Fall is coming soon and I would like to reflect on our family summer holiday. We decided to take a “Griswold family cross-country drive” – Canadian style. We planned a two-week drive from Brandon to Vancouver Island. It was not my first time on Vancouver Island, but it was my first time driving through the Rocky Mountains.
We made our first stop in Moose Jaw, Sask., at the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa, where we spent two days in Canada’s largest therapeutic geothermal mineral water pool. The natural warming pool was a great way to relax and start our holiday. We continued our drive to Calgary, where we spent two days visiting family and Canada’s largest living history museum, Heritage Park. The Park theme is “How the West was Once.” With more than 200 exhibits and attractions it offers fun for the whole family.
After the great time in Alberta we packed up and headed to British Columbia. Our first stop was in Revelstoke, B.C., 
where they have an amazing attraction called the Enchanted Forest. “It provides summer travelers of all ages with a refreshing stop in the enchanting world of fantasy, set in untouched nature.” – The Enchanted Forrest resort. Driving through the Rocky Mountains for the first time was spectacular. If someone was counting, I must have said WOW every five minutes. With so many scenic views and pull-over locations, we tried to take it all in.
Being on the road for a week, we made it to Vancouver Island. We spent time on the harbour front and took in the local seafood dishes. On the docks we met a guide who was part of a whale watching experience. We decided to spend four hours on the water around Victoria. They guarantee a whale sighting and they followed through with their promise.
The next day we spent the day with family, at my cousin’s wedding. The wedding took place at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt. The base provided a great landscape for a wedding, with a 180-degree, unobstructed view of the harbour.
On our way home, we stopped in at Lake Louise where we spent time at Moraine Lake as well. The view of the mountains and the clarity of the lake could not be completely captured by a photograph. The clear blue water and the endless mountain peaks was a view I could take in for hours. We spent the rest of our trip heading back home to Brandon, with only a few bathroom and food stops.
It was a wonderful experience and I would recommend a western drive through the mountains for a summer fun, family vacation.
Stewart Dyck
Publishing Editor,
Design Your Home
