Rockies Thrills & Glacier Chills 2013 (For Families)

Day 1 ARRIVE VANCOUVER

Get ready for a thrilling adventure with your family and friends in the eye-popping Coast Mountains and Canadian Rockies, combining spectacular natural wonders with river rafting, canoeing, hiking and more. Check into your hotel and get settled. At 6 p.m., gather at the hotel with your Travel Director and fellow adventurers for a festive Kick-off Party. (Kick Off Party) 
 

Day 2 VANCOUVER - SEA-TO-SKY-HIGHWAY - WHISTLER

Start your morning with a brief city tour of vibrant Vancouver including Gastown, Chinatown and Stanley Park. Then, travel the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway to Whistler, stopping to visit the Britannia Mine Museum. Here, descend by train into the depths of this historic mining tunnel and try your luck panning for gold. Arrive in Whistler and stop in at the Sports Museum and learn about some of the athletic history of this city that hosted the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. This afternoon, choose from two options: head out on a guided two-hour bike tour through this popular summer outdoors mecca, or visit the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre to learn about two distinctly different First Nations of British Columbia. Then, hold your breath when you look more than 395 metres (1,300 feet) straight down from the world’s highest and longest gondola ride, the Peak 2 Peak Alpine Experience between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains. This evening, stroll around Whistler Village and enjoy a Highlight Dinner at a local restaurant. (Full Breakfast / Highlight Dinner) 
 

Day 3 WHISTLER - CACHE CREEK - KAMLOOPS

Leave Whistler and the Coast Mountains and step back in time with a visit to historic Hat Creek Ranch. Interpreters in period clothing bring alive the fascinating tales of this 1860s roadhouse, which catered to miners and wagon trains. Stroll through the apple orchard, view the antique farming equipment and explore the ranch buildings. Walk along beautiful Hat Creek to the native village of the Shuswap Nation where members share their captivating culture. Continue to Kamloops and check into your hotel. Tonight, rally your mateys for a fun-filled evening of miniature golf. (Full Breakfast) 
 

Day 4 KAMLOOPS - JASPER (2 NIGHTS)

Travel into the majestic Rocky Mountains, via the scenic Yellowhead Highway. Stop for a knock-out view of Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Upon arriving in Jasper, you and your family will face two thrilling choices—either get splashed on a rip-roaring white water rafting adventure on the mighty Athabasca River or take a gentle float trip on calmer waters. Whichever you choose, you’ll marvel at the magnificent landscapes of Jasper National Park. After dinner, enjoy a fun presentation on the park’s wildlife with a Local Expert. (Full Breakfast / Dinner) 
 

Day 5 JASPER NATIONAL PARK FREE TIME

Spend today rockin’ the Rockies as you like, or choose from optional outdoor activities. Ask your family members for a quick vote on whether to take a scenic cruise on the pristine Maligne Lake or if they want to don their hiking boots for a guided alpine walk for “oohing and aahing” beneath the splendour of Mount Edith Cavell. (Full Breakfast)

 

Day 6 JASPER - ICEFIELDS PARKWAY - LAKE LOUISE - BANFF (2 NIGHTS)

Now that you’ve done some thrillin’, time to start the chillin’ as you travel along the stunning Icefields Parkway and the amazing Columbia Icefield, the largest reservoir of ice and snow in the Rocky Mountains. Ride out on the massive Athabasca Glacier ice sheet aboard a specially designed Ice Explorer and learn amazing facts about glaciers and their impact on the environment. Travel on to Banff National Park for another peak experience. As you step out at Bow Summit, the highest point on the Columbia Icefield, marvel at the turquoise colour of glacier-fed Peyto Lake below. Travel on to the ultimate postcard-setting, Lake Louise, where you can do some chillin’ on your own — maybe paddle your own canoe across the emerald clear waters or take a leisurely hike along the shore. Tonight, settle into the welcoming mountain community of Banff. (Full Breakfast) 
 

Day 7 BANFF SIGHTSEEING AND FREE TIME

Strike out on your own this morning with an optional helicopter flight over Mount Assiniboine. Then, get going with one Rocky Mountain high after another. View beautiful Bow Falls, majestic Tunnel Mountain Drive, Surprise Corner and Sulphur Mountain. Play a game of “What creature do you see?” as you spot the whimsical hoodoos overlooking Bow Valley. This afternoon, you can opt to put on your boots and bandanas for some spectacular horseback riding, following the trail along the Bow River and hanging on to your hat at the Windy Knoll Viewpoint. Tonight, join the gang at a Farewell Dinner pizza night with a rousing game of bowling celebrating this high-scoring family experience. (Full Breakfast / Farewell Dinner)

 

Day 8 BANFF - DEPART CALGARY

Descend from the glorious Canadian Rockies and stop at Calgary’s Canada Olympic Park, site of the 1988 Winter Olympics. Enjoy a discussion with a Local Expert, one of the young athletes in training, and browse the Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum. Take a complimentary transfer to Calgary International Airport or to the hotel in Calgary if you are extending your stay. Please do not schedule any flights before 3 p.m. (Full Breakfast)