebrate in those areas! Emerald Lake has a beautiful lodge In Yoho, and there is Storm Mountain Lodge in Kootenay. We haven't stayed at Storm Mountain but did stop there for breakfast and it was lovely. Neither of these are what would be inexpensive, quite the opposite, but both memory makers for an 80th birthday. The town of Radium just outside of Kootenay has many and varied places to stay, catering to various budgets, convenient for those who visit the nearby Radium Hot Springs.

Yoho is amazing. There are rentals available in Field but I'm not sure I'd stay a week there--it's a tiny town, with lots of train noise. There are a couple lodges in Yoho as well, including one at Lake O'Hara, which is truly spectacular. A week would be a fairly long time there, though--if you're dad is 80 he's probably not doing a ton of hiking, and that's really all there is to do there. Yoho is not like Banff or Jasper, which have fairly large towns and a variety of tourist activities. I've only driven through Kootenay NP but it looked quite devestated from fires, so you might want to check into that. I personally don't care for Radium Hot Springs--it's just not a very attractive town IMO.

It's hard to make suggestions not knowing what types of activities you're interested in, but here goes...

I would look into the "Kootenay Rockies" area of BC, specifically around Nelson. There's Kokanee Glacier and Valhalla provincial parks and Kootenay Lake to enjoy. Also, you can do a wide variety of activities. A number of years ago I did a week trip to the area and we:

- relaxed on the lake shore
- went hiking in Kokanee Glacier Park
- relaxed in the Ainsworth hot springs
- visited Nikkei Internment Memorial Centre (former Japanese internment camp)
- explored the Cody Caves
- explored the ghost town of Sandon
- relaxed in the Nakusp hot springs

Courtney/Comox area on Vancouver Island.

Beaches and mountains <i>(Mount Washington/Strathcona Park)</i> both within easy reach all kinds of water based activities as well.

Resorts and restaurants galore.

http://www.discovercomoxvalley.com/

I rather agree with Christy1, Radium is not that attractive of a town, but the area can be interesting. In one direction, back towards Castle Junction, you get into the mountains, and I love the mountains whether there's some burn damage or not - all in the eye of the beholder I guess! =) If you go another direction from Radium, you can take in Invermere and the lake or further on to Fairmont Hotsprings with some pretty nice golf courses and some great Hoodoos to hike around. The third direction from Radium takes you down to Golden, further into BC than Yoho NP. Maybe you could suggest what kind of activities you are looking for, blancalita?

thanks for your feedback. We're considering a week stay at the cabins in Kootenay National Park. Have you stayed there or explored the area?

In northern BC there is a fishing lodge that provides all kinds of activity as well as accommodation in the massive protected area of North Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. They offer flight seeing tours, hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing, and lot's more.

http://www.redfernriverlodge.ca

We have not stayed in cabins available in Kootenay itself, so cannot comment on those, but there are several sites (referring to your comment about "the cabins"). An easy walk and really interesting stop is at the Paint Pots, would recommend that to all. Marble Canyon is a also a very nice hike/walk, rather busy at times but very pretty. Radium Hot Springs is easily available if you like hot pools, and many do.