Canada - tips from a guide
If you love beautiful nature, you should definitely visit Canada once in your life. The best way to experience this beautiful country is by motorhome. The Rocky Mountains mountain chain with its snow-capped mountains and turquoise lakes is a real picture. The rugged nature of Vancouver Island and biking through beautiful Vancouver are other highlights of this spectacular country.
Combining it with America (Washington State and/or Montana) or taking a boat that takes you along the coast of British Columbia is a nice option. I lived in the Rockies for a while and had the opportunity to explore many beautiful places there as a guide and in my free time. I like to share about my experiences, which I hope will give you ideas for your trip.
Spring/summer/autumn
Canada has a short season. Even in June you can encounter snow while hiking in the mountains. In September, I experienced night temperatures below 0 degrees. Unfortunately, I slept in a tent and not a heated RV. Despite the variable weather, I can still recommend spring (April, May, June) and fall (September, October). This is because then you have to share this beautiful wilderness with far fewer people. Moreover, in spring the wild animals come out of hibernation and can often be found near the road, where there is plenty of food at that time. And you have the great bonus of seeing newborn cubs during this time. In autumn you can enjoy the beautiful golden colors of the larch trees. The wild animals are busy looking for food before hibernating, so even now you have a great chance to encounter them.
Wildlife
The wildlife sightings in Canada were a highlight for me. You can spot whales from Vancouver, or even better, Victoria. You have the chance to encounter bears on a hike (in this case, make yourself big and wear bear spray) or at a little more distance from a jetboat safari (Tofina and Blue River). Elk, wapiti, wolves, mountain goat, eagles, the list of animals that can be seen is endless.
The road to Maligne Lake near Jasper and the Bow Valley Parkway near Banff are good roads to drive on just after sunrise or just before sunset in search of animals. I found it very impressive to see salmon jumping up against the falls in Rearguard Falls Provincial Park, near Mt Robson. These salmon will have traveled thousands of kilometers upstream on their way to their birthplace where they lay their eggs and then die.
Tips
Don't skip Mount Robson, Canada's highest mountain, along the way. The hike to Kinney Lake is doable for everyone and a great highlight awaits at the end of the hike. Visit Waterton Lakes National Park and hike the Akamina Ridge trail. There is a bit of climbing and scrambling in some places, but it is one of the most beautiful hikes in Canada. Visit an ice hockey game or the Calgary Stampede, an annual rodeo festival.
Some dining tips are not to be missed. Try Jasper Bakery's bear claw, a typical North American sweet pastry. Stop by the sweet Strawberry Moose Snackery in Clearwater for breakfast or a coffee. If you're in Canada, you must try poutine once. It sounds a little weird: fries in gravy with cheese, but Canadians love it. Tim Hortens is another classic. This Canadian chain is known for its timbites: mini donuts in a variety of flavors.