There’s just something about Western Canada that is absolutely perfect for a road trip. This is the continuation (part three) of our Canadian summer road trip. We started in Calgary and drove through the Canadian Rockies on our way to the west coast of British Columbia, including Vancouver and Vancouver Island. This post covers our time in Whistler and Golden, British Columbia, and Calgary, Alberta – all can’t-miss stops on a British Columbia to Alberta road trip.
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This post is the third in a three-part series about our itinerary. This really serves as an outline rather than an in-depth look at specific attractions, activities, hikes, hotels, etc. I’ve included links to other posts that detail the places we stayed and things we did.
- Part One of our Western Canada Roadtrip: Canadian Rockies Road Trip Itinerary | Western Canada Part One
- Part Two of our Western Canada Roadtrip: British Columbia Road Trip Itinerary | Western Canada Part Two
This leg of our trip was about a week and a half and focused on British Columbia from Whistler to Golden and then through the Canadian Rockies to Calgary. If you don’t have quite as much time, it’s also possible to include Golden with a Canadian Rockies trip and not do the entire drive to Whistler.
July 2-5, 2022: Whistler, British Columbia
Where We Stayed – Evolution Whistler
Like many resort areas, Whistler has plenty of places to choose from. We stayed at Evolution in a two-bedroom suite, and it worked out perfectly for the six of us. One of the main things we needed when picking where to stay was somewhere with an in-room washer and dryer so that we could do laundry. And it didn’t hurt that there was room for everyone to spread out and a pool the kids were in every day.
What We Did Near Whistler
Sea to Sky Gondola
Located in Squamish, BC, about an hour south of Whistler, the Sea to Sky Gondola takes you up 885m above sea level and has expansive views of Howe Sound. Once at the top, you can grab a bite to eat at the Summit Lodge or cross the Sky Pilot suspension bridge if you dare.
Whistler Village
Whistler is one of those places that’s dreamy no matter when you visit. Host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler Village is filled with Olympic reminders as well as everything else you’d expect in a pedestrian-friendly chalet-style village. We downloaded a “Sweet Treats” of Whistler Village tour and snacked our way around town, stopping for delicious pastries and ice cream.
Whistler/Blackcomb and Peak2Peak Gondola
The Peak2Peak gondola is the absolute coolest one I’ve ever been on. It connects the tops of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. It’s the world’s longest unsupported span (3km!) for a lift of its kind, the world’s highest lift of its kind, and the world’s longest continuous lift system! It’s seriously impressive and so fun to ride!!
2 of the 28 gondolas have a glass bottom – definitely wait for one of those – and enjoy the ride!
Vallea Lumina
Have you ever wandered through the woods late at night?! That’s just what Vallea Lumina has in store for you! The immersive multimedia event is located just outside of Whistler every night after the sun goes down. The 1.5km trail takes you searching for two missing hikers and ends at a hidden valley where stardust falls from the sky. It’s such a weird feeling to be walking in the woods in the dark, but thankfully, the trail was well-marked and had some light. Vallea Lumina is open year-round, though the trail is a bit shorter in the winter months. It is recommended that tickets be booked ahead of time.
Where We Ate in Whistler
Earl’s Restuarant
When we lived in Canada, Earl’s was my absolute fave – and now it’s theirs, too! During this trip, we ate at Earl’s in Jasper, Victoria, and again in Whistler. There is no kids’ menu, so you do have to get a bit creative for the little ones. Ellie loved the side Caesar salad topped with a GIANT piece of blackened salmon.
Caramba!
We had dinner at Caramba one night in Whistler, and it was amazing. We ordered a variety of pasta and pizzas, but the Halibut Garganelli I ordered was one of the best things I’ve EVER eaten. Caramba is in the perfect location if you’re strolling around Whistler Village.
July 5-8, 2022: Golden, British Columbia
Where We Stayed – Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, just outside of Golden, BC, is a popular winter destination in the Canadian Rockies – but it’s excellent in the summer, too! The resort is the perfect place to stay if you’re looking for adventure, no matter the season! I shared all the details about our stay at Kicking Horse in this post.
What We Did in Golden
Grizzly Bear Refuge
I LOVE seeing bears in the wild, but it’s obviously not always predictable. But seeing Boo at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is a pretty sure bet, and his enclosure is the largest of its kind in the world, so it *almost* feels like seeing him in the wild. The Grizzly Bear Refuge has been a mainstay at Kicking Horse for the last 20+ years, and watching Boo is the highlight.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Gondola
The Kicking Horse gondola actually goes over Boo’s enclosure – and sometimes, they even drop food in there from the gondola. If you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of Boo exploring his 20-acre compound, complete with ponds, creeks, waterfalls, hills, clearings, and woods.
Mountain Biking
In addition to the Grizzly Bear Refuge and being the Champagne Powder capital of Canada, Kicking Horse Mountain is well known for its mountain biking. Nick, Ben, and Lexie suited up in safety gear and then took off on the trails of Kicking Horse. You take the gondola up to the top of the mountain (7700 feet!) with your bike and then ride down your choice of various trails.
White Water Rafting
After rafting the Salmon River in Idaho, the kids became obsessed with rafting. However, with the big age gap between Lexie and Ellie (6 years), finding something thrilling enough for the teens and safe for Ellie has been challenging. Glacier Raft Company in Golden, BC, had the perfect solution for rafting with various age/ability levels. The Upper Canyon is family-friendly (4+), while the Middle Canyon with Class IV rapids is for the 12+ crowd. We all did the Upper Canyon together, and then the teens continued to the Middle Canyon after lunch without me/Ellie.
Golden Skybridge
Golden Skybridge is one of the newest attractions in Golden. Its two suspension bridges, which soar 426 feet above the canyon floor, are Canada’s highest. The park also features a ropes course, ziplining, a mountain coaster, and a pretty epic playground. You can easily spend half a day exploring it.
Natural Bridge – Yoho National Park
Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park was a quick stop on our drive from Golden back into the Banff area. It’s an impressive rock formation that spans the Kicking Horse River. If we’d had more time in the park, I definitely would have added Emerald Lake to our itinerary. Staying at the Emerald Lake Lodge has been on my bucket list forever!
Where We Ate in Golden
Double Black
We ate at Double Black several times during our stay at Kicking Horse Mountain, and every time, it was fantastic. The Double Black bowl (oven-roasted potatoes, maple bacon, spinach, tomato, corn, caramelized onions, two sunny-side eggs, guacamole, sour cream, microgreens) pictured above was my favorite thing on the menu, and I ordered it more than once!
The Wolf’s Den
The Wolf’s Den is one of the most popular restaurants in Golden, and for good reason! They have a menu jam-packed with deliciousness and some of the freshest food around. Nick was stoked to find somewhere with bison ribs and declared them the best thing he’d ever had!
Reposado’s
Anyone who’s been following us for a while knows our obsession with burritos and tacos. I can say without a doubt that Reposado’s has some of the best tacos in Canada. The restaurant is small, and you will likely have to wait for a table, but it is so worth the wait!
July 8-13, 2022: Calgary, Alberta
Where We Stayed – Homewood Suites Calgary Airport
There is nothing too exciting about this one, but the Homewood Suites Calgary Airport worked for what we needed. Our time in Calgary coincided with the Calgary Stampede, so hotel availability was limited, and prices were high. We stayed out by the airport because it was a bit cheaper and booked using Hilton points to take advantage of their stay four nights and get the fifth night free promotion.
What We Did in Calgary
Canada Olympic Park Monster Zipline
Did you know that Calgary was the home of the 1988 Winter Olympics?! Many events (ski jump, bobsleigh, luge) took place at Canada Olympic Park (now WinSport). In the summer, you can zipline from the top of the ski jump – an exhilarating ride Nick and Ben were excited to check out!
Canada Olympic Park Downhill Karting
You used to be able to luge at Canada Olympic Park – in fact, I did it as a kid. Now, you can go downhill karting. The kids thought it was fabulous and laughed the entire way down, but I don’t think it’s quite as cool as actually speeding down the Olympic luge track.
Butterfield Acres
When I lived in Calgary, one of my favorite places to visit was Butterfield Acres. Farms and petting zoos are not our usual traveling activities (especially with teens!), but I figured Ellie would love it. And oh my gosh, they all had a blast! Ellie now thinks we need a sheep farm or at least some lambs for the backyard.
Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition, and festival held every July in Calgary. It’s known as The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth and draws a crowd of over 4 MILLION. The big ticket events are the afternoon rodeo and the evening grandstand show. We skipped the afternoon rodeo due to the insane heat wave but did go to the evening show.
The Rangeland Derby chuckwagon races (above) are the main attraction of the evening show. Chuckwagon racing is a team rodeo sport where four thoroughbred horses pull a chuckwagon around a track. One rider commands the chuckwagon, and the other two ride thoroughbreds and act as support.
After the sun sets and the horse racing ends, it’s time for the grandstand show. This huge stage appears on the track, and the show is most definitely GRAND. If you can time your visit to Calgary to coincide with the Stampede, it’s a can’t-miss event. In 2025, the Stampede runs from July 4-13.
Calgary Tower
The Calgary Tower, at 191 meters tall, has been a fixture in the Calgary skyline for over fifty years. A 62-second elevator whisks you to the top, where an expansive 360º view of the city, the Rocky Mountains, the foothills, and the prairies awaits. Like many other observation towers, it has a section with a glass floor that the kids (except for Lexie) loved standing and posing on.
Heritage Park
At Heritage Park, you can step back in time and explore Western Canada’s history from the 1860s to the 1950s. There are historical reenactors, rides, shops, and food that will transport you to the early days of the Canadian West. This stop will easily take the whole day, so make sure to allow plenty of time – here’s how we spent our day at Heritage Park.
Where We Ate in Calgary
Harvey’s
As one of the longest-standing Canadian-owned and operated restaurants, Harvey’s is known for its grilled burgers, poutine, and Garnish Counter, which offers an assortment of toppings to customize your meal fully. The kids declared the burgers better than average in terms of fast food options, and the poutine was a hit.
The Keg
For our last night in Canada, we ventured back to The Keg again. I know that The Keg has locations in the US, and while they’re better than the average steakhouse, they are nothing like the Canadian locations.
Kids at Moraine Lake on our drive from Golden to Calgary
THINGS TO REMEMBER FOR YOUR WESTERN CANADA ROAD TRIP
- Most of British Columbia is on Pacific time, except for a few mountain communities near the Alberta border that are on Mountain Time along with the province of Alberta.
- Road trips are popular in British Columbia/Alberta during the summer due to the long, warm days. However, if you’re planning a winter road trip, ensure you have winter tires and chains and experience driving in snow and ice – the conditions can be brutal.
- Always check the weather before setting out. While less common in the summer, snow can fall in the Canadian Rockies every month of the year.
- If you’re coming from the US, remember that speed limit signs in Canada are in kilometers. No, you cannot drive 100mph!!
Have you been to Western Canada before? It’s such a beautiful part of the country!
