BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC

Subject: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 05:37 AM

Mrs. Backwoodsperson and I are contemplating a trip to BC next year - the usual touristy-type of stuff, Vancouver/Banff/Jasper/Prince Rupert/Vancouver Island on a Fly-Drive. May visit old school-pals and relatives while we're over.

Looking for advice as to the 'best' time of year to visit that area - both weather-wise, and in terms of how busy it will be.

All suggestions will be appreciated.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: GUEST,999
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 08:19 AM

How long will the trip be for?

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 08:36 AM

Couple of weeks

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: pdq
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 08:43 AM

Anytime when the trees have leaves.

Otherwise, it's depressing.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 09:18 AM

"Otherwise, it's depressing".

You should try the UK, especially at this precise moment - then you'd know what 'depressing' is all about! :-) :-)

So....obvious next question - what months to the trees have leaves there?

My bro-in-law lives near Tronna, and I can get Ontario info from him, but are the seasons and weather-patterns the same over on the Pacific side?

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 09:19 AM

Come on people, help me here - I'm trying to come over and spend money in your province! :-) :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 09:31 AM

September is the best month here, for good weather with few bugs and few crowds. Anytime from August 8 to October 20 is great--high summer at the beginning, golden autumn at the end. In August, the weeks of the Shambala electronica festival and the Princeton Traditional Music Festival always have perfect weather. B. C. forests are evergreen and so never depressing. Not all the mountains are the Rockies, in fact, some aren't even mountains at all--just the sides of valleys that go up and up and up.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: pdq
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 09:37 AM

Anytime from August 8 to October 20 is great--high summer at the beginning, golden autumn at the end.

B. C. forests are evergreen and so never depressing.

Hard to reconcile those two statements. Are we to believe that your "evergreens" have leaves that turn golden in the Fall?

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 09:53 AM

Thanks Bob, appreciated.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: GUEST,999
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 10:13 AM

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.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: fretless
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 10:22 AM

I always prefer mid-June to mid-July for visiting the relatives in BC--the extra hours of daylight make it all worth while, the weather is fine (OK, some rain, but after all it's the Pac NW), and the fishing is good. Assuming, of course, that skiing isn't part of your agenda.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 10:42 AM

Thanks guys.

999 - Vancouver to Tronna will be by air - I have NO WISH to drive that one! Our route and stop-offs is pre-determined by the (very experienced) Travel Organisers, hotels booked etc. Legs all look pretty manageable - when I drive to Scotland (at least once a year) it's a 500-miles-each-way trip, and I drive each way as a single leg, so I'm not especially fazed by 180 miles.

I have been to Canada before and driven there, so I'm pretty aware of the size of the country and the big distances between the major cities.

Fretless - I was wondering about the second half of June, and no - skiing is absolutely not on my agenda! Never skiied, and at 65 I don't plan to start now! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: GUEST,999
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 11:25 AM

Before I had my hip replaced I asked the doctor if I'd be able to ski afterwards. He said, "You will." I thanked him very much and said "That's great. I've never been on skis before."

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 11:30 AM

LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 11:39 AM

to expand on 999s Prince Rupert info.... it's the wettest place in Canada.. there's a ferry that runs back and forth to Port Hardy near the North end of Vancouver Island.... I took the Queen of the North a couple of times on that inside passage trip ( about 22 hrs.) about a year before it sank... something about the pilot making out with his girlfriend on the bridge and hitting a rock.... if you get that far, there's a short ferry ride (80 miles) from P.Rupert to Skidegate on Haida Gwaii, formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands... it's a very mystical place well off the beaten track esp. from Sept. to springtime when there aren't many tourists.... the average population is about 5000 for the whole place... from tow hill,at the north end, and agate beach near Old Masset you can see some of the Alaskan Islands, but maybe not Sarah Palin... it's the most westerly point in Canada that you can get to by road and ferry.. well out in the Pacific with the tremendous energy of the ocean pounding in from the Orient.... highly recommended..

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: pdq
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 12:07 PM

May I suggest a trip that takes in Kamloops, Williams Lake, Mt. Revelstoke and Prince George.

The southeast third of British Columbia has plenty of Aspen, Cottonwood, Willow and Birch so there would be nice Fall colors if you wanted to go late in the year.

Lots of biodiversity, fishing and bird watching. More for natural elements than cultural ones.

I like mid June to mid August when you can expect highs in the low to mid 80s most of the time.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 01:22 PM

September has worked well for us with regard to weather.

We ventured north of Vancouver to the mountains and then took the ferry to Vancouver Island and hung out in in the harbor city of Victoria.

What are your interests, other than beautiful landscape?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, Maine

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 03:14 PM

"May I suggest a trip that takes in Kamloops, Williams Lake, Mt. Revelstoke and Prince George."

Revelstoke and Prince George are in the itinerary we're considering. As I said, very much at the investigation stage at the moment, and these recommendations are much appreciated.

"What are your interests, other than beautiful landscape?"

Mostly beautiful scenery and wildlife, but local history and culture are well up there too, as well as local food. And, of course, MUSIC!

Thanks again, chaps.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Clontarf83
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 03:39 PM

BC is a vast area with widely different climates. I live in Victoria, so I will confine myself to that.

The most reliable time to come to Victoria is Mid-July to Mid September. Summers vary widely in length and intensity: this year has not been good.

Good town musically. My one recommendation is to include a visit to the Victoria Folk Society on Sunday nights. If you are a player they give out of towners first dibs for the open stage section. Get there by 7 at the latest to get signed up. The quality of the open stage varies, but usually there is a gem or two.

Good luck on your travels.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 06:17 PM

"Are we to believe that your "evergreens" have leaves that turn golden in the Fall?"

Yes. We got lots of larch.

My town in September. Okay, those are deciduous trees. But they aren't depressing in winter because they're buried in snow.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 06:20 PM

between now and mid-october is best time for Washington state I would say...spring can be quite dreary but fall is usually lovely. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 08:33 PM

August is the driest month. I have frequently driven the Calgary-Banff-Lake Louise-Golden-Glacier-Revelstoke route, and on to the coast. September is usually good (but cool in the mountains) and the bulk of the summer tourists are gone. At Revelstoke, drive to the Mt. Revelstoke campsite up the mountain.

I have seen frozen ground in Calgary as early as Sept. 15 but not in the past few years, as the temperature has warmed. It can snow in the Rockies any month, not just in Canada, but I have been snowed on in the Colorado mountains in July- but as I noted, Sept. is generally good.
Remember the Canadian version of the song- April winds (brrr) bring May showers (with snow flakes) bring June flowers....


Echoing Charley, take the ferry from the mainland to Nanaimo, and drive to Victoria (or to the wet west) is interesting. In Victoria, there are good B&B and boutique hotels, but go to the Bengal Lounge at noon at the Empress and eat their excellent curry, and have tea with scones (or...) during the ritual of afternoon tea, but make reservations! for the tea, which can be done by email. The curry is reasonable but the tea is expensive. http://www.fairmont.com/empress/GuestServices/Restaurants

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 11 Aug 11 - 08:52 AM

Thanks again everyone - my appetite is fully whetted.

I guess the route we take will be determined by the travel company's schedule, but quite a few of the places you've mentioned are in there.
We didn't want to go on one of those long two-week coach-tours (our idea of hell!), we wanted some degree of independence but, although we've been to Canada before and travelled some in Ontario, we're completely new to the Western side, and we're very much aware of the scale of things over there, so we've decided to use a travel company, and let them make all our arrangements - flights, hotels, car hire etc., - to keep stress and guesswork to a minimum.

Because Mrs. Backwoodsperson will still be working full-time, our options for dates are somewhat limited, and it's starting to look like mid-June to fly over there. I guess we'll just have to pray hard and do a sun-dance! :-)

Thanks for your contributions.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: fretless
Date: 11 Aug 11 - 04:16 PM

Mid-june should be terrific. i've had rain that time of year but also spectacular sunny days that never seem to end.

If you can draw yourself away from Victoria and its urban pleasures, think about someplace like Long Beach on the western side of Vancouver Island. Just the Pacific, evergreens, and amazing low tide walks among the multi-colored star fish. Good salmon fishing out of Ucluelet nearby, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 03:52 AM

Thanks for that piece of comfort, Fretless. I was beginning to worry that, like this year, we'd picked a bum steer by thinking of June. I say "Like this year" because we travelled up to the Isle of Eigg (a 12-hour drive then a ferry trip) which is a stunning little gem in The Small Isles, south of Skye, to arrive in the teeth of a howling gale (100 mph gusts) and horizontal rain. It rained stair-rods the entire week we were there! D'oh!

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 05:25 AM

I guess I'm mostly a city hiker, and Vancouver and Victoria are both delightful cities for walking - and the long summer evenings are especially delightful. An evening walk around the harbo(u)r in Victoria is very nice, and there's a great museum due south of downtown Victoria. Butchart Gardens is one of the nicest public gardens I've seen. In Vancouver, stay close to the center of town - the suburbs are booooooring, a terrible way to waste those long summer evenings. Heck, I even had a good time just visiting the Hudson Bay Company department store in Vancouver. How often do you get to visit a store you read about in history class?
We went to Mass on a Saturday evening in downtown Vancouver. In his sermon, the priest went on and on about California people and how materialistic and obnoxious they were.....it was hard to keep from giggling.
-Joe, from Colfax, California-

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 06:16 AM

That's what I like to hear Joe! Mrs. Backwoodsperson and I will walk anywhere - city, country or wilds - and we're culture-vultures when we're on our adventures, so The Hudson Bay Co. store and its ilk sounds great.

I'll be calling (I hope) on an old school-friend in Vancouver (a guy I haven't seen since 1963!) who has lived there this past 30-or-so years, so I'm hoping for some good direction from him also.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Crowhugger
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 12:47 PM

Re: "Aspen, Cottonwood, Willow and Birch" make for great fall colours--true if you only hope to see yellow.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 10:33 PM

Find out when students are on vacation and when they are not. We prefer to go on vacation when kids are in school. We like children just fine, but it is nice to visit places when they are less crowded.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 10:59 PM

If you like a good walk, try the six miles of sea-wall around the perimeter of Stanley Park at the edge of downtown Vancouver. Also in Vancouver, the campus of the University of British Columbia is home to a Museum of Anthropology which IMO is the foremost cultural shrine in the city. UBC and the adjoining Pacific Spirit Park offer plenty of good walking. And I second fretless's recommendation of the Tofino/Uclulet/Long Beach area on the west coast of the Island--nothing but sea between you and Japan. According to B. C. hippie lore, it's one of those mystic soothing renewing spiritual refuge places. Some of the beaches are ten miles long.

If you go to Prince Rupert, you might see many cars pulled over beside the highway at Moricetown. Their occupants are watching Natives spearing and netting salmon from precarious perches above the churning waters of the Bulkley. Further down the road, the Ksan Historical Village near Hazelton is an interperative center about traditional Indian life operated by the Gitksan people. It's a fairly class act, not cheesy like you might expect. There are several villags you can visit along the Skeena, Kitwanga for instance, where totem poles are still part of everyday life, not museum pieces.

Banff and Jasper are not in B. C., thank goodness. There you will find many many people from those bus tours you abhor, but the scenery along the Icefields Parkway is as good as everyone has already said.

One good thing about June is long days--but not as long as on Eigg which is more than 1 degree further north than Hazelton, the most northerly point on your tentative itinerary.

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Aug 11 - 04:45 PM

Don't miss Rufus Guitar Shop in Vancouver. Chuck Baker is an experience but he might be kind since you are from far away. Just tell him Dot sent you. Or, maybe not?

Subject: RE: BS: Best Time Of Year To Visit BC
From: gnu
Date: 14 Aug 11 - 01:36 PM

I do hope you will keep us apprised of your adventure.