Lonely Planet - Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Canadian Rockies 1 (Road Trips Guide)

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WELCOME TO THE CANADIAN ROCKIES

Journey through some of North Americas most spectacular landscapes, with emerald-hued glacial lakes and snowy peaks, thick forest and white-water rivers.

Whether youre keen to dip in a hot spring, hike to a 515-million-year-old fossil or savour fresh-roasted coffee in a vibrant town, the three trips in this book will take you there.

Get your culture and history fix at a local museum, or stretch your legs with a walking-tour in Vancouver or Calgary. Cycle down the longest cycling descent in Canada, or relax in a riverside log chalet over the following pages, the choice is yours.

And we havent even mentioned the jaw-dropping wildlife viewing yet. Catch a glimpse of bighorn sheep, local elk, bears, marmots and plenty of moose as you traverse the regions most scenic national parks, from Jasper and Banff to Kootenay and Yoho.

Time to hit the road.

Moraine Lake
RAFAEL CLASSEN/500PX

CANADIAN ROCKIES HIGHLIGHTS

Lake Louise

Ringed by an impressive amphitheater of mountains, the robin-egg-blue waters of Lake Louise are a sight to behold. See it on

DOUGALL_PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES

Peyto Lake

Take in the lakes otherworldly emerald waters, then hike on to Bow Summit Lookout for breathtaking views and scurrying marmots. See it on

KAVRAM/SHUTTERSTOCK

Golden

Base yourself here for winter ski adventures and summer mountain biking at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. See it on

ALL CANADA PHOTOS/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

CITY GUIDE

View from Stanley Park, toward Coal Harbour
BLUEJAYPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

Vancouver always lands atop the best places to live lists, and whos to argue? Sea-to-sky beauty surrounds the laid-back, cocktail-lovin metropolis. With skiable mountains on the outskirts, beaches fringing the core and Stanley Parks thick rainforest just blocks from downtowns glass skyscrapers, its a harmonic convergence of city and nature.

Transit in Vancouver is cheap, extensive and generally efficient. Vancouvers TransLink (www.translink.ca) bus network is extensive. The SkyTrain system is fast but limited to only a few routes.

There are some free spots on residential side streets but many require permits. Numerous streets have metered parking (up to $6 per hour). Pay-parking lots (typically from $6 per hour) are a better proposition arrive before 9am at some for early-bird, day-rate discounts. For a map of parking-lot locations, check EasyPark (www.easypark.ca).

Vancouver has an eye-popping array of generally good-value dine-out options. Gastown has innovative independent dining rooms, while Main Street offers quirky indie restaurants and neighborhood hangouts. Chinatown, not surprisingly, has some top-notch authentic eateries.

Staying in downtown puts you within walking distance to stores, restaurants, nightlife and some attractions. The West End is near Stanley Park with many midrange restaurants nearby.

Scout Magazine (www.scoutmagazine.ca) Hip food and bar scene zine.

Tourism Vancouver (www.tourismvancouver.com) Official tourism site.

Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/canada/vancouver) Destination information and reviews.