If I loved the Canadian Rockies ?

[itwillbebetter]

Where should we visit next? We have 3 weeks next July and we have 2 DS (13 and 16). We like moving about and some adrenaline ( white water rafting etc)
Would love NZ but wrong time of year, not keen on Australia for some reason.
We are thinking west coast or mid America but not sold on it yet.
Any recommendations?

Belize! we loved our 3 weeks in the rockies last year so this year went to Belize. jungle excursions, following howler monkeys through the rainforest, zip lining, cave tubing, cave walking, tarantula tickling, mayan ruins to explore for a bit of culture. it has the lot. we enjoy water sports so stayed on the mainland and on ambergris caye. not overdeveloped but good tourism and accommodation has a huge choice. they speak English too. message me for more details. (kids were 12,14 and 16 when we went and it was perfect for them) did I mention the manatee watching?

er, Belize is fairly different form the Rockies, that's for sure.

What about Yellowstone & Wyoming?

Have you tried other parts of Canada?

We did a big Canadian trip this summer and our fave bits over the Rockies were Tofino on Vancouver Island and Whistler. Tofino had surfing and Whistler had white water rafting, downhill mountain biking, white water rafting ( and nice shops and restaurants for me to hang out in whilst all this was going on ).

We did the US Rockies after having a fab time in the Canadian Rockies and I have to say I was a bit disappointed, quality of lodging wasn't as good, US restaurants favour quantity over quality. Just a personal opinion but I much preferred Canada.

Have just come to MN to look for ideas about Yellowstone for 2016, YeOlde - have you done this? (apols for hijack)

yeoldtrout. Yellowstone & Wyoming are on our possible list but very unsure if they are going to disappoint after Canada.
rookie. Think we may have done the same trip. We surfed in Tofino and done all the same in Whistler plus zip lining then caught the Rocky Mountaineer to Vancouver. Awesome! I just don't think anything else will come close!
mummymeister I'll look at Belize but tarantula ticking is def out!

Belize sounds amazing!! I'm now desperate for my pre schoolers to be older so I can branch out from center parcs ;)

itwill - LOL yes I think we had the same holiday except we drove rather than taking the Rocky Mountaineer - although it's on the bucket list, did it work with DCs? Where did you stay in Tofino?

I think you'd be better doing something totally different rather than the US Rockies straight away as you're bound to make comparisons.

I was debating if we should do a different part of Canada, but again worry that it wouldn't be as good (anyway budget won't stretch to it for a while so it's Majorca for us next year).

rookie We stayed at Long Beach Resort next to Wickannish Inn. Fabulous place. The Rocky Mountaineer trip we took was only 3 1/2 hours long as we didn't fancy being on a train for days. It was fabulous, you are treated like royalty and was one of the trips highlights. We totally recommend it!

We are starting to think US rockies not a good idea, it is going to be a lot of money and coming straight after Canada it may well not match up!

There are so many places I would like to see but at the moment I do not feel safe. This may be unfounded but I have ruled out so many area's that I would have considered years ago.

itwillbebetter. agree that if you have seen the Canadian rockies last year going straight on to the USA ones next year is not the best idea in terms of variety. we felt and were incredibly safe in Belize. just avoid the capital Belize city which to be honest is easy to do as there isn't really anything to see there. when we go again, I want to have a night staying at the zoo and waking up with all the animals. there are a few other walks I want to do including early morning birding and late night walks with torches as well. Belize mainland is 5 hours drive top to bottom, it isn't huge. Plus the islands give a great contrast. we went sailing and windsurfing plus a night time crocodile conservation hunt. so very few visitors from the UK there when we went and the Belizeans definitely favoured us over the americans. couldn't have felt more welcome. oh and we made chocolate from start to finish too. yes, there is poverty here but no begging or hassling by street vendors as you find in other places. we were quite honestly blown away by it.

Have you been to Yosemite? You could combine it with San francisco and the Sierra Nevadas - loads to do there. A lot of the ski resorts in the Sierra Nevadas switch to mountain biking, rafting, fly fishing etc in the summer. There's a great gold rush ghost town called Bodie not too far from the Tioga pass gate out of Yosemite.

Utah to Grand Canyon and Yosemite. The Utah parks are amazing.

Slight derail - we stayed at Crystal Cove itwill - loved that place so much, we had a fabulous SUnday brunch at The Wickannish. It's not surprising that other holidays seem less wonderful in comparision.

What time of year did you go to Belize?
Is our summer the rainy season?