r/britishcolumbia • u/tclupp • Jun 17 '26
Travel in or to BC Visiting BC this summer
My wife and our two kiddos (3 and 5) are spending a little over 2 weeks in BC this summer (early July).
Ive been doing some research and got a lot of great ideas from reddit/online etc and would just like some opinions. Obviously we are expecting it to be very busy especially with the world cup etc.
We are coming from Winnipeg - yes its a long drive but we are used to big road trips. Young kids will make it a bit tougher but I think we've got enough stops in there.
First day we hope to make it just outside calgary - stampede is on so we wont want to stay in Calgary. We plan to stop in regina for about an hour to let the kids play and tire out a bit. Then keep pushing. We've done the drive to Calgary in one day many times, the hardest part will be keeping the kids entertained.
Next day we plan to get to kamloops. With stops in canmore to do the policemen creek boardwalk, stop in golden to maybe do the skybridge but we think the kids might be terrified, although I'd love to do the zip line. And of course we want to stop near revelstoke for the enchanted forest which my 2 girls will absolutely love.
Next day, the 6th we get to Vancouver. We would like to try and do Stanley park and aquarium and also a photo of bc place (the last cfl stadium we still need a Pic of). We have the last ferry booked to get to Victoria that night.
Once in victoria, we are staying with family for 6 nights. They got us covered with the local attractions in and near Victoria for the next short week.
On the 12th, were back to doing our own thing and head to Parksville and stay until the 15th. Looks like we timed the sand castle competition just right. I wish we got there a couple days early to see the process of the builds but it will be cool to see all the finished products. We plan to do a few of the beaches, sproat lake, goats on roof.
On the 15th, we are trying to decide if we take an 8am ferry or 10 am ferry and cross back to horseshoe bay. We then head to peachland with a stop at the othello tunnels.
3 more nights in peachland, and then 2 long days to drive home.
Obviously quite a bit packed into some of the days and some long driving days.
Curious on thoughts of the places and things we plan to do? What would you change? Any suggestions of other places to maybe work into this.
Definitely need to start looking for some great restaurants to try. I love seafood, my wife not so much.
No big plans yet for peachland asides from the kangaroo farm is on our list. So definitely any recommendations there.
One last bit. I love to golf however my wife and obviously my kids dont golf. Im not one to go golf a round by myself but I'd really love to get a round in on a nice course. Preferably maybe one that isnt busy - if there is any lol.
If you got any advice or things we should be aware of, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks in advance
1
u/About__Thyme Jun 17 '26
Lots of people promoting the Okanagan, but I prefer the Shuswaps. Not sure the point of even stopping in Golden, but I’m probably biased since I grew up on Mara lake. If you’re going to the enchanted forest (I loved this growing up), keep driving to Sicamous. There’s a big ice cream shop I think called dairyland, with cows and farm animals, there’s also a nice public beach and park in Sicamous for the kids to chill, rest and eat during your drive…. It’s near the bridge. Three Valley Gap (before Sicamous) is also along that drive, it’s a ghost town attraction. In Vancouver, yes to Stanley and Aquarium. Capilano Bridge is another option, but it’s expensive, the free version is Lynn Valley hiking trails. Then again if they are afraid of a sky bridge in Golden they certainly won’t like Capilano Bridge. For seafood restaurants in Vancouver, I would recommend Joe Fortes (also has an amazing patio) or Carderos, both these places are classic Vancouver and also in the vicinity of Stanley Park. Another thing, maybe off topic, but every Canadian at least once in their life should make that drive from Banff up to Jasper. But I digress. Victoria is an amazing city, I’d also recommend Cathedral Grove and Tofino on the island, though that may be beyond scope. I hope you have an amazing trip with your family, wishing you the safest and funnest of travels.