Driving to Resorts in BC & Alberta

Try the Whistler area and leave the driving to www.whistlerstarexpress.ca or Perimeter Transportation.

I have a few suggestions regarding your stay in Jasper.

Place to stay: Columbine House visit
http://www.bbcanada.com/columbinehouse
We stay all the time and find the hosts great. The rooms are a ground floor suite with your own access and a private bath. It feel most chalet like. It beats the noisy hotels. The breakfasts are great and the rooms are well kept clean etc. The best deal in Jasper for the quality.

Place to eat: Try Miss Italia a second level dining room that is the best Italian food in town even if Denis the chef is Greek!
Try Fiddle Creek reataurant. Sea food and Canadian food. Expect Bison, elk trout salmon and great soups and vegies to boot.

What to drink: Yes I know OZ has some mighty fine wines and we drink those all the time. We only get the bigger wineries and you no doubt get the smaller winerey blends and vintages at home. You will see the bigger wineries here too but venture afar and try the local is my motto. We also make some might fine wines in Canada. Mission Hill and Inniskiln will be avaliable anywhere in OZ but when here you must try the smaller winery vintages. Try Sumac Ridge Meritage a red - gold medal stuff. Try Cave springs CabMerlot - nectar. Oh yes Canada is the home of ice wine! a must for the after dinner desert wine. I like the Vidal ice wines.

Skiing If you get the chance try to venture a bit further from Lake Louise get to Kicking Horse an hour west from LL. This is a powder haven and not so well travelled. There is a gondola that rises 3000M from the valley floor with a 5 star dining room at the top. The planked salmon is great as a mid day meal. Your wife can wend her way down the easy track and you can venture off the track to the deep and step and still meet her along the trails as they intersect on the way down in many spots. I know LL is huge and you will find it hard to pull yourself away but you you've come a long way and don't want to miss out. Sunshine is a beginners heaven as well. High alpine and above the trees a totally different skiing experience from LL.

You are skiing in my home stomping grounds so if you need more info send a PP and I'll answer all. :wink:

Hi from Engand

Over the last two years we have covered the same territory as you by 4WD. You can hire from Kamloops and your hotel in SPeaks can arrange this although a one way drop off can cost. Calgary is in another state and we had to drop off in Vancouver. I'd suggest you e-mail your accommodation and they will give you the e-mail contact number in Kamloops to enquire. Sorry I've lost the details from last year. You won't need a car in SPeaks.

You certainly are covering some territory, and if I were you I wouldn't bother with Kimberley, and spend more time at Lake Louise/Banff Ski areas. They are not ski in ski out so you will spend time travelling to the base areas then unloading kids, skis putting on boots etc. etc. etc! But it's worth the trip. You must drive between Lake Loiuse and Jasper along the Icefield Parkways, rated as one of the best drives in the world. It can be freesing even by Canadian ski standards in this area - be warned.

We have skied Sun Peaks for the past three years, and it will be fantastic for your family. The place is also awash with aussies so you'll feel at home! It's a compact resort and the kids will be really safe. The instructors are excellent. It's our favourite resort in Canada and have skied nearly every resort East and West. Even tried Revelstoke last year - not worth a visit yet. Wait until new development further along.

Have alot more info if you're interested. but didn't want to go on too much! Have a good trip.

Regards

You're coming to my skiing grounds of the past 45 years or so, and you've made good choices. Sun Peaks is a terrific area. Marmot is great for the kids; all the runs eventually end up at the same place, so less chance of losing one. I wouldn't be too concerned about the driving. It sounds like you have some experience with adverse road conditions. Normal conditions are good, and if a storm hits, wating for a day usually takes care of it. Try to schedule your driving for the daytime whenever practical.

I'd shop for the ski equipment in Vancouver. More choice and probably better prices.

Feel free to send a PP if you have any questions I can help with.