Itinerary

Day 1: Thursday July 8, Arrival Victoria (D)
Our Canada Adventure begins upon arrival at the Victoria, British Columbia International Airport. Please schedule your arrival in Victoria between the hours of 12 noon and 4 p.m.

As this is an international flight, please remember to pack your passport! Once you clear customs, look for the McCall's Quilting Adventures representative in the baggage area. We will transfer you to our hotel.

Welcome to Victoria! British Columbia's capital city is set on its own Inner Harbor, and it is one of the most charming small cities you'll ever find. Since it's on an island that is accessible only by ferry or plane, a leisurely sense of time prevails in Victoria. It's a perfect antidote to our stressed-out world.

After checking in to our hotel we will have a guided tour of Victoria, including stops at the Legislature buildings on the edge of the Inner Harbor, and through historic Old Town.

Our tour concludes at a Wine & Cheese Reception with area quilters and then a Welcome Dinner. And with the late night sun, there may even be time to stroll the downtown area before retiring for the night.

Day 2: Friday July 9th, Victoria (B L)
Following breakfast at the hotel we will depart for a true Victoria landmark, the internationally-acclaimed, family-owned Butchart Gardens. The gardens feature 55 acres of stunning floral display. This is a National Historic Site in Canada, and the Butchart family's commitment to horticulture and hospitality continues to this day. On one stroll, passing through all the gardens, you'll be amazed at the gardeners' painstaking care and the beauty of the plantings. Lunch today will be at the garden.

After lunch we return to downtown Vancouver and head for the Royal B.C. Museum, truly one of the world's best regional museums with an impressive First Nations art collection.

The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to explore the shops and sites of this clean, accessible and super-friendly city. Dinner tonight is on your own, and our travel staff can assist you with suggestions and reservations.

Day 3: Saturday, July 10th, Vancouver (B, L)
This morning enjoy final impressions of Victoria. In late morning we board our coach for the B.C. Ferry and a 90 minute excursion on Georgia Sound for Vancouver. Lunch will be aboard the ferry.

Conde Nast Traveler lists Vancouver as one of the world's 10 best cities to visit and it is the host of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Unlike Victoria, the face of the city you see today in Vancouver is undeniably new.

After we land in Vancouver we will immediately set off on our city tour, visiting Stanley Park, Canada's largest urban park, Gastown, the oldest part of Vancouver, dating from the late 19th century, and the city's signature Chinatown. There's also an opportunity to explore local quilt shops before we check in to our hotel.

This evening, dinner is on your own. With so many world-class restaurants, you'll have plenty of choices and our staff will be happy to assist with suggestions.

Day 4: Sunday, July 11th, Vancouver (B, D)
Breakfast today is at our hotel. This morning we will visit the Museum of Anthropology, which houses one of the world's finest collections of West Coast native art. The building itself is a work of art, designed by architect Arthur Erickson in a classic native post-and-beam-style structure out of poured concrete and glass.

Following lunch, we'll pay a brief stop at the Vancouver Art Gallery and see the museum's collection of hauntingly atmospheric paintings by B.C. native Emily Carr. Her moodily expressive works sum up all that is grand and glorious in the Pacific Northwest landscape.

There are several quilting surprises on our itinerary today, as well as an opportunity for local shopping.

Tonight we will gather at a local restaurant to enjoy the view of this dramatic city and to enjoy a delicious Farewell Dinner.

Day 5: Monday, July 12th, Vancouver (B)
We will have breakfast this morning as a group. If you are not joining the Canadian Rail extension, there will be time this morning for last-minute shopping in downtown Vancouver.

Check out from the hotel is 11 a.m. We will provide a group transfer to arrive at the airport by 12 noon. Early or late transfers can be arranged for a small surcharge.


Canadian Rockies Rail Extension

Monday, July 12th - Vancouver to Kamloops (B, L)
All Aboard! Following breakfast we're off to the Rocky Mountaineer railway station to board our train. On today's journey you will see dramatic changes in scenery, from the lush green fields of the Fraser River valley, through forests and winding river canyons surrounded by the peaks of the Coast and Cascade mountains, to the desert-like environment of the interior. Highlights include the rushing waters of Hells Gate in the Fraser Canyon and the steep slopes and rock sheds along the Thompson River. Continental Breakfast and lunch are served on board.

Our day concludes as the Rocky Mountaineer travels along the shores of Kamloops Lake and into Kamloops. We leave the train for the night and drive to our nearby hotel for check-in.

Dinner tonight is on your own in Kamloops. Our guides can offer dining suggestions.

Tuesday, July 13th - Kamloops to Banff (B, L)
The Rocky Mountaineer departs today following the Kicking Horse Route eastward to Banff. Breakfast and lunch are served onboard. The train winds through the vast ranchlands and along Shuswap Lake to Craigellachie, where the last spike was driven, completing the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885. Next is Rogers Pass with its awe inspiring glistening glaciers, snow capped-mountains and tunnels. Crossing over the Continental Divide into Banff National Park, the train will travel through the unique Spiral Tunnels in Yoho National Park, a remarkable engineering achievement.

Upon arrival at the Banff Train Station, you will be transferred by chartered motorcoach to our Banff Hotel, the delightful Banff Ptarmigan Inn. Close to downtown Banff, the Ptarmigan Inn is within walking distance of many Banff attractions including Bow Falls, Cave & Basin National Historic Site, and the Banff Upper Hot Springs. Dinner tonight is on your own with many delightful restaurants to chose from within walking distance.

Wednesday, July 14th - Banff (B, D)
Enjoy Breakfast this morning in our hotel and then the rest of the day is free, with many optional tours to choose from. We can assist in planning your day or you are free to explore the lovely city of Banff and surrounding National Park on your own. If you have not been to this area, one tour we recommend is the full day trip to the Columbia Icefield, located on the boundary of Banff and Jasper National Parks. It is one of the largest accumulations of ice and snow south of the Arctic and presents a gorgeous landscape. We can also arrange visits to Lake Louise or a ride on the Banff Gondola.

This evening, our group will gather for our farewell dinner as our Canadian Adventure comes to a close.

Thursday, July 15th - Banff - Calgary (B)
Following breakfast we will check out of our hotel and board our private motorcoach for the one and a half hour drive to the Calgary Airport, arriving approximately 10:30 a.m. Please schedule your departure for after 12 noon local time.


NOTE: We have secured space aboard the Rocky Mountaineer in their Red Leaf Service. It is possible to upgrade to "Gold Leaf Service" for an additional $795 per person, based on Double Occupancy.