5 Days in Vancouver

Hi, my wife and i would be spending a total of 6 days in Vancouver from 18 May 13 to 22 May (Flying off on the 23rd). We are wondering what we should do as we are really interested in the following.

1) Chilliwack Whitewater rafting
2) Visiting the Rockies

My plan is to do a 4 D 3 N rockies visit and then spend the 5th day doing the Chilliwack Whitewater rafting. We are currenly looking for a budget way of touring the rockies and would need some advise on that!

Apart from the 2 mentioned places, any places that we should consider too?

Thanks!

You do know how far the Rockies are from Vancouver, right?

Four days is really not much time to cover that distance, but it is possible. Your cheapest and only realistic option is to rent a car.

Day 1 - Drive to Jasper
Day 2 - Icefields Parkway
Day 3 - Banff/Lake Louise
Day 4 - Drive to Chilliwack
Day 5 - Rafting and drive back to Vancouver

Day 1 and Day 4 will both be nothing but driving. It's an 8-hour trip each way if you blow straight through and don't stop to sightsee. If you're really a sucker for punishment, you can detour through Whistler/Lillooet on the drive to Jasper. It's a gorgeous trip, but it will add another 2-hours to your day.

It's a 3-hour drive between Banff and Jasper. It's a 2-hour drive between Vancouver and Chilliwack.

If you're not interested in renting a car, you'll need to stick closer to Vancouver. You can catch a bus up to Whistler easily enough and spend a day or two up there (it's about 1.5 hours from the city). Around Vancouver there's Capilano, Grouse Mountain, the aquarium, Stanley Park - all accessible by public transportation. That would easily keep you busy for four days.

Something else to keep in mind is snow. You'll be there at the very beginning of the season. Around Vancouver it will be mild, but some of the mountain passes may still be snowbound. Spring storms are common and unpredictable.

Jen

[ Edit: Edited on 06-Feb-2013, at 05:26 by talesbackpack ]