Two weeks, what to see.... Too many choices.....
Anyway, post to http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/roc ... ainrovers/ when you know dates and how much time you'll have. That is a Calgary based mailing list. If possib;e, we might be able to put together a little get together or a run.
Foreign Visitor
-
DaveB
- Defender of the World
- Posts: 1749
- Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 7:45 pm
- Location: Vernon, BC
Hi Jonnyboy,
I suppose my first suggestion is to be very aware of the vastness of the countryside here. My wife's family is allfrom greater Manchester and every time they come over they plan to visit more places than there is time to drive to. A steady drive from Vancouver to Calgary, for example, takes between 12 and 14 hours depending on fuel and meal stops.
What are your interests? If you are into hiking and vistas, then I would spend a great deal of the time in the Fraser Canyon, Whistler, and Rogers Pass areas. If you are into beaches and water, I would concentrate on the Okanagan, Shuswap and Victoria/Vancouver.
A trip from Vancouver to Calgary via the Okanagan and Kootenays gives you many opportunities. On the way back I would suggest staying on highway 1 (with a few detours) and enjoying the more rugged vistas on this route.
Examples of what you could visit are as follows:
Heading East from Vancouver:
Othello Tunnels, Okanagan fruit country, Okanagan Lake, Skaha Lake, Osoyoos Lake, Greenwood smelter, Ainsworth Hot Springs, Canyon Hot Springs
Heading west again: Banff National Park, Columbia Icefields, Rogers Pass, Shuswap Lake (big with houseboating) Fraser Canyon/Hells Gate.
Along the way there are hundreds of other things to see.
A Landy would be a nice vehicle to do the trip in, but I don't know of anyone that rents them. Perhaps some other club members do.
I can map some stuff out for you if it would help.
Good luck, and look us up when you get here.
Dave
I suppose my first suggestion is to be very aware of the vastness of the countryside here. My wife's family is allfrom greater Manchester and every time they come over they plan to visit more places than there is time to drive to. A steady drive from Vancouver to Calgary, for example, takes between 12 and 14 hours depending on fuel and meal stops.
What are your interests? If you are into hiking and vistas, then I would spend a great deal of the time in the Fraser Canyon, Whistler, and Rogers Pass areas. If you are into beaches and water, I would concentrate on the Okanagan, Shuswap and Victoria/Vancouver.
A trip from Vancouver to Calgary via the Okanagan and Kootenays gives you many opportunities. On the way back I would suggest staying on highway 1 (with a few detours) and enjoying the more rugged vistas on this route.
Examples of what you could visit are as follows:
Heading East from Vancouver:
Othello Tunnels, Okanagan fruit country, Okanagan Lake, Skaha Lake, Osoyoos Lake, Greenwood smelter, Ainsworth Hot Springs, Canyon Hot Springs
Heading west again: Banff National Park, Columbia Icefields, Rogers Pass, Shuswap Lake (big with houseboating) Fraser Canyon/Hells Gate.
Along the way there are hundreds of other things to see.
A Landy would be a nice vehicle to do the trip in, but I don't know of anyone that rents them. Perhaps some other club members do.
I can map some stuff out for you if it would help.
Good luck, and look us up when you get here.
Dave
-
Greg S
- Spanner Man
- Posts: 844
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 9:00 pm
- Location: Duncan
- Contact:
Trying to join your site but haven't got my Password back yet. I've driven many times over the area you plan to drive and live at the western end of your trip. Hope to PM you to provide information.
Greg S
[email protected]
Greg S
[email protected]
-
Greg S
- Spanner Man
- Posts: 844
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 9:00 pm
- Location: Duncan
- Contact:
Still can't login to your Web Site.
Following is my reccomendation to get from Calgary to Vancouver. Leave Calgary early in the morning and head south. Overnight in Ft McLeod, then next night near Fort Steele (Cranbrook), make it to Vernon the next day allowing for stops as listed below. Vancouver could be your next night. From there, Victoria, I could come down and say hello.
Back to Vancouver. More travel tips to follow in another post.
On your trip, 18 km north and west of Ft. McLeod is "Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump" (Yes, that really is it's name. It is a park and "world heritage site". WELL worth a visit and the admission price, it is on the "MUST DO" list. See http://www.head-smashed-in.com Just twenty minutes south of Ft. McLeod at Cardston is the Remington Carriage museum Also a "Must Do". See www.remingtoncarriagemuseum.com . Ft McLeod is the site of one of the first NorthWest Mounted Police outposts (now known as the RCMP) there are summer time daily presentations of the musical ride, September, who knows? All these things will take AT LEAST a day. From Ft McLeod head west through the "Rocky Mountains" on Highway 3 and 3/93 to Cranbrook. Visit Fort Steele, back to Cranbrook and follow 3/95 then 3 to Creston. THEN North on 3A to Crawford Bay to take the ferry (http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighways/inla ... emay15.htm) to Balfour then north through "The Silvery Slocan". A "Must DO" is the hot springs at Ainsworth Hot Springs(bring your swim suit WELL worth the admission price).
Kaslo is next with an antique paddle wheeler for a museum (my Mother rode on this in her teens when returning home from school in the spring). Keep following the highway to New Denver (try the "Green Apple Cafe), turn North to get to Nakusp and continue to the next ferry at Farquier. The ferry here goes whenever there is a few cars- no schedule-. Now head west to Veron. North to Kamloops, your biggest city, 80,000+, since Calgary. From Kamloops go west on highway 1, the "TCH", Trans Canada Highway, this is the lesser used highway between kamloops and the Fraser Valley now that they have put in the more direct toll road the "Cocahalla highway". Go west to "Cache Creek" then north on 97 I think about 16 kilometers and turn west on 99 headed to Lilloette(lil-oh-et) continue on 99 to Pemberton and Whistler.
Vancouver is next. The highway between Whistler and Vancouver is a nice piece of road and is all in good shape BUT IT IS THE DEADLIEST PIECE OF ROAD IN THE PROVINCE. Watch out for the other driver, they are deathly idiots on that section of road.
I'll send suggestions for your return trip later. You did say you wanted to see some of the country didn't you? Your return trip will include "The Fraser Canyon", "Rogers Pass", "Lake Louise" and "Banff".
Following is my reccomendation to get from Calgary to Vancouver. Leave Calgary early in the morning and head south. Overnight in Ft McLeod, then next night near Fort Steele (Cranbrook), make it to Vernon the next day allowing for stops as listed below. Vancouver could be your next night. From there, Victoria, I could come down and say hello.
Back to Vancouver. More travel tips to follow in another post.
On your trip, 18 km north and west of Ft. McLeod is "Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump" (Yes, that really is it's name. It is a park and "world heritage site". WELL worth a visit and the admission price, it is on the "MUST DO" list. See http://www.head-smashed-in.com Just twenty minutes south of Ft. McLeod at Cardston is the Remington Carriage museum Also a "Must Do". See www.remingtoncarriagemuseum.com . Ft McLeod is the site of one of the first NorthWest Mounted Police outposts (now known as the RCMP) there are summer time daily presentations of the musical ride, September, who knows? All these things will take AT LEAST a day. From Ft McLeod head west through the "Rocky Mountains" on Highway 3 and 3/93 to Cranbrook. Visit Fort Steele, back to Cranbrook and follow 3/95 then 3 to Creston. THEN North on 3A to Crawford Bay to take the ferry (http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighways/inla ... emay15.htm) to Balfour then north through "The Silvery Slocan". A "Must DO" is the hot springs at Ainsworth Hot Springs(bring your swim suit WELL worth the admission price).
Kaslo is next with an antique paddle wheeler for a museum (my Mother rode on this in her teens when returning home from school in the spring). Keep following the highway to New Denver (try the "Green Apple Cafe), turn North to get to Nakusp and continue to the next ferry at Farquier. The ferry here goes whenever there is a few cars- no schedule-. Now head west to Veron. North to Kamloops, your biggest city, 80,000+, since Calgary. From Kamloops go west on highway 1, the "TCH", Trans Canada Highway, this is the lesser used highway between kamloops and the Fraser Valley now that they have put in the more direct toll road the "Cocahalla highway". Go west to "Cache Creek" then north on 97 I think about 16 kilometers and turn west on 99 headed to Lilloette(lil-oh-et) continue on 99 to Pemberton and Whistler.
Vancouver is next. The highway between Whistler and Vancouver is a nice piece of road and is all in good shape BUT IT IS THE DEADLIEST PIECE OF ROAD IN THE PROVINCE. Watch out for the other driver, they are deathly idiots on that section of road.
I'll send suggestions for your return trip later. You did say you wanted to see some of the country didn't you? Your return trip will include "The Fraser Canyon", "Rogers Pass", "Lake Louise" and "Banff".
-
roverdevin
- Junkyard Master
- Posts: 160
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 11:02 am
- Location: Squamish, BC
- Contact:
-
DaveB
- Defender of the World
- Posts: 1749
- Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 7:45 pm
- Location: Vernon, BC
Greg has certainly created the most scenic route to the coast. A bit longer, but well worth it. I would point out that when in Kaslo, you'll want to pick up a booklet on the "Ghost Highway" which you will be travelling on to New Denver. One of the best routes in BC to explore old mines and ghost towns. Stop at Sandon, just a few miles short of New Denver as this site has been restored somewhat and is worth the visit.
I also highly recommend Ainsworth Hot Springs, as my Aunt and Uncle used to own much of the site up until the early 1960s...and it is one of the coolest hot spring pools I've ever come across.
A day in Vernon at Kal Lake park or Allison park is also worthwhile.
Dave
I also highly recommend Ainsworth Hot Springs, as my Aunt and Uncle used to own much of the site up until the early 1960s...and it is one of the coolest hot spring pools I've ever come across.
A day in Vernon at Kal Lake park or Allison park is also worthwhile.
Dave
-
Greg S
- Spanner Man
- Posts: 844
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 9:00 pm
- Location: Duncan
- Contact:
I got a bit behind. Almost forgot to post this suggestion for your return trip to Calgary from Vancouver before you arrive.
Simple!
From Vancouver, head East on highway 1, this is the TCH or Trans Canada Highway. At Hope, STAY ON #1 TCH headed north towards Cache Creek. DO NOT take the Coquahalla highway, the now more popular and main route headed east. Stay with Highway 1 from Hope and you will drive through the beautiful Fraser Canyon. THIS IS A "MUST DO" PART OF THE TRIP!!! Take time to stop at view points and points of interest like Hell's Gate Canyon Tramway. Enjoy the many tunnels. At Spences Bridge turn right and take #8, the road to Merrit. From Merrit, take the old road, highway 5A, to Kamloops. NOT #5, the new highway to Kamloops unless you simply want to save time.
At Kamloops, rejoin Highway #1 East and enjoy the trip to Alberta. Break-up the journey with stops at the points of interest. You will be going through a collection of National Parks. You need to purchase a Park Pass that you display on the windshield. You need this if you are going to stop in any of the parks. There will be a toll booth right in the middle of the highwaystopping all traffic except for a by-pass lane, I think it is at a place called "East Gate" somewhere east of Revelstoke. Get your pass here because you will be stopping at Lake Louise and Banff. Stay on Highway #1 all the way to the Lake Louise turn off and enjoy. From Lake Louise go into Banff but take highway #1A (unless you are wanting to make up time) #1A through Banff National Park is a much nicer road and you are very likely to see wildlife along the road. You will pobably have to stop and wait for the Elk or mountain goats or sheep to move off the road so you can get by. DO NOT TOUCH, FEED, POSE WITH FOR PHOTOS OR IN ANY OTHER WAY GET CLOSE TO THE WILDLIFE IF YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR CAR. IF you see others interacting with the wildlife, take photos of them doing it and caption your photo "Idiots with wildlife". Yes, it is against the law, but more importantly, THEY ARE WILD, YOU CAN or will GET HURT if anything happens.
Banff, the town, is a great place. Get directions to "The Banff Springs Hotel." You are allowed to wander around in there. Have a look, it is impressive. They have hand-outs explaining the history of the place. There are several points of interest around the Banff townsite that often get missed. The hot springs and caves for one. There are tours of them but I think you aren't allowed to soak anymore.
From Banff continue East on #1 to Calgary.
Hope you have a wonderful time. My route will take you about 2,000 miles, you know that don't you? Do you know how big a place this is? All the roads I have suggested are hard surfaced. We refer to them as "Paved" but I think that has a different meaning in Britain. Paved, here, means Ashphalt aka TarMac (a seldom used word here) aka Tar MacAdam (a NEVER used word here).
Keep in touch and let us know how the trip works out for you. When you get within a day or so of Vancouver, find an Internet Cafe and post to this forum to let people know you are coming and, if you are lucky, someone might be able to meet up with you. RoverDevin at Squamish for instance. You go right through Squamish between Whistler and Vancouver on highway 99.
Do not nudge or push animlas out of the way with your car, they can do REAL damage if they don't like it. Watch carefully on any of the roads in BC and Alberta as MANY animals are killed by cars every year. The cars don't come out too well in these collisions. Remember, you have a horn to warn away the animals. In Parks, animals are so used to vehicles that they ignore them and graze right on the roads. Other roads, the animals are normally just crossing the road, or trying to commit suicide.
Simple!
From Vancouver, head East on highway 1, this is the TCH or Trans Canada Highway. At Hope, STAY ON #1 TCH headed north towards Cache Creek. DO NOT take the Coquahalla highway, the now more popular and main route headed east. Stay with Highway 1 from Hope and you will drive through the beautiful Fraser Canyon. THIS IS A "MUST DO" PART OF THE TRIP!!! Take time to stop at view points and points of interest like Hell's Gate Canyon Tramway. Enjoy the many tunnels. At Spences Bridge turn right and take #8, the road to Merrit. From Merrit, take the old road, highway 5A, to Kamloops. NOT #5, the new highway to Kamloops unless you simply want to save time.
At Kamloops, rejoin Highway #1 East and enjoy the trip to Alberta. Break-up the journey with stops at the points of interest. You will be going through a collection of National Parks. You need to purchase a Park Pass that you display on the windshield. You need this if you are going to stop in any of the parks. There will be a toll booth right in the middle of the highwaystopping all traffic except for a by-pass lane, I think it is at a place called "East Gate" somewhere east of Revelstoke. Get your pass here because you will be stopping at Lake Louise and Banff. Stay on Highway #1 all the way to the Lake Louise turn off and enjoy. From Lake Louise go into Banff but take highway #1A (unless you are wanting to make up time) #1A through Banff National Park is a much nicer road and you are very likely to see wildlife along the road. You will pobably have to stop and wait for the Elk or mountain goats or sheep to move off the road so you can get by. DO NOT TOUCH, FEED, POSE WITH FOR PHOTOS OR IN ANY OTHER WAY GET CLOSE TO THE WILDLIFE IF YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR CAR. IF you see others interacting with the wildlife, take photos of them doing it and caption your photo "Idiots with wildlife". Yes, it is against the law, but more importantly, THEY ARE WILD, YOU CAN or will GET HURT if anything happens.
Banff, the town, is a great place. Get directions to "The Banff Springs Hotel." You are allowed to wander around in there. Have a look, it is impressive. They have hand-outs explaining the history of the place. There are several points of interest around the Banff townsite that often get missed. The hot springs and caves for one. There are tours of them but I think you aren't allowed to soak anymore.
From Banff continue East on #1 to Calgary.
Hope you have a wonderful time. My route will take you about 2,000 miles, you know that don't you? Do you know how big a place this is? All the roads I have suggested are hard surfaced. We refer to them as "Paved" but I think that has a different meaning in Britain. Paved, here, means Ashphalt aka TarMac (a seldom used word here) aka Tar MacAdam (a NEVER used word here).
Keep in touch and let us know how the trip works out for you. When you get within a day or so of Vancouver, find an Internet Cafe and post to this forum to let people know you are coming and, if you are lucky, someone might be able to meet up with you. RoverDevin at Squamish for instance. You go right through Squamish between Whistler and Vancouver on highway 99.
Do not nudge or push animlas out of the way with your car, they can do REAL damage if they don't like it. Watch carefully on any of the roads in BC and Alberta as MANY animals are killed by cars every year. The cars don't come out too well in these collisions. Remember, you have a horn to warn away the animals. In Parks, animals are so used to vehicles that they ignore them and graze right on the roads. Other roads, the animals are normally just crossing the road, or trying to commit suicide.