Explore the city lights of Vancouver, B.C. Canada, float plane over the lush Canadian west coast, explore the bays and inlets amidst B.C.’s rain forest, then tour the resort town of Whistler. Top this off with a first class rail tour back into Vancouver and you have the perfect 4 night/5 day vacation get-away.

The British Columbia coast is a wilderness paradise with lush, intensely green rain forests lining a rugged Pacific coastline teeming with wildlife. Vancouver B.C. is a dynamic, multicultural city set in a spectacular natural environment and Whistler, the ski resort village, was selected for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Highlights of this trip include your first night in Vancouver at the Fairmont, a scenic float-plane flight to the Wilderness Lodge, sightseeing, dining, activities, hiking and a boat tour of Jervis and Princess Louisa Inlets. These incredible fjords are renowned for their 7,000 foot towering cliffs, dozens of cascading waterfalls, abundant wildlife, ancient petroglyphs and protected waters surrounded by the lush rain forest. The return float-plane trip flies over glaciers and mountain lakes en route to Whistler B.C., where you’ll enjoy the Fairmont Whistler Resort. Your journey back to Vancouver will be on the famous Rocky Mountaineer, a first class scenic train tour through the mountains and valleys of British Columbia.

TMI Tours and Cruises offers great vacation ideas and extended weekend get-aways to unique areas in the Pacific Northwest. Call Rhonda or Linda at 1-800-975-7775 or email us at info@tmitours.com for more information.

Want to experience the romance of luxurious rail travel?  Following  the historic train routes built over 100 years ago through Western Canada and the Canadian Rockies, the Rocky Mountaineer is one of the most spectacular train trips in the world.  These 2 day itineraries travel through breathtaking scenery; glacier-fed lakes, majestic mountain ranges, ferocious rivers, historic bridges and tunnels. There are 3 itineraries through the Canadian Rockies, each offering it’s own unique sights, all daylight travel, overnight hotel accomodations and exceptional onboard service.

• Kicking Horse Route: Named for the pass over which it crosses the Rockies, the Kicking Horse route takes you between Vancouver, B.C. and either Banff or Calgary, Alberta.  This route traces the historic transcontinental rail line uniting East and West Canada and includes, amongst other hightlights, the legendary Spiral Tunnels.  Route hightlights: The Last Spike, Spiral Tunnels, Stoney Creek Bridge, Fraser and Thompson Canyon and Kicking Horse Pass.
• Yellowhead Route:  Journey between Vancouver, B.C. and Jasper, Alberta along the Yellowhead route, names for the second pass through the Canadian Rocky Mountains.  This rail route is known for scenic valleys, plentiful wildlife and majestic Mount Robson, highest peak in the Canadian Rockies.  Route highlights: Fraser and Thompson Canyon, Pyramid Falls, Yellowhead Pass, Mount Robson and Jasper National Park.
• Fraser Discovery Route:  Named for the mighty Fraser River whose length the tracks follow, this route links the resorts of Whistler B.C. and Jasper, Alberta.  Journey through the historic Cariboo Gold Rush region, the lush forests of northern B.C. and the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountain Trench past Mount Robson to Jasper.  Route highlights:  Anderson and Seton Lakes, Cariboo Plateau, Fraser River Canyon, Rocky Mountain Trench and  Mount Robson.

To learn more about these and other great rail journeys, contact Rhonda or Linda at TMI Tours & Cruises at 1-800-975-7775 or email us at info@tmitours.com.  Visit our homepage for other great Canadian vacation ideas.

Nowhere else on earth has the meeting of land and sea created the magnificent beauty of Canada’s Pacific Coast.   The substantial rain forests and amazing marine environment are the back drop for a premier eco-safari destination, offering soft adventure and soft beds.  Clayoquot is the ultimate destination for intimate couples retreats, or adventurous and educational family vacations.

Situated at the mouth of the Bedwell River, where it spills into a nine-mile-long fjord, an enclave of 20 great white canvas guest tents, massage and treatment tents, dining tents, lounge tents and a massive timber cookhouse peek out from the dense bush. This safari-style resort offers a discreet paradox of individual pampering and untamed wilderness.  Specializing in remote experiences, guest may choose to learn to surf on a pristine, secluded beach or have a First Nations guide escort them on a day hike to the “Wildside” Interpretive trail and tour the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Village.  Whether you prefer whale watching or viewing black bears fishing for salmon, wildlife abounds just outside the perimiter of camp. 

The resort is open mid-May through the end of September for 3, 4 or 7 night all inclusive stays with airfare from Vancouver to the Resort, deluxe accommodation, all meals, snacks and beverages (including alcohol), massage treatments and guided activities including fishing.  Contact Rhonda or Linda at TMI Tours for rates and ask us about the great discounts for children.

This 8 day journey along the Columbia and Snake Rivers combines scenic river history and unexpected cultural expeditions. Learn about the proud Nez Perce tribe and their way of life, past and present, along the Snake River. Combine that with an exhilarating jet-boat ride deep into Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America.

Your small ship will navigate 8 sets of locks and dams, changing a total of 738 feet of elevation within 470 miles. Pioneer history will come alive as you visit the Ft. Walla Walla Museum which houses over 35,000 artifacts, dioramas, and a real-life pioneer village. See the personal effects of the Queen of Romania as well as European paintings and Native arts at the unusual Maryhill Museum. Visit Ft. Clatsop and experience what life must have been like for the famous Lewis & Clark expedition during the winter of 1806. Learn about this region’s geographical and navigational history at the Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center and the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Cruise in the wake of history and enjoy stories of courage and discovery that await you around every scenic bend.

Columbia River Gorge

Summer in the Pacific Northwest is characterized by long, warm days with clear blue skies and gentle breezes. Nowhere is more beautiful this time of year than the Columbia River Gorge. This “Summer Celebration” cruise will celebrate the traditions of the past along with the fantastic wineries of the present while exploring the indigenous culture and history of the Columbia River Basin.

Beginning with your visit to the Bonneville Dam Visitors Center, you will transfer through 8 locks and dams on your way to the northwest “seaport” of Clarkston, Washington. An exhilarating jet-boat ride up the famous Hells Canyon on the Snake River will reveal elk, bighorn sheep, and 7,000 year old petroglyphs. An underground tour at Pendleton explores tunnels built in the late 1800’s by Chinese immigrants for illicit purposes and a visit to the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute will immerse you in a living, cultural Native American village. In Walla Walla, you will be treated to tasting and touring at two unique Columbia River wineries.

Join a special sailing, June 19th, with the chairman of the cruise line and his family. Guests will be treated to exclusive amenities at the chairman’s reception, an exciting raptor exhibition, guest speakers discussing the Lewis & Clark expedition, and the chairman’s farewell dinner. Come enjoy a cruise on the Columbia River at a time of year when the temperatures are pleasant, the wildlife is abundant, and the scenery dramatic.