shineonyou

I'd like to road trip this June with a friend up to Vancouver and then take Trans-Canada 1, probably east as far as Winnepeg. I'd like to go all the way east, but I don't know if we'll have more than four weeks to get from central California, to Vancouver, to wherever, to Iowa. So I'm trying to be realistic.

I just know I'd like to see some national parks, nice scenery, and cities. Reading through Trans-Canada Highway Trip & Vacation PlannerTrans-Canada Highway Trip & Vacation Planner I'm a little overwhelmed with the options, and I don't really know where I should want to stay or what I should want to see.

If anyone here has some advice or recommendations, they'd be much appreciated!

On more thing, I used to be fairly scared of driving in the mountains, but I've since gotten over that after moving to California. Unless it's raining. And I'd die of fear if it were snowing. Is driving through the Canadian Rockies terribly crazy mountain driving?

mollymore

since I grew up in winnipeg and still have family there but have lived on the west coast for most of the last 12 years this is a trip I've done many times. the mountains are, well, big mountains, and yes, you drive right through them. So I don't know what you mean by crazy mountain driving but it is definitely mountain driving. it's dangerous, like all driving is dangerous, so ya gotta keep your wits about ya, you know?
Have you considered the yellowhead highway as an alternate route? It runs furthur north and it seems that you have time. It's more interesting and scenic and you get to go through places like Jasper and Saskatoon.

Also if you are coming up from Calfornia I highly recommend getting off the I-5 and taking some of the coastal highways through Oregon and Washington. A lot slower but about a million times more beauty.

have fun

Molly

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shineonyou

I think I saw the yellowhead highway on a map. Would you recommend the cities it travels through over those on Trans-Canada 1. I'll look into that as well.

I've actually done Highway 101 from the middle of Oregon to the Bay area, so I don't know if I really need to see it again. It is pretty, but I'd rather just get up to places I haven't been like Washington and western Canada.

Thanks for the insight, especially in regards to the mountain driving. I think the craziest mountains I've driven through were on I-84 in eastern Oregon. It was lightly snowing so I wanted to have a heart attack, but I would have been a lot better about if it was sunny. That's why I want to do this in the middle of June.

I'd really like to do this, but I'm getting vibes that my friend might back out on me. And I'm not doing another solo road trip. Sigh.

The Sasquatch

Hey, what's your kind of timeframe and schedule going to look like? spending a few days in the places you wanna check out? or just whizzing through and on the road every day?

I'm going to be ending a month long trip at the start of june and i'll either be in san fran or LA area. Haven't booked a flight home yet because i am contemplating doing your route pretty much, but without my own wheels. if you're down with roadtripping with strange tpunks, then you might not have to do it solo. just throwing this out there, wouldn't be able to commit right at this moment, but would defo be interested.

as for which highway, well, as far as saskatchewan goes, I far prefer saskatoon (on the 16) over regina, but not really sure what else the #1 offers east of regina.

travelchick75

I agree with taking the yellowhead when your going through Saskatchewan. Saskatoon is FAR prettier than Regina. Plus if you take the 16 into Manitoba you are getting a more scenic route than the boring and flat one you are forced to take on the Trans Can. Just my two cents.

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mollymore

it's the more scenic route through all the western provinces

Molly

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libertine. epicurean. hedonist.

shineonyou

In regards to taking 16, what about going from Calgary up to Saskatoon. Is Edmonton worth seeing? I really need to get a guide book because I really know nothing about western Canada other than the major cities and I'd like to see smaller, more scenic sights in addition to major cities of course.

I'd leave no later than the start of June. I'm flexible about it. I'm going to take awhile. I would probably take almost a week to get to Vancouver because I'll hopefully visit a friend in at least Seattle if not Portland as well. Ideally, I'd like to take three weeks or more to get to Iowa. I'm working on an itinerary, which is suffering from my complete lack of knowledge of tourism in western Canada. :/

If that works with your schedule, then maybe it would work out for you to come with...? I live south of San Francisco (in Monterey), so that's where I'd be able to pick you up. I'm still gonna try to convince a friend to go with me, but let me know if you're interested. Here's my email: summernightcity03@hotmail.com.