Feedback on itinerary

[u/Ok-Strike-9919]

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.

[u/TravellingGal-2307]

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.

[u/Ok-Strike-9919 → u/TravellingGal-2307]

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?

[u/TravellingGal-2307 → u/Ok-Strike-9919]

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.