Bucket List Destinations – August – Alaska & West Coast Canada

As tempting as it was to include Alaska in June’s blog on national parks, there is just so much to do here it really deserves a blog in its own right – so here it is. The tourist season is short, pretty much from mid-May to September, with snow and ice making trips longer and more difficult outside these months. This timing works well combined with a trip to Canada’s British Colombia (BC), particularly Vancouver and Vancouver Island plus heading over the Rockies into Alberta, which is the longer trip I’ll be looking at here.

As it’s on your bucket list, it’s got to be special, and this itinerary includes several once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. You may not be able to fit them all in, in which case you’d better get another trip planned! We’ll start off by flying into Calgary, with your first stop in Banff. Get your bearings on an afternoon tour of the area including Bow Falls, Lake Minnewanka, Surprise Corner and the Hoodoos, followed by a day at leisure to spend exploring Banff National Park on your own.

The following day take a half-day tour into Yoho National Park to view some of its natural wonders. The tour ends in Lake Louise; my recommendation is no matter where you stay during the rest of the trip, today you should push the boat out with a stop at the Fairmont on the lake – it’s in the most picture-perfect setting. Book a lake-view room for the ultimate experience.

Before arriving into Jasper visit the Columbia Icefield, one of the largest accumulations of ice south of the Arctic Circle and one of the most accessible icefields in North America, as well as Athabasca Falls; by this time of year it should be in full flow. You may well spot wildlife including bears and elk in the area, so keep your eyes peeled. On leaving Jasper you’re ready to depart onboard the iconic Rocky Mountaineer – a luxury train journey offering first-class service that takes you through some of the most scenic vistas in the Rockies. Back on the train, you have an overnight stop in Kamloops before arriving into Vancouver.

Vancouver is often cited as the world’s friendliest city and it’s certainly one of the most beautiful. Almost entirely surrounded by water and with huge green spaces it’s good to know that it’s not all about the looks, with a mix of museums, art galleries and a wide range of shops and restaurants. Check out Granville Island’s covered market – a foodie’s delight where you can pick up plenty of fixings for a picnic in nearby Vanier Park or stroll along the Coal Harbour seawall into the vast expanse of Stanley Park, home to a world-class aquarium, miniature railway, beaches, lagoons and even totem poles.

Once you’re ready for your next nature fix it’s time to take the ferry to Vancouver Island (or fly if you prefer!). I’d suggest spending a day looking around the capital, Victoria, for some rather grand architecture, parks and the chance to take a whale-watching tour if you haven’t yet. The island suits all sorts of visitors – foodies might want to check out the Cowichan Valley farm region, surfers and those looking to chill out might prefer laid-back Tofino. If you want to up the ante even more, you can take a float plane from Campbell River to one of the more remote lodges around the area – one of the places with the highest concentrations of grizzly bears in BC. It's not just about the land-based animals, you may well also see orcas, sea lions and dolphins although sightings vary by season.

Now the above trip in its own right would be an incredible one but as we’re going for all-out bucket list I’m going to add Alaska into the mix. Heading back to Vancouver, the first part of the trip involves taking a cruise up the Inside Passage, heading into Glacier Bay, passing through frontier towns such as Ketchikan and Skagway, as well as Alaska’s capital - Juneau. Many cruise ships offer this route, so I can help you choose your best fit, depending on the kind of experience you’re after. Some are great for kids, some focus on education but all will have an emphasis on the natural world and environment you are travelling through. Excursions include cultural options such as totem pole carving or dance performances or more recent experiences such as log-rolling and gold-panning. More active options include fishing, kayaking or dog-sledding.

Once you’ve reached Whittier you’ll catch a train into the heart of Denali National Park – home of the Alaskan ‘Big Five’: grizzly bear, moose, Dall sheep, wolves and caribou. As hunting has never been allowed inside the park you have a fantastic chance of observing animals in their natural environment, pretty much ignoring the waterproof-clad humans. The park’s main road was built to maximise your chances of seeing wildlife, so if you’re not interested in getting off the literal beaten track you are still likely to have an amazing wildlife encounter. For those with more time and energy it is possible to jump off the shuttle buses and hike on any number of well-maintained trails although within the park the main accommodation choice is camping, so depending on how adventurous you are you might decide to stick with one of the nearby communities and their creature comforts.

This is the tip of the iceberg (had to be done) outlining just some of the options available for a visit to Alaska and west coast Canada – to start planning your once-in-a-lifetime trip just get in touch!