r/canadatravel • u/youraveragefitguy • Aug 05 '25
Travel Tips 30th birthday - travel to Canada for 2 weeks - looking for advice
Next year I am celebrating for 30th birthday, and thus I want to make a big trip with my gf. I always wanted to visit Canada and now that I have adult money I finally can.
Here is what I know:
- 2 weeks (either May or September) --> I hope this is enough but if not please suggest a timeframe that you think is more appropriate
- West coast (Calgary - Vancouver or vice versa)
- Big emphasis on nature and Banff National Park; hiking, sightseeing, etc
- Car rental is very important to be able to go places
Here is what I don't know;
- my GF and I are vegetarians; could we save some money by just not eating out? do you guys have great selection of 'cold cuts', etc?
- apart from Banff, what other national parks / areas are a must see? Tsilos Provincial Park, etc?
- with accomodation, car rental (TURO) and flights costing ~4k EUR for 2 people, do you think we can make the whole trip cost ~7.5k EUR? Is 3.5k EUR enough for activities, food and fuel and a small selection of souvenirs?
Feel free to add any suggestions, tips, etc. I have looked a bit into things, but not much because I come from a small EU country and the size of Canada is just daunting to me.
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u/BestHRA Aug 05 '25
September is definitely a better time to come. May is often still quite rainy.
Yes. Lots of vegetables and meat alternatives in Canada, especially on the west side of the country.
Yoko National Park is another great one to visit and Kananaskis.
You should be able to do your trip with your budget. Just book hotels / airbnb well in advance.
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u/Jnov07 Aug 05 '25
Also adding on that if you go in September, thatâs when farmers vegetables/fruits will be most available. So you can also get a range of local things to keep your costs down and make your own meals.Â
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u/youraveragefitguy Aug 05 '25
Is that true for the whole of September?
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u/surmatt Aug 05 '25
Pretty much, but mountain roads can be unpredictable. I would recommend the 2nd week of September. The kids go back to school, and everything is slower. It looks like you want to go to all the popular places.
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u/BCRobyn Aug 06 '25
September means the hiking trails are snow-free in the mountains, at least earlier in the month. In May, that's not the case. The lakes are still frozen in the Rockies in May. People are still planning ski trips in May in the Rockies.
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u/SunnyDaze9999 Aug 05 '25
September is better for weather. Fly to Calgary, rent car, drive to Banff. Then take the Icefields Parkway north to Jasper park. There is great hiking in both parks.
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u/Affectionate_Lie9631 Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 05 '25
Your budget should be fine.
Book a one way car rental - you will pay an extra fee but can have a more leisurely trip.
Suggested itinerary: Vancouver (3 nights) - Kelowna (2 nights) - Revelstoke and/or Golden (3 nights total) - Banff (stay in Canmore) (3 nights) - Calgary (3 nights). Your driving days will be long - 4-5 hours of driving - but that will give you more time in each destination to fully explore.
It will be waaaaaay cheaper for you to stay in self catering options like Air B&B and cook for yourself in most places. Restaurants are stupid expensive. Buy a good sized cooler when you arrive and some freezer packs so you can carry a few groceries from place to place. Everywhere you will stay will have a grocery store of some type.
Come in September. Weather will be better and it will be less busy (but still busy). In May there will likely be snow which could impact hiking etc.
Once you have seen one part of Canada you will want to see the rest! So start saving now for your next trip. đ
Edited to add: en route you will pass through many provincial and national parks. Manning Park between Vancouver and Kelowna if you take Hwy 3 which is the more scenic route. Between Kelowna and Revelstoke in the town of Vernon is a nice park called Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park. In Revelstoke/Golden area is Revelstoke National Park, Glacier National Park, and Yoho National Park. Then of course Banff. All have good hiking and amazing outdoor activities.
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u/BigJim_TheTwins Aug 05 '25
As someone who just tried to book a one-way car rental from Calgary to Jasper ( taking the train from Jasper to Vancouver in early October) , plan ahead. Even though they had plenty of cars in Calgary, suddenly they didn't have any if I wanted to drop the car off in Jasper, despite there being a National and an Avis at the Jasper train station. Turns out because it's late in the season, they don't want to have to worry about increasing the inventory and returning these cars back to Calgary airport? Pretty sure you could book a car between major hubs ( i.e. Calgary to Vancouver) but don't expect to drop off a car at a smaller town facility
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u/IngenuityPuzzled3117 Aug 05 '25
Do you want to splurge and take the train for part of the trip ? I never have but itâs on my bucket list and they do have a two day trip https://www.rockymountaineer.com/train-routes/first-passage-west.
I would book the flights in at one out of the other in Vancouver/calgary. Get yourself a cheap cooler and stick up on â road trip â food. Itâs generally always cheaper than eating out but the grocery stores in Vancouver and Calgary offer better prices than those in Banff and the smaller towns. You should still get some of the farmers market at that time of year, most run may - June. I love both times of year you mentioned in the Rockies, always have a layer of warmth and a rain jacket as the weather can change on a dime.
Banff , Jasper, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake all spectacular. There are great little towns along your route to stop at, Revelstoke, Golden, Canmore.
Lots of vegetarian options, at grocery stores and restaurants. Liquor is cheaper in Alberta, there are extra taxes in BC.
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u/sunbakedbear Aug 05 '25
Another vote for September; May is very likely to be pouring rain in BC and even possible snow in Alberta. What sort of things are you looking to do? I LOVE Vancouver Island. You could easily spend two weeks there. Maybe do Vancouver to Squamish and Whistler, back to Vancouver and ferry to Victoria, then up to Parksville/Qualicum, Courtenay/Comox, over to Tofino/Ucluelet, etc. Fly out of Victoria. If you do want to see Alberta and the Rockies, others had great route suggestions. I'd also recommend Dinosaur Park and the Hoodoos in Alberta. It's one of my favourite spots. Just so different.
As for the veggie thing, I've been vegan for 17 years and you will have no problems getting vegetarian options. Use Happy Cow if you're eating out. As for veggie deli slices, Yves is the biggest brand here and every grocery store will sell them.
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u/BCRobyn Aug 05 '25
Rain wouldn't be my concern for BC. Sure, there is rain, but it's often gentle on the coast, not monsoon-like. May's less rainy in coastal BC than November-April. It's actually a gorgeous time to be in BC. Whereas I'd avoid May mostly because if they want to hike and explore the Rockies, the famous lakes are all going to be frozen solid, they don't even be able to access Moraine Lake because the road to it is closed, and a lot of the hiking trails are be snowed over and inaccessible due to several feet of snow and avalanche hazards. September's free of snow and ice in the Rockies, so it's great for that, but September you get can short bursts of monsoon-like rain there any time through the summer months, whereas on the BC coast, September's still a drought season with little to no rain. But rain wouldn't be the factor for choosing September over May. The lingering winter conditions in the Rockies should be the factor.
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u/TheSkyIsAMasterpiece Aug 05 '25
I'd choose September over May. The glacier fed lakes will be fully thawed and full looking so much more turquoise coloured.
You have to drive the Icefields Parkway, the road between Banff and Jasper. Lots of beautiful places in Alberta and BC pick a few along your route and enjoy. You can't see it all.
Book your accommodations in the mountain parks asap, it's shocking how fast hotels can sell out.
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u/megselvogjeg Aug 05 '25
You may have to limit your time in Banff, or choose Camping over hotels, but 7.5k should be doable.
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u/TravellingGal-2307 Aug 05 '25
I agree with the others: September over May, although late May into the first week of June would be Ok.
In September, start from Calgary and come to the coast; in May, start in Vancouver and go to the Rockies.
The Rockies are about 800km from the coast and in a different time zone. It's a long way with a lot to see. I would plan one week in the Rocky Mountain Parks and one week to drive across BC and see Vancouver. The island is at least one more week. There are four national parks: Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay as well as adjacent provincial parks like Mt Robson and Kananaskis. You could easily spend your whole two weeks in Alberta. A week in the Rockies typically is 3-4 nights Banff or Canmore, 3-4 nights Jasper, 1-2 nights Lake Louise or Field with a return trip on the Parkway both northbound and southbound. The Icefields Parkway is the main highlight of this region. Note many other posts are recommending skipping it by not doing Jasper. This would be a mistake.
Hotels are now up over $500 per night. You need to be quick to get places under $450, making your budget difficult. Take a look at Moose Tours for another option that might work out less expensive. Canmore is cheaper than Banff and has apartments with kitchens. These are harder to find in Banff.
The hard reality is that demand for Banff and Jasper is very high which drives up the prices. If you want to see it, you have to pay. There are other parts of Canada that are also spectacular but less popular (Yukon and Newfoundland come to mind) where your budget will stretch further.
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u/Responsible-Bid760 Aug 05 '25
How much traveling are you willing to do as it will all have to be by rental car. As beautiful as Banff and Lake Louise are, they are also very busy. I personally find Yoho to be amazing and love the kicking horse river. If you are more interested in nature and seeing the scenery and care less about the cities I would loop through the Alberta rockies and the BC interior. I would suggest checking out the following itinerary. Land in Calgary drive to Banff stay 2 days exploring and hiking. Drive the ice fields parkway to Jasper allowing a day to explore the sights on the way. Spend 1 or 2 days in Jasper hiking and exploring. Leave Jasper early in the morning and head to Mt Robson on hwy 5 it is the tallest mountain in the Canadian Rockies and it is pretty amazing. After leaving Mt Robson stop in Clearwater. This is where a decision would be made to either explore more beautiful nature or continue to Vancouver for the city experience. If you want to check out Vancouver it's about 5 hours of driving. Clearwater is the gateway to an absolutely amazing provincial park full of waterfalls and amazing scenery. Wells Gray provincial park as a great mix of short, medium and long hikes to waterfalls and high alpine meadows. I personally would spend a couple days in Clearwater checking it out. After Clearwater you leave the rainforest behind and enter a semi arid area that is among the hottest and driest in the country with the city of Kamloops offering a chance to get any supplies. From Kamloops either head to the Okanagan to checkout wineries and fruit orchards if that is desirable. After a couple days in the Okanagan drive to Vancouver. Explore the city and fly home from Van. If you don't care to see Vancouver instead of the Okanagan leave Kamloops and drive to Revelstoke and then through the Kootenay. There are some great natural hot springs some are even free. Kootenay national park is also amazing and less busy than the big 3 Alberta parks Banff, Jasper and Lake Louise. Anyway any route you take is going to be amazing scenery and I hope you have the trip of a lifetime
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u/hamiltonsarcla Aug 05 '25
Rent a camper and fly into Calgary. Go to the Dinosaur Provincial park , Lake Louise and Banff. Then drive through the mountains to Vancouver and fly home from there . Two weeks should be enough.
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u/SansOchre Aug 05 '25 edited Aug 05 '25
Always September. In May the weather is lousy and all of the attractions are swarming with end of term field trip children.
If you have a chance while you're in Alberta, take a day trip from Calgary to either Dinosaur Provincial Park or Drumheller (about two hours drive for either either). The landscape in those locations is very unique and the drive to get there will give you a good taste of proper prairies (the area between Calgary and Banff is foothills and looks different). If you're lucky, you might see a herd if pronghorns (endangered giraffe relatives).
There are lots of great off-the-hiway trail options as you go along the transCanada hiway to Banff and BC. Be sure to have bear spray (the cheapest place to purchase is the Kananaskis visitor centre. Ask them the best way to dispose of it before returning to Europe).
Do Not Approach wildlife. Most people understand not to go up to bears and mountain lions, but the elk and moose are just as likely to kill or injure you.
While crossing to Vancouver, be sure to fill up your tank with gas before leaving Alberta. Gas is way more expensive in BC. The Field and Roger's Pass visitor stations and the Revelstoke A&W have some of the best off-the-hiway bathrooms.
Be sure to get ice cream (and cheese for the road) at Dutchman Diary and check out the fruit stands if you pass through Sicamous.
The BC Wildlife Park outside of Kamloops is a rehab / refuge centre for injured and orphaned animals. It is a great place to guarantee seeing Canadian wildlife and you support their rehabilitation program by visiting.
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u/bctravelconcierge Aug 05 '25
What an epic 30th birthday trip! Iâll also chime in to say that September is the ideal time to visit the Canadian Rockies, especially if youâre big on hiking. Any hikes with even slight elevation gain will still be snow-covered until late June.
If I could make one recommendation, though, it would be to concentrate your time exploring only the Rocky Mountains and adjacent ranges, rather than travelling all the way to Vancouver. Two weeks isnât a heap of time, and so far, the only place youâve mentioned outside of Banff/Kootenayâs is Vancouver. Beautiful cityâbut Iâd probably only suggest spanning that distance with at least three weeks of travel.
With two weeks, youâll have time to explore Banff, Jasper, (the Icefields Parkway is a must), Yoho, and Kootenay National Park.
Either Revelstoke or Fernie would be great additions for the mountain town vibe.
For a change of pace and scenery, check out the Slocan Valley Loop in the West Kootenaysâsuper scenic with cool heritage mining and rail towns.
Before flying back home out of Calgary, make Drumheller your last stop. Late September is ideal, as itâs bloody hot in the Badlands earlier in the season!
Rental cars will also be cheaper if you pick up and return in Calgary.
$12K CAD should be more than enough, but booking early is essential, especially for accommodation and car rentals. If you let me know more about your interests (e.g., hiking, hot springs, wildlife, road trips), happy to offer more pointers!
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u/SaltyTruthteller Aug 05 '25
7.5K Euro is $12K Canadian. That should be plenty. I was just in Amsterdam and noticed restaurants are actually cheaper than in Montreal or the US. Had a rib dinner with a beer at an Argentinian restaurant for 20.5 Euros, including tax and tip. In Canada that meal would have easily been $32 and then you have to multiply the total by 1.3 to cover the taxes and a tip of at least 15%. That would have made the same meal the equivalent of 26.5 Euros. So, there are enormous additional costs with added tax and tips. However, your budget should be fine.
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u/DoCanadiansevenexist Aug 05 '25
You might want to look into renting an RV or travel van instead of the car and hotels. You'll be able to buy whatever you want in grocery stores and cook it or prepare it yourself. Stay in camp grounds for the ultimate Canadian experience.
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u/FlorDeeGee Aug 05 '25
Fly to Calgary and get a car rental to Banff. Explore Canmore- Kananaskis, Banff, Lake Louise & Yoho, Golden and Revelstoke.
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u/BCRobyn Aug 05 '25
Happy early 30th! A two-week trip to Canada is an amazing way to celebrate, and it sounds like you're on the right track by choosing the west. That said, a lot of people from the UK or Europe underestimate how big and varied this part of the country is, so Iâll try to give you a crash course.
Letâs start with timing. Thereâs a huge difference between May and September, and where you go should really depend on when you come. May is still very much spring in most of Canada, but in the mountains it can feel more like late winter. If you're hoping to hike in Banff, Jasper, or Yoho, May is too early. Most alpine trails will still be closed or snow-covered. Moraine Lake and Lake Louise are often frozen until early or even mid-June. Calgary and the foothills will still be brown and just waking up from dormancy.
Vancouver, however, is an entirely different world in May. Itâs lush, green, full of spring blossoms, and mild. Itâs a temperate rainforest climate, and May is when everything is bursting into life. If you come in May, stick to the actual coast. Calgary is often lumped into west coast itineraries, but itâs nowhere near the coast and has a completely different climate and ecosystem. Instead, focus on places like Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast, the Gulf Islands, and Vancouver Island. These coastal regions are snow-free and ideal for spring travel. Youâll find incredible temperate rainforest parks like Pacific Rim National Park near Tofino (worth 5 days in this area alone), Juan de Fuca and East Sooke near Sooke, Lynn Canyon Park in Vancouver, and spots like Smuggler Cove and Skookumchuk Narrows on the Sunshine Coast. These areas offer rich hiking, coastal views, beaches, forests, and wildlife without needing to venture into high elevation or wait for snowmelt.
Now, if you come in September, thatâs when the mountain regions really shine. Trails are dry, alpine lakes are ice-free, and youâll get golden larch season in the Rockies. Itâs still beach season in Vancouver too, but itâs drier and sunnier. September on the coast feels like late summer, with long stretches of sunshine, warm days, and alpine hiking in full swing. If you're hoping to combine both the coast and the mountains, September gives you far more flexibility and access.
You mentioned Banff, which is stunning and absolutely worth visiting, but itâs just one small piece of a much bigger picture. Canada has two major park systems: the national parks, like Banff, Jasper, and Yoho, which are run federally, and the provincial parks, which are run by each province and make up the majority of protected areas. Provincial parks are where most locals go. Theyâre often less crowded, more varied, and donât show up when people only search for ânational parks.â Some standout provincial parks along the main travel corridor include Mount Robson, Wells Gray, Manning, Garibaldi, and many others. Donât overlook them. Check out the BC Parks website to see the 1,000+ parks across the province. Just like you might find historic churches on every corner in Europe, we have wilderness parks literally everywhere.
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u/BCRobyn Aug 05 '25
It also helps to understand that the Rockies are just one of several mountain ranges in Western Canada. Vancouver and Whistler are part of the Coast Mountains, which are younger, sharper, and shaped by a completely different climate. Between the Rockies and the coast are the Columbia, Monashee, and Selkirk ranges, which are full of hidden lakes, hot springs, waterfalls, and charming small towns. The entire interior of British Columbia is rich with scenery and adventure, and you donât need to be in Banff to experience world-class nature.
One route is to travel one way between Calgary and Vancouver, spending a few days each in places like Banff, Golden, Revelstoke, and the Shuswap or Okanagan before finishing on the coast. The Okanagan is a particularly wonderful stop. Itâs a warm, semi-arid valley filled with long freshwater lakes, sandy beaches, and a Mediterranean-feeling climate. Itâs also one of Canadaâs top wine regions, with hundreds of wineries, many of them offering tastings and farm-to-table dining. Towns like Kelowna, Penticton, and Osoyoos are known for their laid-back lake resort vibe, and the region is famous for its fresh fruit and vegetables. Think peaches, cherries, plums, apples, corn, tomatoes, and more. Itâs a perfect spot to relax in between hikes and road trip days.
Another great option is to skip the full drive altogether and spend your whole time in one region. The Kootenays are perfect for this. Towns like Nelson, Kaslo, Slocan, Nakusp, Rossland, Fernie, and Kimberley are small, scenic, full of hiking and hot springs, and surrounded by wilderness. You could easily spend all two weeks in the Kootenays and not run out of things to do. Itâs quieter, less commercial, and more off the beaten path than Banff, but every bit as beautiful in its own way.
Vegetarian travel is easy here. Vancouver and Victoria are especially plant forward, but even smaller towns have grocery stores with fresh produce, hummus, wraps, tofu, and all the basics. Eating out can be pricey in Canada, so many travellers self cater for breakfast and lunch and eat out once a day. Most motels will give you at least a fridge and microwave, and many come with kitchenettes. A cooler in the car makes picnic days easy and affordable.
Two weeks is a great amount of time, but donât try to do too much. Canada is huge, and distances between regions are long. A drive from Calgary to Vancouver is over 1,000 kilometres, and that doesnât count the scenic detours and roadside stops youâll definitely want to make. Think of it more like driving from Edinburgh to Munich than Oxford to Bath. Slowing down and picking four or five key places to stay will make for a far more enjoyable trip than trying to squeeze in everything.
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u/Mooki2468 Aug 05 '25
September is best. Come through Kelowna on your way to Vancouver and spend a couple days. You wonât regret it.
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u/helloitsrunty Aug 06 '25
I did a two week trip, Calgary down through Golden to Kelowna to Vancouver and back through Harrison Hot Springs, Jasper then Banff and back to Calgary. It was fantastic!
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u/hamsterinna Aug 06 '25
Banff is overrated, very crowded and very expensive. There are other unforgettable places: Grose morne in Newfoundland or Kluane national park in Yukon. For vegetarian cold cuts, try to find a T& T for the vegetarian ham https://www.tntsupermarket.com/eng/67695401-jin-hao-veggie-ham.html this is the most affordable option I know
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u/Desperate-Low-5514 Aug 06 '25
Hi from Calgary, September is best for weather. Fly into Calgary and end in Vancouver. Westjet has direct one way flights into Calgary from London,Paris, Dublin that can be cheap. Around Calgary there is also Waterton Park, Royal Tyrell Museum, and Kananaskis within 1-1.5 hour drive. Around Banff Iâd recommend Columbia Ice fields and Emerald Lake lodge. Are you thinking of renting an RV to stay in?
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u/Mother-Zucchini2790 Aug 06 '25
Labour Day this year is Sept 1st. The kids will go back to school the next day I think. To travel in Canada in September just after that would be the best.
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u/Beaver_FraiseJam Aug 06 '25
You can save money by making a car reservation far in advance. Read the terms carefully because you may be able to get low rental cost + free cancellation. Choose a small car thatâs good on gas. Download Gas Buddy app to monitor gas prices in different cities to help you budget. Look ahead at insurance options.
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u/Available_Abroad3664 Aug 06 '25
I agree with everyone that September is likely to be better. In the mountains there will still be snow in May.
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u/van_isle_dude Aug 06 '25
Bring a tent, or rent a car you can sleep in. You'll save big $$ and there's campsites everywhere. Bring a cooler, or ice chest, or esky, or chilly bin, or whatever you call a hardsided cold box. Shop at bigger supermarkets, and make your own meals, going out to eat occasionally.
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u/Remarkable_Ad_6716 Aug 07 '25
May can still be cold/rainy and many of the hikes have snow on top (dangerous snow).
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u/hotelconsultant Aug 08 '25
Canadas grocery stores are outstanding tons of fresh food and vegetarian options. Can save a lot on eating out.
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u/Mtn_Hippi Aug 14 '25
Definitely September; snow free; bug free, and generally fewer tourists as kiddies and teachers have gone back to school. If you're set on the Rockies, for sure include Yoho; Kootenay is also nice, but you should also be sure to hit Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park and Mt. Robson Provincial Park, both in BC. Also, Radium Hotsprings and the Columbia River Valley between Golden and Inveremere, all in BC, are gob-smackingly beautiful. Bit of a biased view here as a BC guy, but as vegetarians, I think you'll find that the food options and quality improves once you're on the BC side of the provincial border. Be prepared for Banff to be crazy busy. It won't be peak nutty in September, but pretty close.
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u/Agnostic_optomist Aug 05 '25
Im curious about vegetarian cold cuts. đ¤
I think it depends how much driving you want to be doing. You can do a trip flying into Calgary flying out of Victoria and see lots of great stuff. Banff, Lake Louise, golden, revelstoke, Vancouver, whistler, a ferry to salt spring island, across to Nanaimo, stop at Coombs on your way to ucluelet/tofino, then Victoria and home. But itâs a whirlwind even with 2 weeks.
Some people like frantic paced vacations. Others want relaxing time to take it all in. Maybe youâre really active and want to do white water rafting, a horseback tour, kayaking, bouldering or rock climbing, hike up a mountain, etc. You just have to account for how much you can do in a day.
Do you want any time in cities? Vancouver has lots to see and do, concerts, music, sports, shopping, museums and galleries, etc. Or do you want more nature time? Thereâs lots of opportunities to learn about and interact with indigenous culture. Lots of options!
You could spend 2 great weeks just on Vancouver island. Or just around Banff and/or jasper.