The ultimate 3-Week Canada road trip: Calgary to Vancouver

Last updated on September 22, 2026

Canada was on our family travel wish list for years, and this three-week Canada road trip lived up to every hope we had for it. Starting in Calgary we travelled through the Canadian Rockies and across British Columbia, finishing on the west coast in Vancouver. Along the way, we camped in national parks, ziplined through the rainforest, saw logger games, explored laid-back surf towns, and drove through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery we’ve ever seen.

It’s undoubtedly one of the best family trips we’ve ever done, and would be just as spectacular without kids – it’s one that can suit everyone.

This post has our complete Calgary to Vancouver road trip itinerary, taking in the Canadian Rockies, British Columbia and Vancouver Island. It includes what we did, where we ate, where we camped and the special places we stayed. There are also practical tips for planning an RV trip, booking campsites and dealing with wildfires, plus ideas for adapting the route if you have more or less time. And I have plenty more individual posts that go into all of these things in more detail.

We did our Canada road trip as a family of four with children aged six and eight, but most of the itinerary would work equally well for couples, solo travellers or groups.

How to use this Canada road trip itinerary

Our journey was a one-way road trip from Calgary to Vancouver, travelling through Alberta and British Columbia before crossing to Vancouver Island and finishing back in Vancouver. We travelled by truck camper for the Rockies and mainland section, then switched to a hire car and hotels for Vancouver Island and Vancouver. You could easily do the whole thing in either an RV or car and I’ve included suggested campsites/hotels for each option. It would be easier to stick with the same vehicle as then you don’t have to sort the logistics of swapping in Vancouver (we had to add a night by the airport because of this).

You could follow our whole route exactly or focus solely on a specific section like the Canadian Rockies. If you definitely want to drive from Calgary to Vancouver, the easiest way to shorten the trip would be to skip Vancouver Island and/or Whistler. Equally, if you have longer, you could slow the pace, and spend more time in the places that catch your imagination the most. I’ve added some alternative routes in a section below.

The itinerary below follows the order of our journey, but you could easily reverse the route and travel from Vancouver to Calgary, or make it a loop if return flights or vehicle hire make that more economical.

Highlights of our Western Canada road trip

• Camping amid epic mountain scenery in Banff and Yoho National Parks
• Driving the Icefields Parkway and Sea-to-Sky Highway, two of the most spectacular roads we’ve ever travelled
• Falling in love with the town, surf and rainforests of Tofino
• Riding mountain coasters and ziplining
• Watching the Squamish Logger Sports, which felt like peak Canada!
• Seeing the impossible hues of the region’s famous lakes, including Louise, Moraine and Emerald
• Seeing bears, whales and otters from Vancouver Island
• Staying at the brilliantly playful, retro Hotel Zed Tofino
• Exploring Vancouver, our new favourite city in the world (don’t tell London!)
• Seeing some of the places from Virgin River in real life!

Our 3-week Canada road trip itinerary at a glance

• Banff National Park: 3 nights
• Lake Louise: 1 night
• Field / Yoho National Park: 1 night
• Revelstoke: 2 nights
• The Okanagan Valley: 3 nights
• Vancouver North Shore: 1 night
• Squamish and Whistler: 2 nights
• Tofino: 3 nights
• Ucluelet: 1 night
• Victoria: 3 nights
• Vancouver: 3 nights

That makes this a 23-night itinerary, so just over 3 weeks. You could easily add a night or two in Calgary at the beginning, and you can spend more or less time at any spot depending on your priorities and the time you have available.

FAQs about this Canada road trip

When is the best time to do a Western Canada road trip?

The main road trip season runs from late spring to early autumn. Winter driving requires considerably more preparation, and some seasonal roads, campgrounds and attractions close. Major routes such as the Icefields Parkway remain open in normal conditions but can close temporarily because of snow or avalanche risk.

Summer brings warmer weather, long days and the best access to hiking trails, lakes and mountain attractions. It’s also the busiest and most expensive time to visit, and campsites, shuttles and hotels can book up months in advance. It’s especially important to book the national park campsites early.

We travelled in July and August, which worked well for school holidays and meant everything on our wish list was open. But it also coincided with wildfire season, and smoke affected both our views and our route. If you have flexibility, I’d go in the springtime before the wildfire season really kicks in, or in September when it’s dying down. These months also mean fewer crowds to deal with. That said, mountain weather is always unpredictable and snow can linger or arrive early. June or early September could be the sweet spot.

Also bear in mind that the climate changes significantly along this route. The Rockies can feel cold even in summer, the Okanagan is often hot and dry, and the Pacific coast around Tofino can be misty, wet and much cooler. Pack layers and proper waterproofs, even if the forecast looks promising. We experienced so many different types of weather on our trip!

How to get around Canada

You definitely need your own vehicle for this itinerary – it’s a road trip after all! While trains, buses and organised tours can get you to some of the major destinations, they won’t give you the freedom needed to follow this full route or reach many of the campsites and rural stops.

We used a Fraserway truck camper with a side bunk from Calgary to Vancouver, then hired a car for Vancouver Island and the final part of the trip. We could easily have used the truck camper or a car for all of it – we just wanted both experiences.

The truck camper was ideal as it was compact enough to drive and park comfortably. Unlike a larger motorhome, everyone travelled in the pick-up cab rather than in the living area, which meant we could use our normal child car seats.

Do check one-way fees and ferry rules when comparing rentals. Not every RV company allows every vehicle on every route, and taking a larger RV on the ferries can cost considerably more than taking a car.

Drive times between the main stops

These are approximate and don’t include photo stops, meals, traffic or roadworks. In Canada, the journey is often a big part of the experience, so we rarely drove these routes without stopping.

• Calgary to Banff: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Banff to Lake Louise: 45 minutes (longer on the scenic Bow Valley Parkway)
• Lake Louise to Field: 25 minutes
• Field to Golden: 45 minutes
• Field to Revelstoke: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Revelstoke to Kelowna: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Kelowna to Vancouver North Shore: 4 hours 30 minutes
• Vancouver North Shore to Squamish: 1 hour
• Squamish to Whistler: 45 minutes
• Whistler to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Nanaimo to Tofino: 3 hours
• Tofino to Ucluelet: 40 minutes
• Ucluelet to Victoria: 4 hours 30 minutes
• Victoria to Vancouver: 3 hours 30 minutes, including the ferry crossing but not check-in time

Drive times can change significantly because of traffic, construction, ferries, weather and wildfires. Always check the route on the day rather than relying solely on the original plan. The Alertable app is useful for letting you know about anything that is causing significant delays. You particularly want to be aware of wildfires and smoke.

How to get to the Canadian Rockies

Calgary International Airport is the most convenient starting point for this version of the route. Banff is around 90 minutes away by road, and Calgary has a good selection of car and RV rental companies, including Fraserway who we loved.

We flew from London Gatwick to Calgary via Toronto, then flew home from Vancouver. An open-jaw flight like this saves you from driving all the way back to your starting point, although you’ll need to compare the airfare and one-way vehicle fee against the cost and time of making the trip a loop. You can also reverse the itinerary, flying into Vancouver and out of Calgary.

How long do you need for this Canada road trip?

We had 24 nights, which allowed us to combine the Rockies, the Okanagan, the Sea-to-Sky region, Vancouver Island and Vancouver. Even then, there were places where we could happily have stayed longer.

For a two-week trip, I’d concentrate on the Canadian Rockies and the route through to Vancouver, leaving Vancouver Island and Whistler for another time. Four weeks would allow for a slower pace and more flexibility, which is especially valuable if smoke or poor weather affects part of the journey.

I would have loved to add in the Kootenays and its cute mountain towns like Nelson, but we simply didn’t have the time.

Do you need an RV for this route?

No. You could do the entire trip with a car and a mixture of hotels, cabins and glamping stays. But travelling by RV was a fun experience and it allowed us to stay in the heart of the national parks.

There are trade-offs. An RV takes more planning, fuel and daily organisation than a car, and the most sought-after national park campsites can be difficult to book. For us, using the truck camper for part of the trip and then switching to hotels and a car was the sweet spot.

Booking campsites in the Canadian Rockies

If you want to stay inside Banff, Lake Louise or Yoho National Parks in peak summer, campsite booking dates need to be in your calendar well in advance. Popular sites can sell out almost immediately when reservations open. I’ve written a full guide to how to navigate (and survive!) the Parks Canada booking system.

In short, it’s worth having a priority list, several backup campgrounds and some flexibility around dates. Check whether your vehicle needs a hard-sided pitch, whether hookups are included and whether the campground has showers, drinking water or a dump station.

Don’t give up if your first choices are unavailable. Cancellations do appear, particularly closer to the date, but I definitely wouldn’t rely on finding one for every night of a peak-season trip.

Wildfires and smoke in Canada

Wildfires can affect summer travel in Western Canada, including air quality, visibility and road access. We experienced heavy smoke several times during our trip and had to re-route part of our journey, so it’s important to monitor official alerts and keep your plans flexible. I’ve written a separate guide with the resources we used and tips for preparing. I cannot stress how important it is to be on top of this for your safety and health. Read our full guide to wildfires and travel in Canada.

Alternative routes for this Canada road trip

I spent a long time crafting this route and had to make some hard decisions about which places to skip and where to spend more or less time. A few notable omissions are Jasper, the Kootenays and Clearwater. I skipped all of these simply because we didn’t have enough time and wanted to prioritise other stops, but they are all great options and often quieter than the ones we chose. For example, you could drive to Clearwater from Jasper and then down to Kamloops or around to Kelowna, perhaps via Sun Peaks. This would mean missing Golden and Revelstoke. You could also head straight to Whistler from Clearwater, skipping the Okanagan. There are so many options!

Our longest drive was Kelowna to North Vancouver, which we only did to escape the wildfire smoke. To break up that drive, you could stop in Hope. We had considered stopping at Cultus Lake, but its waterpark was closed following a serious electrical incident in June 2026, so we changed our plans. Stopping in South Vancouver would have also made this journey shorter.

We stayed one night in Nanaimo because we couldn’t get an early ferry crossing to Vancouver Island. An early crossing would remove the need for this as then you could drive straight to Ucluelet or Tofino.

A note on where to switch from campervan to car

If you’re doing a mixture of van and car, the best time to return the van on this route would be between Kelowna and Whistler as you pass close to Vancouver Airport and the campervan drop-off centres along that route. That was our original plan, but we had to change it because of the smoke, which meant we ended up having to criss-cross the city to take the van back after Whistler and before getting the ferry from Horseshoe Bay. If you really want to take the van to Whistler, you could get the ferry from Tsawwassen (near Vancouver Airport) to Victoria instead of Nanaimo, and reverse the Vancouver Island section of the route, going to Tofino after Victoria and then returning to Horseshoe Bay.

Our detailed Calgary to Vancouver road trip itinerary

Banff National Park

Banff was the first stop on our Canada road trip and an amazing introduction to the Canadian Rockies. The town itself is polished and almost Disney-esque, but still charming and overwhelmingly beautiful, with epic mountains in every direction. Hiking is a huge part of its appeal, but you don’t need it to be awed.

It doesn’t feel especially Canadian in some ways. The town is full of international tourists and Aussie seasonal workers, but with that come excellent amenities and loads to do. If you want more local, lived-in vibes, nearby Canmore is a better bet.

We spent three nights in Banff. Beforehand, I was a bit worried it would be too hiking-heavy for our family as our kids aren’t big fans, but there are so many brilliant things to do with children, from gentle walks and easy viewpoints to boat rides and gondola trips.

Things to do in Banff National Park

Banff has a good mix of big-ticket attractions and easy outdoor adventures. See our full guide to the best things to do in Banff with kids. Here are some of our highlights:

• Ride the Banff Gondola – This is a must for the views, but there’s also a surprising amount for children at the top, including crafts, cornhole, marshmallow toasting and an activity booklet. We only allowed an hour and didn’t complete the whole boardwalk because the kids were done with sightseeing. I’d allow around 1.5-2 hours and stop for a drink if you have time left.
• Take the Junior Explorer Cruise on Lake Minnewanka – This interactive treasure hunt suited our six-year-old better than our eight-year-old, who isn’t a fan of interactive tours. He still enjoyed the lake and the free ice pop at the end. Pursuit gives children a patch after its activities too, which is a lovely touch.
• Paddle and picnic at Cascade Ponds or Johnson Lake – These lakes aren’t glacier-fed, so the water is a little more inviting than Banff’s famous turquoise lakes (although it’s still very cold). Cascade Ponds is ideal for a picnic and paddle, and we also stopped briefly at Johnson Lake.
• Walk to the Lower Falls at Johnston Canyon – This is an easy family walk along paths and walkways through the canyon. The Lower Falls were far enough for our kids. Arrive early as the car park and trail get very busy.
• See Banff’s easy-win viewpoints – Surprise Corner, Bow Falls and Vermilion Lakes offer some of Banff’s most iconic scenery with very little walking, making them perfect for when little legs are tired.
• Browse the shops in Banff town – The kids adored the rock and gem shop and the sweet shop full of international treats. We bought some fun flavoured Kit Kats, and the boys were dazzled by the PEZ dispensers!

Where to eat and drink in Banff

Banff has plenty of family-friendly restaurants, bakeries and fun places for a treat. These were our favourites:

• Wild Flour – Excellent baked goods and a lovely laid-back vibe.
• Farm & Fire – A great family dinner with a nice atmosphere and excellent salads.
• Sudden Sally at Hotel Canoe & Suites – Another good option with a modern Rockies-cabin feel: lots of wood, a hint of Scandi styling and farm-to-table food.
• High Rollers – Combine pizza with bowling for a fun and easy family evening.

We also tried a BeaverTail. It was far too sweet for me, but it’s kind of a Canadian rite of passage!

Where to stay in Banff

Banff accommodation is expensive and summer dates sell out early, so book as soon as your plans are firm. See our complete guide to where to stay in Banff for more options.

• The Dorothy Motel – We loved its fun, modern-retro design, plus guests can use Hotel Canoe & Suites across the road. The rooftop hot pools and mountain views added a comforting touch of luxury. When the water became too hot, the boys watched deer from the balcony. As Otis put it, “Nature really is in charge here.”
• Tunnel Mountain Village II Campground – We stayed here for two nights in our truck camper. It’s more concrete and road-heavy than some Parks Canada campgrounds, and some pitches look more car-park-like than others, but our site had grass beside it, enough room to play football and incredible mountain views. The Roam bus into town made it especially convenient.
• Two Jack Lakeside Campground – This was where we had planned to spend our first night, but the smoke was too bad. Its lakeside setting looks extraordinary and we’d love to return in clearer conditions. The lakeside pitches are some of the most coveted in Canada.

How to get around Banff National Park

Despite visiting in July with an RV, we didn’t have much trouble parking in Banff itself. Roam public transport is also incredibly handy, and you’ll often receive free tickets for specific routes when booking accommodation or tours. We had transport between Tunnel Mountain and town, and between Lake Minnewanka and Banff.

Book the Gondola and Lake Minnewanka cruise ahead during peak season. We used a Pursuit Pass for both, alongside attractions elsewhere in the Rockies, and it worked out cheaper than booking separately. Return times from the gondola seemed fairly flexible on our visit, but you do reserve a specific time.

Finally, we bought bear spray locally. It’s a sensible precaution if you plan to walk on trails, but make sure you learn how and when to use it rather than simply carrying it. You can also rent it in Banff.

Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are two of the most famous stops in the Canadian Rockies, and despite having seen them in countless photos, the colours were still literally breathtaking in real life. We spent one night at Lake Louise, between Banff and Field, which gave us time to visit both lakes without trying to squeeze them into a day trip. It also meant we were closer to the Icefields Parkway to start our drive early the following morning.

I was surprised to find the lakes less busy than I expected. Yes, you’re in a crowd, especially at Lake Louise, but we found it easy to get photos by ourselves and never felt completely overrun. If you’re used to secluded lakes, I guess it might feel too much, but the experience was far more enjoyable than I’d anticipated. That said, by this point Arlo did ask whether we could have a break from seeing “fancy lakes”!

Things to do at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

We preferred Moraine Lake to Lake Louise. It felt less busy and even more spectacular, perhaps partly because it’s harder to reach. These were our highlights:

• See Moraine Lake from the Rockpile – This is the classic viewpoint over the lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks. The walk is short (less than 10 minutes), but the view is extraordinary.
• Walk along the Lake Louise shoreline – The flat lakeshore path is an easy way to appreciate the colour of the water and the mountain backdrop without committing to a proper hike. Lake Louise was noticeably busier than Moraine Lake when we visited.
• Take a guided shuttle between the lakes – We booked with Fairview Limousine, which made the logistics incredibly easy. We loved our guide Sophie, who joked that Lake Louise should really be called Lake Sophie because its namesake, Princess Louise, never even saw it. Our youngest has called it Lake Sophie ever since!
• Canoe on the lakes – The bright red canoes look brilliant against the turquoise water, and it looks like a fun way to experience the lake. We didn’t do it because the kids really weren’t up for it, but it’s an option if your family has more energy and enthusiasm left than ours did.
• The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise dominates the shoreline. Controversially, I don’t think it’s quite as pretty as people say! It’s impressive, but I found myself wishing it looked more like one of the pink chateaux we’ve visited in France. Perhaps I’ve just been spoilt by all our France trips!

Where to eat near Lake Louise

We don’t have a standout restaurant recommendation from this stop. There are cafés and restaurants inside the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and a few options in Lake Louise village, but choice is limited compared with Banff. If you’re camping, it’s worth arriving with food rather than relying on finding somewhere nearby at the end of the day. But be aware that bears are often sighted in the campground, so be sure to keep your food locked away!

Where to stay or camp near Lake Louise

We spent one night at Lake Louise Hard-Sided Campground in our truck camper. It was a practical base for visiting both lakes and continuing towards Yoho National Park the next morning – plus the setting is lush, next to the river and with mountains and glaciers all around. The campground is reserved for hard-sided camping equipment because of wildlife activity, so tents and soft-sided trailers must use the separate, fenced tent campground.

Lake Louise campsites are extremely competitive, and this was one of the reservations I was most relieved to secure. We booked as soon as Parks Canada reservations opened and had Field in Yoho National Park booked as a back-up. Read our guide to booking Parks Canada campsites.

How to get around Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

You can’t drive a private vehicle to Moraine Lake, so you need to arrange a Parks Canada shuttle, Roam Transit or an approved commercial operator. These book up, so plan this part of the trip well in advance.

We missed out on the official shuttle booking, so chose Fairview Limousine, which took us to both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. It removed all the stress of coordinating shuttle tickets and parking, and having Sophie as our guide added far more personality to the experience. If you do drive to Lake Louise, parking is limited and expensive, so the park-and-ride shuttle can be the easier option in peak season.

Read our complete guide to visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake with kids.

Icefields Parkway and Columbia Icefield day trip

The Icefields Parkway has legendary status as one of the world’s most epic drives, and it really does deliver. It runs from Lake Louise all the way to Jasper, and the popular way to experience it is to stay a night or two in Jasper, stopping at different viewpoints on each journey.

I somewhat agonised over whether we should do that, but eventually decided to skip Jasper and drive only as far as the Columbia Icefield. The full road from Lake Louise to Jasper takes around three to four hours each way without stops, but realistically more like six to eight once you add the viewpoints. Jasper would have been a beautiful addition if we’d had more time and more outdoorsy kids, but for this trip I didn’t want to overload them with driving – especially when parts of the town and national park were still recovering from the fires. I know that Jasper is a highlight for many people, so definitely consider making it a stop if you have more time.

Instead, we made the Icefields Parkway a day trip between our Lake Louise and Field campsites. We left Lake Louise at around 8am and reached Field at about 6pm, having driven to the Columbia Icefield and back with plenty of stops. It was a big day, but it worked brilliantly. I actually cried at how beautiful the drive was!

Our Icefields Parkway stops

These are the places we stopped on the Icefields Parkway.

• Peyto Lake – One of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Rockies, reached by a relatively short, uphill walk from the car park.
• Bow Lake – A gorgeous place to stretch your legs, skim stones and have a picnic.
• Columbia Icefield – We did the Glacier Adventure, travelling onto the Athabasca Glacier in a huge Ice Explorer vehicle, and we also did the glass-floored Skywalk.
• The roadside viewpoints – Some of our favourite moments came from simply pulling over and looking at the mountains. The drive itself was the true highlight of the day for me.

We also did the Glacier Adventure, which had amazing points, but overall our kids found it a little slow and cold. I think they were a bit tired after the lakes the day before. But it was still a fun experience, and they say they’re glad they did it.

The glacier portion took around 90 minutes. A shuttle bus first took us to the Ice Explorer: a vast, six-wheeled vehicle purpose-built to negotiate the steep moraine and drive onto the glacier. The journey included around 15 minutes in the shuttle, 15 minutes travelling in the Ice Explorer and about 15 minutes on the ice, followed by the same process in reverse.

We also visited the Glacier Skywalk. It was impressive, but by then the children were becoming irritable, particularly while waiting for the return bus. In hindsight, the glacier alone might have been enough for our family. The combined Glacier Adventure and Skywalk is currently advertised as a 2.5–3-hour experience, but tour formats and timings can change, so check the details when booking. It took around 2 hours for us.

Icefields Parkway practical tips

Definitely reserve the Glacier Adventure in advance. We arrived earlier than expected and asked to move our midday booking, but at 10am the next available slot wasn’t until 4pm. Fortunately, the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre made it easy to pass the time. It has Starbucks, the casual self-service Chalet and the sit-down Altitude restaurant. We easily spent a relaxed couple of hours in the casual dining area, exploring the Parks Canada exhibition downstairs and simply enjoying the view of the glacier.

Dress in layers and take waterproofs. The weather changes quickly in the Rockies, and it was considerably colder around the Columbia Icefield than in Banff or Lake Louise. It was very cold on the glacier itself!

If you continue to Jasper, other popular family stops include Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls, both of which have viewpoints close to their car parks. For us, however, turning around at the Columbia Icefield gave us the best of the Parkway without adding another destination, or two very long driving days.

Field and Yoho National Park

Everyone talks about Lake Louise, but Emerald Lake was the one that stole my heart. There’s no doubt Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are stunning, but I think this slightly quieter alternative was my favourite.

Emerald Lake is in Yoho National Park, around 30 minutes from Lake Louise and close to the tiny village of Field. It’s still popular, but it doesn’t have half the tourist crowds of Lake Louise or require the same meticulous planning. Visitors also tend to arrive in fits and spurts, hopping on and off their coaches, so there are peaceful moments in between.

We visited at around 5:30 pm, when it was even quieter than we’d hoped and the lake was bathed in gorgeous golden light. We spent one night nearby at Kicking Horse Campground before continuing west to Revelstoke.

Things to do in Field and Yoho National Park

• Visit Emerald Lake in the late afternoon – The colour is every bit as extraordinary as the more famous lakes, but the atmosphere felt calmer. We even saw people swimming, which looked lovely—although the water definitely isn’t warm!
• Walk the Emerald Lakeshore Trail – The easy 5.2km loop takes around two hours and has beautiful views throughout. You could also walk just part of the shoreline if that’s enough for your children.
• Hire a canoe – Canoes currently cost CAD $100 for an hour, including paddles and life jackets. The queues are generally much shorter than at Lake Louise, but rentals currently finish at 4:45pm, so we arrived too late to try it. Check the latest price and opening hours before visiting.
• Stop at Natural Bridge – This unusual rock formation over the Kicking Horse River is an easy roadside stop between Field and Emerald Lake.

Where to eat in Field

Emerald Lake Lodge has places to stop for coffee, lunch or dinner, even if you aren’t staying overnight. Its location right beside the water is hard to beat, and it would be lovely to linger over a drink while enjoying the view.

Field itself is tiny, with only a handful of places to eat and no full grocery store, so check opening hours and carry some supplies if you’re camping. We don’t have a particular restaurant recommendation from this stop, but I did love the cute Sidings Cafe and general store.

Where to stay or camp in Field and Yoho National Park

We stayed at Kicking Horse Campground, an official Parks Canada campground in Yoho National Park. It’s a scenic, forested campground beside the Kicking Horse River, with mountain views and easy access to Field, Emerald Lake and the rest of the park. The pitches are unserviced, but the campground has flush toilets and hot showers.

It’s reservable and can be competitive in summer, so book in advance. Read our tips for booking Parks Canada campsites.

For a more special stay, Emerald Lake Lodge occupies an extraordinary position directly on the lake. We didn’t stay there, but its cabins and waterside setting looked gorgeous.

How to get around Field and Yoho National Park

You need your own vehicle to explore this part of Yoho National Park. Unlike Moraine Lake, Emerald Lake doesn’t require a shuttle reservation, but its car park is small and can fill during busy periods. Arriving later in the afternoon worked brilliantly for us: the coach groups became more intermittent, parking was easier and the golden light was beautiful.

Golden: an optional stop or overnight stay

Golden wasn’t an overnight stop on our road trip, but it’s somewhere you could easily choose to stay. One option would be to drive straight there from Lake Louise, skipping the night in Field, and spending it in Golden instead.

Even if you don’t stay overnight, I’d make time for Golden Skybridge. It officially took one of the top spots among our kids’ Canada road-trip highlights, and Steve and I loved it too, despite my jangled nerves! The boys are still talking about it now.

Golden Skybridge

Golden Skybridge began with Canada’s highest suspension bridges, the tallest of which crosses the canyon at 426 feet. It has since grown into a full adventure park, with everything from ziplines to a mountain coaster, all against an incredible Rocky and Purcell mountain backdrop.

The highlight for the kids was the Sky Zipline, a roughly 30-second flight high above the canyon. To be honest, I was terrified at the idea of seeing my little ones hanging so high, but I also wanted to encourage their bravery, so tried to hold it together! Our eldest is particularly scared of heights (the little one is wild!) so I was incredibly proud to see him make that leap. He hasn’t stopped talking about it since.

The Railrider Mountain Coaster was also a huge amount of fun and my personal favourite. You control your own speed as the coaster winds downhill through the forest, which makes it as gentle or thrilling as you want it to be.

Other activities include:

• Walking across the two suspension bridges
• The Canyon Edge Challenge Course, similar to Go Ape or Acrobranch
• Eagle Net Park and multiple adventure-play areas
• A climbing wall
• The Giant Canyon Swing for older children and adults
• Axe throwing for ages 12 and over

Our eldest loved the aerial adventure course, while our youngest was furious about not being tall enough! Age, height and weight rules differ between activities, so check the current restrictions before choosing your ticket.

You could easily spend a whole day here. We stayed for around four hours and still didn’t manage everything. It’s one of those rare attractions that’s as much fun for adults as it is for children, and I’d put it high on any Canadian Rockies family itinerary. It’s part of the Pursuit Collection, so was included in our Pursuit Pass.

More things to do in Golden with kids

If you stay overnight, Golden has enough to fill another day or longer. Other family attractions include:

• Visiting Boo the grizzly bear at the Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge
• Riding the sightseeing gondola at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort for views over the Columbia Valley
• Taking a family rafting or float trip on the Kicking Horse or Columbia rivers
• Visiting the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre
• Walking or cycling Golden’s riverside trails

We didn’t try these ourselves, but they’re good reasons to consider making Golden more than a stop en route. A night here would also give you more time at Golden Skybridge without having to continue driving afterwards.

Revelstoke

This little mountain town is often overlooked on a Canadian Rockies road trip, but for us it was a highlight. In fact, it’s one of those places I could imagine living – yes, I did look up the house prices!

Not only does Revelstoke have a Stars Hollow-style small-town charm, but it’s also filled with family-friendly fun, from treetop adventures to easy walks, all with a spectacular mountain backdrop. It also felt like the most Canadian place we’d visited so far. Banff and Lake Louise were filled with international visitors, whereas plenty of Canadian families were spending a week or more at our Revelstoke campsite.

We only had a short stay, but you could definitely spend a week here. After the big sights of Banff, Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway, it was lovely to slow down and take things easy for a couple of days.

Things to do in Revelstoke

• Ride the Pipe Mountain Coaster – Take the Revelation Gondola up Revelstoke Mountain Resort before whizzing 1.4km down the mountain through the forest. You control your own speed, so it can be scenic or thrilling. I loved this!
• Try the Aerial Adventure Park at Revelstoke Mountain Resort – We also did the climbing tower, which felt more hair-raising than the forest courses we’ve tried elsewhere. Our smallest adrenaline seeker adored it, of course. The resort also has mountain bike tracks, hiking trails and a gondola up to a viewpoint at the top of the mountain. In winter, you can ski.
• Visit The Enchanted Forest – Just outside Revelstoke, this quirky attraction has fairytale characters, storybook buildings and treehouses hidden throughout the forest. It’s particularly well suited to younger children.
• Climb at SkyTrek Adventure Park – SkyTrek is next door to The Enchanted Forest, making the two easy to combine. It has aerial adventures for different ages, including a course designed especially for smaller children. Arlo often wasn’t tall enough for the main ropes courses on our trip, so he was delighted to have one he could do here.
• Explore Mount Revelstoke National Park – If you have longer, drive the Meadows in the Sky Parkway for viewpoints and family walks. This was still on our list, but it’s one reason of many that Revelstoke could easily become a longer stay.
• Explore downtown – Part of Revelstoke’s appeal is simply spending time downtown, browsing its independent businesses and enjoying the relaxed community atmosphere.

Where to eat in Revelstoke

Revelstoke has a surprisingly good collection of cafés, restaurants and breweries for such a small town. These were our favourites:

• Main Street Cafe – A charming downtown spot for an all-day breakfast or lunch.
• Sugar Shack – A fun stop for sweet treats.
• Spilt Milk – A friendly specialty coffee shop and roastery with Australian café influences.

Where to stay or camp in Revelstoke

We stayed at Revelstoke RV & Cabin Resort, which was the perfect family base. It has spacious pitches, mountain views, a heated pool, playgrounds, organised activities and plenty of room for children to run around. It had a nostalgic holiday-camp charm that made me feel a little like I was in a movie.

There were lots of Canadian families staying for a week or longer, and I could understand why. The full-service RV pitches and family facilities make it an easy place to stop travelling for a while and settle into campground life. Cabins are also available if you aren’t travelling by RV.

How to get around Revelstoke

Downtown Revelstoke is compact and easy to explore on foot, but you’ll need a vehicle for the mountain resort, campsite and attractions outside town. Revelstoke Mountain Resort is a short drive from downtown, while The Enchanted Forest and SkyTrek are around 30 minutes west on the Trans-Canada Highway, conveniently positioned for the onward journey towards the Okanagan.

If you’re short on time, prioritise the Pipe Mountain Coaster and a wander around town. With two or more days, add The Enchanted Forest, SkyTrek and Mount Revelstoke National Park, and leave some time simply to enjoy the slower pace.

The Okanagan Valley

We had planned to spend three nights in the Okanagan Valley, but sadly wildfire smoke forced us to cut that part of the trip short. The problem became clear during the drive from Revelstoke, and by the time we reached the region, the smoke was thick enough that we felt uncomfortable outside, especially because one of our sons has asthma. We stayed one night in a hotel, but saw very little of Kelowna and the Okanagan.

It was a shame because the Okanagan is amazing – a place where vineyards and orchards surround a vast lake, with beaches, bike trails, farm shops and wineries that genuinely welcome children. It was one of the places I’d been most excited to visit, and it reminded me of Sonoma.

I did a lot of research and had big plans for the Okanagan, so I’ve still included it in this itinerary. Plus we did get to experience a few things on our drive there before the smoke got bad. Hopefully, if you go, you can do the things we didn’t. And if you do, be sure to follow Taste of the Shuswap, who have loads of great tips (many of our recommendations below came from them)!

Things to do in the Okanagan Valley

Although we didn’t get to experience the Okanagan as planned, we did visit a few places on the drive there and on the first morning. Here’s a selection of what we did, plus some of the things we had planned.

• Visit Davison Orchards – the Okanagan is famous for its fruit and Davison Orchards is a fun place to visit the farm shop and do an orchard tour. There’s also a play area and you can visit the farm animals.
• Cycle the Myra Canyon Rail Trail – this relatively gentle former railway route crosses a series of spectacular historic trestle bridges. We’d planned to hire bikes and make it our main family adventure in Kelowna. We’d also have liked to ride bikes along the waterfront.
• Try the family-friendly wineries and cideries – we loved the look of Frind Estate Winery for its beachfront setting and live music events. Truck 59 Cider House also looked good, and Folktale Cider, which has a huge inflatable jumping pillow.
• Spend an afternoon beside Okanagan Lake – Kelowna, West Kelowna and Peachland all have beaches where families can swim, paddle or simply slow down in the sunshine. We visited Peachland on our way to Vancouver and could see it had a lovely family-friendly vibe. We were sad not to stay there.
• Visit the inflatable water parks – The floating obstacle courses in Kelowna and Peachland have slides, climbing areas and balance obstacles. They looked brilliant for kids.
• Look out for summer events – Live music, local markets and family-friendly winery events had all been part of our plan and seem to add to the region’s relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

Where to eat and drink in the Okanagan Valley

• We had dinner and went bowling at BNA Brewing in Vernon while debating whether to sleep in the camper or book a hotel. It has a lively brewpub, arcade games and both ten-pin and duckpin bowling lanes. It proved to be a perfect indoor escape from the smoke.
• The drive from Revelstoke to Kelowna also has some fun stops around the Shuswap. We had lunch at The Pub at Old Town Bay Marina, home to Twin Anchors Houseboat Vacations. It was fun watching the houseboats and seeing people setting off on their adventures across Shuswap Lake (we’re now desperate to go houseboating one day!). And we also stopped at D Dutchmen Dairy in Sicamous for old-fashioned ice cream. The fruit stand across the road was also excellent.
• I don’t recommend stopping at The Log Barn, south of Enderby. The kids insisted we stopped, but it felt like a tourist trap (just like Taste of the Shuswap warned me!).

Where to stay in the Okanagan Valley

We had planned to stay at Peachland RV Park and do a home exchange just south of Kelowna.

The home exchange is also rented through Airbnb. It has lake views and a barrel sauna and looked like exactly the kind of special base we love, but we had to cancel because of the smoke.

We didn’t feel comfortable staying the night in the campervan in the smoke, so we booked a last-minute stay at Hotel Zed Kelowna and loved its colourful, retro design. It’s directly opposite City Park and only steps from Okanagan Lake, so it would also be a fun and convenient choice in better conditions. You get fun retro extras, like free rollerboot hire for your stay!

How to get around the Okanagan Valley

You need a car to explore the wider Okanagan because its towns, beaches, orchards and wineries are spread around the lake. Revelstoke to Kelowna takes roughly 2.5–3 hours without stops, but I’d allow most of the day if you want to pause in the Shuswap and visit farms around Vernon.

In clear conditions, I’d still allow at least two or three nights rather than treating the Okanagan as a quick overnight stop between the Rockies and Vancouver. It looks like exactly the kind of place that rewards slowing down.

Vancouver North Shore

We stopped on Vancouver’s North Shore unexpectedly after leaving the wildfire smoke in Kelowna. It’s a convenient place to break the journey before continuing to Squamish, although staying south of the city would have made the long drive from Kelowna a little shorter. The only campsite we could find was Capilano River RV Park in West Vancouver, so we carried on across the city.

Our original plan had been to return the truck camper near Vancouver Airport after leaving the Okanagan, switch to a hire car and then drive north to Squamish. Changing the route meant keeping the camper for a few extra days and later criss-crossing Vancouver to return it. It wasn’t the most efficient arrangement, but it was infinitely preferable to staying in the smoke, and we really enjoyed having the camper in Whistler.

Plus we loved the North Shore – I’d quite like to live there!

I’ve included our city recommendations in the main Vancouver section later in this itinerary.

Squamish and Whistler

Squamish and Whistler weren’t originally overnight stops on our route. We added them after wildfire smoke forced us to leave the Okanagan early, and they became one of the most serendipitous surprises of the whole trip. Whistler is most well known for its ski resort, but it also becomes a big outdoor adventure in the summer, especially for mountain bikers.

The Sea-to-Sky corridor has everything you hope for from British Columbia: forested mountains, rugged coast, adventure sports and laid-back towns connected by one of Canada’s most beautiful drives. We spent two nights at a campground between Squamish and Whistler, which worked well for exploring both.

Even if you don’t spend the night in Whistler, I recommend driving the Sea-to-Sky Highway at least as far as Squamish. That was our original plan, to do it as a day trip just before getting the ferry from Horseshoe Bay. I really wanted to see Jack’s Bar and the scenery from Virgin River, a Netflix show that inspired the whole trip!

Things to do in Squamish and Whistler

• Ride the Sea to Sky Gondola – The gondola rises above Howe Sound to mountain viewpoints, a suspension bridge and easy walking trails. It’s a brilliant way to experience the scenery with children without committing to a major hike.
• Go ziplining in Whistler – We loved flying through the forest on the family-friendly Bear tour with Ziptrek Ecotours. The boys were able to do two of the ziplines solo, and went with the guide for the other two. There are minimum ages and weights, so check carefully before booking. It was a great way to experience Whistler’s rainforest.
• Explore Whistler Village – The pedestrianised resort village is easy to wander, with restaurants, shops and activity providers, all surrounded by mountains.
• Stop at the lake viewpoints – Whistler’s clear mountain lakes are easy to reach by car or via the Valley Trail. We stopped to admire the views over Green Lake, and Lost Lake and Alta Lake are good options if you have more time for swimming, cycling or paddling.
• Drive the Sea-to-Sky Highway – The road itself is one of the highlights, with mountain and water views throughout. This is also where many of the sweeping landscapes used in Virgin River were filmed.
• Watch the Squamish Days Logger Sports Show – This might be the most Canadian thing we did on our entire road trip. Competitors race up enormous tree trunks, run across floating logs, throw axes, saw and chop through logs, and compete in the extraordinary springboard event. The festival began in 1957 and celebrates the logging history that helped shape Squamish.

Other family activities from our research list included the train wreck hike, PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, cycling the Valley Trail, visiting Whistler Olympic Park, walking to Brandywine Falls and exploring the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. Whistler could easily fill several days if you want a more active mountain stay.

Where to eat in Squamish and Whistler

One of the key things I wanted to do in the area was visit The Watershed Grill in Brackendale, which provides the exterior for Jack’s Bar in Virgin River. It’s much smaller inside than the fictional version because only the outside is used for filming, but the riverside mountain setting is just as gorgeous in real life. I was delighted to see it!

The Watershed Grill is worthwhile even if you’ve never watched Virgin River, plus there’s Hop Farm and Brewery across the road, which has a cute farm shop and collection of food and drink trucks. There are even farm animals and a little trail for kids.

Whistler Village has a much bigger choice of restaurants but can be expensive and busy, particularly at peak times.

Where to stay in Squamish and Whistler

We stayed at Whistler RV Park & Campground, around 20 minutes south of Whistler Village. It’s popular and normally books far in advance during summer, but after a frantic search we managed to find a last-minute cancellation and spent two beautiful nights there.

The mountain views alone make it special, but we especially loved all the little extras. The boys spent hours in the woodland playground and searching for rubber ducks that staff hide around the grounds each day – find one and you win an ice cream. There’s also frisbee golf, ping-pong, a sandpit, trails and an 18-hole wiffle-golf course, which became a new family favourite.

The lovely staff turned a stressful day and last-minute accommodation hunt into something genuinely special. If you’re camping around Squamish or Whistler, I can’t recommend it enough – but book early rather than counting on a cancellation.

How to get around Squamish and Whistler

Squamish and Whistler are around 45 minutes apart along Highway 99, while the Sea-to-Sky Gondola is just south of Squamish.

Once in Whistler, the village is pedestrianised and the Valley Trail makes cycling between neighbourhoods, parks and lakes straightforward. Summer weekends can be busy, so reserve major activities and accommodation in advance and leave extra time for traffic on the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

Tofino and Ucluelet

Tofino had been on my travel wish list for more than a decade and became one of the undisputed highlights of our Canada road trip. Its wild beaches, rainforest, food scene and laid-back surf culture felt completely different from everywhere else on the route. It’s one of the dreamiest places I’ve ever been.

We spent three nights in Tofino and one in Ucluelet. You could base yourself in either town: we preferred the energy and food scene in Tofino, while Ucluelet is quieter, more lived-in and often less expensive. I’d allow at least three nights in the area after making the long journey across Vancouver Island.

Things to do in Tofino and Ucluelet

• Spend time on the beaches – Long Beach, Chesterman Beach and Cox Bay are spectacular places to walk, play and watch the surfers. They’re also great at sunset.
• Try surfing – Lessons and equipment hire are available for beginners, although watching from the sand is also part of the fun. We had a lesson with Surf Sister, a female-run business, who were absolutely brilliant. Can’t recommend them enough.
• Explore by bike – A continuous multi-use route connects Tofino, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and Ucluelet, making it easy to combine beaches with food stops.
• Go bear watching – We took a boat tour with Ahous Adventures, owned and operated by the Ahousaht Nation. We explored the sheltered inlets of Clayoquot Sound and saw black bears foraging along the shoreline. We also saw seals, eagles, and otters (my favourite!).
• Browse Tofino town – Leave time for its independent shops, galleries, summer markets and excellent cafés. We particularly loved the Saturday Market, which felt like stepping back into the 90s.
• Visit Ucluelet – Walk a section of the Wild Pacific Trail and experience its quieter working-harbour atmosphere.

Where to eat in Tofino and Ucluelet

Tofino’s food scene is part of its appeal. Our highlights included the original Tacofino food truck, Tofino Licks for an exceptional ice-cream sundae (order the hot fresh pie topping!), Savary Island Pie Company for baked goods, and ROAR at Hotel Zed for locally sourced food. In Ucluelet, try Heartwood Kitchen or The Break Cafe & Bistro for breakfast, brunch and coffee.

We have more tips for places to eat in our full Tofino travel guide.

Where to stay in Tofino and Ucluelet

We stayed at Hotel Zed Tofino, which the boys declared one of the best hotels they’d ever visited. Its hidden arcade, mini disco and endless games make it exceptionally good for kids, while the rainforest hot tub, barrel sauna, excellent spa and stylish 1970s design make it just as appealing to adults. Our stay became an attraction in its own right. Read more in our guide to things to do in Tofino. And use our BB15 code for 15% off at Hotel Zed.

We spent our final night at Pacific Rim Motel in Ucluelet. It was the cheapest suitable option I found, with good harbour views and that classic motel charm. It worked well as a simple base for exploring Ucluelet, and the views make it special.

How to get around Tofino and Ucluelet

Ucluelet and Tofino are around 40 minutes apart. In Tofino, walking and cycling are more enjoyable than driving.

The drive from Nanaimo takes around three hours without substantial stops, but it’s worth allowing longer. Stop at the Old Country Market in Coombs to see its famous goats on the roof, take a short walk among the ancient trees at Cathedral Grove and, if time allows, have a picnic or paddle at Cameron Lake. Parking at Cathedral Grove is extremely limited.

Highway 4 is winding and can be affected by weather, roadworks and closures, so check conditions before setting out. It’s another 1.5 hours to Victoria from Nanaimo, so a 4.5 hour journey in total. Reserve the ferry from Vancouver during busy summer periods, and remember that a Parks Canada entry pass is required when stopping within the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.

Victoria

Victoria is a place I’ve wanted to visit for years – it always comes up when I’m Googling and dreaming of places to move to (a hobby of mine!) – plus, of course it shares my name!

It was named the world’s best small city by Condé Nast Traveler readers three years in a row, and it’s easy to understand why. It feels like a capital city and a relaxed seaside town at once: the downtown harbour is buzzy and picturesque, but everything moves at a gentler pace and nature is never far away

We spent three nights here doing a home exchange in the lovely Cook Street Village area. It was wonderful getting a taste of local life and what it’d be like to live there (a dream!), but there are also great hotels.

Things to do in Victoria

• Go whale watching – Our Prince of Whales trip into the Salish Sea was one of the highlights of our trip. We saw orcas, humpbacks and seals. Plus, I loved seeing the San Juan Islands too (on my bucket list!) – we were in US waters for a lot of the trip. Take warm layers, even in summer as it gets pretty breezy.
• Explore the Inner Harbour – Watch the seaplanes, admire the grand Parliament Buildings and Fairmont Empress, and enjoy the flower-filled city.
• Hire bikes – Victoria is brilliant for cyclists with lots of wide cycling paths and routes that feel safe with kids. We especially loved cycling along the waterfront.
• Beacon Hill Park – This massive park borders the coast and the city centre with playgrounds and one of the world’s tallest totem poles.
• Ride a harbour ferry to Fisherman’s Wharf – The tiny (and very cute!) boats are an attraction as well as transport. You can take one from the harbour to Fisherman’s Wharf with all its colourful floating homes and restaurants. There’s a small but good playground here too.
• Visit The Butchart Gardens – This spectacular 55-acre garden is around 30 minutes from downtown and deserves at least half a day.
• Browse Victoria’s independent side – Munro’s Books is a must, and Fan Tan Alley, Market Square and Cook Street Village are also worth exploring.
• Add some adventure at WildPlay – The treetop courses and ziplines are just outside the city.
• Explore the Saanich Peninsula – The coast around Victoria is lovely. Stop at places like Country Bee Honey Farm and other farm shops, cafés and wineries.

Where to eat in Victoria

Victoria has plenty of relaxed restaurants, bakeries and breweries. We were in love with our home exchange, so mostly ate in, but we did enjoy the Victoria branch of Tacofino, and having a famous purple gin at the Fairmont Empress. Parachute Ice Cream is the best, and the baked good at Mosi Bakery-Cafe are excellent.

Other local recommendations we collected included Thunder Bird, Pizzeria Prima Strada, Tourist Wine Bar, Rudi, GoodSide Pastry House, and Empire Donuts.

Where to stay in Victoria

For a first visit, the Inner Harbour is the most convenient area because you can walk to many of the main attractions and restaurants. The Fairmont Empress is the landmark luxury choice, while James Bay, Fairfield and Cook Street Village give a more residential atmosphere. There’s also a branch of Hotel Zed in Victoria, and having stayed at the Tofino and Kelowna ones, I imagine it’s a fun hotel.

We did a home exchange near Cook Street Village, which we adored.

How to get around Victoria

Downtown Victoria is compact and best explored on foot or bike, with harbour ferries providing a fun way to cross the waterfront. A car is useful for the Butchart Gardens, WildPlay, beaches and the Saanich Peninsula, so group those attractions into the same day if your hotel charges for parking. The bike paths are exceptional.

The drive from Ucluelet takes around 4.5 hours without substantial stops. If travelling between Victoria and Vancouver, reserve the Swartz Bay–Tsawwassen ferry during busy periods and remember to allow time for check-in and the drive between Swartz Bay and the city.

Vancouver

Within days of seeing Vancouver, we were Googling how to move there. The combination of mountains, beaches, rainforest and gleaming skyscrapers makes an outdoorsy lifestyle feel unusually compatible with all the comforts of a major city.

We spent three nights in Vancouver itself, although we also passed through earlier in the trip and stayed on the North Shore. It gave us enough time for the main family attractions, but this is a city where we could easily have spent a week (or our lives!).

Things to do in Vancouver

• Cycle around Stanley Park – The nine-kilometre seawall route passes mountain and city views, beaches, the carved totem poles at Brockton Point and the Girl in a Wetsuit statue. Vancouver Aquarium is also inside the park.
• Explore Granville Island – Browse the Public Market and Kids Market, watch performers and visit artists’ studios. Arriving by one of the rainbow Aquabus boats makes it even more fun.
• Ride up Grouse Mountain – The gondola leads to spectacular views, and summer activities include the grizzly-bear refuge, play areas, trails, shows and a gravity coaster.
• Spend time at Kitsilano Beach – Combine the beach and seasonal saltwater pool with shops and cafés around West 4th Avenue. We also loved having dinner at English Bay Beach, which had a fun vibe at sunset.
• Experience FlyOver Canada – This flying-theatre ride at Canada Place is similar to Disney’s Soarin’, but takes you across Canadian landscapes. I get motion sickness, so it wasn’t ideal for me but Steve and Otis loved it.
• Explore Mount Pleasant – Main Street’s independent shops, cafés, murals and breweries are a hub for Vancouver’s local creatives.
• Choose a suspension bridge – Capilano is the polished paid attraction with a Treetops Adventure and Cliffwalk, while Lynn Canyon offers a free bridge and forest trails.
• I would have loved to visit the Anthropology Museum if we’d had more time.

Where to eat in Vancouver

Some of Vancouver’s easiest family food experiences are at its markets. Granville Island Public Market works brilliantly when everyone wants something different.

Go to La Belle Patate for authentic poutine.

We liked the small chain Nook for relaxed pizza and pasta and Cactus Club, which had great views at English Bay. Neither have kids menus, but can adapt their main menu and are welcoming to families.

We also enjoyed an evening at The Shipyards in North Vancouver, reached easily from downtown by SeaBus.

Where to stay in Vancouver

We stayed at The Westin Bayshore, in an excellent waterfront position between Coal Harbour and Stanley Park. It isn’t our usual small, design-led style of hotel, but the mountain and harbour views made the stay memorable, while the indoor and outdoor pools and easy access to Stanley Park worked particularly well with children.

Coal Harbour and the West End are convenient for a first visit. Kitsilano offers more of a residential beach-neighbourhood atmosphere, while North Vancouver suits families prioritising mountain and forest attractions. None have particularly cool hotels, but the big ones make the most of the views and location so are generally the best option.

How to get around Vancouver

You don’t need a car for central Vancouver. We combined walking with cycling, SkyTrain, buses, SeaBus and the Aquabus. A vehicle can be useful for North Shore attractions, although Grouse Mountain, Capilano and Lynn Canyon can all be reached without one – plus parking can be tricky. We had to park near a bus stop and get the bus to Grouse Mountain.

If arriving from Vancouver Island, remember that the Tsawwassen and Horseshoe Bay ferry terminals are both outside the city centre. Vancouver Airport is in Richmond and connects to downtown on the Canada Line.

Save this for you Canada road trip!

Let me know if you have any questions!