Western Canada holiday

[UglyJumper]

Thinking about a holiday in Western Canada the first two weeks of September. Dh and me, plus two adult children (19 & 22). We don't enjoy massive crowds and overly touristy things. We enjoy mooching around towns, people watching, stopping for coffee and food in local joints, some nature, some culture (the odd museum on Native American culture for example), some activities (nothing major, hiring cycles for example, or a boat for whale watching, some organised gentle hiking, etc).

I'm just wondering if anyone who knows the area could give me tips and suggestions for places to visit (or avoid) and things to do. I feel that hiring a car will be a must but we want to minimise driving. We probably wouldn't want to spend masses of time in a massive crowded noisy urban environment.

Also, is the tipping culture in Canada as bad as it is in the States?

Bumping for the evening crowd! ;-)

Every time this topic comes up, I scream “VANCOUVER ISLAND”.

God, it’s gorgeous. And I’m a miserable cow that hates people and being outdoorsy, but this place is just magical. You could do two nights in Vancouver and then ferry hop over.

I don’t remember the tipping culture being ridiculous, but I went in 2019

Hire a big camper van and roam around?

Yes, the tipping culture is as bad as the US. I've been several times - on our last visit in 2023 I was dismayed to discover that I was expected to tip when someone handed me a coffee in a paper cup at a pop-up coffee stall in the park!

Yes tipping culture is defo in Canada even in the remote towns…my son lives there so we travel with him over there and he sorts the tips etc…I find it a minefield….we are going next month…6 days in Vancouver island …2 nights in Vancouver city …then driving to Banff through kelowna, revel stoke and Golden BC…,you could fly into Vancouver then fly home fro, calgary

I used to live in Calgary, the Alberta Rockies are indescribably stunning, but from what you've said in your OP, I'd second the Vancouver Island recommendation. It's an absolutely incredible place and would tick all of your boxes and more.

ETA: tipping culture is definitely a thing, although I'd say not quite as much as the US - I just asked Canadian DH who also worked/lived in the States for a few years and he agreed.

You can choose your tip options and some even have no tip option. No tip very suitable for McD for example. Most coffee shops will have cups for change easy enough to tip the spare coins that accumulate if you pay with cash.