Post Last Modified – February 14, 2021
Camping Tours and Dining from Vancouver to Whistler BC
Our family have enjoyed camping holidays for many years and recently enjoyed a fantastic Vancouver to Whistler Camping Tour. There are so many beautiful places to discover along the Sea to Sky Corridor running from Vancouver all the way up to Whistler, British Columbia.
I thought I would share with you and recommend some great places we camped at and visited during our recent trip.
Vancouver to Whistler Camping Tour Travel Itinerary
What seems to be increasingly popular as each year goes by is the amount of Rental Recreational Vehicles on the road in BC and Alberta. Many visitors coming from abroad enjoy this form of travel when flying to Canada and the United States.
It really gives you a chance to enjoy the great outdoors and discover so much more than simply flying into a city, taking the standard tours and spending your nights in busy hotels in the city.
Theres nothing wrong with doing that, we enjoy all forms of travel, but this article is going to focus on camping and offering suggestions particularly for those planning their 📖 Holidays in British Columbia.
Note:
All of the underlined links to these parks and attractions will direct you to my previous articles filled with photographs and much more detailed information for you convenience.
Below are some great camping destinations and attractions we discovered and recommend to you!
Day 1 Vancouver to Porteau Cove Provincial Park
One of our all – time favorite camping destinations on the west coast of Canada just outside of Vancouver is the beautiful ⚓ Porteau Cove Provincial Marine Park. For those starting their journey from Vancouver, this is an ideal first stop on your way to world famous Whistler, BC.
Just 35 to 40 minutes north of Vancouver on the shores of Howe Sound this is a beautifully kept Provincial Marine Park and Campground. There is a day area for those wishing to just stop for a short while and enjoy the views, complete with picnic tables and washroom facilities. A protected marine park and a favorite for scuba diving enthusiasts!
Sites are spacious with a wonderful park and walk in area for tenting with beautiful water front sites. Camping spaces are limited so recommendations are highly recommended! Below is the link to my recent post where you can access more photos, details and reservation information.
A picture perfect destination within easy reach of Vancouver and a great start for those arriving after a long tiring flight from abroad.
Day 2 Attractions on the Way to Squamish British Columbia
Next stop and definitely worth spending some time enjoying the surrounding area and attractions is the City of Squamish. Located just minutes north of your first stop at Porteau Cove and now considered to be
The Gateway to the Best Adventure in British Columbia!
Squamish and area offer world class Rock Climbing, White Water Rafting, Bald Eagle Viewing, Kayaking, Windsurfing, Hiking and so much more for the outdoor enthusiast!
In fact, the New York Times recently named Squamish as one of the Top 52 Places to Visit around the World.
Britannia Mine Museum
Your first stop should be a visit to the ⚒ Britannia Mine Museum in Britannia Beach. Once the largest operating Copper mine for 70 years, is now a wonderful Major Attraction and Heritage Site in Howe Sound. This 14.7 million dollar restoration project now comes complete with guided tours, train rides, gold panning and much more for the entire family to enjoy!
Special Note:
Launching Spring 2019, the New $4.2 Million Immersive Mill Show Experiencetells the captivating story of the wide-ranging importance of the historic Mill building when it was fully operational from the 1920s until its closing in 1974.
Explore Squamish BC
Your next pit-stop and definitely worth spending a few days or more is in Squamish. Either before heading up to Whistler or on your return trip back down if not continuing further north, is this area filled with fantastic attractions, camping and some fabulous hidden dining gems!
Shannon Falls Provincial Park
For Instance, if coming from the south (Vancouver) your first stop should be 🌊 Shannon Falls Provincial Park. Not stopping and viewing British Columbias Third Highest Waterfall would definitely be a mistake!
This beautiful day park included 210 acres of picnic and hiking areas for you to enjoy! Its an easy walk to the platform viewing areas, complete with a gift store and clean indoor washrooms.
A perfect rest area for you to get out and stretch, enjoy the spectacular scenery and have a picnic! This is a dog friendly park as long as they are kept on leash at all times.
Sea to Sky Gondola
Situated right next door to Shannon Falls is the Amazing 🚡 Sea to Sky Gondola attraction! This is one of British Columbias latest and most exciting attractions for the entire family to enjoy. The gondola ride takes ten minutes to reach the summit at almost 3000 feet above sea level.
At the top, enjoy spectacular views of Howe Sound and surrounding mountains, as well as dining, picnic areas, hiking trails galore and a fun walking suspension bridge taking you across to another viewing platform.
We loved our visit and afternoon hiking on one of the easy trails and I know you will too!
Squamish Camping and Dining
I really do recommend spending at least one night camping and dining in Squamish. There really is so much to see and do in this region, so do plan on spending some time enjoying the city, its attractions and some of the best dining found anywhere on the Sea to Sky corridor!
Below are my recommendations for camping and places to eat when in the city. So get off the highway, forget unhealthy fast food off the highway and try some of these hidden gems! Again, these are links to my articles and photos and will not direct you away from my website.
Camping in Squamish
We loved our stay at Wonderland Valley RV Park and Campground. Conveniently located right off the highway in a densely forested area, complete with running creek down the middle! Enjoy all the amenities of a full facility RV Park, yet with the feel of camping in the woods! This is a perfect place to set up camp and enjoy Squamish and area.
Note:
This campground is under new management and is now named; Mountain Fun Base Camp.
Check out these great dining establishments and hidden gems while visiting Squamish. We enjoyed meals at all of these excellent places, offering homemade quality meals prepared fresh and in many cases, with local ingredients!
Here are my recent articles written on these great restaurants showing more detailed information and photographs!
Happy Dining!
Continuing on to Whistler BC
After enjoying the many attractions in Squamish, its time to complete the journey to world renowned Whistler, British Columbia. Known around the world as a major snow skiing destination, Whistler offers much more year round activities for visitors.
From beautiful golf courses, biking trails, hiking, shopping, dining and much more, it really is a perfect year round vacation destination. From Squamish, Whistler Village is just 59 kilometres north or about a 45 minute.
Whistler RV Park
Situated just south about 16 kilometers you will find the perfect full facility RV Park complete with breathtaking views of the mountains and valley from your campsite. Its called 🚌 Whistler RV Park and its located just 1 kilometer uphill off the highway. A good paved wide road thats no problem for the largest of rigs.
For tenting, they have a segregated treed area with excellent indoor and outdoor washroom facilities and much more.
The park offers a free shuttle service into Whistler Village which we found very convenient, not having to pack up and drive.
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park
This is yet another must see attraction and almost next door to Whistler RV Park. This is a beautiful day park and easy walking alongside the picturesque Cheakamus River to the Waterfall viewing platform from the parking area.
For those wanting to spend some time at the park, you can access the Sea to Sky Trail System stretching for 23 kilometres or enjoy an easy stroll to the Bungee Bridge and watch those who dare, bungee jump. Its only 2.7 kilometers to the bridge, but the walk and view of where they jump is excellent!
Check out my photos on 🌊 Brandywine Falls Provincial Park and see for yourself!
Whistler Village is filled with shopping, dining, hotels, attractions and much more for you to take in during your visit.
Peak 2 Peak Gondola
The biggest attraction is the two ride 🚡 Peak 2 Peak Gondola experience. Situated at the base of Whistler Mountain, your first ride will take you up to the summit, where you can enjoy breathtaking views, dining, hiking and more.
From this point, you then board and experience the Longest Unsupported Span Gondola Ride in the World.
Sit back and relax and while making the peaceful crossing peak to peak from famous Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb Mountain and enjoy the wonderful view along the way. Here, you can also enjoy a meal, the view and much more.
This is a major attraction and one not to be missed any time of year while in Whistler!
The dining options in Whistler are numerous, from take out to fine dining the choice is yours! Our two favorites when in town are listed below and two that we always enjoy eating at and knowing that we are getting quality food, reasonably priced with excellent service always!
So there you have it, just a few recommendations on where to camp, visit and dine when traveling up the lovely Sea to Sky Highway along Howe Sound from Vancouver to Whistler BC. If you have any questions or if I can be of any further assistance, please click the Contact Tab at the very top and I will be happy to respond as quickly as possible.
Below are the two official tourism websites for both Squamish and Whistler, where you can access more detailed information on these two great destinations.
I have also listed the Official Tourism British Columbia website for your convenience. It’s filled with excellent information for planning your vacation in Beautiful BC!
🍁 Hello BC
Safe and Healthy Travels!
Be sure to have a look at my post on🏕 Listing Favorite Campgrounds in America. I’ve put together a detailed list of some of our Favorite Campgrounds, Recreational Vehicle Parks and Boondocking Destinations in Canada, United States & Mexico.
✨ Did You Know
“The Wettest City In Canada Is Prince Rupert On The West (Wet) Coast Of British Columbia.”
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