I'm looking for a place to visit in Canada in July that is similar to Whistler, Banff, Jasper, and Lake Louise...but isn't one of those places. Any suggestions? (Must have a nice hotel for the wife!)

Bonus points it's under the radar, but still really nice.

Look into Kelowna, BC. Myra Canyon Ranch and Lodge.

oh yes! Very great idea.
We took an RV trip from Calgary to Vancouver. Several days in Banff and 2 in Vancouver but the trip in the middle is what you are looking for.

Here's the middle of my itinerary. You should spend your time in Kelowna and Peachland. Go have lunch at The Blink Angler and stay near that along the lake - it's so nice and peaceful.

On the drive in, Revelstoke was great too. and do the Peachland Zipline!



Day 4 July 26 Sunday Lake Louise, Yoho NP, Emerald Lake, Glacier NP, and get to Revelstoke Total Drive 283 KM
Drive 26 KM south to Lake Louise - Hike around the lake BEAUTIFUL!!
Drive 15 KM to Moraine Lake. Hike up the rocks to an amazing views DON'T MISS BEAUTIFUL!!
Head to Yoho NP Drive 39 KM to Takakkaw Falls or drive 56 KM to Wapta Falls hike (2.4 km 45 mins each way) We missed those 2 falls but did go to Emerald Lake BEAUTIFUL!
Drive 36 KM to Golden, BC for groceries
Drive 95 KM (1 hour) to Glacier Nat Park Hike the Hemlock Grove Boardwalk Trail don't miss Rock Garden Trail!
Drive 27 KM to hike Giant Cedars Boardwalk Consider Skunk Cabbage Boardwalk Trail if we have time
Drive 25 KM to Revelstoke have dinner in Grizzly Plaza (between Mackenzie and Orton Ave's) free live music in evening!
o Eat at The Village Idiot. Great!
Drive 20 KM to Martha Creek Provincial Park Site 37 (no hookups) (www.discovercamping.ca) www.env.gov.bc.ca

Day 5 July 27 Monday Revelstoke, Shelter Bay, Nakusp Total Drive 244 KM
Drive 49 KM (40 mins) West to www.skytrekadventurepark.com at 9 am (arrive early!) then maybe Enchanted Forest
Drive 40 KM to Mt. Revelstoke National Park Meadows in the Sky Parkway drive (20 KM 30 minutes) (or skip)
Drive 33 KM to Apex Rafting Company provides 2 hour guided tours, but likely SKIP Revelstoke Railway Museum (skip)
Drive 52 KM to Shelter Bay. Take the 20 minute Upper Arrow Lake Ferry to Galena Bay (leaves on the hour).
Drive 48 KM to Nakusp. Then drive 8 KM east to Nakusp Hot Springs 250-265-4528
Drive 22 KM to Campsite McDonald Creek Provincial Park- Site 4 electrical available!) www.discovercamping.ca

Day 6 July 28 Tuesday Vernon, Kelowna, Peachland, Total Drive 280 KM
Drive 43 KM down Hwy 6 to Fauquier take Ferry across and head to Vernon
Drive 137 KM (2.25 hrs) to Vernon O'Keefe Historical Ranch and Planet Bee Honey Farm 250-542-8088 5011 Bella Vista, Vernon, BC www.planetbee.com working honey farm. 11 am for the '20 minute tour'… Bee Farm was a nice visit.
Drive 75 KM (1.25 hrs) to Peachland eat at the Blind Angler Grill (GREAT!!) Hang out in this region then drive 7 KM to ZipZone Peachland Canada's highest zipline www.zipzone.ca BOOKED FOR 2 PM
www.discovernaramata.com for vineyards (maybe Red Rooster?) La Frenz? Penticton VQA Wine Shop (97 and Eckhardt)
UPDATE I would skip Osoyoss it's hot we went back to Peachland this evening and stayed at www.Toddsrv.com park
Drive 25 KM to Bear Creek Provincial Park # 102/103 (no hookups) www.discovercamping.ca (

If you're willing to spend some serious coin, check out CMH Summer Adventures. Helicopter taxi to a lodge in the mountains. Pretty legit, at a pretty premium price. If nothing else, gives you an idea of what's out there outside the usual tourist destinations.

Some other options:

Kananaskis - this is where the locals go instead of Banff. It's not as impressive as Banff, but way less crowded.

Revelstoke - right outside Glacier National Park (no, not the one in MT, the Canadian one). They've got options for all price ranges from dirt bag mountain biker to high end.

Victoria/Vancouver Island - not quite as mountainous as what you listed, but still got some steep and the ocean to boot.

Edit because I forgot to add the crown jewel. Lake O'Hara. It's in Yoho National Park, just outside Banff but much less well known. Lake O'Hara High Alpine Lake Route has been the best hike we've ever done. There's a lodge there, not sure how nice it is. Permits can be very difficult to obtain (good luck for next July, let alone this one).

AggieinWA said:

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Revelstoke - right outside Glacier National Park (no, not the one in MT, the Canadian one). They've got options for all price ranges from dirt bag mountain biker to high end.

The crown jewel. Lake O'Hara. It's in Yoho National Park, just outside Banff but much less well known. Lake O'Hara High Alpine Lake Route has been the best hike we've ever done. There's a lodge there, not sure how nice it is. Permits can be very difficult to obtain (good luck for next July, let alone this one).

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ok - so my wife and I will be in Golden for 3 days in mid-July as part of our trip eventually leading to Jasper soon after.

We did get a lottery permit for the bus ride to Lake O'Hara! 10:30 am bus.
Can you help me plan my day? Never been there and heard great things and thrilled we got a pass.

The next day, we will drive to Revelstoke and enjoy Grizzly Plaza in the evening for live music. went there a few years ago. Any suggestions for us on this day trip there and back?

Good for you scoring a permit! You just have a day trip available for the Lake O'Hara area?

Extreme option: take Wiwaxy Alpine route to Huber ledges. Then connect to Yukness Ledges alpine route. Come back down via Opabin to the Lakeshore. That's the route we did, had to skip All Souls alpine route because we were tight on time (we didn't get a bus permit and had to hike in, adding 12 mi rt). That loop will be ~8 mi if I remember right, with ~1700' gain. Word of caution, some light route finding is needed and some sections have decent exposure. We're pretty used to both now, but could be overwhelming if you don't spend a lot of time in the mountains.

Another great option: Head straight up the Lake Odesa trail. Either attempt the Yukness Ledges, or drop back down the Odesa trail and head up the Opabin trail. Less exposure, still get to see the great alpine upper lakes and get some great overviews of Lake O'Hara.

For Revelstoke, I haven't actually spent any time in the town (always just passed thru). The drive thru Glacier is amazing. Be sure to stop at Roger's Pass and just soak in the view. There are tons of road side stops and little trails off Hwy 1. You can't go wrong in this area!

Head east. Go to Newfoundland. Gros Morne National Park is beautiful. The coast is beautiful, with more whales along the shore than you can count. Tons of seafood, and the locals are generally happy to see tourists.

Thanks so much. These are all incredible sugestions.

I'd expect you're going to have a bit of trouble with availability at this point, FYI. There aren't that many lodging options in the Canadian Rockies to begin with and they all book up pretty damn early. I'm sure you'll find something though, you just may have to be flexible.