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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Western Canada

7 replies

blueberryjam · 03/02/2011 10:12

We are planning a trip to Canada late next year but are really torn about where to go and what is the most practical option. We have 5dc who will be 9,8,6,2,1. The two options we are looking at are a fly drive starting at calgery going to banff, jasper then up towards prince george, prince rupert and then doing the ferry to port hardy and then down to vancouver and flying home. Dp and I would love to do this and we both really want to provide the children with a real adventure holiday. If we did this we would do it in September and take 2-3 weeks to do it in. Alternativly we go and stay in Vancouver for a week and then up to Whistler for a week and this would be in Decemeber. Has anyone done anything similar ?

OP posts:

cathers · 03/02/2011 20:54

I would take the second option. The first sounds exhausting! There are huge distance involved and although BC is stunning, I think to a child, tree fatigue would set in pretty soon.

You can easily fill a week in Vancouver however with child friendly activites which are still exciting adventures without the hours in an rv. Take them on a cable car up grouse mountain, horse and cart around Stanley park totem pole spotting, walk along rope bridges amounts the trees at capilano, petting zoo and great aquarium. We took our boys aged 4 and 2 and it was much more enjoyable to be on foot exploring rather than in the car.
Cant comment on whistler as we went onto Vancouver island, but sounds great.

Geocentric · 04/02/2011 10:41

Whistler is lovely, both in summer and winter. In Summer loads of bike/hiking trails etc. Winter obvs snow fun...

As cathers said, loads to do in Vancouver, too...

I backpacked/"Greyhounded" Canada many years ago and it took me 12 hrs by bus to get from Banff (which is truly spectacular) to Vancouver. Distances are huge, so if you decide to drive, plan for a lot of stops!!!!!

Remember if you go for the second option you can always go for a couple of days over to Victoria on the ferry, to add some adventure - don't know how this works in winter, though.

halfcaff · 04/02/2011 10:44

My God, you are brave. The flight from Calgary with a 2 year old nearly killed me. Can't you go to Scotland/New Forest/Lake District and do adventure things??? Best of luck!

GrungeBlobPrimpants · 04/02/2011 11:04

The first option sounds way too ambitious with your younger ones

You could simplify it a bit - fly to Calgary and maybe spend a week in Banff, week in Jasper maybe? There are lots of cabin-style self-catering places which would be perfect for a family and loads of woodsy-nature stuff to do. Problem is a lot of them will be fully booked for summer already. We've stayed at Patricia Lake Bungalows near Jasper (google it - also on trip advisor) which will give you an idea and which I'd recommend.

The highway from Banff to Jasper is stunning but 4 hours drive and you need a whole day to do it for stopping off (you can walk on a glacier if you want - Columbia icefields)

Vancouver - you could spend quite a few days there - stanley park brilliant, also beaches, whale watching trips. Not done Whistler (no time).

Ooohh I'm jealous and want to go back!

Original poster

blueberryjam · 04/02/2011 13:29

Thanks for all the advice yes I think we are quite mad even contemplating the flight with all of them but it will be worth it. We have decided that we will just do Vancouver and whistler and leave the big trip for a few more years.

OP posts:

hmc · 22/02/2011 15:53

Vancouver and Whistler sounds better - you are taking far too much on with the other itinerary. My dh has us (dc were 4 and 6 at the time, two summers ago) doing Seattle, Toronto (and a 1 day stop at Niagara), Vancouver and Whistler in 14 days (we did a combination of driving and flying) - it was completey shattering and the kids were on their knees (as was I!)

I enjoyed Vancouver but found Whistler a bit chocolate box saccharine pretty for my tastes - but it is good for brown bear spotting and I had fun despite my reservations

lazydog · 23/02/2011 20:08

Your first itinerary sounds fabulous and September is the best time to visit here (I live an hour from Jasper, towards Prince George direction) BUT no way would I do it with such young kids, sorry!!! When the youngest is like 6 or something, that'd be a much more manageable trip, imho. Oh, and definitely make it a 3 week visit for those distances, not 2!

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