3 summer months in Canada with a young child. Where to?

My sister lives in Calgary, has a 4yo grandson, I’ll ask

it would be a shame to spend 3 months in western canada and to not visit yukon territory whitehorse is easy to get to and gives good access to haines and skagway in alaska as well as the other places around whitehorse. if you like spectacular train journeys take a trip on the whitepass railway from skagway. carcross is worth a visit. get a camper van for a few as weeks. it is a truly beautiful place.

renting a house on vancouver island for a few weeks and using it as a base to explore would be good. cumberland is a good spot for bikes.

lower mainland and sea to sky are busy and expensive, but the usual spots are great. but then places like vedder mountain in chilliwack has a great lake and great riding but it’s not a holiday destination

the small towns in the kootenays would be good to stop at, but you’d need to doing something like driving from calgary to vancouver to pass through or near them.

as for museums, outside of vancouver they will be about, logging or mining or the old days of the frontier.

i’m rambling, but go to the yukon

edit, there are breweries everywhere.

another edit: whistler is odd in high season. there are more people there to walk around the town than to ride or hike.

From Calgary, I would take the little one to Drumheller. Not because it’s beautiful, but because of dinosaurs and hoodoos.

Also Fort Macleod is fantastic as a Western Canadian version of a castle. It was one of the most important RCMP forts built to patrol the western frontier and protect the Blackfoot population from rogue Americans with guns.

Finally, the Prince of Wales Hotel in Watertown Lakes National Park, as well as a boat trip around the lake (which takes you into Montana) is really beautiful.

3 months is a decent amount of time. Unfortunately post COVID I think you're going to have to book stuff (RV or Airbnb) so well done for thinking about this early.

I'm not sure there are any truely hidden gems anymore but having said that here's some random thoughts.

If you go to the Okanagan go earlier rather than later in the summer. August is hot and can also be fire / smoke season. I like Penticton over the other towns.

All of the towns along Highway 3 (Nelson, Cranbrook, Rossland etc) could fit the brief more than those closer to hwy 1.

Going the North I like Valemont. Mount Robson National park but there might be trail closures.

Cumberland is fantastic and Hornby Island. Also something on the west coast of the island but $$$$. Or drive all the way north for port hardy and the like.

I'd avoid Whistler and Squamish to be honest; you've got the time to head further afield.

I can't comment on the Yukon as I've never been but I'd like to go...

Lots of BC towns have good pools but check that they'll be open in the summer. Having said avoid hwy 1 above I'll contradict myself and say that Revelstoke is better than golden in that regard.

What an awesome awesome adventure

We had similar ideas too, having a big trip before our eldest started at school, not specifically Canada although that would have been a great option

That would have been in 2021 so COVID stopped that happening 🙁

Do it!

I've been to BC many years ago, did all the usual hotspots, has an amazing time. I've always been drawn back to Vancouver as a place to live.

If you’re heading to Seattle anyway why not take the opportunity to do a road trip through Washington state, Oregon & Wyoming? Having spent a fair bit of time in BC, the most memorable trip was visiting Mt Rainier/St Helens, then via Oregon to Yellowstone. Then a trip off the plateau down to Cody and take in a Rodeo. Such a massive change in environment. Couldn’t think of anything better for a 4 year old…volcanoes, grizzly bears and cowboys. I know Yellowstone is touristy, but we never found it too overbearing and there’s vast parts of Wyoming you can really feel miles from anywhere.

If you go to Drumheller (take insect repellant!!), then stopping in at Vulcan is sort of amusing. It's an equally terrible and awesome tribute to Star Trek. The town existed long before Star trek but I guess they thought it'd be entertaining to cash in on the name!

https://www.townofvulcan.ca/

Thanks for the replies!

LAT
Full Member
it would be a shame to spend 3 months in western canada and to not visit yukon territory whitehorse is easy to get to and gives good access to haines and skagway in alaska as well as the other places around whitehorse.

This is a great shout, thank you. I had considered heading further north, and love the idea of the train journey.

paino
Full Member
If you’re heading to Seattle anyway why not take the opportunity to do a road trip through Washington state, Oregon & Wyoming? Having spent a fair bit of time in BC, the most memorable trip was visiting Mt Rainier/St Helens, then via Oregon to Yellowstone.

Thanks, I'll check into routes.

sweaman2
Free Member
3 months is a decent amount of time. Unfortunately post COVID I think you’re going to have to book stuff (RV or Airbnb) so well done for thinking about this early.

We're already struggling to find accommodation, especially for longer stays. Funnily enough we were looking at Golden today, but will also check out Revelstoke. Highway 3 looks interesting.

SaxonRider
Full Member
From Calgary, I would take the little one to Drumheller. Not because it’s beautiful, but because of dinosaurs and hoodoos.

Drumheller looks interesting and is on the list. My daughter loves everything dinosaurs (and unicorns!). The landscape looks amazing.

I'm really disappointed the elected officials in Vulcan aren't wearing Spock ears

Personally I much prefer Revy to Golden. The downtown area has more interesting shops and the like. There isn't a pool in Golden and the river at Revy has nicer beaches for throwing rocks into it. Plus you can drive to the top of Mount Revelstoke and do hikes with views that a 4 year old can manage....

In both locations be cognizant of proximity to the rail tracks... CP rail overnight shunting can be incredibly noisy....

Avoid Banff it’s a bloody horrible place these days. Personally I don’t like whistler either.

Revelstoke alpine coaster was well liked by our 8yr old. However Golden/Revelstoke/Jasper etc are all just charmless grid towns that could be anywhere in North America

https://www.tourismkelowna.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/myra-canyon/ Myra canyon was a brilliant bike ride on the old railway, very spectacular. We stayed in an Air BnB for a few days on the side of the lake which was lovely and warm for swimming.

For that really off grid thing we stayed in a fishing lodge (not really for the fishing but the remoteness) on Quatsino Sound was the most amazing 5 days we have ever had. Nothing for miles around, apart from Bears, Cougars, Otters, Whales, Eagles etc. We did some sea kayaking and sea fishing but mostly just sitting watching the most amazing natural environment. Our son is now 12 even remembers this as being a truly special part of the world.

Coal Harbour had a ‘museum’ basically a shed full of chainsaws from the years, things for killing whales, and bits of old aeroplanes. That basically sums up coastal BC life

Overall I wouldn’t rush back to the ‘touristy’ bits of BC. If I went back again it would be to remote coastal area I think

4yrs old is too young to create memories. All they want at that age is a beech and a pool and you could be anywhere in the world. Therefore do what you want/think you can do chained to a 4yr old 😂

I didn't mention it in relation to Fort MacLeod, but please... if you find out about an organised Pow Wow, try to attend. Your little one will find it riveting, and you will be privileged with a glimpse of First Nations culture (if Western Alberta, then likely Blackfoot). The chanting is haunting, the drumming is amazing, and the dancing is beautiful. It makes more sense of Western Canada then white-European-built ski resorts.

☝️that’s a good idea.