Truckers make the trip between western Canada [1]’s two largest cities in 12 or so hours. Many travelers heading to Vancouver [2] from Alberta [3] also drive the route nonstop, while others overnight along the way. But you’re on vacation, so plan on expanding the drive to a weeklong sojourn that will—eventually—get you to Vancouver.
This itinerary could be combined with an “open-jaw” air ticket, that is fly into one city and out from another.
Westbound from Calgary [4], you’ll pass Canada Olympic Park [5], a good place to explore before hitting the road proper. In Banff National Park [6], you’ll need to sort the scenic from the really scenic. Lake Louise [7] and Moraine Lake [8] are the natural highlights you won’t want to miss; both are easily accessible from Lake Louise accommodations [9].
Hopefully, you’ve followed my lead and made reservations for the bus to Lake O’Hara [10] well in advance. This is one of western Canada’s most spectacular hiking destinations. Spend the night at Emerald Lake [11], which is the perfect place for an evening stroll.
Ride the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort [12] gondola, then hit the highway for Glacier National Park (www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/bc/glacier/index.aspx [13]). Even from the highway, this park is spectacular, so unless you’re a keen hiker or it’s getting late in the day, continue to Revelstoke, where the Meadows in the Sky Parkway climbs through Mount Revelstoke National Park (www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/bc/revelstoke/index.aspx [14]). Spend the night at Revelstoke.
Drive south from Revelstoke to Nelson [15]. Break up the trip with a short detour to Sandon [16], British Columbia’s only ghost town, and to Kokanee Creek Provincial Park [17] to watch spawning kokanee. You’ll find plenty of choices for dinner in Nelson [18], your overnight stop.
Driving through the West Kootenays [19] is a delight, although a roller coaster highway means the trip will take longer than you may imagine. Stop for a swim in Christina Lake [20] en route to an Osoyoos accommodation [21].
Today is an easy day in the southern Okanagan Valley. Visit the Desert Centre [21] before it gets too hot, and then combine tasting sessions at local wineries [22] with beach time down on Osoyoos Lake [21]. Stay overnight at Penticton [23].
Give the direct Coquihalla Highway [24] a miss, and travel down the Fraser River Canyon [25] to Hope [26]. Suburban Vancouver [2] is approaching, so if you feel like stalling the inevitable onslaught of city traffic, take a walk through the Othello–Quintette Tunnels [27].
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/western-canada
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/vancouver-victoria/vancouver
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/alberta
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/alberta/calgary
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/alberta/calgary/sights/canada-olympic-park
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/canadian-rockies/banff-and-jasper-national-parks
[7] http://www.moon.com/destinations/canadian-rockies/banff-and-jasper-national-parks/lake-louise-and-vicinity/lake-louise
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/canadian-rockies/banff-and-jasper-national-parks/lake-louise-and-vicinity/moraine-lake
[9] http://www.moon.com/destinations/canadian-rockies/banff-and-jasper-national-parks/lake-louise-and-vicinity/accommodations
[10] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/yoho-national-park/lake-o-hara
[11] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/yoho-national-park/scenic-drive
[12] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/yoho-national-park/golden/kicking-horse-mountain-resort
[13] http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/bc/glacier/index.aspx
[14] http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/bc/revelstoke/index.aspx
[15] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/nelson
[16] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/nelson/new-denver-nelson/sandon
[17] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/nelson/new-denver-nelson/kokanee-creek-provincial-park
[18] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/nelson/food
[19] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/west-kootenays
[20] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/west-kootenays/grand-forks
[21] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/vancouver-penticton/osoyoos
[22] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/kelowna/okanagan-wineries
[23] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/penticton
[24] http://www.moon.com/destinations/vancouver-victoria/vancouver/east-vancouver/coquihalla-highway
[25] http://www.moon.com/destinations/vancouver-victoria/vancouver/east-vancouver/fraser-river-canyon
[26] http://www.moon.com/destinations/vancouver-victoria/vancouver/east-vancouver/hope
[27] http://www.moon.com/destinations/vancouver-victoria/vancouver/east-vancouver/hope/sights