Would like to plan a trip with my god daughter next June to Canada.

Question

She lives in California, I live on the east coast. She is into forestry, loves Yosemite, Grand Canyon but wishes to celebrate her 16th birthday with a two week trip to Canada. Any suggestions? Not familiar with what would be age appropriate for her and would like suggestions in detail as much as possible. Should we drive, fly or go by train? Thanks!

Answer 1

I think driving is the best way to see the place, but be aware that much of BC is mountain driving though the roads are pretty good. You can stop where, when and for how long you like if you see anything interesting. I too would vote for Alberta and BC. Great scenery everywhere--mountains, trees, rivers. Starting in Calgary sounds good, then you can drive towards Vancouver and I would recommend going via Banff, Jasper and then the Yellowhead highway towards Prince George. Don't miss Lake Louise, it's stunning. Prince George is nothing but the pine beetle damage to the surrounding forests is worth seeing. On the way down from Prince George, Barkerville, a pioneer gold mining town, is well worth a visit, and in the Cariboo-Chilcotin you should be able to find a ranch to stay at where they'd have trail rides. Calgary to Vancouver is a two-day drive if you go straight through that way. Vancouver is worth a few days, and then I'd recommend going to Vancouver Island. She's bound to love Tofino/Ucluelet, and Victoria is nice for a couple of days. On the way to Tofino is Cathedral Grove, with really big trees. Then I would cross over to Powell River from Comox, go down the Sunshine Coast back to Vancouver, and take Highway I and then 3 across to Cranbrook and up the Columbia Valley on your way back to Calgary, or continue across Hwy 3 towards Lethbridge and so back to Calgary. Hwy 3 takes you through some vineyard country around Keremeos. The Okanagan Valley, to the north of it, is vineyards, fruit, lakes, hot weather. Southern Alberta is gorgeous in summer. Waterton Lakes is lovely.

If you're into it, I'd try to rent a camper vehicle of some kind, maybe one of the van types. There are campgrounds everywhere, they shouldn't be too full in June, and camping would give you a lot more flexibility in terms of where you stay. When you get to wanting to soak in a bathtub once or twice a week, get a motel for a night. And there are campgrounds in and around Vancouver. Be sure to reserve ahead for Vancouver and Tofino camping, those places get busy.

Answer 2

That's a pretty open question.  You will probably want to fly into Calgary or Edmonton and rent a car to see the Rockies.  Banff and Lake Louise are great, as is Kananaskis. Otherwise you can start either in Vancouver or Victoria and "do" British Columbia.  In only two weeks, don't try to do too much. There's a whole lot to enjoy if you take the time.  

Answer 3

if she likes forestry and natural beauty then definately BC/Alberta.  Fly into Calgary and take train to Vancouver and fly out of Vancouver is one option http://www.vacationsbyrail.com/canada/ro...   Thats a beautiful trip/

You can also rent a car in Calgary and drop it in Vancouver. The total drive time is about 10 hours but break it up on the way with stops in Okanagan (kelowna area) and other spots along the way.  

OR; Drive up the west coast from California to Vancouver (19 hour drive time)  and then to Calgary and circle back home thru Montana, Idaho and Nevada but thats a lot of driving but a heck of way to see western north america.

Either way the journey from Calgary to Vancouver is pretty spectacular as you pass through Banff, Yoho and Rogers Pass/    Save a week for Vancouver area .

more info on things to do in BC at http://www.hellobc.com

hope you have a great trip/.  

Answer 4

A great trip would be to fly into Calgary, drive through the Rockies (Banff, etc) to Panorama ... then to the interior of BC, maybe Sun Peaks ... then on towards the coast ... Whistler ... then maybe onto Vancouver Island ... then to Vancouver, and fly home from there ...

Lots of variety when it comes to scenery. Lots of forests to see on that route. If she's interested in forestry as a science, then she'll be interested to see the impact of the pine beetle on our forests ...

Lots of reasonably priced outdoor activities ... hiking, biking, etc, too!