I’ve never spent so much time deliberating a destination as this summer and so I’m turning here for insight from others. You all did a fabulous job with helping me locate a winter vacation spot (I’m still recovering from re-entry to reality from that trip), and it’s a place I’m sure I’ll go back to again.
Oh, small world… one of H’s friends in academia on the east coast, who he got to know through professional contacts is renting the exact same house as we did - only… he had NO idea we had just rented it in early March. The two of them started talking the week after we got back, and were comparing locations on the west coast for family vacations. This guy did a post-doc at UC-Irvine, and wanted to take his family back to the area for a couple of weeks this summer. When he and H started comparing locations of the house they each stayed in/made reservations at, it ends up they found the same house on VRBO as we did, and have reserved it for two weeks, with no knowledge that we were even there! Small, small world.
My only hesitation with asking you all about this vacation is because I know I’m going to eventually have to say no to two of the options I’m considering, and I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings because I know you all feel passionate about the places you’ve been for various reasons. But what I do learn, I will use down the road, as H and I have decided that everything I want to do at this time will likely be three different trips that we will eventually take So… drum roll please… my three options are:
Vancouver/Vancouver Island/Olympic National Park - I've found a neat VRBO near Sooke on Vancouver Island - this would be a more laid back vacation - some activity, but mostly enjoying the scenery from the patio of the house, and doing some day hikes. Not really interested in spending any time in Vancouver or Victoria - I need to get back to nature.
Banff National Park combined with Glacier National Park in Montana - gosh, how can you not choose this when you read all the reviews of what phenomenal scenery there is in Banff. I've also found a nice one-bedroom VRBO in Canmore that would make a great base for day trips into Banff, and up to Jasper. Glacier is only a less than five hour drive from Banff, so we'd likely do that, too. If anyone can share, what are the main differences between Banff and Glacier?
Alaska expedition cruise. I thought I had ruled this one out, but now I'm reconsidering. I am interested in going to places and seeing things I've not come close to seeing before. All of these choices could fit that bill, but I spent quite a bit of time exploring this option tonight, and it is just unbelievably unique in so many ways. The line I'm looking at is Lindblat - they partner with National Geographic to do much smaller cruise trips that are more to our liking. I'm not at all interested in doing a huge, major cruise line trip - we are not interested casinos, shopping, Broadway shows, lounge, etc. We want to experience nature. And of course, if I'm going to consider Alaska, the question is, do we add on a Denali excursion either before or after? If we do Alaska, I don't know if I'd go back and do it again, just to do Denali, and I don't think I'd do Denali just by itself.
We are looking at August or early September. H is saying he is willing to take nine days off from work, but if we do Alaska/Denali, I will have to talk him into 11 - it’s only two more days! He can do it.
I know several people who have taken an Alaskan cruise and have heard nothing but good. A work friend did the Lindblat cruise with her family and it sounded amazing!
Definitely add on Denali if you take the Alaska cruise. And go as early in the summer as you can (September may be getting a bit late). (I’m Tiredofsnow because we lived in Anchorage for seven years!)
My SIL and BIL recently went to Banff. Loved, loved, loved it. Can’t wait to go again. At their resort they told them to come back in September, that it was so beautiful then and the crowds were gone. I had another friend go over the summer and was unhappy because everything was so crowded.
It gets very rainy, and sometimes stormy, for the Alaskan cruises in late August/ September. I would choose one of the other options if that’s the time of year you are going. If you do decide to do the Alaskan cruise, don’t rule out the larger ships. Alaskan cruises tend to be more sedate than Caribbean cruises. There is plenty of nature to be found off the ship. The ship is just there for accommodation purposes. Check out boards.cruisecritic.com.
The Alaskan Cruise…with the extended land trip is on my bucket list. Other family members went a couple of years ago, and lots of friends have gone too. They all said…THE most spectacular scenery they ever saw.
Several included days in the Pacific NW prior to the trip…to help deal with the time change from the east coast.
I would go to Alaska, hands down! I was in the interior and the Arctic Circle during the winter, and that was amazing, but I always wanted to go back and see it in the summer as well.
If you decide on Vancouver Island, you might want to consider the Tofino area over Sooke. The landscape in the Tofino area is absolutely jaw droppingly stunning. We stayed at a beautiful inn called The Wickaninish Inn (sp?). Highly,highly recommended. Sooke is pretty but really can’t compare.
I have been reading cruisecritic.com, and that’s where I was convinced I don’t want to do a larger ship. They cannot get into the smaller inlets and bays that that the smaller ships can. The Lindblad cruises to Alaska only take less than 100 passengers per ship - that’s how small they are. People on Lindblad talk about how they might be stopped in an area where wildlife is feeding, etc. for an hour or more, while they see the larger ships cruising by so fast, by the time people on the larger ships are aware there’s something to look at, they’ve already passed it or don’t have enough time to get to that side of the ship where the sights are. Pretty much every day at sea, Lindblad offers excursions where you can kayak, hike, etc. so you can explore even further. We realized last year on a cruise, living with several other thousand people was not our cup of tea.
That being said, I didn’t realize August and September got into the rainy months (although I do know the coast can be very rainy). I will definitely take that into consideration and may come to realize if we want to do the Alaska expedition cruise, we may have to do that another year when we can go earlier. I thought August/September would be good because it would be warmest then (although I realize it will never be 80s warm along the coast).
@nottelling - I’m having a hard time finding any general information about Vancouver Island, that suggests areas where to stay based on what your criteria are. I just happened to pick Sooke because that’s where I found a good VRBO. But when I look at a terrain map of the island, Tofino does seem to be more like the area we’d prefer to be in. I will check out the B&B you mentioned - ideally, we’d prefer a small house/condo where we can eat in for most breakfasts and lunches, then maybe find a place for dinner. I realize that that part of the island isn’t very commercial (which is what we prefer) and we may have to drive to find a nice place for dinner. That’s perfectly fine with us. Just to give you an idea of what we like, I found this near Sooke: http://www.vrbo.com/363298
Still liking the Banff option because again, we could combine it with Glacier, which I hear is phenomenal. I think for those two places, late August/September would be perfect, weather-wise; we could delay until after Labor Day to minimize the crowds. I actually have a friend from high school who has lived in Calgary much of her adult life, and I know she’s been to Banff many times. If we decide to go there, I would reach out to her for her wisdom.
I have no idea how you choose, they are all great options. However, no way on a September Alaska cruise unless you enjoy rain and cool weather, though toy never know. That cruise line sounds awesome, I wonder if they go other places too.
All great options. I love the Vancouver/Vancouver Island area. Agree with @nottelling that you should check oout the West Coast of Vancouver Island around Tofino.
@busdriver11 - oh yes! They do. I know someone who has taken them for Arctic and Antarctic cruises. They also do the Galapagos, California Baja, South Africa, and lots of other places. They cater to people who really want to experience what they’re seeing, and I think also have on board as part of their crew, a photographer from National Geographic that will help you with your location shots. http://www.expeditions.com
They’re not cheap, but you’re paying for a lot of professionals on that boat.
@nottelling - that place would be perfect… if we had more people! I can’t justify paying that and having extra bedrooms for just the two of us. But it would be awesome with another family.
I have been to Alaska twice, though never on a cruise. It is a great place to visit including Denali. Perhaps if others are saying the time of year is not ideal, you could do it another year.
I have been to both Banff and Glacier National Park. Both are phenomenal. You can’t go wrong with this choice based on what you say you like to do.
Yeah, definitely, figured it would be too big but just wanted to post it to give you an idea of the types of views, etc. I’m sure there some fabulous smaller places. I just happened to have that one bookmarked.
We did an Alaskan land tour (bus)/cruise years ago on a smaller ship ( that could go in the inside passage.) I think we went in August. It was beautiful, relaxing, and super fun. But of course you never know what time it is because the sun is always up. It did rain some when I think back but never hard (think light rain jacket not downpours–at any rate it didn’t slow anyone down from being outside.) Took a helicopter ride and landed on a glacier. Amazing experience all around. The cruise was especially fun. We stopped in little towns to spend the day, ate great food, entertainment at night. What’s not to like?
The tour bus driver said his vacation (he’d lived in Alaska for 20 plus years) was to head from Anchorage down to Seward and just sit. He said it was the most beautiful spot in the world.
I’ve been on three Alaska cruises. By far our favorite aspect of the cruises have been the days in the inside passage. Since, like you, we are not really interested in most on-ship experiences we have decided to utilize the Inside Passage Ferry system on our next trip. A sort of “build your own cruise” experience which combined with a stay in Vancouver will suit us just fine. www.bcferries.com/schedules/inside/
I was on an Alaskan cruise the last week of August @ 6 or 7 years ago. Some rain, but not bad. It was on a major cruise ship, but still, oh so beautiful. After being on several cruises to the Caribbean & Hawaii, it was very funny to see people walking around in heavy Winter parkas! But the scenery was really beautiful. We stopped at Victoria Island on the way back, also beautiful. My sister lived on Vancouver Island for 2 years and always talked about how beautiful it was…my mother had been to Banff…(and a nearby placed called "Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump!) you cannot forget that name!..not being much help in your decision, but they all sound so nice!
