Canada Travel Forum

Hey Everyone!!!!
I will be driving across canada (from ottawa to victoria, and then back through the states). We have three weeks in july 2003. I need suggestions on what to do, what to see, who to see and everything. would also love to hear from people who have already done it. I am open to all suggestions.... I know i did this once before but didn't get many responses... hoping to hear from people in cities along the way and what makes their city so special to make the detour for....
Hope to here from you!!!!
Pamela

"from ottawa to victoria"

Your right..you are driving cross-Canada..

go North! drive on the Alaskan highway. hit the midnight sun hot springs in Liard!

North!!

Hi Pam,

Kai from Germany did that trip (well from Toronto to Calgary) last year, so you might want to ask him about it.

There are many VT'ers along the way...have a rolling VT meeting like I did earlier this year on my road trip from San Diego to Alberta.

Sincerely,

Spartan

Hi Pamela Lori & I are planning the same trip as you are only ours will be first 3 weeks in June 2003. probably starting from Niagra Falls.
We will be going with a Dutch couple , We also would like to have as many suggestions from anybody
Finally we are going to travel in Canada . we always seem to be going to the U.S A, been to 37 states and we are hoping to add 5 or 6 state to that total because one way will be through the U.S.A and the other through Canada. hans

Hey,
I live in Vancouver....
email me and i will give you some tips...

Hi
We did a trip from edmonton to kitchener and back last summer. We didn't have a lot of time to stop and smell the roses, but we wanted to make a few choice stops.
I suggest Itasca State Park in Minnesota (suggested by another VTer last summer before we left) - we stopped, unloaded our bikes and went for a spin on some relaxing trails in the park. It was large and beautiful. The lodges are old and rustic but quite grand. It also contains the headwaters for the Mississippi River - it is the size of a creek here. It was our favourite stop. That and a diner in a tiny Towner, North Dakota.
I love the trip over Lake Superior, but sure takes a looooong time to get past that lake.

I preferred the souther route through the Rockies.

You will see a lot of your vehicle. I live in Winnipeg, and have driven Wpg to Ottawa, and Wpg to Vancouver. Each takes two long days without stopping for anything on the way. That means out of your 21 days, 8 of them will be just pedal to the metal driving. As riproy said, the trip over Lake Superior has interesting scenery, but there is a lot of lake. The trip across the prairies is also interesting, but there is a lot of prairie.
If you give an indication of what types of things you are interested in seeing, it would be easier to help. For instance Manitoba has great beaches an hour or so north of the TransCanada. Each city is worth a day tour just to say you spent a day in TO, Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, etc. I'm real partial to the mountains -- if I had only three weeks, I would use a day to get to the mountains, spend 19 days in the mountains, and drive like a maniac on the 21st day to get home.
Good luck with your plans

Hi Pam. I live in Calgary. It is a nice drive. You will love it. Try to find some information regarding local festivities - The Calgary Stampede is in July. You might like to take that in or horse jumping at Spruce Meadows. Hope you have a great trip. I have lived in that Calgary area all my life so I can help you out with and questions you have regarding this portion of your trip. Please email me if you have any specific questions. - Michael

When I was a child, my family did the same exact thing. You are right in slotting 3 weeks for this trip. I highly suggest the Candian Rockies, more specifically Lake Louise and Jasper. Ottawa is a very interesting city as well. I also liked passing by the Lake of the Woods near Kenora, Ontario. Moose Jaw was an interesting stop as well. Vancouver and Victoria are absoluter musts as well. One suggestion though, you will have to prioritize your destinations, there are too many things to do in 3 weeks.

I have about four must-sees...

Okay, I have five, but four of them will be on your route.

#1. Must see the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta. It's about an hour drive north-east of Calgary. The badland landscapes in this area is worth the trip to this region. It also helps that the museum's one of the best dinosaur museums in the world.

#2. Must see the Okanagan Valley. Many tourists that drive from the Rockies to Vancouver unintentionally bypass the Okanagan all together, because they take the Kamloops - Vancouver "Coquihalla Hwy" route, which while fast... has no real attractions or stopping points at all. It's just one gigantic freeway cut through the mountains.. and you have to pay money to use it.

Anyhow... if you can, when you get to Sycamous (sp?) in BC, take Hwy 97 south through Armstrong, Enderby and Vernon. Okanagan Lake spans from Vernon all the way south to Penticton. Kelowna is located on the eastern shore of the lake. The whole region is semi-arid and has tons of road-side fruit stands and dozens of excellent wineries to tour. Plus, this way to Vancouver gives you more places to stop off and explore, it gives you more scenery, and it gives you a slice of BC that many cross-country drivers miss!

#3. Since you're going to Victoria, you must find a way to get to the west coast of Vancouver Island, to Long Beach (around Tofino). The beaches are absolutely magical... so are the rainforests. You don't get those kinds of beaches nearby Victoria.

#4. Also, because you'll be so close, take the ferry to the Gulf Islands... Galiano or Saltspring. Spend an afternoon on one of them. Or head up north of Nanaimo and take the ferry across to the hippy colonies on Denman and Hornby Islands. The water there is so warm, and blue, and the sand is so white, it feels like a tropical beach.

My #5 would have been Barkerville, but that's a good day's drive north of where you'll be heading. Maybe next time! :)

go to the mountains! if you waste time in manitoba or saskatchewan you'll kick yourself later. email me and i'll give you a short itinerary for alberta if you want.
cheers