My girlfriend is flying into Calgary from London(UK) on the 13th April. She is flying down for 12 days.

Im thinking of taking her to BC for five/six days. Im not 100% sure on the weather so hiking may be a no no. Can anyone recommend any places to go and places to stay? I know Baniff, Canmore, but more like WHERE in Baniff/Canmore? I have no idea. She has never been to Canada.

I was thinking Golden, Radium hot springs too. Any other recommendations?

Im on a real tight budget(Jam sandwiches galore), so will be staying in cheap motels. Any cheap accommodation recommendations in Calgary and in BC will be really appreciated.

Geography 101, Banff (not Baniff) and Canmore are in AB, not BC.

Banff and Canmore are not very big. I suggest you simply head into a tourist information type place and ask them about what there is to do that will suit your interests.

Do you want snow or no snow?

Whistler is nice but expensive - snow

The Okanagan is good for wine tours - no snow

The Kootenays for hiking and hot springs at Halcyon or Nakusp (cheap hotels) - no snow except at higher elevations like Rossland or the ski hills

North Shore Vancouver - great hiking but expensive

Hi
We are currently on holiday in Radium Hot Springs. It is pretty deserted at present! Been down to Invermere which is nice but equally deserted. Lake is frozen at present but melting around edges. Snow when we arrived on Sunday but melted on golf course where we are. Chilly and dry all week, down to minus 12 at night. Long term forecast is for warmer weather so good for hiking. Beautiful scenery, very much removed from a hectic pace of life!
Drove through Golden, didn't see much to stop there for (maybe that was just me!) Felt Golden was perhaps an inappropriate name for a dusty dry place with little going on....
Hope you find a nice place wherever you choose.

Travelling at this time of year in that area, I'd have gone skiing at Panorama and Kicking Horse

Thanks for the replies.

Hawke, Im looking at no snow if possible!
Wine tour was on my mind, but she not much of a drinker and gets drunk on one glass of wine.
I'l look into the kooteneys. Im trying to find places to hike that are easy.

I have been to Golden a few times(kicking horse, mountain biking) and have extended family there(i have no plans of visiting them). I am thinking of stopping there for the scenery to show her.

Has anyone been to Cranbrook/Fernie?

Try this site http://www.westkootenayparks.com/act...tours/hike.htm

No snow - then Rossland is out, which is too bad 'cus they have great hiking and biking trails (I head back there every summer for both). Nelson is a nice little town with hiking and biking - not sure how to define "easy" though. Checking out Kokanee Glacier is cool then hitting the hot springs after.

Cranbrook - not to sure only played some hockey there.

Fernie has some great hiking and mountain biking - again, not too sure on the "easy" aspect. http://www.tourismfernie.com/activities/hiking-trails

PS: If you're into downhill mountain biking, full suspension, body armour kind of thing, drop me a line and I give you some great trails in the Kootenays or on the Island for that matter.

Good look finding no snow in April in the kooteneys, April is considered ski touring month for a reason we still get great snow but all the resorts are starting to close.

Thanks for the heads up.
Do you have any other recommendations?
So far im planning, Fernie, hot springs then Golden. Then head east on highway one, with pit stops at lake louise and maybe Baniff. Nelson was a idea but the drive around to Golden was like 5 hours.

There's no snow in town in Trail, Castlegar, Nelson, Nakusp, etc. There is if you go up to the ski hills.

The OP should just be a pro....Niagara Region, ON will be nice seeings as the province accuracy isn't important

Fernie...

Stanley Park and the Capilano suspicion bridge.

You mean the Cappuccino Suspicion Bridge?

If you were going to do the Okanagan and see Golden both you could go one way on the Trans-Canada, up or down #97 and then the other way on the #3. That southern Alberta route is the only place to get her picture beside a sign advertising Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. The Kootenay Pass can still have blizzards until June, but if you're travelling in daytime it should be no problem.