I have driven the Yellowhead Highway that along with Highway 1 connects Edmonton and Vancouver three times between the months of September and March. Twice it snowed and made road conditions unsafe. Both times the highway was shut. The third time it was fine. You mentioned visiting friends and family, so I expect you are aware of the distances involved (Edmonton-Vancouver is a tad over 500 miles).

Late June to Labour Day (usually the 3rd or 4th of September) both Banff and Jasper are tourist traps. BTW, Jasper-Banff is about 180 miles, but a seriously beautiful drive, BUT not when there's snow. Even on dry roads, the speed limit is restricted to fifty mph, and it is enforced (much of the road (maybe all of it) is in a National Park).

Winter is out and that's usually November to late March. So it's shaping up late April to early June might be your best time. There's a chart showing climate patterns at

Climate of Vancouver - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedIf you are flying in commercial planes, the trips will be faster, but ya won't see a heckuva lot, and we be talkin' about 3-4 hours just to GET to the plane.

Prince Rupert is a drive and a half on Highway 16, also known as The Yellowhead Highway or just The Yellowhead. I've never been there, but have a good look on Google maps. The drive from the south of BC to there is over 900 miles and from the terrain I'd expect a two-day drive (and you'd be pushin' it.

There is a ferry that goes from Van to PR, but I know nothing other than that about it. Planes go between both places.

As you know, we got miles and miles of miles and miles. I hope this has been somewhat helpful, BW. I lived in the west for about 30 years. I'm in the east now.

OH. The Toronto-Vancouver drive is way-far long. I didn't really find the Prairies boring, but I did get real excited when I saw a tree in the south part of Sashatchewan. Actually, every part of this country I have been to--and that's lots of it--has a special beauty.

Oh, yeah: the drive, TO to Van: it's over 2000 miles.