Canada - west coast, looking for fun campsites for kids? Any other tips ages 14 and 11.

[FusionChefGeoff]

DH, DS (13) and I are keen on west coast Canada fly drive next year for whale watching, hiking, watersports etc but are worried that DD(10) is currently living HER. BEST. LIFE. on an amazing French campsite with pool /
friends / table tennis / park etc.

I think the ‘RV’ life is big over there so wondering where to start researching a) vehicles for hire / license requirements etc but mainly to know if they have the all singing all dancing campsites like Europe or is it all a bit more ‘touring’ so here’s a place to pitch in the trees and fight off the bears kind of thing.

Any advice on good websites for campgrounds, suggested locations / itineraries gratefully accepted before I get overwhelmed / intimidated and end up booking France again!!

is it all a bit more ‘touring’ so here’s a place to pitch in the trees and fight off the bears kind of thing.

It's definitely this

i don't know where to "rent" an RV as we own our own.
west coast FAVE but need to book early is Rathtrevor Provincial Park (not the overflow camp area) in Parksville the beach/low tide is great for all ages just mucking about in the sand. the nearby mini putt is classic. quick day trip over to Tofino, ice cream en route to combes.

Spent many a happy holiday in Rathtrevor! Try to stay a few nights in Tofino too - stunning. Be prepared for rain though…. Sorry I know nothing about RVs. I’ve not stayed in a french campsite but I have a feeling the Canadian ones will be more basic, and smaller.

Thank you it really helps to manage expectations. We’re probably going for max 14 nights so think Calgary / Rockies will be too much driving and just focus on Vancouver / Whistler / V Island does that sound best??

@BreakingBrokenand @Vargasive just looked at weather at the moment as we’d be looking at going this time next year - and whilst Vancouver is nice and warm, Whistler looks proper ‘holiday hot’ Tofino is 14-15 degrees! Is that normal or unusual?

well tofino is ocean front so expect cooler, same with vancouver, whistler would have cool mountain air temps.
it's currently raining in tofino so yes 15-18 would be usual and clear in the mountains and 21 which is simply room temperature certainly not holiday hot some parts of bc reach mid 30's in the summer.
driving in canada is not like driving in the uk. 14 days and going from the rockies to the island is not at all unusual for any canadian.

vancouver to jasper is only an 8 hour drive and easy day trip.
vancouver is plain, i would not make it a significant stop, minimal history, no significant food stand out spots, not even good shopping. vancouver is no london/paris/spain or italy.
i'd map out a bit of a circuit; vancouver via kamloops to jasper, jasper to banff, banff to revelstoke, revelstoke to vancouver via kelowna, then hang around the island till the return trip home. the mountains are amazing and the ferry from vanc to the island really nice (you need to book that and be on time!!).
you can even fit in whistler via cache creek/pemberton to kamloops to jasper.

We were in Vancouver this time last year and we drove to whistler .Absolutely fantastic holiday,beautiful weather and spent three nights on Vancouver Island …best holiday ever ! My husband and son then went on rd trip towards Kamloops and hired a huge camper van.They had a great time .

@noideasurroundedi like the idea of the huge RV but DH is an ex rugby forward so is worried that he will be very uncomfortable in an enclosed space. I said we solve that by getting a bigger van but he’s concerned about driving / parking. Is it easier to do than it sounds do you know??

parking in british columbia and alberta is set up for wide vehicles and generally parking lots are ample (do pay attention to height restrictions), equally camper vans are widers. most big box stores will have sections (marked or unmarked) where people travelling can park across multiple parking spaces and no one blinks an eye.

For European-style campgrounds (or as close as you’ll find to them in BC) check out Living Forest in Nanaimo, Parksville, Surf Grove in Tofino, Mountain Fun in Squamish.

Most campgrounds are more the “bears and wilderness” thing but lean into that and you’ll have a great time. You will want to book sites in advance- whether a privately owned campground or one of the BC Parks campgrounds. BC Parks bookings open 3 months in advance. You will also want to book ferries in advance.

There will likely be a campfire ban in the summer months but you can often rent propane fire pits which give you that Canadian camping atomosphere.

Wow thank you fhats really helpful!! Will definitely be booking everything ahead.

We stayed here https://www.crystalcove.ca/ pre covid and our kids 10&6 loved it. Made friends and played out all the time.
we hired an RV from Vancouver and took ferry across. I would probably hire a car if we were to again, as we felt the driving was slower and along the way we did struggle to park to see sights.

crystal cove books up early though!