Vancouver Island, BC

Photos are from various sites in the internet.

If you have MORE time while visiting Victoria (see posting here  Victoria), you should tour around Vancouver Island as there are lots of things to see.

Sidney

Nanaimo

MUST SEE - Chemainus - a quaint town with lots of little shops to browse in.  All the buildings have nice murals on the sides of them.  They also have a fantastic Theatre.    See their website...Chemanius website

cute shops

example of a mural

Chemainus theatre

MUST SEE - Pacific Rim Rainforest  (see website...Pacific rim national park website)  Nice and lush...for Canada! Also lots of amazing huge trees in Cathedral Grove (see website ... Cathedral Grove).

Tofino

Tofino

Rainforest walk

Cathedral Grove

Cathedral Grove

Hope you enjoyed your visit to Vancouver Island - remember to visit Victoria while on the Island!

Victoria, BC

Most photos are from various sites in the internet.

Another place to go if you have a week (or maybe a weekend) is to Victoria BC!  See here  - Victoria's website

Its like being in England...without the miserable weather or traffic (or outrageous prices).

MUST SEE - The Empress Hotel - I love LOVE it in there!  The rooms are beautiful, although they may have remodeled and not let non-hotel guests see as much as you could before.  See it in the daylight and at night.

Empress hotel from waterfront (kind of infront of the parliament buildings)

Same view, but at night

high tea at the Empress - check out as many rooms as you stick your nose into!

ME infront of it, cira 1995 - taken outside of the Milestones restaurant - have a Bellini there for me!

Also, around this area, you need to look at the Parliament buildings - they are beautiful...and amazing at night!

Parliament building from waterfront

MUST SEE - Royal BC Museum.  I love this museum....you can walk through a mine, large boat, quaint town - it really is nice to visit.  Royal BC Museum website

MUST SEE - Butchart Gardens - this takes a day to do - I've done it in the rain and sun - much better in the sun, but because the area gets as much rain as Seattle, there are lots of rainy days too.  Butchart Gardens website  

sunken garden - my favorite

I'd love to see it at night

Here we are at the gardens in the rain

There are lots of other things to do on the island (in and around Victoria).  Here are a few more photos

Which is the Australian & which is the Canadian?

Hope you enjoy your visit to Victoria BC!  If you have time...visit the rest of Vancouver Island (see post ... Vancouver Island)

Niagara on the Lake, ON

Most photos are from various sites in the internet.

A MUST see in Ontario.  I've been there 3 times and the last time was just a couple of years ago...and we were only there 1/2 hr which is NO WHERE NEAR long enough.  We also only had 1 hr at the falls...with is also NO WHERE NEAR long enough.

MUST SEE - Niagara on the Lake - a quaint hamlet that started in 1782.  Lush and green and full of flowers.  Lots of history to see, wineries to visit - nice and relaxing.  Lots of cute shops to poke around in.  See link here Niagara on the lake website

Prince of Wales Hotel

Prince of Wales Hotel

main street building

main street buildings

Clock tower in middle of main street

Here are some photos I took of the flowers around the main street.

MUST SEE - Niagara Falls - the falls are amazing - you need to see them in the day AND in the night.  Definitely take the Maid of the mist tour & they have 2 (or more) new tours/things we didn't have time to take in - but from what we heard, they were great too.    See this - Niagara Falls website

 Here are some photos that I took on our last trip there.

Bridge between Canada & USA - busiest border in north America

There are lots of odd things to do near the falls (that don't relate to the falls) like Ripley's Believe it or not museum.  I remember going when I was a kid...but its changed a TON since then!

Enjoy your visit to the Niagara peninsula!

Canadian Rockies, AB

Most photos are from various sites in the internet.

The Canadian Rockies is a great place for a mini vacation (or a LONG one if you like out-doorsy stuff).  The Canadian Rocky Mountains was designated a United Nations World Heritage site in 1984.

MUST SEE   Banff National Park...see link  Banff Alberta - official website

Lake Moraine - it really looks like this!

Banff Springs Hotel - if you stay there, you can have an amazing tour - its beautiful inside!

Johnstone Canyon hike - its an easy one...but very cool to see

Lake Louse - make sure you take the walk along the lake and see the hotel from the other side!

Here I am at Lake Louise (several years ago) at the other side of the lake looking back at the hotel.

MUST SEE - Icefields Parkway - the highway north to Jasper.  Lots to see there ... go to this site - Icefields parkway website.  You can even take a tour and go up to the glacier!

funky bus on the foot of the Athabasca glacier

Lots of great scenery

There is often mountain goats around on the road.

Here's a picture of me at a lake along the highway.

MUST SEE - Jasper National Park - At the end of the icefields parkway is this wonderful park and city, which I've spent more time in because its closer to where I live.  See the website  Jasper National Park website 

Athabasca Falls is a MUST see!

This is a pathway by the Athabasca falls - its one of the ancient routes of the falls - the rock surface is neat to see

Jasper Park Lodge - go for a visit and walk around the lake - its beautiful.  Walk around inside the main lodge too - see if you can find photos of Marilyn Monroe & Bing Crosby - they both stayed there!

This is spirit island in Maligne lake - its feels like quite a long drive and you feel like you're lost..once you are there, the views are amazing!  You need to take the short boat ride to see this view.

Sunwapta Falls - another one not to miss!

Here's a picture of me being a clown in the little train in Jasper townsite.

The trip between Jasper and Banff is 6 hours...if not stopping and no traffic, so I would recommend having a hotel at the other side...OR start really early in the morning. 

I also recommend that on the day you are traveling between the 2 cities, you shouldn't do anything other than the travel and on-road stops for photos and the Athabasca Glacier.  While staying in Banff - do the hanging out in Banff, Johnstone Canyon, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and other stuff,  Then, while in Jasper - do the hanging out in Jasper, Athabasca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, Maligne Canyon (walk & drive), Jasper Park Lodge,  and other stuff (gondola to top of Whistler mountain).

Banff is more commercialized (and bigger) than Jasper.

Hope you enjoy your stay in the Canadian Rockies!