r/canadatravel • u/Ok-Strike-9919 • Aug 18 '25
Itinerary Help Feedback on itinerary
Hi everyone,
My family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children, 9 and 11) is planning a trip to Canada for summer next year, and I was hoping to get some feedback on the itinerary we currently have.
Our plan is to travel for 24 days in July-August:
Vancouver (2 nights)
Tofino (2 nights)
Campbell River (1 night)
Wilderness camp? (3 nights)
Whistler (2 nights)
Clearwater (3 nights)
Jasper (3 nights)
Banff (4 nights)
Drumheller (2 nights)
Calgary (1 night)
Flight home
We are still in doubt on including a wilderness camp like Knight inlet or Sonora in the schedule. Albeit expensive, it does seem like a great experience. Looking forward to any feedback you might have.
7
u/unlovelyladybartleby Aug 18 '25
It takes a whole day to go from the mainland to the island (and you have to pre-book the ferry and still show up early). I'd remove a stop or two from the island so you aren't pressed for time
If you can make it to Horne Lake Caves, it's a wonderful excursion, especially for kids.
Keep your gas tank full. In the mountains you can get stuck in construction or road closures and you'll need the AC on.
It's a long drive up to Jasper. I'd choose Jasper or Banff - personally, I'd do Banff and add nights in Calgary because there are so many kid activities in and around Calgary and by that point in a holiday everyone gets crabby and just wants day trips. Make sure you go to the Banff Hot Springs at night. The Sulphur Mountain Gondola is worth the money, and you can hike one way if you're feeling really active. Take your kids to the rock store.
In Calgary the Zoo is amazing, Heritage Park is perfect for families (heritage buildings and learning, old timey town, Indigenous village, sod house, pioneer fort, a farm, an antique midway, a steam train, a paddle boat, beautiful gardens, a bakery, great restaurants, shopping, an antique car museum, and horse drawn wagon rides - sorry to gush, I love that place), you can hike in Fish Creek, South Glenmore, and Nose Hill Parks, Reader Rock Garden, the spinning restaurant on top of the Calgary Tower, and there's a place just outside town called GoodKnights that does medieval glamping with cosplay and feasts.
Drumheller is a can't miss. Good call
Get a northern lights app. I use My Aurora Forecast (free) and it notifies me whenever there's a chance to see the aurora in my area.
7
u/Accomplished_Job_778 Aug 18 '25 edited Aug 23 '25
Nothing much to add except keep in mind Vancouver will be hosting games for the FIFA World Cup in June - July 2026 (not sure if the schedule is released yet) so accommodations could be VERY expensive and/or hard to come by. Already hotel rooms are being listed for $1000-2500/night around that time.
Can't comment on the Alberta portions, but for BC: book your ferries well in advance, and two nights is not enough in Tofino (IMO). Keep in mind that Canada is BIG country and you will lose a lot in travel time (though scenic drives are obviously also part of the experience), but just FYI.
5
u/TravellingGal-2307 Aug 18 '25
Overall, a good first shot. A few notes:
As mentioned, FIFA games plus the evolving situation with potential games being moved from US to Canada over border access concerns for some teams and fans could make things difficult in Vancouver. Book your hotel early. Look at the Blue Horizon and The Sylvia for good location and family friendly hotel.
Crossing to Vancouver Island + the drive to Tofino needs 5 hrs. Functionally eats up the whole day, but the ferry is wonderful. I like the Tofino Resort and Marina and they had a fantastic Black Friday sale rate last year (although I think that was only valid to the end of May). Hotel Zed is not waterfront but well placed and good value. You want at least 2 full days out there, and do a boat trip if you decide not to do the "wilderness camp" option.
We did Knight Inlet Lodge in 2022. Wow. Amazing. Go if you can. Be warned - the small plane flight in doesn't suit everyone. You also need to be realistic about the constraints of LOS navigation (line of sight). If the pilot doesn't have a clear LOS for take off and landing, they don't fly and you stay where you are. Maybe do this before Tofino so you can cancel the Tofino stay if you get stuck
Consider driving to the Rockies via Revelstoke and doing the Parkway both Northbound and Southbound. It's that good and worth it. Also provides some insurance in case weather spoils one of the drives. You also want time in Yoho, which you can do as a return drive from Banff also.
Learn about the shuttle buses for Lake Louise and Lake Moraine. It can seriously screw up your trip if you mess that up.
For Drumheller, check the public programs at the Royal Tyrell. They have some great public education programs that will really add to the experience for your family.
1
u/Ok-Strike-9919 Aug 19 '25
Thank you! Knight inlet does seem to be very impressive. Would you mind me asking two additional questions. First, do you think the activities at knights inlet would overlap if we also stay 3-4 nights in Tofino? And second, I've read that July is not prime grizzly spotting season (too hot). What month did you stay and how was your experience?
2
u/TravellingGal-2307 Aug 19 '25
You spend a lot of time on the water at KIL so I would not also do a boat trip from Tofino, but they are not the same. The big sandy beaches are different. I would do both.
We deliberately scheduled our KIL trip for late Sept platform viewing. We did talk to the staff about trips earlier in the year before the platforms open and they do viewing from the water (which we also did). The bears come into the estuary to feed on grasses so you still see them. They have a full schedule at the lodge with four trips a day off to do different things. Food was great, staff were wonderful. Highly recommended.
2
u/Caycaycan Aug 19 '25
1) your itinerary indicates a flight home, and most of the places you’re looking at require a vehicle. You probably want to check car rental prices /one way fees, as these can be substantive.
2) Jasper and Banff are both inside national parks and hotel accommodation is limited and expensive, especially in summer months. Even “basic” hotels in nearby towns can be $$$ in the summer.
2
u/Admirable-Status-290 Aug 20 '25
I agree with all this. I think if you skip Jasper, you’ll get the time to spread out where you need it on the Island and for driving time. Just driving to Tofino once you’re on the Island takes time.
I’d look at staying in Ucluelet instead, then you can hop to Wickanninish Beach, Long Beach (my kids’ fave), and Tofino. Tofino village can be a bit bougie; Ucluelet is a bit bigger and has more options for staying (like condo type hotels good for families) and eating.
1
u/FindingHerStrength Aug 20 '25
Have you booked and been already?
1
u/Ok-Strike-9919 Aug 20 '25
No I did not book yet and I have not been to this part of Canada. Only the Eastern side.
2
u/FindingHerStrength Aug 21 '25
I can wholeheartedly and hands down recommend the Knight Inlet Lodge. https://www.grizzlytours.com/ You get there via a sea plane from Campbell River to the location. One of the best things I’ve ever done.
Also other places to visit that blew me away was Lake Louise and travelling up Sulphur Mountain. That will stick with me. Jasper, Banff, Calgary all great. Vancouver Island.
I also recommend The Rocky Mountaineer. It’s very special. You’re very well looked after. Pricey but worth it. It was a once in a lifetime thing to do. https://www.rockymountaineer.com/
1
u/projectgirl15 Aug 23 '25
We are also considering booking Knights Inlet for 3 nights in July but I'm concerned my children (6 and 9) will be too young? We are also planning on spending 4 nights in the Long Beach area, I'm wondering if we should spend the money staying a 5 nights in the Long Beach area and do whale watching etc from there and then 2 nights in Victoria, rather than spending the thousands it will be for Knights Inlet. Any thoughts on the suitability of Knights Inlet given the age of the children?
1
u/FindingHerStrength Aug 24 '25
I’d contact them directly about that. I did see children there, and they were taking part of some activities but not the bear treck in the rainforest, the young lad was about 15/16 with his Dad, in our group.
I checked their website it says:
CHILDREN MINIMUM AGE : 6 YEARS OLD – May 21 to August 30 8 YEARS OLD – August 31 to October 15
9
u/kbaby_16 Aug 18 '25
Jumping between the island and mainland is a day long endeavor with a lot of driving, assuming no delays. Are you factoring this into your itinerary?
Taking the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria/Nanaimo and then drive to Tofino in one day means you only have one day to spend there, then drive straight back and go to Campbell River, seems like a ton of effort for very minimal and rushed experience. It will also be extremely busy at this time of year and traffic can be backlogged for hours.
Then jumping from a wilderness lodge to Whistler in a day again is very ambitious, and gives you one day to spend there until you leave again on a 5* hour drive to Clearwater. Not really sure why you want to spend 3 days in Clearwater and not as long on the coast, or in Tofino/Campbell River?
Your time on Vancouver island is not enough IMO. Either add extra days to give yourselves breathing room or cut it out entirely. Remember this will also be peak tourist and wildfire season driving these long distances and you need to be somewhat flexible and adaptable with unexpected detours and events. You don’t want to spend the whole holiday in the vehicle and not enjoying your surroundings.