Oh Canada, the land of maple cyrup, bears, wildlife, lakes, amazing national parks, vibrant cities, you name it Canada has it all. Our first ever roadtrip in Canada back in 2018 was a trip of a lifetime. In this blogpost I’ll write about the trip and the must-see visits. We experienced the lifestyle of van travel and set our own pace, cook our meals and spend the night in breathtaking locations.

Best time to go: June-September

Contintent: North-America

Capital: Ottowa

How to get around: camper(van)

Time: Two weeks

Language: English(Central & west side), French (Moslty Quebec)

Food: Poutine, maple syrup, berries, butter tart

Price: $$$$

Where to start?

Our journey began in Seattle. Tip: book your ticket trough Amerika because it’s much cheaper to fly to! There we explored the city with it’s cultural city places. The first stop was the public market, where you can get the freshest flowers, fish, meat … in town. This hall was so colorful and really was something lovely. Stroll around this neighborhood and find yourself a nice café to drink something. Also the very first Starbucks is located here, so worth a visit! In this city you can find the gum wall! The gum what? Yes you heard me right: it’s a street of wall full of gum! You can even smell the scent of the gum in the alley from miles away!

This city had a really cool vibe around it. After we explored the city we went to pick up our car from escapecampervans. This is a rental company from all around North-America and Canada which has the coolest vans, with hand-crafted paintings. It had a comfortable rollout bed, a table and at the back a kitchenette with water, a stove and refrigerator. If you travel with more than two you can choose the option for a rooftop sleeper up to 5 people.

Vancouver

Our next stop was the capital of Canada: Vancouver. It was a 2-3h drive to get to the border with America. You will need to go through border security where they will ask you what you’re going to do in Canada. Here you can read how to plan your trip across the border.  After crossing lands we arrived at our destination. The city is known for stunning waterfront views and a blend of nature. Visit the Stanley park for trees so high as a skyscraper! Go to Granville island where you can shop artisan gifts and explore the public market with fresh food.  There aren’t a lot of camping grounds in the city. We weren’t much prepared for spending the night so we - sorry police- illegaly parked near the coast and I didn’t sleep all night because I was scared that the police would come. So research before hand and look at camping site near the city. 

Whistler

Leaving the city behind, we went on our adventure in the wide range of national parks.  First we stopped at Brandywine Falls which was lovely. Then we moved on to Whistler. This town was a host for the Olympic games. This place is for all the adventures where you can hike the mountains or mountain bike, skiing in winter … You can take the cable row all the way to the top of the mountain. Where you have this amazing view over the mountain peaks. There even was still snow on the top, so wear good shoes! At the top of the mountain you can take a gondola to the other peak. Take a look at the site of tourism Whistler. You can watch down the gondola through a glass door and you could see the forest. This was amazing and I would recommend doing this!

Jasper National park

After a lot of driving we arrived at Jasper national park. The journey itself was an experience, with majestic views to see. We stopped by Pyramid lake: it’s name is from the pyramid-shaped mountains in the background. This view is breathtaking and is definitely worth a visit! The water creates a perfect mirror for the mountains in the background, a photographer paradise! There are a lot of hiking trails in the area, but be aware of bears! You will need to have bear spray in Canada, just to be sure. If you do encounter a bear make sure you know how to use bear spray. 

Moose lake

A hidden gem in Alberta was Moose lake. With it numerous hiking trails, it’s an ideal destination for those who want to explore the park on foot. There are different levels from beginner to advanced. The lake was beautiful with in the mountains in the background. Here you can spot wildlife like squirrels and maybe even a moose … 

Maligne lake

It’s breathtaking beauty and serenity from the crystal clear waters left us in awe. This location was so beautiful and we  enjoyed a picnic by the lakeside. Definitely go explore the hiking trail around this lake. It gives you a wonderful view over the mountains.

The icefields parkway

This route is the connection road between jasper and Banff. On this road you’ll see enchanting places and wildlife! We saw bears! Whatever you do: do not get out of your car! You don’t want to be attacked by a bear. Just stay in the car! On the route you can explore the Columbia Icefield center: here you can see the Athabasca glacier and even book a tour to reach the glacier. We decided to hike a trail that gave you a closer look at it. But if you like to take the fastest route I’ll recommend to take the bus. 

Also the Athabasca falls are on the route: as we drove further, we encounter the falls, it’s a powerful waterfall that makes his way like into a canyon. You can walk trough a ‘tunnel’ of the canyon and at the end there is a river so crystal-clear it was breathtaking.

Banff national park

We encountered one of Canada’s most renowned natural treasures. The drive through the Canadian Rockies was spectacular, with wonderful forests and crystal-clear lakes. The first lake we visited was Moraine lake. This was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. The blue lake was surrounded by majestic peaks and my jaw dropped.  You have a small hiking trail around the lake to the end and get this astonishing view. I found this lake even more beautiful than Lake Louise.

At lake Louise there where a lot of people and it was for me, too crowded. But nevertheless it was still stunning. The crystal clear water is something unreal. You can take a canoe or hike to the top to the beehive (a little mountain that looks like a beehive) where you get a view over the water. This hike is a little bit of a challenge because you’ll need to climb a little.

Banff town

This charming town is a perfect place to explore the local boutiques and eat delicious meals. You must try the poutine. As a Belgian we are very picky for fries (yes they are Belgian fries, not French). But did I enjoy this typical Canadian Dish. It is the perfect combination of fries, white cheddar cheese and gravy. So order yours! 

Yoho park

The last stop of our adventure was Yoho Park. This natural beauty with the natural bridge, where rocks form a bridge over water and you can walk across. And Emerald lake where you also can hire a canoe or take a hike to view the stunning surroundings and take a hike to the Wapta falls. This was the end of our journey as we drove back to Seattle and wonder, from our van, the nature West-Canada.

This road trip was the trip of our lives. For anyone seeking an experience in the heart of west-Canada, this Is the destination you are looking for. The tranquility, wildlife and nature is a place that will leave you with unforgettable memories.