One of my favourite ways to travel is by road, and there is nowhere that does a road trip quite like the Canadian Rockies. Towering peaks, emerald lakes and wildlife around every corner made this one of the most memorable journeys I have ever taken.

I spent 7 nights in May travelling from Vancouver to Calgary, staying in Whistler, Kamloops, Jasper and Banff. I flew from Dublin with Air Canada in Premium Economy and arrived feeling relaxed, well looked after and ready to collect the car and hit the open road.

Vancouver: City Meets Nature We spent our first two nights close to downtown and Stanley Park, which was the perfect base. Vancouver is a city wrapped in nature: in minutes you can go from lively streets and coffee shops to ocean views and mountain backdrops.

We had a busy couple of days because I wanted to fit in as much as possible.

My Vancouver highlights

Stanley Park Walking or cycling the seawall is an ideal way to shake off any jet lag. The ocean air, views over English Bay and the contrast of city skyline and mountains are stunning. Do not miss the totem poles, which are both beautiful and atmospheric.

Granville Island A short ride on a little water taxi takes you to Granville Island, which feels like a creative, foodie village. The public market is full of local produce, fresh treats and tempting snacks, and I loved wandering from stall to stall.

Capilano Suspension Bridge For a bit of adrenaline, the Capilano Suspension Bridge and cliff walk are fantastic. You are high above the river and forest, surrounded by towering trees. It feels thrilling yet still very accessible from the city.

Whistler: Mountain Playground After Vancouver, we drove around 1 hour 40 minutes to Whistler along the Sea to Sky Highway. As soon as we left the city, the scenery started to change dramatically: fjords, cliffs and snow‑capped peaks appeared at every bend. It felt like the road trip had truly begun.

Whistler is one of the largest ski resorts in North America, but it is also an amazing year‑round resort. In the off‑season it becomes a playground for hiking, biking, ziplining and every kind of outdoor adventure.

My Whistler highlight

Zipline adventure Ziplining from high up in the mountains back down towards the village was unforgettable. You are flying through crisp mountain air, surrounded by dense forest and rugged peaks. It is exhilarating and incredibly refreshing, with the freshest air filling your lungs. Whistler to Kamloops: Scenic Slow Travel Leaving Whistler, we took Highway 99 via Duffy Lake. We wanted to take our time, so we set off after breakfast and treated the whole drive as part of the holiday. We stopped at viewpoints, lakes and rivers whenever something caught our eye, always on the lookout for wildlife and photos.

Allow around 7 hours for this drive, more if, like me, you enjoy pausing often to soak up the views. By the time we arrived in Kamloops, we were pleasantly tired in that lovely way that only a full day of fresh air and scenery can give you.

Kamloops to Jasper: Into the Rockies The next morning we set off straight after breakfast, excited to get deeper into the Rockies. This part of the journey is full of little towns, viewing areas, lakes and rivers. The mountains start to close in around you and the landscape becomes more dramatic.

Again, we kept our eyes peeled for wildlife. We arrived into Jasper after dark and had to pull over to give an elk right of way. At the time it was a bit of a shock, but it has become one of those very Canadian memories that I still laugh about now.

Jasper to Banff via the Icefields Parkway Our visit to Jasper itself was short and I would absolutely recommend more time here. It has a relaxed mountain‑town feel and is surrounded by incredible nature.

From Jasper we drove the legendary Icefields Parkway to Banff, often described as one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Even if you have seen photos, nothing compares to actually being there. Glaciers spill down the mountainsides, turquoise rivers twist through the valleys and rugged peaks line the horizon.

A huge highlight was visiting the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park. We took the Ice Explorer trip up onto the Athabasca Glacier and stepping out onto the ice felt almost otherworldly. The air was so pure and cold, and the surrounding peaks made us feel tiny in the best possible way. The Skywalk afterwards gave us jaw‑dropping views over the valley beneath our feet. It was one of those experiences I know I will remember forever.

Banff & Lake Louise: Iconic Rockies Beauty We spent our last couple of nights in Banff, exploring both the town and Banff National Park. Banff is postcard‑pretty, with alpine streets, wooden shopfronts and mountains in every direction. It manages to feel lively and cosy at the same time.

Just 30 minutes away by car is Lake Louise, and it genuinely took my breath away. The vivid turquoise water, framed by steep peaks and dense forest, looks almost unreal. On this trip we visited as a day trip from Banff, but with more time I would love to stay right on the lake and wake up to those views.

My Banff & area highlights

Columbia Icefield (on route from Jasper) Even though it is between Jasper and Banff, I include it as a Banff highlight because it is such an essential part of the journey.

Banff Gondola to Sulphur Mountain The gondola ride takes you to the top of Sulphur Mountain for panoramic views of Banff National Park. On a clear day the lakes, forest and peaks are absolutely spectacular.

Guided wildlife tour A guided wildlife tour around Banff is a brilliant way to safely spot animals and learn more about their habitat. I was happy to have an expert with us, just in case my skills with bear spray were not quite up to scratch!

We also loved simply wandering around Banff, browsing the shops, enjoying the bars and restaurants and soaking up the atmosphere.

Homeward Bound All too soon it was time to say goodbye. We dropped our car back at Calgary Airport and flew with Air Canada via Toronto, already talking about when we might return.

The Canadian Rockies really got under my skin: the scale of the scenery, the clarity of the air, the wildlife and the sense of freedom on the road made this a trip I completely fell in love with. If you would like me to plan your own Canadian Rockies adventure, tailored to how you like to travel, I would be absolutely delighted to help.