Wonders of the West from Vancouver

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VACATION FEATURES:

Accommodations
- 2 nights hotel accommodation

Meals
- 2 Breakfasts in Kelowna
- 3 Lunches in Revelstoke, Kelowna and Minter Gardens

Sightseeing Excursions and Tours
- 2 Day Journey from Vancouver to Calgary
- 2 Winery Tours and Tastings in Kelowna

Admissions
- Minter Gardens with guided Walking Tour

Documentation
- Itinerary, brochures, maps and vouchers
- National Park entrance fees
- Hotel luggage handling

ITINERARY:

DAY 1 - Vancouver to Kelowna

Your two-day journey through western Canada starts with a morning departure from the sights and sounds of downtown Vancouver. The first leg of travel today travels from cityscape, through the lush Fraser delta region, and over the Coquihalla Pass. Start along the mighty Fraser River (named after Simon Fraser, a fur trader who explored the area in 1808), a major salmon spawning route. Up to 10 million fish a year travel up to this waterway each fall to the exact stream bed of their birth where they will complete their life cycle by spawning and dying. This act, in turn, will attract and feed many predators such as eagles and bears who depend on this yearly feast to build body fat that will sustain them during the lean winter months ahead. Later in the day, a two hour stop at Minter Gardens will feed your body and soothe your senses with a delectable lunch (included) and guided walk through the exquisite gardens. After lunch, continue your trek on the Coquihalla Highway up into the heart of ranching country. A brief stop at the Merritt Visitor Centre allows time to stretch and learn about this historic territory, one of the premier ranching settlements in British Columbia from 1880. Turning east, the road takes you into the famed wine region of the Okanagan Valley. The last stop of the day is at a local winery for an exclusive tour and educational wine tasting. Sample a variety of hand-crafted Okanagan wines in this unique and authentic setting, surrounded by the actual vineyards where the fruit is produced on site. Kelowna is the cosmopolitan and cultural centre of the Okanagan Valley, including five pristine golf courses, white sand beaches, orchards and Big White ski area, in addition to over a dozen local wineries. An evening arrival at your selected Kelowna hotel allows time for dinner (meal not included) and exploration of the lakefront.

DAY 2 - Exploring Kelowna

Start your day off with a delicious Okanagan breakfast (included) at your hotel. Afterwards you will have your choice of taking one of two tours. "A Taste of the Okanagan" allows you to visit the Okanagan Lavender Herb Farm to learn more about this fragrant plant. There will be a Lavender Presentation as well as a gift boutique. From there, travel to Tantalus Vineyards for a wine tasting overlooking Okanagan Lake. After this, you will travel to Summerhill Sunset Organic Bistro for lunch (included - any wine with lunch is not included). After lunch, continue to Carmelis Goat Cheese Artisan for some cheese and gelato tastings. Alternatively, the "Westside Bench Winery Tour" gives you the change to visit the Mission Hill Family Estate for a tour and wine tastings at this exquisite landmark winery. Enjoy wine tastings at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery, one of Canada’s leading wineries. Taste wines at Kalala Organic Estate Winery. Savour delectable cuisine at Old Vines Restaurant at Quails' Gate Estate Winery (lunch included - any wine with lunch is not included), overlooking vineyards, Okanagan Lake and the Valley.

DAY 3 - Kelowna to Calgary

After a hearty breakfast (included), embark on a 3rd day of exploration that leads north through the Okanagan Valley, through the town of Vernon, home of Silver Star ski area, and into the small town of Armstrong. Enjoy a short stop before continuing on your journey. Driving further north, after a quick stop in Sicamous, the “Houseboat Capital of Canada”, you reconnect with the Trans Canada Highway #1, where the road winds its way into the Monashee Mountains and travels past Craigellachie, which is the site of the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885. This railway system connects Canada from coast to coast. A lunch stop (included) is made in the alpine town of Revelstoke, founded in 1880 when the CP Railroad was built through the area. Today, it’s a growing favorite destination among outdoor enthusiasts for golf, hiking, skiing and heli-skiing. Ascending Roger’s Pass, the summit of Glacier National Park, this route follows the Canadian Pacific rail line all along the way. One of the highlights of the trip is a stop at the Spiral Tunnels. This unique feature is an engineering marvel that loops into the heart of Mount Stephen. This was created in 1909 in order to reduce the steep grade of the rail line, a hazard of early travel that caused the concern for runaway cars due to the 4.5% grade (2.2% is the desired grade).
Shortly afterwards, enter Banff National Park and make the second last stop of the day at world famous Lake Louise, one of the most stunning emerald green lakes in the Canadian Rockies. It was originally named “Emerald Lake” by Tom Wilson (former member of the North West Mounted Police and CP Rail employee), before being renamed for Princess Louise, the 4th daughter of Queen Victoria. There will be enough time to walk to the lakeshore for your own photo shoot of this famous scene and explore the magnificent Fairmont Chateau Lake on your own. Continue to the town of Banff for a brief dinner stop in town (meal not included) before concluding your journey in Calgary. The coach arrives at Calgary International Airport and downtown hotels in the evening.


Wonders of the West is also available from Calgary, Alberta.