Trans-Canada-Highway - From Coast to Coast

All photos by the Author

Vancouver Island - View from Sooke on the southern tip

7,000 kilometers criss-crossing the Canadian provinces from Nova-Scotia to British Columbia. 

Travelers don’t need to prepare for this trip, and they don’t need maps or navigation help: The Trans-Canada Highway leads them from coast to coast.  You can't get lost! 

From St. John's in Newfoundland to Victoria on Vancouver Island. Hotels, motels, and restaurants/fast food stores are galore along this route. 

The Trans-Canada Highway is Canada's longest national road. My tip: Don’t drive it in July or August, as it can be very hot in central Canada. I traveled it several times, either in April-May or in September-early October. 

Here are some photo impressions:

16-kilometer-long bridge from Prince Edward Island to Nova Scotia 

.

Light Tower near Antigonish, Nova Scotia

.

Lobster Traps on a Wharf in New Brunswick

 .

Old Montreal, Quebec

.

Patisserie in Bromont

.

Governor General's Rideau Hall Guard, Ottawa

.

Parliament in Ottawa

.

Manitoulin Island, Lake Huron Ontario

.

Niagara-on-the-Lake in Spring

.

CNN Tower Toronto

.

Algonquin Park Cottage

.

You Are in Bear Country!

.

Human Rights Museum Winnipeg

.

Heritage Buildings in Winnipeg

.

First Nations Casinos

.

Floatplanes

.

Endless Wheat Fields

.

Old Grain Elevators

.

Prairie Grass

.

Hockey Mascot and Grain Elevator

.

Barely any Canadians have seen their home country in its full length and traveled through several time zones. Let alone visiting the Northern Territories. What a pity that they fly to Europe or the Caribbean, but haven’t seen their own country.

Bentley, my large dog, traveled with me, lying comfortably in our van, and I stopped every hour, not driving more than 3 to 400 kilometers (250 miles on average) per day.

Big Skies in Alberta

.

Oil Towers

.

Native Reservations in Southern Alberta

.

Bog at the Waterton Ntl Park

.

Glacier Ntl. Park

.

Canadian Pacific Train

.

If you want to see more of the country, check out these side-routes:  

Nova Scotia's South Shore, the route #132 along the St. Lawrence River, Quebec City and Montreal, the 1000 Islands where the river flows into the Lake Ontario, Winnipeg in Manitoba and Saskatoon in Sasketchawan, the Badlands around Drumheller and it’s Dinosaur Museum.

Visit Jasper and drive the Icefield Glacier Parkway along the border of Alberta and British Columbia, Kelowna, the city of wine and roses, and then Vancouver, one of the most beautiful Canadian cities, maybe with a short trip to Whistler.  Don’t miss the western islands including Ucluelet and Tofino on the Pacific coast.

Lots of Vegetables and Fruit in BC

.

Kootenay Lake British Columbia

.

Small Town Feel in Greenwood, BC

.

Osoyoos Desert, BC

.

Native Winery in Osoyoos, BC

.

Rainbow over Vineyards

.

Roses of the Okanagan Valley

.

Okanagan Lake towards Vernon

.

Monument Kelowna Harbor

.

Kelowna Bear

.

Okanagan Wine

.

View over Kelowna and Lake Okanagan

.

Mount Robson, BC

.

Vancouver Island, View from Nanaimo

.

Vancouver City, English Bay in Spring

.

Vancouver Heritage Museum

.

Olympia city Whistler-Blackcomb

Take at least a couple of weeks to enjoy a wonderful trip, exploring marvelous Canada.

.

Discover the Warmest Place in Canada

.

.

A hidden gem that even many Canadians have never visited:  the Okanagan Valley with it's dry, semi-arid climate, reminding me of Northern Italy.  The hills and mountains around the 135 kilometers long Okanagan Lake are dotted with vineyards, rose gardens and apple orchards.  Winter temperatures go rarely into the minus degrees, yet there are skiing areas within an hour driving distance.  The Southern Okanagan Valley is the only desert-like place in the whole of Canada. 
.

The Okanagan is for Wine Lovers 
Hundreds of wineries invite visitors for tastings, many have even cosy outdoor restaurants or patios and nothing is more relaxing than to sip a glass, overlooking the surrounding wine fields, orchards and golf courses and watching the sailboats on Lake Okanagan. 
.

.
Even a Native Tribe owns an award-winning viticulture company, including tasting rooms, and last week I found a winery in West-Kelowna that offers delicious organic wines.

.

.
Sailing is the Preferred Outdoor Sport
Marinas in the Okanagan are full of boats, many have long waiting lists and sailing the lake is a popular past time.  Non-sailors can book a boat with skipper for sightseeing or a romantic Sunset Tour.  The Okanagan Lake cruising region offers some of the best inland sailings in BC with excellent winds and clear blue skies.

.

.
Floatplane Tours from Kelowna Harbour
At Hart Aviation you can experience the excitement of a floatplane or seaplane sightseeing tour over the breathtaking beauty of the Okanagan and its surrounding mountains, glaciers and alpine lakes. I chatted with the pilots about their Floatplane training classes and they mentioned an offer of a Fly n' Dine Tour to the Lake Okanagan Resort where you will enjoy the three-course "Wine Country Escape Meal".  After your wonderful meal, you can relax while traveling from the Lake Okanagan Resort to Kelowna in a stretch " Black Tie Limousine". A special evening for sure!  
.

.

Golfers Paradise
I am getting the impression there is a golf course on every hill around the huge lake. Next to sailing, the best outdoor fun in the Okanagan seems to be golfing.  Amazing how many new golf courses are still built.  Each of them seems to compete not only with their greens but also with their clubhouses and restaurants with other golf clubs in the area.  Kelowna alone has over 20 golf courses, and many more are located around the whole Okanagan Valley.
.

Now, that it is almost November, the Roses and other Summer flowers are still in full bloom, even so, the tree leaves are slowly changing colors.  But I can hike in a short-sleeve blouse in the warm sun.  Yes, the Okanagan is a hiker's paradise too, among many other sports- and countless event offers.  A perfect holiday destination for year-round pleasure - also I would not come here in Summer:  it's just too hot then!

.

<><><><><>

.

..... .....

..... .....