Vancouver and Calgary early July visit

[strath44]

Hey folks,

my wife and I are in Calgary for a week then Vancouver for a week.

Just looking for any recommendations, we fly between the two cities so any day road trips are good.

Also anything in and around the cities that is recommended.

How easy is boat hire in Vancouver, say for a day boat?

[gordner]

Hey hope you enjoy Vancouver and Calgary!! I live in Calgary now and lived in Van for 10 years previously, you should enjoy both cities for sure. I know there is a marina on granville island that rents power boats quite easily, though they will have to test you for a nautical license, a requirement here but super easy to satisfy.
While in Calgary you guys should definitely plan to head up to Banff and Lake Louise too if you have the time. The Canadian Rockies are stunning, a world class vista for sure and they make the drive well worth while. Also not far out of Calgary is Drumheller, one of the leading paleontological sites in the world. The Royal Tyrell museum there is a great way to spend a day, I am not any kind of avid dinosaur guy but it is an incredibly impressive collection. If you like airplanes at all and want a tour of a corporate jet management facility hit me up, I would be happy to show you around my work which most people find pretty interesting.
I hope you enjoy your trip!

[strath44]

hi thanks for the info and very generous offer of a tour!

Particularly interested in Lake Louise and Banff so off to research them!

[2porscheguy]

+1 on Banff, Lake Louise and Drumheller....a little further north of LL are the Columbia Icefields....really cool (and cold too!) as you get to take a tour on a Snowcoach and ride on an actual glacier!

[stealthn]

Early July will be Stampede, drunken debauchery, people dressed up as cowboys, and tub girls - What could possibly go wrong.

If you are here then try to hit the rodeo if you like that it's a big midway/carnival with a rodeo, chuck wagon races and stuff. Free pancake breakfasts downtown if you can wait inline.
Calgary Stampede

Otherwise yes get out of town and drive to the mountains.

Have fun

[GWN7]

Best part of the trip between Vancouver and Calgary is the drive. While flying over the Rockies is interesting driving is much more enjoyable.

[Ayles]

One of the most amazing drives I have ever been on was Calgary to BC. Cancel your flight and rent car.

[GWN7]

Go to Google Images and type in " Canadian Rockies " you will want to drive it.

[strath44]

thanks chaps, yes would have loved to have done the drive but we have a lot of people to visit while we are out and don't have quite as much time spare as I would like so we will drive in from each side a bit and see the scenery!

[Hendog]

Originally Posted by strath44

Hey folks,

How easy is boat hire in Vancouver, say for a day boat?

We've done this boat rental a few times. I like doing this on a hot summer day (it's always cooler on the water) and getting out for a couple hours on the water this way.

Vancouver Marina and Moorage Horseshoe Bay Boat Rental British Columbia, Canada

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by Ayles

One of the most amazing drives I have ever been on was Calgary to BC. Cancel your flight and rent car.

Totally agree! I drive from Calgary to Salmon Arm, BC (the best part of the drive I'd say!) at least 10 times a year and have done so for the last 11 years..I never get tired of the beautiful scenery and I get to see it in all the seasons....awesome!

Alex

[Drisump]

When you have enough of the "big smoke" (Vancouver), you should check out the Gulf Islands. These are islands between the mainland and Vancouver island...I live on one of them. There are ferries from both the mainland and Vancouver island servicing them. Renting of boats in the area gets you immediately in a prime cruising environment, I saw a pod of orcas just yesterday. Wherever you go, have a great trip.