Planning 2 weeks in B.C.
 

We are in early planning stages of family (children 15 and 13) trip to BC for 14 days or so in the summer. Looking for advice on general itinerary as it isn't obvious to me like Alberta Rockies or Maritimes. We like mix of city and nature, hikes of up to a half day. Will fly-in and rent car.

So far, interesting things include:
- Vancouver 2 days
- Victoria 1 day
- Tofino 2 days
- Inside Passage 1 day
- Okanagan 2 days
- driving/travel 4 days

Is this too ambitious? Too much driving (last summer, we were in Nfld for 14 days and put on 3400km which was acceptable given the Nfld distances)? Is July or August better? Suggestions? Thank you in advance.

I'm unsure as to what you mean about 'Inside Passage 1 day'-do you mean coming/going on the Ferry to/from Vancouver Island?

For the kids sake skip Victoria and spend as much time as possible @ Tofino-the outdoors is what will make the trip for them.

If this was my trip, I would skip the Okanagan and concentrate on the coast, specially the Island.

Tofino is great. I have done a couple of posts on this site about it. Do a word search on Tofino and I am sure you will see lots of suggestions.

I have to speak up for the Okanagon Valley esp. with kids. The swimming is fantastic. There are a great many attractions of the variety that kids love and the hiking is unbeatable.

The whole area is stunningly beautiful. Kelowna, which is the biggest town, has much to see in the way of restaurants, shopping and fun parks for young people who have tired of too much scenery.

Summerland and Penticton and Kettle Creek and the towns around Lake Okanagon are wonderful and welcoming.The fresh fruit and local fish are unbeatable as is the camping and the prices are very reasonable compared with Tofino and Van/Vic.

Have a great trip.

>>>>>>I have to speak up for the Okanagon Valley esp. with kids.<<<<<<

You have a good point, LJ. But if Dial's family goes to the Okanagan, I don't think they should go to Tofino. According to my preferred travel style, at least, it would be too rushed. For me, Vancouver plus the Okanagan OR Vancouver plus the Island would be enough.

Apparently you and your kids enjoy car travel because from your itinery you will be spending a lot of time in your car. Which is OK so long as your kids get along and aern't of the 'are we there yet?' species.

Even southern BC is very much two or three totally different holidays and frankly I would concenttrate on the lower Mainland, (Vancoufer to Whistler area) and either Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands or the Southern Interior. Unless you and your kids don't like cosmopolitan cities with a great deal of outdoor activities I would spend at least 4 or 5 days just in Vancouver and then you'ld only be scratching the surface.

The best weather in Southern BC is from the Middle of July to the Middle of August when the odds are 20-1 against measurable percipatation. Late June and Early July tends to be much less reliable. Late August and early September is usually pretty good. The Coastal temperatures rarely exceed 30C while 40C is not uncommon in the Interior Valleys.

agree with some posts above - choose either vancouver, whistler, vancouver island (you could even do day trips to other islands)...
or, vancouver and the okanagan. personally, i never tire of the okanagan. if you stay in vernon, you have both kalamaka lake and okanagan lake to choose from. you can go up to the ski hill for some nice hiking/biking. there is also a great outdoor waterpark just outside of the city. then go stay in westbank/peachland area. that's in the middle of penticton & kelowna so you can do day trips to them. kelowna is very, very busy in the summer.