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Bella Coola | Tagged Posts

2015
15
March
Looking for Road Trip Tips for First-time Travelers Outside of Vancouver?

Question:

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Andrea

Hi guys! Sorry this is not about any flight deals But My gf and I will start a roadtrip soon! We are looking for some tips about this trip! We haven't been to anywhere outside of Vancouver. So any kind of suggestion would be really helpful! We are both nature lover. We will bring a tent with us so some awesome camping locations would be really helpful! We will be driving so suggestions about scenic route would be really nice too! We are both really excited about this trip! Thanks guys! You guys have been so awesome! Here is a map of our tentative trip. We have about 19 days.

Humans say...

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Shawna

You should check out Wells Grey Park! It is amazing.

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Andrea

Thanks adding that to the trip now!

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Mandi

Do the Oregon Coast!!! It's beautiful! Take the 101 all the way down.... Gorgeous scenery!!!

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Sarrah

Cranbrook doesn't have great spots to stay may wanna try Kimberly or wasa lake just outside of cranbrook

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Kimberly

Christina Lake just outside of Grand Forks heading towards Castlegar/Nelson area....simply beautiful and Osoyoos is amazing too.

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Kimberly

I just spent two weeks in Osoyoos....it is warm and beautiful....my favorite place in BC

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Pia

would really like to do a road trip from Vancouver to Bella Coola.Im waiting for a go signal with a friend...........

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Heather

Circle trip taking the ferry from port hardy to prince Rupert? You get to see some ocean too and see some amazing small towns. If you're willing to keep going north drive up to Hyder Alasks next to Stewart BC. glaciers, bears, king crab and get Hyderized! Go through the okanagan wine country and load up on fresh bc produce! Have fun!

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Rebecca

I loved Bella coola! I took the 10 hour ferry to Bella bella and saw the most beautiful scenery!!!!! Whales and porpoise and many bald eagles. The windy road into Bella coola is terrifying though! It's a switchback all the way down the mountain! Very beautiful trip!

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Pia

Hi Rebecca..I wish my friend would read your comment about Bella Coola..she is a little bit hesitated to go because she said its kinda expensive to take a Ferry and she said its a long drive.
I really would like to go as Ive heard its really beautiful there.
Where did you stay in Bella Coola and what activities did you go to?
If you would like to share a few pic here that would be awesome!
*ps..youre not obligated to post pics though ..im really curious to see beautiful pic and sceneries.
thanks.

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Rupinder

If ur driving to Terrace and Prince Rupert take a small detour to Kitimat. It's beautiful valley surrounded by mountains.

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Melissa

New Denver is a stunning place to stop in the Kootenays not too far from Nelson.

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Elysse

Im originally from terrace. Its beautiful! Also the drive from Terrace to PR is beautiful as well, and PR has great places to eat fresh caught fish and like I said the ocean drive is beautiful.They also offer whale watching day tours, or bear tours or boat rides, as well as tons of touristy shops near the marina. terrace has a big lake and provincial camp site attached, Lakelese lake, which is so pretty! also it is a short drive to go to Hyder Alaska ( or if you are coming in from Highway into terrace from smithers at the junction) where you can see the glaciers and a lot of other cool stuff. terrace is also huge for camping, fishing, hiking . Only thing for camping is you may need to have reservations at various places because its peak season. PG is a 6 hr drive from terrace, with the nearest Costco and major shopping, fyi. But smithers has great camping sites too, a lot of the whole drive from the lower mainland to PR area will be beautiful!!

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Gail

From Nelson to Cranbrook I would definately take the Free Ferry from Balfour to Crawford Bay and drive through Creston

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Shellie

The ferry one way for car and 2 people is about 800 bucks

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Janet

now you are almost at Haida Gwaii you should take the ferry over that what i wanted to do but it didnt happen yet

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Andrea

Wow thank you guys for all the comments!
I have just added some of your suggestions to my map! We won't be taking the ferry since it's too expensive for us. Thanks again! I'm still looking for more suggestions!

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Savita

Dont forget big johnson lake

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Coco

Syringa park has great waterfalls, one is a natural waterslide, drive right on the fork passed the campground on the dirt road till about the 12k mark, at the bridge. Super beautiful swimming hole. There's another great swimming hole by Nelson, right by the generation station. Just go around the fence and you'll find a trail to follow through the woods, it's also a really nice hike. There's a spot with two craters
next to each other in the water, and you can go down one and come out the other. Spotted lake is worth a quick stop as well, that's just outside of osoyoos. And I finally there's a couple hot springs out that way, I haven't been to halfway hot springs but JUST passed it there's St. Leon hotsprings, and there's plenty of space to camp there as well.

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Francisc

Tofino, learn to surf on Japanese water! It's a great twisting road through park land. Long (its very long) beach's white sand is awesome and not a lot of people there.

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Lesley

Amazing wine country in the Okanagan valley. Biking along the Naramata bench near Penticton, and pickup a bottle or two of the local VQA wines, then a picnic overlooking beautiful Lake Okanagan. While you are in Penticton try the tubing down the canal between Lakes Okanagan and Skaha. Heaven!

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Kathleen

No offense to the places you are missing on this trip, but you will see some of the most beautiful places in the world. If you pop "up" from Terrace and into the Nass Valley, there is a great museum in Lakaalzap (known as Greenville for a brief period but still that on some maps). Not counting time in the museum it would add a couple of hours to your trip....seeing the lava beds and the Nass Valley are well worth it.

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Andrea

wow Kathleen that's a really cool place! Thanks! Adding that to the map now!

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Rose

Athabasaca Falls, Sunwapta Falls, Bow summit and peyto lake by Hwy 93N, thats the hwy from Jasper to Banff very scenic if no rain. In Banff must see Morraine lake, in Yoho Nat. Park sigthseeing in Takakkaw Falls, Emerald lake and Natural bridge. In Wells Gray (clearwater) must hike Helmcken and Mouls Falls and sidetrip Dawson creek and spahats falls. In Revelstoke, must drive up and sigthseeing 'meadows in the sky'.

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Chris

Following

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JM

Javo Dela Rosa

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Shauna

Following

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Meghan

If you have the funds to do it, I'd suggest going east to start and skipping the Williams Lake/Quesnel route and taking the ferry down from Prince Rupert to Vancouver Island and then back over to Vancouver. The island is not to be missed!

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Karen

Takkakkaw Falls campground in Yoho National Park is not to be missed!

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Erin

Manning park, Allison lake and osoyoos are all musts

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Coco

What ap was this? I downloaded a couple different ones to make my map but so far not so great.

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Maria

Green Lake Provincial Park is gorgeous and lots of camping sites spread around the lake. It's just south of 100 Mile House and near Lone Butte. It's really not too far off Hwy 97 turn off near 70 Mile House.

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Steve

Do you really want to drive 4000+ kms in 19 days? I would definitely recommend shortening the trip (out and back to Rupert is 1400 kms and the drive from PG to Jasper is nothing special (although if you do go, look for the Ancient Forest east of PG). I would recommend camping at Nairn Falls Prov Park at Pemberton (short walk to the falls. Check out Mile One Eating House in Pemberton). On the drive to Lillooet stop at Joffre Lakes. If the weather is good the hike is spectacular and can be done round trip in 3 - 3.5 hours.) Camp for free at the BC Hydro campsite at Seton Lake just south of Lillooet. Stock up on some fresh fruit/veggies at Airport Gardens and wine at Fort Berens winery in Lillooet. I agree that camping around Green Lake can be quite nice. I would actually recommend Hwy 24 from 93 mile (I think) to Little Fort then stop at Wells Gray for a day or two. Then on to Mt Robson and Jasper from there. Icefields Parkway is one of the best drives in the world IMO. Don't miss it, and take your time. When you go to Nelson a day trip to Kaslo and New Denver is a beautiful drive. Despite the brutal architecture (at least as I recall from years ago), Ainsworth Hot Springs on the way to Kaslo is worth the stop for its horseshoe cave. Enjoy your trip!

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Andrea

Hi Steve! Thank you so much for the advice!

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Andrea

Hi
Coco its called roadtrippers

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Andrea

our updated map!

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Susanna

Ainsworth hot springs near Nelson is very cool. Gotta stop at the chilliwack airport to get some pie!!! Excellent farmers market in Courtney comox. If you are near Lund there is a wonderful little restaurant there and you can take a water taxi to go to the beautiful beaches on savary island. Have fun!

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Coco

Yeah I'm using it to but it's not the greatest.. Looks different

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Tarina

In prince Rupert eat at smiles


A.I. says...

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Road Trip Tips for Nature Lovers

Hi guys! Congratulations on your upcoming road trip! It sounds like it's going to be an amazing adventure. Here are some tips and suggestions for your trip:

Camping Locations:

  • Garibaldi Provincial Park - Located just outside of Vancouver, this park offers stunning views and great hiking trails.
  • Manning Park - A bit further east, this park has beautiful campgrounds and lots of wildlife to see.
  • Pacific Rim National Park Reserve - Head to the west coast of Vancouver Island for some beach camping and incredible sunsets.

Scenic Routes:

Consider taking the Sea-to-Sky Highway up to Whistler for breathtaking mountain views. Or, head east towards the Okanagan Valley for some wine tasting and scenic drives through vineyards.

Tentative Trip Map:

Tentative Trip Map

With 19 days, you have plenty of time to explore and enjoy all the beauty that British Columbia has to offer. Have a fantastic trip and make lots of memories!

Thanks for reaching out and happy travels!



   










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