Rockies stops

brindle · 11 Jan 19, 03:53 PM

From Calgary to Vancouver how many stops did you do and where ?
We are going to travel around for a few days with a base in Canmore but heading through the Rockies and was thinking of stay in Squamish,when we get to Vancouver.
For those that have been to Squamish did you feel there is plenty to do?Dh seems to think so

Any help ?

GKnH · 14 Jan 19, 06:08 PM

We did Calgary to Drumheller (a side trip to visit Dinosaur Provincial Park and Royal Tyrell Museum so not necessary relevant to your query unless you are into dinos).

Our main segment through the Rockies was:

Calgary - Banff (4 nights in Banff)
Banff - Jasper (3 nights in Jasper)
Jasper - Kamloops (overnight stop to break up the journey)
Kamloops - Whistler (3 nights in Whistler)
Whistler - Vancouver (4 nights in Vancouver)

I haven't visited Squamish but we drove through it en route to Whistler last Christmas. Your post reads as if you are thinking of using it as base for Vancouver? I'd say it's a bit too far out for that - probably an hours drive from Vancouver.

brindle · 18 Jan 19, 01:10 PM

Thanks for replying,we are based in Canmore first week then pendicton then Squamish.i see you have more stops, we plan on going to Banff but not staying there.
We are booked for Squamish Dh like the outdoor we are right on the river so his happy. We will do Stanley park and go into vancouver for a day. He also wants to fish ,whale watch I think you get the picture lol.
We are staying in pendicton for a few nights so will break the journey from side to side. We did look at Kamloops but going to do some wineries.
Would you recommend the Dino park? Bearing in mind we have no kids with us on this trip.😊

brindle · 18 Jan 19, 01:25 PM

Also can I ask how did you find the driving ?
Especially in Vancouver?
Thanks

GKnH · 18 Jan 19, 06:03 PM

The Dinosaur park and Royal Tyrell museum are worth a visit if you're interested in dinosaurs / geology etc. It's a very different environment to the Rockies, more of a desert feel with strange rock formations (Hoodoos). Although the museum does do children's programmes it is a proper 'grown up' museum with plenty for adults. If this isn't your thing though I'd give it a miss.

Driving in Vancouver is vile - no other way to describe it! We were staying in central Vancouver and dropped our car off straight away as we knew we wouldn't need it. They have a series of streets which become 1-way depending on time of day so you think you can go a certain route but then find that the road you want to use is 1-way. It took us over an hour to drop the hire car off and we were only going 10 blocks. If you're just planning to drive to Stanley Park from the north you're probably not so bad as the park can be accessed directly off the Lions Gate bridge so you could avoid going into downtown.

The driving through the Rockies is a pleasure with heart stopping scenery round every turn but distances are longer than you might think. The drive from Canmore to Penticton will take you a full day of driving.

If you love the outdoors you'll have an amazing holiday - I'm very jealous!

grant_w · 21 Jan 19, 09:50 AM

We did an escorted coach tour, so it cut out all of the planning and driving worries.
We stayed in Banff for 3 nights, Jasper for 3 nights, Kamloops for 1 night then Vancouver for 6 nights.

brindle · 21 Jan 19, 10:32 AM

thanks for the help, I not overly keen on dinosaurs but Dh might fancy it we will see.
Don�t plan on going into Vancouver with the car probably use the public transport if we do, think safer 😊.looks like Stanley park will be easy to do and I suppose we will drop car off at airport on last day so that will be the furthest into Vancouver. Where was your car going back to ? We have not booked car yet, I presume airport will be easy to navigate to🤔

GKnH · 23 Jan 19, 01:04 PM

Our car was being dropped off in the city centre close to our hotel. I would imagine the airport will be easier as you can skirt around the city centre.

Libby · 27 Jan 19, 08:14 PM

We kept our car in Vancouver as we needed it to visit a relative but the satnav was a bit confused by the high buildings and could be a bit scary until we reached the outskirts.

Our journey took a week:- Calgary overnight at the airport - Banff 3 nights, wish we'd stayed longer - Lake Louise 1 night after visiting glacier to give us an early start to visit the lake - Revelstoke overnight (Visited 3 gap valley ghost town - it was an experience!) -Kamloops overnight (Hells gate air tram)- Vancouver 7 nights (3 nights too long really but we wanted to spend time with my aunt).

If we do it again we'll go via Jasper.

27 Jan 19, 08:14 PM	#9
	27 Jan 19, 08:14 PM Libby Imagineer
Libby Imagineer Join Date: Nov 03	We kept our car in Vancouver as we needed it to visit a relative but the satnav was a bit confused by the high buildings and could be a bit scary until we reached the outskirts. Our journey took a week:- Calgary overnight at the airport - Banff 3 nights, wish we'd stayed longer - Lake Louise 1 night after visiting glacier to give us an early start to visit the lake - Revelstoke overnight (Visited 3 gap valley ghost town - it was an experience!) -Kamloops overnight (Hells gate air tram)- Vancouver 7 nights (3 nights too long really but we wanted to spend time with my aunt). If we do it again we'll go via Jasper.