Following our at-home-pickup-service, we pause for morning coffee at beautiful Minter Gardens, and then travel the Hope-Princeton Highway (Highway 3), stopping for lunch in Manning Park. After further stops in Princeton and Keremeos, we continue over the Richter Pass to Osoyoos. Our home tonight is the Best Western Sunrise Inn.

Meals: Lunch, Dinner

Today, travelling eastward on Highway 3 with a morning stop in Grand Forks, we continue through Castlegar and begin our ascent to Kootenay Pass, the 5820 foot summit of the Salmo Creston Skyway, one of the highest paved roads in Canada. We'll stop at the summit's Stagleap Park, before continuing to our next stop in Creston and on to Cranbrook, where we check in at the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we travel through BC's Fernie and Sparwood, cross the continental divide to Alberta's coal mining towns of the Crowsnest Pass, and visit the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre. Following a stop at Lundbreck Falls on the Crowsnest River, we pause in historic Fort Macleod and then continue to Lethbridge where we check in for two nights at the new Coast Lethbridge Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

With a local guide we enjoy the sights of Lethbridge including the peaceful Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden, Fort Whoop-Up National Historic Site, and the Galt Museum which presents the history of southwestern Alberta, and offers stunning views of the famous High Level Bridge, the longest-highest of its type in the world.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travelling east from Lethbridge we make a morning stop in the town of Bow Island, bean capital of the west, surrounded by irrigated farming producing a variety of different crops such as pinto beans, potatoes, sugar beets, dill, and spearmint. Continuing to Medicine Hat, where the Crowsnest Highway joins the Trans Canada, we tour the M. H. Clay Industries National Historic Site, now a gift shop and museum at the former Medalta Potteries site which once produced over 75% of the pottery in Canada. Departing Medicine Hat, we enter Saskatchewan and continue to Maple Creek, where we turn south and enter the beautiful Cypress Hills Provincial Park, and check in for two nights at the Cypress Park Resort Inn.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rising 2000 feet above the surrounding prairie, the forested Cypress Hills are the highest point in mainland Canada, between the Rockies and the mountains of Labrador. Today we enjoy a guided tour of this prairie oasis, including a visit to Fort Walsh, and an ice cream stop in Maple Creek!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning we travel north to Sceptre to view (climbing optional) the Great Sandhills and visit the Great Sandhills Museum. Following lunch and a tour at a Hutterite Colony near Leader, we head northeast through Kindersley and Rosetown to Saskatoon. We check in for three nights at the elegant Delta Bessborough Hotel, situated on beautifully landscaped grounds, overlooking the South Saskatchewan River.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning includes a tour of our historic hotel, a guided city tour, and a visit to the Berry Barn, a unique riverside restaurant and gift shop where we pause for lunch and browsing (Saskatoon berry pie included, of course!). After lunch we visit the famous Western Development Museum, an indoor replica of a late 1800's prairie community, complete with more than 30 buildings. The rest of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we travel north of the city to Batoche National Historic Park, where an excellent film and displays take us back to the days of Louis Riel, and the Metis battles of the 1800's. After lunch we take a close up look at some of today's enormous and high-tech equipment as we visit a modern grain farm. Tonight we complete our Saskatoon visit with a relaxing dinner cruise on the South Saskatchewan River.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving Saskatoon, we follow the Yellowhead Highway west with stops in North Battleford and Lloydminster to Vegreville, where we enjoy a special Ukrainian lunch. Arriving in Alberta's capital city of Edmonton, we check in for two nights at the Fantasyland Hotel at the West Edmonton Mall. Following an orientation tour of the mall, this evening is at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we offer a guided tour of the city of Edmonton and then return to the Fantasyland Hotel for a free afternoon and evening at the West Edmonton Mall. The mall, open until 9pm, is renowned as the World’s Largest Fun, Fashion, and Entertainment Centre, with over 800 stores and services! Because our hotel is part of the mall, you may return to your room at any time!

Meals: Breakfast

This morning we depart Edmonton, travelling west on the Yellowhead Highway, through Edson and over the 3744 foot Obed Summit to Hinton. After lunch near Hinton, we enter the spectacular Rocky Mountains of Jasper National Park. Following picture stops in the park, we arrive at Whistlers Inn, tonight's home in the centre of Jasper Village. Our early arrival provides leisure time to enjoy the village.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Departing Jasper we cross the 3711 foot Yellowhead Pass and make a morning stop beneath towering 12,972 foot Mount Robson. At Tete Jaune Cache, we turn south, to Valemount, and follow the North Thompson River through Blue River to our lunch stop in Clearwater. After lunch we continue south to Heffley Creek, just north of Kamloops, where we leave the highway to reach our overnight stop at the Delta Sun Peaks Resort. Our mid-afternoon arrival provides time to explore Sun Peaks Village, before this evening's farewell dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Departing Sun Peaks we make a morning stop in Kamloops, and then follow scenic Highway 5A, along Nicola Lake to our lunch stop in Merritt. From Merritt we travel southwest over the Coquihalla Highway to the Fraser Valley and home.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch