16-21 days in Canada - hit me with it!

[tlrBeta]

Hi all,

I'm planning a Canada trip in April 2025 with me and the family and I'm looking for any experience on the most do's

My initial plan is to visit both sides, starting East then heading over West. We would also like to get up into BC and Edmonton (we have some friends there). Travelling will be me, my wife and 2 kids (9 and 7 by the time we go) - they are well used to travelling, however still need some fun spots / things to do

Lots of stuff online of course, but any guidance or experience is more then welcome (particularly those that have done it with young kids)

Thanks in advance

 

[tlrBeta]

Hi all, apologies - I didn't see any of these replies!

Let me take a good read and come back over the next couple of days.

Thanks

 

[tlrBeta]

A little more time today then I expected to go through all these replies - thanks again.

So I can ideally aim towards more mid-April onwards, really depends on when Easter falls - so I don't have to pay the ridiculous missing school fees.

Personally for 16-21 days, pick one side and stick with it. The country is ginormous.

I do appreciate its a big country - maybe I am trying to do too much. We are happy to move around a lot, we tend to be people that do things instead of just relaxing. The last time we did something similar though of this scale, would have been pre-kids - 2014 we did the West Coast of USA (Vegas, Yosemite, Death Valley, San Fran, down to LA and a flight over to Hawaii - it was honeymoon). Maybe if we did look to start West and do Toronto on the way back.

Vancouver looked ridiculously expensive when I looked at hotels etc about a year ago, ive been wanting to go for ages.

I've looked at Toronto so far, pretty pricey also but between 4 of us (potentially 6) - but then I just remember its the same as going to London.

In early April not much will have thawed in the Rockies (Alberta, BC). You could

1) Skate Lake Louise (although as someone has already said, its not more than a lake and a hotel - incredibly pretty but the kids might get fed up any longer than a couple of hours there)
2) Ski Sunshine Village.. hire stuff and get lessons for a day or 2. Great, easy, well run resort. Amazing views.

We went to Banff, Jasper and Vancouver in 2022, also tagging on Whistler after we had to leave Jasper early due to wildfires. It's a stunning part of the world and great if you enjoy hiking. In April I would be concerned that it's still very wintery though, so bear that in mind when planning any activities.

In terms of the cold, that doesn't bother us. Me and my eldest can both board / ski - so actually if we did make it to Banff or somewhere similar, it would definitely be on our list to do for the day Although, I've heard some horror stories of costs of skiing in Canada vs Europe.

On my bucket list is definitely to take a dip in Lake Louise or something similar - regardless of temps, from the photos it looks beautiful.

Lots of ideas above, thanks all - more research needed.

 

[tlrBeta]

Just an update here,

Slight date changes based on above to be end of Mayish (just around school holidays) to 8th June.

I have a number (3) of upgrade BA vouchers to use which might mean we can get a good deal for business return for 4 of us to Toronto. So that will likely be our arrival and departure (might be only time i can use them before they expire).

I agree with the above, i dont want to try and see too much...just how to make it work with the above, we are still thinking the below (exact days at each place tbc)

- Toronto - 2 days? (We did want to do Niagra)
Fly to Calgary
- Drive Calgary to Vancouver (via Banff, Jasper, Revelstoke, others) - 6 days?
- Vancouver - 4 days?
Fly Vancouver to Toronto (loose a day here and have to allow for unlinked ticket connection)
Fly home

 

[tlrBeta]

The Montreal Grand Prix is June 13th-15th.

Good shout but we are back before that. Probably break the bank that would also

 

[tlrBeta]

More struggling with dates right now. Out 23rd May, return 8th June - gives me what 15/16 days max

Is that enough to do everything I want - Toronto > Calgary > drive to Vancouver > fly back to Toronto to then head home.

 

[tlrBeta]

Having watch the BBC’s Race Across the World when they did Canada, I would say there was an awful lot of nothing in the middle through Saskatchewan and Manitoba which might be worth avoiding in a car if you’re short on time?

Internal flight cutting out a few thousand might be worth considering…

Sorry just to clarify, fly Toronto to Calgary.

Car needed to get to the mountains from Calgary

 

[tlrBeta]

I would skip Toronto and fly to Calgary and the begin your tour to maximise time on the west.
I went to Toronto and it was great but soon will feel like London or any city after seeing the core things.

Likely we will need to at least land there as point of entry. Happy to potentially get an immediate connecting flight (probably next day given flight times).

You could have downtime in Toronto on the return leg but don't do it at the start. Save the energy for the drives and charging the kids up.

Yer I was thinking this, kids are of course the harder part to manage Just trying to make it all work with the BA flights I mentioned above.

 

[tlrBeta]

Update - here is my plan so far.

You will see Vancouver has completely disappeared. I've been steered away given the distances AND i would like time in Vancouver (seems all to much / not enough time if I want 3 nights in Vancouver at least). So here is currently version.

- Arrive in Toronto 23rd May (3 Nights here)

- Head over to Niagara falls for 1 night

- Fly Toronto to Calgary (1 Night in Calgary - 27th May)

- Drive Calgary to Jasper (3 nights in Jasper 27th-30th)

- Jasper to Emerald (2 nights 30th-1st )

- Emerald to Revelstoke (1 night in Revel)

- Drive Revel to Banff (4 nights here )

Ideally, I'd want to be in Banff from 4th-8th June to give me the most chance of seeing some of the bigger lakes without ice.

- I plan to be back in Calgary night of the 8th (return to UK leaves from Toronto late evening 9th June)


So I still have a night or two to play with if I'm missing something really important in the above? Should I stretch deeper into BC before heading back to Banff? Maybe more time in Toronto? or go to Drumheller?


I must add, I appreciate that is a lot of stops, but I've made the big assumptions there will be plenty to do (not just light hiking - which again I appreciate some areas may be closed late May).

 

[tlrBeta]

Just to note a major wildfire just swept through Jasper National Park and the town. Not sure if the hotels will be rebuilt by the time you get here.

Looks horrendous poor people

Sorry didn't see your replies.

Yes I saw the news unfortunately too, I know its only one part of town but already thinking of slightly changing the plan. Likely more time in Revelstoke / BC area and do
travel / day trips from there.

Just be aware that Niagara as a town is like Blackpool - it’s just incredibly dire and tacky due to tourism. We did it as a day trip from Toronto and had the helicopter ride from the District Airport, the tours round the falls including the boat, Rainbow Bridge and food before getting the train back again.

A night stop might be a bit much but then that’s just me!

My better half likes the look of the Falls hotel....