Dear Thorn Tree Forum members,
We are from Europe and planning our honeymoon at present. We have finally decided on Canada and we are very excited. Although not much time left - 8 weeks away! (We will be there from 15th July - 6th Aug 2007!).
We have three weeks in total and want to know what the best way to spend that 3 weeks in Canada is?
Our travel agent has suggested stopping first in Toronto for4 nights (and to take a day trip down to Niagra falls on one of these days). From Toronto - she suggests we fly to Calgary, where we pick up a car. We then take our time heading to Vancouver, stopping at Banff, Revelstoke, and Kelowna along the way. We will spend the final 5 days in Vancouver.
Does this sound ok?
Somebody else has suggested flying straight to Vancouver, and driving to Calgary and back over ten days- then having time to perhaps visit Victoria/ Vancouver Island (4days) and perhaps also a day or two down in Seattle (2days) and perhaps the last 4/5days in Vancouver city?
Your help would be appreciated.
How best to spend three weeks in Canada? Any good towns or hotels between Calgary and Vancouver? And other info etc.
Thanks
Let's start with the basics - what do you enjoy doing activity wise, how do you want to fill your days? Mountins, or oceans, or both, or city related cultural stuff, or ....? When you think of Canada what is it you're coming to see?
Do you like a slow pace or a fast one?
What's the budget?
I'm biased but if you have three weeks I would recommend spending it out West! Niagara falls is great but Ontario is super hot in the summer and Toronto is a big city. If you want to do the big-city thing then take your travel agent's advice. The drive from Calgary to Vancouver is AMAZING and very much worth it.
Another alternative would be to do the following:
- fly into Vancouver (3-4 days)
- take the ferry to Vancouver Island
- take in the sights and surroundings of Victoria
- You have a few options from here or you could do it all depending on what type of things you are interested in:
- Drive up to Highway 4 to Ucluelet and Tofino (the surfing capital of BC and a beautiful, quite spot along the Pacific Ocean)
- Drive through the Cowichan Region to Crofton (this isn't an exciting place, nothing to see BUT) and take the ferry to Salt Spring Island and pend a few nights on this island at one of the many bed and breakfasts. If possible try to be there on a Saturday because the market is FANTASTIC. And, if you like the outdoors, there is great kayaking, great walks, and some good hikes too (Mt.Erskin is one of them - takes 1 hour up and you get a 360 degree view of vancouver island all the way over to Vancouver and the mountains!)
- You can either take the ferry from Nanaimo (if you're on Vancouver Island) or from Salt Spring back to the mainland
- Drive to Calgary. If you need road info or maps www.drivebc.ca is a great resource.
- I'm not familiar with Calgary so I can't help you there but I do love Osoyoos in the summer and the wineries and orchards in the interior are worth visiting.
If you feel like that doesn't fill up 3 weeks then you can:
- add the 4 days in Toronto, or
- start by flying into Calgary, do everything backwards, and then drive down to Seattle for a few days, or
- spend a few days in Whistler - a fantastic place to visit in the summer (there's even skiing!)
I hope this helps a bit - Goodluck & Congrats. If you have any questions send me a message.
I think i'm biased in the other direction.
The East Coast is sometimes terribly underated.
Why not fly into Montreal? and Gaspe?
Perhaps being European this might be too close to a home experience for you...but heading to Nova Scotia and riding the Cabot Trail is apparently gorgeous and Newfoundland is supposed to be amazing!
BC is fantastic too...I agree with what someone said above, maybe you should fly straight there. Toronto is an interesting city no doubt...but it all depends on what you are into.
Cheers.
IA
I can't say Toronto comes to mind for me as a honeymoon destination, unless you are a banker. I think the Rockies/Vancouver/Vancouver Island would be much more romantic and memorable, even though they don't have Niagara Falls.
Here's some ideas for some more unique adventures in Canada. We tend to get pretty jaded by it but the whole "wild west" thing is actually pretty cool. Maybe consider a trail ride for a few days out west, there are numerous operators running trail rides in the Rockies. Travel by canoe also runs deep in Canadian history. Another idea might be to head north! You can easily get to Whitehorse from Calgary then explore gold rush country in the Yukon. As a bonus, the Dawson City Music Festival is on from July 20-22
trail riding in Saskatchewan
Algonquin Canoe trip
Dawson City Music Festival
Northern Vancouver Island tours
rather than fill you with a bunch of additional choices because there are countless ways to spend three weeks in Canada, I'd suggest you listen to your travel agent. They can connect you with the plans they suggest. You don't have to worry. You can just come over and enjoy your holiday.
We live in Toronto, but would have to admit that yer agent is right on the money. As Europeans, Montreal and even Quebec City might seem overly familiar. *Be absolutely sure that you visit Lake O'Hara in BC's Yoho Park and you'll likely feel that you have seen 'wild' Canada.
I would follow the advice of your travel agent. While seeing Toronto and Niagara Falls you can stop in at the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake near Niagara Falls. It's just a quaint little town but a nice contrast to the ridiculous scene at the town of Niagara Falls and it's included in many of the day or overnight trips to Niagara Falls from Toronto. This is also one of Canada's main wine regions so there are tours to the falls that take in a few of the wineries.
Driving from Calgary to Vancouver be sure to do the drive from Banff to Jasper which is one of the most scenic areas in Canada. There are lots of relatively easy day hikes along this stretch as well.
Vancouver is a great spot. I would just spend my time around there rather than going to Seattle, which is very similar to Vancouver. Even the people at the Visitor Info Center in Seattle will tell you this if you tell them you're coming from Vancouver.
For such a short time I think your plan looks good.
trusted partner
