Ideas for a few days away
 

My sister and her two 11 year olds are coming to visit at the beginning of August. We fancy a few days away from the excitement of Coquitlam. I will have an 8yr old in tow. I fancy heading into the interior. Any suggestions?

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

Rockies:thumbup:
Via the Okanagan :cool:

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

Can any of you sail? If so then you could hire a 30+ft sailboat and go up the sunshine coast. Cheap anchorage and lots of fun swimming for the children.

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

Any spare rooms?!

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

I like that idea, but none of us have sailed before? Are you available to skipper?!

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

Skaha Lake Penticton. We were there last August 1st weekend and it was seriously roasting. A/C didnt work in the car and man it was a schweddy drive from N Van. Lake is great for the kids.

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

Normally yes but Senior Snoops and famille are descending chez pups I believe at the beginning of August:(

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

I'll do some homework! Thanks!

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

Sorry, its prime fishing and generally mucking about on the water time for me. That said, drive into the Vancouver area and maybe spend a day on Bowen Island or up at Deep Cove and rent kayaks and generally mess about in/on the water. Or go and spend sometime around Jericho beach. They might be able to rent out little dinghies, stand up paddle boards or play on the beach while you sit up at the yacht cub balcony drinking wine while "you're keeping an eye on them." :thumbup:

Or, drop them off at Kitts swimming pool where they can entertain themselves and make friends. There's a cool beach there and lots of nice restaurants where you can sit and get sloshed "while the kids are having fun." [All advice taken from my mother's weekend summer and winter playbook.]

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

Has anyone ever been to Protection Island? I haven't but a friend mentioned it:

Protection Island, Nanaimo, BC, Canada | Vancouver Island Interest

I don't think it's what Tootlepootle is after, but this thread made me curious to know if anyone had visited.

S

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

If the kids like trains there is a steam train in the interior, I want to say around Summerland but dont hold me to it.

We were thinking of going next month.

Further away is Barkerville, some sort of old west type town.

There is also Squamish. The gondola is nice ride up and down and there are decent hiking once up there and awesome view.

The rail road museum in Squam is supposed to be good but havent been there.

The mine museum 10 mins south of Squamish has high ratings. But havent gone yet myself. Just based on reviews and guest feedback when I worked a hotel in town.

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

Summerland for a few days.

JS, have you seriously not been to that rail museum in Squamish? I thought you were a keen train buff, and I thought you said you had??

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

Do they have condominiums there? :lol:

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

We have done the mining museum, its worth a visit. The little one loved the dynamite!! The sea to sky gondola is also nice but pricey. I'm thinking we may head towards the Okanagen for a couple of nights and a few day trips to places like Deep Cove. still not done the Capitano or Lynn Valley bridges. Thanks all!

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

We met a friend today who told me about another holiday place in BC, but it's a little bit on the expensive side ...

Nimmo Bay Resort - Luxury Travel Accommodations BC Canada

I notice they do do family vacations (if you can afford them!).

S

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

I have been there for other functions, but havent been yet for a proper visit to see it all.

2 times there for a job interview.

Once for a special train ride. The Polar Express. That was quite fun.

But not been yet for a proper visit.

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

Gotta go for a proper visit, lots to see and climb on. Some great old photos and memorabilia too.

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

Capilano bridge is an expensive tourist rip off. Lynn Valley Bridge is better, and it is free. Free is right in the middle of my price range.

Whistler is worth a day out. Lift passes are quite expensive if you have lots of family in tow, but they will only do this once.

If you want to see more of the country you can leave Whistler on Hwy 99 north to Lillooet then Hwy 12 south to join Hwy 1 in the Fraser Canyon and back to the Lower Mainland. Temperate rain forest, high Alpine, and near desert-like arid interior in one trip. You cannot do it in one day, nor would you want to. Especially with kids in the car. Two to four days is recommended if you want to get out the car to look around every now and again.

Make sure the car has good brakes!

A few days in the Okanagan is a good idea too. You can take the kids to visit a winery. Or two.

Re: Ideas for a few days away
 

If you are OK crossing the border one day trip I like to take guests on is to the Skagit Valley. The flower fields will be green but La Conner is pleasant for a stroll and a riverside lunch. Deception pass is worth a visit - great views and lots of trails. You can push on south down Whidbey Island but that is probably too much for a day trip. Head back north but rather than the freeway take the Chuckanut Drive.