Upcomming reccy trip, advice needed
 

Hi

Were comming over to Calgary and travelling onto Vancouver next weekend (29th) on a reccy trip. We have our visa's so we're landing aswell, but going back to sell house etc.
We're in the process of sorting out our itinerary and wondered if anyone has any tips as to what we can do to get the most out of our trip. We're staying in Calgary for 2 weeks and then driving over to Vancouver the 3rd week.
We were thinking of staying in Kelowna a couple of nights but does anyone have any "must see" favourite places we should stop at on the way? We want to go to Banff & Lake louise, what else should we see and do whilst we're there?
We have young children so have to be family things.
We don't have many contacts over there so we're going blind if you like.
We'll hopefully be looking at properties (if theres any left), schools, different areas to live and DH wants to contact some potential employers.
Regarding schools, do they mind showing prospective pupils/parents around or do they only do that when you're living there. I'm talking Elementry shools,
Should i e-mail them first?
How did you all fair on your reccy trips?

Also what clothes shall we bring for 1st 3 weeks in may, do we still need winter woolies?

Many thanks Jo xx

Re: Upcomming reccy trip, advice needed
 

I e-mailed schools last year and when we got there they were all on strike! We did call the Christian school who were happy to show us round. We are going to BC but not same area as you. I have an aunt in Creston BC and they love it there, but it may depend where you get a job. Enjoy your trip!

Re: Upcomming reccy trip, advice needed
 

If you are staying in Calgary, then I assume you'll be travelling into the Rockies from there for a day at a time ??? Or are you staying in the National Park aswell?

So many wonderful places to visit within the National Park, I would recommend going in a few times during those 2 weeks. Banff itself, Canmore on the way in, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Johnston Canyon, Peyto Lake, Lake Minnewanka and the Banff Gondola are just some of the main sights. Loads more !!!

With regards to checking out schools, I phoned them to see if I could come to look around and to make sure someone was available to chat to me. Very accomodating and my son got to spend 5 minutes in the classroom and chat to the Kindergarten teacher. We filled out the registration forms whilst there too, so have all your details with you. We were in the country by then, but I don't think it would matter.

For my husbands reccy trip, he had lined up 3 interviews from the UK, with companies around Edm, to go to whilst there. He was offered a job with one of these companies, to start as soon as we landed, so the reccy was worth its weight in gold to us.

Open a bank account whilst here too. Husband did with one of the Major institutions and didn't even have to deposit any funds in it at that stage. Its all ready then for when you want to do your funds transfer.

Make contact with a realtor, who you could keep in touch with from the UK.

The weather here is lovely at the mo, due to be 22 degrees here today, but in the Mountains it can be a different animal. I'd pack a variety of stuff that you can layer. Include in that shorts and t-shirts as it could well be really warm, but throw in a coat, hat, gloves and decent boots too (just incase)

But there are tons of "Outdoor" stores in Banff and Canmore that you could purchase these things, and probably cheaper than in the UK.

And have fun !!!!! :)

Re: Upcomming reccy trip, advice needed
 

Hi

Thanks for your replies, plenty of food for thought.

The route we're taking from Calgary to Vancouver is Highway#1 via Kelowna.
Does anyone forsee any problems we might incurr on that journey in May?

Thanks Jo xx

Re: Upcomming reccy trip, advice needed
 

Agree with everything else you said, Debbie, but the road to Moraine Lake is closed from about the beginning of October. It re-opens some time between the Victoria Day long weekend (the weekend before May 25th) to the middle of June. The exact opening date depends on how early the snow melts off the road, park wardens' assessment of avalanche risk, etc. During the last couple of years it has opened at the early end of that range, which I attribute to global warming.

Jo, I've created a travel website about Calgary, the Canadian Rockies and Vancouver.

Here's a suggested itinerary for the Calgary - Vancouver portion of your trip.

Day 1 - Drive to Banff and do stuff in and near Banff. Go up the Sulphur Mountain gondola. Visit Johnston Canyon, and walk at least as far as the Lower Falls. Walking path may be clear or it still may have ice on it. Walk carefully and hold the handrails. Lake Minnewanka may have thawed by mid May, so probably is worth a look.

Day 2 - From your Banff base drive to Lake Louise and check out the lake (it's unlikely to be thawed, but the glacier behind it still makes for a scenic backdrop). Then drive up the Icefields Parkway (Hwy #93) as if you're going to Jasper. I don't think you'll be able to get into the Peyto Lake parking lot. It likely will be covered in snow. If you can get into it, Peyto Lake may be worth a look, although it's unlikely to be thawed yet. Continue to the Icefields Parkway and go for a ride in the Snocoach onto the Athabasca Glacier. Carry on to Sunwapta Falls. That may be about as much as you can fit into a day. Turn around and drive back to Banff.

Day 3 - Drive from Banff to Kelowna. While you're driving through Yoho National Park between Lake Louise and Golden, look at Emerald Lake (just past the hamlet of Field, BC). It may be thawed by then. In the Golden area you may be interested in the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre. When you get past Revelstoke it may be fun to stop in at the Enchanted Forest.

Day 4 - Explore the Okanagan Valley from your base in Kelowna.

Day 5 - Drive the rest of the way to Vancouver.

Day 6 - Visit Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium (which is in Stanley Park), and Granville Island Market.

Day 7 - Visit Vancouver's "North Shore" (North Vancouver, which is across Burrard Inlet from downtown). Visit Capilano Canyon and Grouse Mountain.

More details, tips about clothing, national park entry fees, GST refund, driving distances and times, maps, links to other great websites, etc., at my website.

Hope you have a good trip.

Re: Upcomming reccy trip, advice needed
 

Woolies will be needed for the mountains. Someone at work was telling me about the glass house (a house made out of glass bottles filled with embalming fluid or something) and the enchanted forest (elves pixies etc) both on the way to Vancouver, I haven't a clue where or on what road but both sounded interesting to me, I'm not at work tomorrow - if no-one here(on forum) knows where they are I will ask on Monday.

Re: Upcomming reccy trip, advice needed
 

Wow thanks for all the info Judy.
I have already had a look at your website, its a brilliant scource of information and i had printed off an itinerary.
All the places sound wonderful, but will they be suitable for our young children? They are 6, 3 and a 9 month baby. The bit about the icy path and holding handrails :eek: We'll definately persue some other suggestions.
Thanks again Jo xx

Re: Upcomming reccy trip, advice needed
 

I think you're referring to the "Glass House" that was built from discarded embalming fluid bottles. It's in Boswell, BC, about 40 miles north of Creston, on the shores of Kootenay Lake. I've looked, but have not found a website.

The Enchanted Forest is just off the TransCanada Highway (Hwy #1), west of Revelstoke.

Re: Upcomming reccy trip, advice needed
 

Most of what I suggested was suitable for children. When it comes to Johnston Canyon, you'll need to judge conditions at the time that you're there. Your six-year-old should be able to walk along the path responsibly if it's clear of snow and ice. Your three-year-old will need close supervision. As for the baby, it would be best to carry him/her in a baby carrier on your back. The path at Johnston Canyon is totally unsuitable for a stroller / pushchair, as are most paths in the Rockies.

I'd forgotten that you had very young children. In that case I believe the aquarium was a good suggestion. Other attractions in Stanley Park that are geared to very young children are the miniature train and the little farmyard / petting zoo. They'll also enjoy Capilano Canyon and Grouse Mountain, which I mentioned before.

About your itinerary, the more I think about it, the more I prefer Lake Louise as your first stop out of Calgary. You can see the Banff stuff on the first day and carry on to Lake Louise for that night. That'll save you from double backing and returning to Banff after you drive to the Columbia Icefields. Also, on the day that you set out for Kelowna, it'll give you an hour's head start compared with what you would have if you set out from Banff townsite.

No doubt it would be useful for you to have more space than a standard hotel room would offer. In the Lake Louise area you could consider Baker Creek Chalets or Paradise Lodge and Bungalows. You also might consider the family suites at Lake Louise Inn. If you do want to stay in Banff townsite after all, you could consider Douglas Fir Resort, which consists of self-catering flats on the outskirts of town. You can get a two-bedroom or even a three-bedroom unit.

Oh yes, how could I have forgotten? An absolute "must do" day trip while you're in Calgary is the one to the Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller. During the period that you'll be visiting Calgary, it'll be closed on Mondays. Its expanded summer hours start on the Victoria Day long weekend (the weekend before May 25th).

Re: Upcomming reccy trip, advice needed
 

If you're stopping in Kelowna/Okanagan area worth using it to get your breath for a couple days, maybe hook up with a realtor (most us Okanagan locals/noobs can recommend one) and get them to help you to see some of the area, spend a day round town chilling out and on your way to Vancouver maybe stop at Peachland, Summerland and Penticton for a look-see then take the slow old road to Vancouver Highway 3, then Highway 5 I think OTTOMH. But spare 2 days plus if you're serious about considering the Okanagan, you may love it or hate it. On the way in from Calgary/Rockies call by Vernon to see what it's like if small town it your alternative choice, the O'Keefe Ranch just north of town is a great family day out. The wineries are fun with tours etc cheap wine buys and great food (most have outdoor patios eg Gray Monk in Lake Country has fantastic food and a lake view to die for. Mission Hill the same but more formal and stuffy.

Enjoy your recce trip, also visit www.accessokanagan.com for more specific info and friendly helpful local peeps.

Rich