14-Nights Totem Peaks Self-Drive

Victoria, B.C.

British culture and island informality collide in Victoria. This sophisticated seaside city is full of historic sites, parks and gardens. Take a walking tour - many of which begin at Parliament Buildings at Victoria's Inner Harbor. Combined with majestic Empress Hotel, these monumental buildings give the city a regal European feel. See equally impressive modern structures, such as Royal British Columbia History Museum, or replicas of large, native Northwest Indian houses at Thunderbird Park. Unique attractions include Undersea Gardens, Miniature World, Maritime Museum, Chinatown and Royal London Wax Museum. A memorable places to visit is world-famous Butchart Gardens, with 5,000 fauna varieties. The dazzling gardens on Saanich Inlet are beautiful at night, when hundreds of lights sparkle along winding paths. Additional gardens in Victoria include Crystal Garden and the gardens surrounding Government House and near Craigdarroch Castle, a towering Victorian mansion complete with a tower and turrets. Tour this city in a horse-drawn carriage.

Campbell River

The Campbell River, known as the Salmon Capital of the World, is located on the east coast of central Vancouver Island. Home not only to the salmon, the river is a sanctuary for eagles, migrating whales and other native animals. A spectacular wilderness destination, the Campbell River region beckons visitors to explore her mountains, coastlines and surrounding islands.

Port Hardy

Port Hardy lies along the rocky, beautifully forested northern tip of Vancouver Island, and it has a medley of wildlife and activities.  Market Street is laden with galleries featuring work by First Nations artisans, including jewelry, masks and paintings. Stroll town to see the various murals throughout, such as at Malone's Oceanside Bistro, North Island Diving & Water Sports and the Airport Inn. The Port Hardy Museum & Archives houses a collection of natural history, regional archives and First Nation antiquities. Go bird-watching at the Quatse River Estuary, where bald eagles and blue herons flock to all year long. Look out for whales from June to October, or submerge yourself in cold water diving off the coast to witness the area's thriving underwater ecosystem. Watch the coming and going of boats at the harbour along the seawall's Carrot Park, view the war memorial, or picnic at nearby Kinsmen Park.

Prince Rupert

Prince Rupert is the Gateway City for Southeast Alaska and fishing center of the Northwest. Cow Bay is a must - with a fish processing plant, public water floats, and Cow Bay Gift Galley's pottery studio and sushi bar. Enjoy Civic Centre and Performing Arts Centre. Visit Museum of Northern British Columbia, Archaeology Harbor, and North Pacific Historic Village. Kwinitsa Railway Museum exhibits railway history of the area in a Grand Trunk Railway station. Old Field Creek Hatchery tours are offered. Firehall Museum's central exhibit is a 1925 REO Speedwagon Fire Engine. A walking tour has been laid to cover the city's historic and scenic points. The Pacific Northwest is home of Tsimpsean and Haida Indians, and scattered throughout Prince Rupert are authentic reproductions of historic and famous poles. An 18-hole golf course is located at Mt. Oldfield.

Jasper

Located in the heart of Jasper National Park in Alberta's Rocky Mountains, Jasper's friendly alpine hospitality and the promise of adventure will make your visit unforgettable. It is easy to get to Jasper by car from a number of nearby visitor destinations including Edmonton, Hinton and Banff.

Banff

Situated in the heart of Banff National Park in Alberta's Rocky Mountains, Banff is a 1.5-hour drive from Calgary and just a short trip from mountain towns of Lake Louise, Kananaskis Country and Canmore. It's a unique place to visit. A train whistle blows in the distance as a reminder of the area's railway roots while designer shops dot the streetscapes. From a sleepy summer resort town with closed doors in winter months, Banff has grown into a year-round attraction. Lured by wilderness and the variety of outdoor activities, people from all over the world are drawn to Banff National Park each year. They venture into the area looking for their slice of the Banff experience, whether it's in restaurants, shops, museums, cultural activities, or adventures in the wilderness. On Banff's bustling main avenue, virtually every language from German and Japanese to French and Spanish can be heard. Yet only minutes away from all the action, a quiet walk along the banks of the Bow River is a reminder the town is located inside Canada's premier national park and a United Nations World Heritage Site!

Revelstoke

Revelstoke, British Columbia, is a small mountain city about 250 mi/403 km east of Vancouver, with a historic feel in southeastern British Columbia. Hikers and skiers often make it their base camp, and there are two national parks worth visiting in the area. The Trans Canada Highway passes right through the exquisite scenery of Glacier National Park (not to be confused with Glacier National Park in Montana), a landscape of rugged mountains with several hundred glaciers. A little southwest of Glacier National Park is Mount Revelstoke National Park. This is another park that's suitable for a driving tour (there's a paved road to the top of Mount Revelstoke), and it includes part of the Selkirk Range, as well as lovely lakes and forests and lots of wildflowers in late summer.

About 10 mi/16 km west of the town of Revelstoke is Three Valley Gap. This reconstructed 1880s pioneer village (24 restored buildings) shows what the Eagle Pass region looked like more than 100 years ago. Several theme attractions are also found in the area, including the Enchanted Forest, where the woods are filled with "fairy folk."

Vancouver

Vancouver is a thriving metropolis surrounded by natural beauty. With parks, beaches, gardens, museums, art galleries and the second-largest Chinatown in North America, Vancouver lives up to its promise of offering something for everyone. With modern buildings set against green, rolling hillsides, this city is breathtaking; no location offers a more spectacular view than Stanley Park - with a zoo, aquarium, totem poles and honking geese. A short walk from the park leads to Robson Street, which offers the town's best window-shopping. Stores with European flavor share the avenue with delicatessens and tea rooms ready to serve. As architectural heart of the city, Robson Square features a central plaza with a food fair and an old provincial courthouse, which now houses Vancouver Art Gallery. Be sure to stop at 8 Pender St. - "the narrowest building in the world." Other points of interest include the Museum of Anthropology; Japanese-style Nitobe Memorial Garden; and VanDusen Botanical Garden. Capilano Canyon is site of the world's longest and highest suspension footbridge.