Motorhome trip Toronto-Vancouver in mid-June
Hi there!
We intend to make a trip from Toronto to Vancouver with a motorhome and we want it to be only through Canada as we want to see as much of it as possible :) We are new to Canada so I was wondering if someone can tell me some tested itineraries... important details and some questions:
1. We are with 2 small kids under 5 - so steep hikes or historical sites with lot to listen to... are not an option as the kids will get bored or tired or both.
2. Vancouver and must-see's very close to Vancouver should not be a part of the itinerary as we will stay in Vancouver for quite a long time and we will have plenty of time for Vancouver and the area out of the time frame of this road trip
3. Speaking of time frame - we really thought of giving it 2 weeks... But I have been told it is not enough... Well, then I need to say we have the option to make it longer, but we prefer the trip not to take more than 2 weeks.
4. So I need to know only the things that I should not miss to see on this route according to you (I guess each will have an different opinion, but this is the priceless thing in the forums :)) ... I am reading now about Banff and Jasper and I will read about Calgary but what about everywhere else, like "the prairies"? Is there on the road somewhere a famous kite surfing spot or I heard wrong?
5. Which mobile operator has good network coverage (phone+net) on this route? Are there many uncovered spots and how long you don't have coverage the longest?
6. Do we need cash at all - can you think of somewhere or something that a card won't work for?
For the next few questions I need to explain that we are new to Canada, but in Europe we had a motorhome and loved the lifestyle. So please, don't get angry on the next questions - I am comparing to Europe cause I don't know how are things here. Also I am not trying to avoid paying, or to break the rules, I am trying to understand better the rules and to behave like a respectful RV person :)) Also I am not familiar with most of the abbreviations and specific terms (like I just learn about boondocking and overflow parking) so please, write as if a I am the nubie I really am in Canada RV :)
7. The motorhome has generator and water tank, bathroom and kitchen - my point is that we might need water for sure to fill for washing but we do not need the usual hydro stuff offered by the camp sites. So is it an option to use some public places - like in Europe there are public outside fountains, or at gas stations you can fill water..
8. We thought that with a motorhome we could sleep practically everywhere where we can park overnight, so this would not be an issue, but I was told by friends that in Canada I have to use campgrounds. Don't get me wrong - I don't mind to use them... Just as we have decided this trip in the last moment, I don't have much time for reservations, etc. and if there are no spots available at campgrounds or no campground nearby when we get tired... is it really forbidden to stop and sleep anywhere else... In Europe if we get tired on the road we used to stop in a village on the way... at the end of the village, still near the houses to avoid some intruders but not on the center of the village and had our rest... without chairs outside, not camping, just sleeping. Here... I understand you call that boondocking and I really don't know the rules in Canada - is it an option at all... IF I get tired and I haven't reach available campground - where can I stop and sleep safely? Truck parkings? OR if in a village for what signs do I need to look?
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to avoid misunderstandings. Thanks in advance for all the answers!
We intend to make a trip from Toronto to Vancouver with a motorhome and we want it to be only through Canada as we want to see as much of it as possible :) We are new to Canada so I was wondering if someone can tell me some tested itineraries... important details and some questions:
1. We are with 2 small kids under 5 - so steep hikes or historical sites with lot to listen to... are not an option as the kids will get bored or tired or both.
2. Vancouver and must-see's very close to Vancouver should not be a part of the itinerary as we will stay in Vancouver for quite a long time and we will have plenty of time for Vancouver and the area out of the time frame of this road trip
3. Speaking of time frame - we really thought of giving it 2 weeks... But I have been told it is not enough... Well, then I need to say we have the option to make it longer, but we prefer the trip not to take more than 2 weeks.
4. So I need to know only the things that I should not miss to see on this route according to you (I guess each will have an different opinion, but this is the priceless thing in the forums :)) ... I am reading now about Banff and Jasper and I will read about Calgary but what about everywhere else, like "the prairies"? Is there on the road somewhere a famous kite surfing spot or I heard wrong?
5. Which mobile operator has good network coverage (phone+net) on this route? Are there many uncovered spots and how long you don't have coverage the longest?
6. Do we need cash at all - can you think of somewhere or something that a card won't work for?
For the next few questions I need to explain that we are new to Canada, but in Europe we had a motorhome and loved the lifestyle. So please, don't get angry on the next questions - I am comparing to Europe cause I don't know how are things here. Also I am not trying to avoid paying, or to break the rules, I am trying to understand better the rules and to behave like a respectful RV person :)) Also I am not familiar with most of the abbreviations and specific terms (like I just learn about boondocking and overflow parking) so please, write as if a I am the nubie I really am in Canada RV :)
7. The motorhome has generator and water tank, bathroom and kitchen - my point is that we might need water for sure to fill for washing but we do not need the usual hydro stuff offered by the camp sites. So is it an option to use some public places - like in Europe there are public outside fountains, or at gas stations you can fill water..
8. We thought that with a motorhome we could sleep practically everywhere where we can park overnight, so this would not be an issue, but I was told by friends that in Canada I have to use campgrounds. Don't get me wrong - I don't mind to use them... Just as we have decided this trip in the last moment, I don't have much time for reservations, etc. and if there are no spots available at campgrounds or no campground nearby when we get tired... is it really forbidden to stop and sleep anywhere else... In Europe if we get tired on the road we used to stop in a village on the way... at the end of the village, still near the houses to avoid some intruders but not on the center of the village and had our rest... without chairs outside, not camping, just sleeping. Here... I understand you call that boondocking and I really don't know the rules in Canada - is it an option at all... IF I get tired and I haven't reach available campground - where can I stop and sleep safely? Truck parkings? OR if in a village for what signs do I need to look?
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to avoid misunderstandings. Thanks in advance for all the answers!
