Motorhome holidays in western Canada

We dreamed of taking our daughters on an extended motorhome vacation through western North America. Just before the oldest went to school, we decided to rent a motorhome from Cruise Canada for 7 weeks, to and from Calgary.

To start with the happy ending, it was a very successful vacation and we all enjoyed it immensely.

Canada is great for traveling with children. Already at the transfer in Toronto this became clear: in the airport terminal there was a playground and the girls immediately joined in with some English-speaking kids. They picked up their first words of English just like that, even before we arrived in Calgary.

After a few days in Calgary in an apartment to get used to the time difference, we went to pick up the motorhome. At the depot, however, it turned out that the rented C25 from Cruise Canada was not ready. They gave us a C30. We looked at each other. That's that really big 10-meter-long motorhome, isn't it? Isn't this one way too big for us?
This camper turned out to be our "salvation." In fact, there is a bedroom in the back with a big bed, where the little ones can sleep while you are still in the living room at night. In a country like Canada, there is no distinction, whether you drive a C25 or a C30. But inside, it's a world of difference. And in May and June you really need this inside space, because it is cold at night and you can't always eat outside or have a cozy seat.

We first drove to the famous spa town of Banff, the beginning of the Rocky Mountains. Here you can hike and breathe the pure mountain air and bathe in the hot springs. A little further on is the wonderfully situated Lake Louise, with the lake of the same name. Here too are several hikes you can do. There were playgrounds at all the campgrounds, and you will also find public scrambling and playing facilities in the towns.

One of the highlights of the Canadian Rockies is the Icefields Parkway. Stunningly beautiful! Be sure not to miss the Columbia Icefield. With huge buses you drive on the Athabasca Glacier, an experience for everyone!

Further on is Jasper, this too a nice town with lots of opportunities in the area for canoeing, hiking and being in nature. Via the highest mountain in Canada we reached Wells Grey Provincial Park. A gem with its numerous waterfalls and lakes.

And then Vancouver, a city that always fascinates and has something to offer for young and old: Stanley Park, the Aquarium, Grouse Mountain, Gastown and much more. We drove on along the beautiful Sunshine Coast, which was actually sun-drenched. Actually, they are all little islands and you take the ferry as soon as the road stops again. At Powell River you can cross over to the "big island": Vancouver Island. Beautifully beautiful. Some places have already been discovered by the masses, others are still nice and quiet and everywhere you are in the beautiful Canadian nature. With a little luck you can also see orcas and dolphins in these waters.

Barbara: We drove on along the beautiful Sunshine Coast, which was actually sunlit. Actually it's all little islands and you take the ferry as soon as the road stops again.

But also across the border in the U.S. the nature and landscape are fantastic: Port Angeles in the U.S. again you reach by ferry and then you end up in the Olympic National Park or rather in a fairytale forest. The Ho Rainforest certainly seems to have been the model for a picture book with elves and gnomes. But also the west coast of this peninsula is incomparable.

Every day the motorhome became more the home and the house in the faraway Netherlands was already almost forgotten. Every day exploring, every day vacationing in the most beautiful places. When the weather turned bad, we just drove on.

Then along the rugged but incredibly beautiful Oregon coast: rocks, waves, beaches, forests - it is a paradise for nature lovers. The kids enjoyed it as much as the parents: sand castles were built, pebbles and shells collected, new playgrounds discovered, mini golf played, bathing, fires stoked and hiking.

We left the coast and came to Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, to Craters of the Moon National Park in Idaho just to name natural monuments worth seeing.

Two of the absolute highlights were the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The geysers and the buffalo, the mountains and the prairies, boiling mud and wildflowers, deer and squirrels - you just don't get bored. Because it was the Fourth of July and therefore Independence Day, the Americans themselves went out and suddenly the campgrounds were full. The summer vacation had begun. From now on, we were going to call a few days in advance to reserve campsites.

In the U.S. state of Montana is Glacier National Park which borders the Canadian Waterton National Park. All together a very large area of mountains, lakes, forests, deer and fantastic panoramic views. Here we also saw some black bears. Therefore, it is not allowed to leave food lying around and everything must always be stored in the RV or safely locked in a "bear container."

And then it was time to drive back to Calgary. Unfortunately, we had to return the motorhome or "home" as the girls called our "Cruisy Busy" again. The oldest cried, our home was gone. She could no longer imagine the home in Amsterdam. What now?