If I love Vancouver Island...

[Rainbows8117]

where else should I consider?

I went 17 years ago (Inc other parts of Canada) and feeling very strongly I want to go back next year for my 40th, my son will be 4.

I'm not usually one to go back somewhere I've been before, but it stole my heart!

Is there anywhere else I should consider though? I loved the combination of ocean, islands, forests and mountains. Alaska was one option but VI still appeals more for some reason.

Considering tagging on Seattle / Olympic National Park and San Juan
Islands as not visited them before but bulk of holiday to be on VI.

Feels like such a big decision! I have only had a handful of long haul holidays so want it to be special. Particularly as once DS is in school I'll be much more restricted due to prices.

My first thought was Alaska too. How about Eastern Canada - Nova Scotia is beautiful and cheaper flights! Fly into Halifax and have a few days in the city, then pick up a car and head out to Cape Breton or North onto Prince Edward Island. It felt to me like I went back in time 60 years. Super seafood, lots of coast and forest but not so mountainous

The San Juan islands would be my pick.

I'd love to do this

www.rockymountaineer.com/

We loved Nova Scotia and PEI but it felt quite like west of Ireland/Scotland in scenery.

We met a lot of people in BC last autumn who had been on the Rocky Mountaineer. Not one thought it was great value for money and they said it was food, food and more food. They said Silver Class restricted movement around the train so go Gold. For that money there’s a much better holiday to be had!

With a young child, I think VI is a great choice. Then going south to USA would work too. This autumn we went north in BC to the Great Bear Rainforest and there are various lodgings and camp sites. Bears are the big draw of course. Alaska would also be a great holiday. You could get an RV. However we want to go to VI next. I can see the attraction of it!

I'll take that off my bucket list so Bubbles. I feel like I've just saved myself some money :)

Thank you for the suggestions. I think it has to be Vancouver Island for the main part of the trip. Explore it more fully than when I went before, feels like unfinished business haha.

Just need to decide what to add on. I'm suffering a bit with FOMO, thinking 'whilst I'm in the area'. Even though the area is huge.

I didn't even know about ONP and
San Juan Islands until I started reading more on Seattle recently. Then North is Port Hardy, Prince Rupert and up into Alaska. Alaska will definitely have to be a different trip though, too much to explore.

I am leaning towards an RV road trip. Easier than checking in and out of hotels and there are loads of amazing campsite locations.
RV hires seem quite expensive though! Need to work out what I save from hotels/transport and see if there is much difference.

I've been on both an RV trip and a road Trip from Vancouver to Calgary, If you don't mind a bit of driving it's absolutly stunning.

Or what about starting in Calgary, driving up to Prince Rupert and taking the inside passage ferry to Port Hardy on Vancouver island? I did that a while back and it's really beautiful!

The Polish lakes of the Masurian Lake District
The islands of Casco Bay in Maine, USA
Banff, Canada

Rocky Mountaineer is a waste of money, in my opinion. I went on it with a work trip and would never have paid what the passengers paid. Our train broke down and we ended up going the rest of the way by bus. The scenery was nice but I live in Washington state and it looks very similar. No need for me to pay all that to go in a train to see the sane kinds of trees and very similar mountains and lakes as I can see for free here.

Did you go to Tofino / Uclulet on your last trip? It's pretty amazing there.

If you are renting an RV, bear in mind you need to book your campsites in advance. Most provincial campsites booking opens about 3 months before camping dates and they are getting harder to book.

The RV route along the Trans-Canada highway is very popular but there are amazing routes that are much less touristy through southern BC e.g. Highway 6 through the Fauquier ferry and Nakusp or Highway 3 through the Okanagan (wine country) and Kootenays. Nelson is a lovely town which could make a good turn around point.

Atlantic Canada is also lovely but I agree with the PP that it is quite like Scotland or Ireland scenery-wise.

Instead of the San Juan’s what about the Gulf Islands? A great deal easier to get to from VI. Salt Spring is the most populated of the Gulf Islands - each island has its own character.

If you go to Victoria drive around the coast from James Bay to Cadboro Bay, it’s lovely and people seem to miss it. Views of the islands and mountains from the south side of Victoria.

As VI is 400 miles long it really has a lot to see. You could also consider Vancouver for a few days. Their First Nations Museum is outstanding (although not quick to reach) and I believe the science museum is great too. Grouse Mountain would be a good day out from Vancouver.

pallisers: it’s a rail trip we were keen on but the expense is not worth it. You can have a great time in Canada without the expense of that.