Conference kaosws::canada

188.0. "Help with Northwest/Canada Trip" by SANFAN::STONEAL () Tue Jun 06 1989 05:52

    We are with the DEC office in Hawaii and are trying to plan a trip to
    the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada this July.  We would
    appreciate any advice and tips on the subject.  The last time we
    were there was in 1972 and we started in Seattle, went down to the
    Olympic Peninsula for a few days (camped most of the time),  then
    took the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, then to Vancouver
    for a couple of days and then on the Trans Canada highway to Banff,
    Lake Louise and Jasper/Columbia Ice fields (Atabaska(sp) Glacier?).
    
    We did all this without reservations anywhere, and found no trouble
    camping at campgrounds right near Banff, Lake Louise, etc..
    We had some meals at the nice hotels but couldn't have stayed there
    even if we had wanted to, because we didn't have reservations, but
    it was nice just to eat there (and a lot cheaper).
    
    There are three of us - myself, my wife and daughter (15 years old).
    The kinds of questions we have are:
    
    1.  Can you do this type of trip now without reservations  anywhere, and
    expect to get into campgrounds, or do they fill up in the summer?
            
    2.  If you can't get into any nearby campground, are you likely
    to be  able to find some sort  reasonable lodging?  
    
    3.  Has the area changed much in the last 17 years?  Has it become
    an overbuilt tourist place, or is it still  beautiful?
    
    4.  We only have about 9 or 10 days for this, which I realize is
    not enough, but I think will work, if we plan it carefully.
    
    5.  It would be  fun to take the train at least one way, but it
    would mess up the  car arrangements for the rest of the trip, since
    we would plan to rent a car at the beginning of the trip in Seattle
    for the whole time, and end the trip and return the car in Seattle.
    (to avoid one-way rental rates and drop-off charges)    Does anyone
    have a good solution that  includes the train?
    
    Any advice, comments or help will be very much appreciated.
    
    If mail is more appropriate for any answers, my VMS mail address
    is  SANFAN::STONEAL and my All-in-1 address is Allan Stone @HWO.
    
    
    Thanks and Aloha,
    
          
    Allan
         

I don't want to dampen a northwest trip (the weather will do just
that). I believe that with-reservations, you have to put up with
what you get. Western Canada is a lot more built up then 17 years
ago. I know, I grew up in Vancouver.

Lotsa luck. eh!

cal

    I would certainly recommend reservations in the Banff, Lake Louis
    or Jasper areas.  Summer is high season for them and extremely busy.
    Even camping can be difficult without reservations these days. 
    Because of the Olympics back in '88 there has been a lot more
    development in the Canmore and Kananaskis areas and you may be able
    to find accomodations or camping available. (30-45 minutes from
    Banff)
    
    Enjoy!
    tf