A Calgary to Vancouver road trip

You’ll get a warm welcome to Canada in Calgary, a traditional cowboy town that’s a sprawling mass of malls and skyscrapers with the Rockies right on your doorstep. Every August sees thousands of cowboys and enthusiasts descend on the city, kitted out in their finest chaps and hats for the famous Calgary Stampede. The best way to see the city is by bike using the 500 miles of city cycle paths. Take a bike tour of Stanley Park and you’ll quickly get a feel for Calgary. No visit is complete without a trip up the Calgary Tower and breakfast at Tim Hortons – it’s vital that you discover their coffee and doughnuts at the start of the trip as they’ll become a dietary staple.

When the sun sets, head to Stephen Avenue, which has a lively buzz from the dozens of pavement cafés and restaurants. Charcut is a hip steakhouse and serves up cuts of meat fit for the cowboy collective – try the bison brisket, beech mushrooms, boar bacon and sour cream with polenta. For something a bit more refined, River Café in Prince’s Island Park is a chic eatery in a leafy setting serving up moreish seasonal Canadian.

The Fairmont Palliser is a former railway hotel that oozes luxury. The grand entrance hall is a perfect welcome to the city, and downtown restaurants are within lassoing distance cuisine.

Heading west out of the city in your hire car towards Banff National Park (a Unesco World Heritage site), you’ll pass the Canadian Olympic Park with a view of the ski slope which (quite literally) launched Eddie the Eagle to fame in 1988. The road out of Calgary is flat, but you’ll see snow-capped mountains peek into view as you near the National Park. Red-suited Mounties patrol the main street with its clusters of souvenir shops and restaurants. A trip on the Banff Gondola is a must – standing on top of a mountain looking over the vastness of summits and valleys puts everything into perspective. For a once in a lifetime experience, go one further and take a helicopter ride over the Rockies.

The Fairmont Banff Springs floats above the pine tree forest on a hill just outside of town. The fairy-tale castle has eight bars and restaurants and offers activities such as river rafting and a 27-hole golf course.

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Leaving Banff behind, head just 30 minutes along the road to Lake Louise. The impossibly turquoise waters are one of the Rockies’ main draws and, depending on the season, you can either skate or canoe on the lake. Zigzagging hiking trails are etched on the mountains, but for most it’s a base on the way to Jasper National Park. It’s here that the real breath-taking scenery begins as you wind through the mountains following a ribbon of road, passing glaciers and canyons. Spend a few days in the park and strap on your crampons for a tour on the Colombia ice field or visit the churning emerald waters of the Athabasca canyon.

Just 11 miles to the Marmont basin’s ski slopes, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge provides a great base for activities in the park.

From Jasper, drive west on your final leg of the journey. Stop for a night in the historic railroad town of Kamloops to break up the drive. Ride the heritage railway, taste the delights of local wine on the Kamloops Wine Trail or head to the Kamloops Art Gallery, great for learning about the local culture.

Take the scenic long drive to Whistler – a truly year round destination. An iconic skiing destination in the winter, offering two mountains for all ability levels, a long season with impressive yearly snowfall and even played host to the 2010 Winter Olympics. In the Summer, Whistler is a true mountain playground offering kilometers of alpine hiking and mountain biking trails. The dynamic village has all sorts of dining options but Rim Rock Café and Oyster Bar is a cut above the rest – the menu changes seasonally but Elk and seafood platters are regularly featured.

Styled as a luxury mountain lodge, the Four Seasons Whistler is the ideal place to cosy down after a day outdoors.

This Pacific city is consistently named as one of the world’s ‘most liveable’ and it’s not hard to see why. If you’re a foodie, head to Mainland and Hamilton Streets in Yaletown, it’s a hub of great restaurants stop by Blue Water Café for fresh seafood with a Japanese twist. For historic cultural sights spend the day wandering around Gastown, named after Yorkshire sailor “Gassy” Jack Deighton who opened the city’s first saloon in the area. Visit the steam-powered clock and check out some of the cool boutiques such as Vancouver designer John Fluevog’s Shoes or Oak + Fort for uncomplicated, thoughtfully-designed clothing.

From Vancouver, take a ferry to Victoria on Vancouver Island and spend a few days spotting orca whales in the wild and checking out the Royal British Colombia Museum for more natural and human history.

The retro Burrard Hotel is a great budget option in Vancouver, and channels the city’s quirky style.

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