REQUEST: "Don't Miss" locations in Vancouver/Victoria Island and Denali NP

[Night Owl]

In less than a week, the wife and I will be wheels-up for a 2 1/2 week vacation. We're starting in Vancouver/Victoria Island and will make a trip up to Campbell River for a whale watching tour. We'll be cruising up the Inside Passage to Seward, then heading for Denali the next morning. We only have a couple of days for Denali, unfortunately, so we're trying to make the most out of it. Any suggestions for "if you miss it, you'll regret it" locations?

Thanks!

[L Stegall]

I can definitely give you some info on Victoria and Vancouver Island. It's one of our favorite places and we've probably made at least 10 trips up there and I hope to make many more. There is always something new to discover.

How long do you have there before you board your ship and will you have a car to get out of the greater metro Victoria area? Of course, the world famous Butchart Gardens are well worth visiting and they are just outside Victoria in a suburb. If you are limited in time to one or two things, that would definitely be one of them. There is a lovely small resort, called Brentwood Bay, that is very close to it. In Victoria, the main tourist spot is, of course, right at the Inner Harbour area - including the Empress Hotel (lovely high tea), the BC Museum of History and the Parliament building, but you can see that in an afternoon. I guess I'd say the Inner Harbour is the other "must see" thing if you are limited in time, but I like the Harbour itself, rather than the touristy shops. Very picturesque. Victoria Inner Harbour, Vancouver Island British Columbia (BC), Canada. Chinatown is walking distance from the Inner Harbour and there are some good dim sum places.

But there are also some really cool neighborhoods away from the main tourist area in Victoria - funky shops and lots of little restaurants - if you have a car. I'd have to get my map out, but I will if you are interested.

if you can get out of the Victoria area, Sooke Harbour House is a lovely hotel/great restaurant in Sooke (maybe 20 minutes out from Victoria). We went whale watching from there. Lots of provincial parks and bike trails in that area.

If you have the time to get there, Tofino is a beautiful destination (and the drive goes through some really beautiful spots as well), but it's a hike from Victoria, so you'd want a night or two up there.

[Hanky]

I can not advise locals because it has been 39 years however expect to be blown away
with the sights.

[Night Owl]

Originally Posted by L Stegall

I can definitely give you some info on Victoria and Vancouver Island. How long do you have there before you board your ship and will you have a car to get out of the greater metro Victoria area? Of course, the world famous Butchart Gardens are well worth visiting and they are just outside Victoria in a suburb. If you are limited in time to one or two things, that would definitely be one of them. There is a lovely small resort, called Brentwood Bay, that is very close to it. In Victoria, the main tourist spot is, of course, right at the Harbour area - including the Empress Hotel (lovely high tea), the BC Museum of History and the Parliament building, but you can see that in an afternoon. I guess I'd say the Inner Harbour is the other "must see" thing if you are limited in time, but I like the Harbour itself, rather than the touristy shops. Very picturesque. Victoria Inner Harbour, Vancouver Island British Columbia (BC), Canada. Chinatown is walking distance from the Inner Harbour and there are some good dim sum places.

But there are also some really cool neighborhoods away from the main tourist area in Victoria - funky shops and lots of little restaurants - if you have a car. I'd have to get my map out, but I will if you are interested.

if you can get out of the Victoria area, Sooke Harbour House is a lovely hotel/great restaurant in Sooke (maybe 20 minutes out from Victoria). We went whale watching from there. Lots of provincial parks and bike trails in that area.

If you have the time to get there, Tofino is a beautiful destination (and the drive goes through some really beautiful spots as well), but it's a hike from Victoria, so you'd want a night or two up there.

We'll have a car, so mobility isn't an issue. Our schedule for Vancouver/Victoria is arrive on Sunday, check into the hotel and hit Grouse Mtn. Monday, hit Capilano Bridge in the morning, then a buddy is taking us on a pie run in his Cessna that afternoon. Tuesday, we'll cross to the Island and head up to Campbell River for the night. Wednesday, we're doing an all-day whale watching tour, then book it south to Victoria for the night. Thursday, we're going to Butchart Gardens and poking around the Victoria area (the museum you mentioned and maybe the harbor). That evening, we'll cross back to Vancouver, spend the night and board the ship Friday.

I think we'll have two full days and two half days in Denali with a flightseeing tour on the afternoon of our arrival or mid-day the next day.

Pretty much booked solid, huh?

[L Stegall]

Sounds like you have a plan! You will be busy and you will definitely want to go back. There is also so much to do in the Vancouver area and on up to Whistler. It's hard to do much justice to both in one short trip. Have a great time. I'm so jealous of cooler weather.

[Steelsun]

While in Victoria, if you have wheels, drive out to the lighthouse park - called Ft something or other. Nice old fortification and a lighthouse you can visit. Nature trails too. Awesome place.

[Steelsun]

Here it is: Fisgard: Fisgard Lighthouse Historical Site Victoria Vancouver Island

[dliveleyphotography]

I was just there a week ago and would definitely recommend taking the train from seward to anchorage, probably the best views I have ever seen. It was the highlight of my trip, I have spent a total of 4 1/2 weeks in Alaska between two trips and IMO its at the very top of the Alaska must see/do list. The train goes way back in the mountains to places you can't see by road travel. If you go that route, 100% pay the extra to get into the A class car with the seating in the glass dome car, its well worth it. The A class car also has its own private dinning area on the first floor with great food and it has a open deck (no glass) on the top at the back for viewing and taking pics.

As for Denali take the 12 hour tour all the way back to end of the park. It sounds like a long time, I was even dreading it before we went, but you get to see everything the park has to offer. You stop about every 1.5 hours and the bus stops to see and get pics of the animals along the way, so it doesn't really seem like 12 hours.

And if you didn't already know, you can only drive your own car 15 of the 90 something miles. You will miss out on alot if you don't take one of the bus tours.

If you haven't already booked a hotel for denali, definitely call ahead for rooms at the Denali Princess lodge, its the best one around there. Rooms are extremely nice, food places on site are really good and there right across the street from all the shops. Plus the tour buses will pick you up right at the hotel.


If your driving from anchorage to denali there really isn't much to see until you hit the park. Once your inside the park you have about 100 miles until you get the the actual part of the park with all the hotels and bus tour routes. Once your inside the park though, look for the turns outs they offer great views and you can even see Mt. McKinely on clear days.

[Steelsun]

Yeah, I was in Denali last month for a week (camped in Telketna - inside the park) and had a bus pass, so road everyday to different points for hikes and stuff.

Like David said - go back as far as you can. Wonder Lake is usually good enough (I found the stretch from the lake to the end not really worth the time/effort).

If you get a chance, hop off the bus at a few stops and catch one later (easier to do if you are solo or a couple). Some of the hikes I did that I enjoyed:
At Eilson - do the hill hike across the road - it'll take a while (about 1100 feet elevation change), but the view from the top and of the other side of the mountain is worth it. You'll also get great views of McKinley from up there (if the clouds are gone).
PolyChrome - I got off the bus here and walked the road back towards the entrance to the bridge. Wave down a bus later. Nice downhill hike, great vistas, and fun at the bridge with the river.
Teklaneka Campground - gets you easy access to the river - nice river hikes.

Our schedule was we flew into Anchorage, got picked up by inlaws (who had a camper), then drove to Quartz Creek (on the Kenai Peninsula), camped there 2 days with one day driving into Seward (to see it again, it had been 10 years since we last were there). Did alot of side trekking along the way.
Then onto Homer, spent about 5 days there (including a boat trip to Seldotna - great experience).
2 day drive out of Homer towards Denali - camped one night in Wasila, and one night at the Denali State Park (near the war memorial) - nice hikes there along a lake and to a waterfall and suspension bridge.
Then on to Denali - spent 4 days inside the park camping at Telketna, then a few more days at Riley.

From there the wife and I caught the train back to Anchorage. We got one of the private company dome cars - awesome, well worth the extra price - nice glass domes, food service below, lots of leg room, no screaming kids.

We spent a day and a half in Anchorage then flew back.

[dmcantrell]

go over to Stanley Park early in the morning and catch the sunrise over the city and the water :


Vancouver Skyline Panoramic by dmcantrell, on Flickr

[Night Owl]

Great info, folks! I just booked our flightseeing tour for Denali. We're springing for the one that lands on one of the glaciers on McKinley. The lady at the air service said the light was still great at 6:15pm, which is when our flight leaves Healy. We're taking the bus (shuttle, rather than tour) probably as far as Eielson and maybe farther if the wife decides she can do it. I don't think she can do 12 hours on a bus. Oh...and we're booked at the Princess Lodge, so we have that down.

Unfortunately, we've already booked with a bus from Seward to Anchorage. We needed to get in early and the train gets in late. After a week on the boat and a week flitting around YVR, that's our opportunity to hit a washateria. We'll board the train to Denali the next morning.