Forum Discussion

classctioga73's avatar
Nov 20, 2017

Canada here we come

So we live in the bay area California and we want to do a 2 week trek next summer 2018 thru Oregon, Washington, Canada, Montana and back home. We already visited Crater Lake, Yellowstone and Grand Teton last year.
We want to go north on I-5 and hit Mt.Rainier, possibly Olympic N.P and then into Canada and British Columbia. Then down thru Montana and Glacier N.P.
any recommendations of parks or places along the way and especially in Canada that are must see?? are there any helpful websites with travel information for that specific route??

15 Replies

  • I honestly think you and the kids will burn out trying to do all that in two weeks. There are no Disneylands but hundreds of smaller attractions where it's easy to lose a day. IF you get past the Oregon coast the first week take the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, park the car and take in the city. The Butchart Gardens will take your breath away. Beacon Hill Park is a wonderful place to waste an afternoon. Vancouver has harbor tours, Stanley Park, Chinatown, Lynn Canyon. Time's up. :B
  • So I forgot to mention that we have a 31 foot class C and a small toad car attached. looking to stay at private sites and drive the toad to certain locations. I know 2 weeks is not enough time to thoroughly see everything but with two pre-teens in the RV we just want to see the BIG MAJOR sites on our journey.
  • A lot depends on your rig and your preferred camping places, but noticing you have a Tioga might mean you are fairly small and perhaps without a toad. The coast of Oregon, and the lower coast of Washington state is certainly worth seeing, but perhaps you have been there before. Come up the east side of the Olympic Penninsula, there are some nice spots along there. Have a reservation on the Coho ferry to Victoria. You get off right in the center of town, it's really worth parking somewhere and walking a bit of the waterfront, seeing the Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel and checking our the classic boats in the marina. From there take your time and go to Rathtrevor Park north of Nanaimo and enjoy the trails and the beaches there. Come back to Nanaimo and take the ferry to Horseshoe Bay and head north through Squamish and Pemberton. Camp at Seton Dam and enjoy that. Drive almost to Calgary and come down the Kananaskis Highway, and head to Waterton Lake. Camp right in town there.

    That should keep you pretty busy for awhile...enjoy it and thanks for coming.
  • The Ice Fields parkway in Banff and Jasper national parks in Canada is justly famous for its beauty. It's slightly beyond BC, of course. I definitely recommend it. It is popular and some spots may be a bit crowded and reservations for camping are pretty much essential.

    It does sound like a busy (but doable) two weeks. Many would prefer to take more time. I think I would be among them, but one doesn't always have the time available to take, and so doing what you're able to do is entirely appropriate.
  • Pretty ambitious for a 2 week trip unless it for all driving and very few stops. IMHO

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