| ITINERARY |
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Arrive in Vancouver, pick up your rental car and check in at your downtown hotel location. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and nestled alongside the Coast Mountain Range, the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver is home to spectacular natural scenery and many sightseeing attractions.
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Victoria boasts a fascinating history and many famous landmarks like the Empress Hotel, Chinatown, Parliament Building, Helmcken House or the Antique Row. Surrounded by ocean waters, Victoria is also well known for excellent whale watching trips.
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Victoria – Olympic Nat’l Park
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Glacier capped mountain, alpine meadows, the wild Pacific coastline and magnificent stands of old-growth forests - including temperate rain forests - are found along the 100 km wilderness coastline of Olympic National Park. Explore the sights: Lake Crescent, Quinault Lake Rainforest, Hoh Rainforest, Mora and Rialto Beach. Park accommodation.
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Another day at Olympic National Park: visit Kalaloch with its wide sandy beach areas and rocky shorelines, examine wildflowers along Hurricane Ridge, drive to Deer Park with its spectacular alpine scenery or explore one of the numerous day hiking trail within the park.
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Olympic Park - Mount Rainier
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Mount Rainier is an active Cascade volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and glacial ice just 3 hours from Seattle. With 14,410 ft – the mountain is surrounded by lush old growth forests and most spectacular subalpine flower meadows. Take a drive to the Sunrise Visitor Center high on the eastern slopes of the mountain. The views from here are breathtaking.
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Visit the “Grove” with its thousand-year old trees, head from here west to Paradise for a hike through the alpine meadows and for spectacular views of the southern face of Mount Rainier, the Nisqually Glacier, the upper snowfields and the wild Tatoosh Mountain Range.
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You will reach Seattle after a 3-hour drive. Explore the lively westcoast city attractions: Pike Place Market with more than 200 speciality food, art and craft stores, the 605 ft tall Space Needle, Seattle Center and its Experience Music Project, the Pacific Science Center, the Imax Theatre along the harbor and Pioneer Square with a variety of shops and department stores. Try some fresh wild Pacific Salmon in on of the excellent seafood restaurants.
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Seattle – Cascade Nat’l Park
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Jagged peaks, deep valleys, cascading waterfalls and over 300 glaciers are awaiting you while visiting the Cascade National Park. The Ross Lake/Diablo Lake areas are ideal for fishing and boating. Hiking trails are accessible along the lake. Continue your journey to Winthrop: the western like community was found in 1868 when gold was discovered in the Slate Creek District. Overnight.
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Winthrop is known for its American Old West design of all buildings in town. Time to explore the area before continuing to Spokane. Visit some wineries, the Northwest Arts Museum or stroll through Spokane's shopping district.
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Spokane – Glacier Nat’l Park
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The Glacier/Waterton Lake National Park area borders the Canadian Provinces Alberta and British Columbia. Both parks are cooperatively managed and recognized as International Peace Parks between the two nations. Explore the many sights or attend a ranger guided naturalist program.
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Glacier Nat’l Park - Waterton
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The “Going-to-the-Sun Road” is a national historic narrow and winding road across the Continental Divide and one of the most scenic highways in North America. Be sure to detour into the numerous turnoffs for awesome views of mountainsides and wildflower meadows. Grizzly Bear sightings are very common along the road.
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Head to Calgary – known for its famous Stampede during the month of July. Time to explore the city: Calgary Tower, Olympic Plaza, Calgary Zoo and the Glenbow Museum. Try some Alberta Beef in one of Calgary’s superb Steakhouses in the evening. Overnight downtown Calgary.
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Leisurly drive via Canmore to Banff National Park – established in 1885 - and just 110 km from Calgary. Rest of the day in Banff. Explore Banff Avenue or visit the historical Whyte Museum or the Banff Museum of Art. The area is part of the UNESCO Rocky Mountain Park Heritage Site and offers many attractions including Upper Hot Springs, Bow Falls, Banff Springs Hotel and the Hoodoos. Take the Gondola to the Top of Sulphur Mountain and enjoy an amazing 360-degree view of unmatched beautiful mountain scenery.
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Travel on one the world’s most scenic mountain highways – the Icefields Parkway toward Jasper. It offers picture perfect mountain views and outstanding wildlife viewing. Arrive at famous Lake Louise, the 'Jewel of the Rockies'. Explore the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and don't forget to take picture of stunning emerald green lake. Stopover at the Columbia Icefields Centre for an interpretive Ice Explorer ride onto the Athabasca Glacier (optional) before arriving in Jasper.
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Jasper National Park is located admist the most beautiful wilderness of the Rocky Mountains. Visit Maligne Canyon and glacier-fed Maligne Lake. From here take a cruise to Spirit Island. The top of Whistlers Mountain promises the best views of the rockies. Continue on the Yellowhead Highway via Prince George to Smithers.
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Follow the Yellowhead Highway and stop at the Gitksan Native Village of 'Ksan, adjacent to the town of Old Hazelton with a large totem pole collection. From here you can take a detour to Fort St. James, an authentic 1896 Hudson's Bay Company fur trading post. You will reach Prince Rupert in the late afternoon.
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Prince Rupert – Port Hardy
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Take an unforgettable day cruise aboard the ferry through the majestic Inside Passage. Aside from a short stretch of open ocean the route leads through a narrow maze of channels, passes, and reaches. Keep your eyes peeled for whales, porpoises and bald eagles. Arrive in Port Hardy later in the evening.
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Port Hardy – Campbell River
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Leave Port Hardy and travel to Campbell River – also known as the salmon fishing capital of BC. Short ferry trip to Quadra Island. You overnight at a native operated lodge overlooking the Inlet. Visit the Cape Mudge Lighthouse, one of the many art galleries and beautiful Rebecca Spit.
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Another day on Quadra Island. The sheltered coves and inland lakes are home to a incredible variety of wildlife including deer, river otters, harbour seals, sea lions, cormorants, blue herons and peregrine falcons. Optional: A full day brown bear viewing north of Campbell River.
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Campbell River - Vancouver
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Travel down Vancouver Islands East Coast to Nanaimo. Short ferry passage to Horseshoe Bay on the mainland. Continue to Vancouver for some sightseeing and exiting city life. Finish your journey with a seafood dinner in one of Vancouvers famous seafood restaurants. Overnight.
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Time for some last minute shopping before returning your rental car. End of tour.
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