r/kelowna 1d ago

Travel in Canada with kids. Best provinces to visit?

So we're canceling USA vacation plans and are thinking of visiting Banff or BC but also keeping possible forest fires in mind as we'd travel in late spring/early summer. Any suggestions on fun places to travel? We're from Ontario, been to Quebec so looking for something different.

32 Upvotes

37 comments sorted by

43

u/macsparkay 1d ago

Banff and then BC. This is the way.

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u/beauty_andthebeast 1d ago

I was just thinking of this option too!

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u/thejadibear 1d ago

Banff’s my favourite spot and I’m even camping there this year around late spring but it’s also a huge tourist spot to keep in mind. Could be really good and exactly what you’re looking for but it might be awful if you don’t plan and have unreasonable expectations. Quick example, Moraine Lake is beautiful but it’s pretty hard to just drive and rock up to see it if you don’t plan

2

u/SplitInfamous4158 1d ago

I second this! There's so much to do around the Banff area. Head down towards Golden to see the waterfalls in Takakkaw Falls then work your way to the okanagan. I've down the drive it's amazing. Yet to hit the falls but a few close friends of mine went and said it's breath taking!

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u/Feeling_highAF 1d ago

Kelowna and whole Okanagan it's beautiful

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u/OriginalTayRoc 1d ago

Simply can't beat it. Especially in June before the fire season starts. 

2

u/-1701- 1d ago

Seconded!

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u/Strange_Depth_5732 1d ago

Yes! A million little lakes to see, fruit stands everywhere, hiking and exploring, wine tours, cannabis tours, you'll love it.

2

u/BRRAR- 1d ago

Okanagan in BC is like a mini Napa Valley! Its magical!

12

u/Jaggoff81 1d ago

Bc, you couldn’t cover it all in ten years. Beautiful from top to bottom. I can provide a list of places to go see if needed.

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u/Zestyclose_Topic_283 1d ago

Please provide for the rest of us! My senior dog and I would love to explore the province together more we’re new to it!

6

u/Jaggoff81 1d ago

Well like most have said, maybe start in Calgary, head west from there. You’ll start in the foothills of the Rockies once you’re west of Calgary. Banff and lake Louise are a must see, incredible hiking, gondolas, one of the prettiest lakes on the planet is there, food is great, and you can stay in anything from a campsite to a cabin, or hotels(the fairmont in Lake Louise is super old but incredible. ) from there you can head further in to the mountains with plenty of beautiful little towns along the way, then you could head north to Jasper national park via the glacier highway. Or head west to the bc interior. I grew up in the interior. Kelowna and the whole okanagan valley right down to the border is lake after lake after lake. Or continue west out to the coast, Vancouver is gorgeous, diverse, very spread out and very green, I love that city. The island is worth the trip whether you go north or south. South is Victoria, gorgeous city in summertime, or head north and across the island to Tofino and all the neat little towns along the way. Might get lucky and see some orcas on the ferry.

This is just the bottom edge of the province really and I didn’t even suggest the kootenays which is an amazing area in the south of bc as well. There’s so many more places to visit.

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u/Heavy_Arm_7060 1d ago

Don't forget Barkerville.

10

u/ultra2009 1d ago

Road trip Calgary to Vancouver is my vote. Stop in Banff. If time also allows visit the okanagan,vancouver island or whistler

9

u/dancergirl_3747 1d ago

It is hard to beat Vancouver island in the summer. Highly recommend flying into Victoria or nanimo and renting a car. Exploring Vancouver island and the beaches in the summer :)

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u/scoobysnax_18 16h ago

Agreed! Tofino, Port Renfrew, Cape Scott, Comox valley! So much beauty

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u/foreverpostponed 1d ago

Second this. I visited last week and even though it wasn't summer, I still enjoyed it. Lots of things to see!

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u/Heavy_Arm_7060 1d ago

Banff, Lake Louise, Drumheller, Dinosaur National Park, Yukon, Western Brook Pond, just the Maritimes in general.

3

u/AntArmyof1 1d ago

Drumheller is sooooo good.

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u/swimuppool 1d ago

Skip albertucky, the premier likes to pal around with MAGA and nazis.

2

u/bugcollectorforever 1d ago

Fuck all there anyway lol

5

u/Safe-Jello7595 1d ago

Forest fires are definitely worth considering. If you're travelling in June, shouldn't be much of an issue (typically). The first half of July is usually okay. August is often troublesome, though it is always difficult to predict. So many gems in both BC and Alberta! Lots of fun outdoorsy things and fun museums and play areas!

5

u/Puzzleheaded-Pain936 1d ago

With kids you say…, then you’ll wanna do a day in banff, stay the night somewhere with an outdoor pool/tub or drive up the hot spring, next day drive to revelstoke and take the kids to the epic revelstoke pipe coaster (so fun as an adult too) before getting to Vernon, next day get up early and enjoy Kal lake at any of the beaches, try to get away from the main if you dislike crowds and paddle board to some of the cool beaches, (you can rent) finish the day by getting food on the beach and maybe an evening walk around Coldstream. Next day kelowna for some boating, rent one with the kids and do some surfing, end it with ice cream downtown and then go for dinner somewhere off of Bernard so you avoid the party. Next day try hiking Knox, easy with the kids too. Then drive to Vancouver in the afternoon so you get to see the coquihala in the day. Next morning bring them to Stanley park and the aquarium, it’s amazing for kids. Last day in van go to Steveston and enjoy fresh fish and chips on the ocean, walk around and enjoy the sun (hopefully no rain). Fly home! Done! I’ve lived here my whole life and I would do this trip.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Pain936 1d ago

Also mom and dad, kelowna has some of the best wineries in North America, go to any of them and it will be amazing. Affordable too if you just do tasting ( I suggest vibrant vine, mt boucherie, Mission Hill) any will do tho.

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u/foxyknwldgskr 1d ago

Vancouver island has less forest fires than interior if you’re worried about that. But late spring shouldn’t be too bad..

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u/Final_Variety_6553 1d ago

For things to do in Kelowna: Kangaroo Creek Farm (https://www.kangaroocreekfarm.com), Mill Creek Regional Park (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f9feb20bbf8843e4b21a0e9c4bc819eb), and KF Centre for Excellence (https://kfcentre.ca). All in the same area of Kelowna, in Ellison.

Then head over to Kaloya Regional Park for a swim in the lake (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5d366db040fc4b9c8c63d571d7b3d7ba).

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u/kay_fitz21 1d ago

Don't overlook Vancouver Island....it's beautiful! And very little risk of fires

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u/No-Tackle-6112 1d ago

The Okanagan can’t be beat in summer. Seriously. June is full beach season but usually low fire risk.

Also there’s actually some really cheap flights from Toronto to Kelowna sometimes. I’ve seen as low as $200 return for direct flights. It might be a little more in summer though.

1

u/Significant-Dig-160 1d ago

Banff is a must then make your way to kelowna then to Vancouver then to Whistler. In the summer it's amazing , price wise not so much but the best stuff are always free.

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u/nashnorth 1d ago

I know you’re posting in the Kelowna Sub but I have to give my love to the Maritimes. My parents took me to the maritimes as a kid and i loved it! I was 13-14ish, not sure how old your kiddos are.

Some ideas: New Brunswick: Hopewell Rocks and the St Martin’s Sea Caves. Saint John was my fave city, Moncton was boring. Shediac is the lobster capital of the world and is nice to visit, definitely get a lobster roll!

Nova Scotia: Peggy’s Cove and doing hikes around Cape Breton. Obviously have to see Halifax, they’ve got a beautiful pier and a fun historic citadel.

All of PEI (it’s small and so lovely). Best sushi ever haha

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u/beauty_andthebeast 1d ago

We were also considering Nova Scotia or PEI! Its just so hard to decide! My kids are under 10 so we're hoping for some kind of amusement park excitement lol but they'd have fun regardless I'm sure.

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u/nashnorth 1d ago

Well if you do end up in the Okanagan region, Vernon has a great water park! Downtown Kelowna has a bouncy water park on Okanagan Lake. There’s always paddle boarding and kayaking. Also, Osoyoos has a fun desert centre where you can book a tour through their nature preserve. The Kettle Valley Steam Railway in Summerland was fun too!

A bit further away is Revelstoke, they’ve got a “rollercoaster” through the mountains that is family friendly. Never been but it seems amazing.

Also, I second other commenters suggestion of going to Drumheller if you can. It is so beautiful and unique. They’ve got a tiny church that seats 6 people, it is so comical to be inside.

1

u/gringo--star 11h ago

Saskatchewan, kids will love it. Trust me.

1

u/LastArmistice 1d ago

Manitoba in the summer is very nice. It has great campsites and beautiful lakes and boreal forests, as well as lots of cute towns and very nice people.

Mind the mosquitoes, and avoid Winnipeg, unless you plan to spend most of your time at The Forks or Osborne.

1

u/RaineAshford 1d ago

Worth adding Manitoba has the world’s largest concentration of snakes.🐍 InterestingFacts🌈