Hey Sweetlou,
Glad I am not the only responder here. You should chat with Gary about his boondock spot. The Alex Fraser Bridge area is has a band of industrial land bordering a peat bog, with parks, Housing and the river. The bog is damp soft ground, not open water swamp. There are a few rougher types of folk moving past, but not a dangerous place. It is a funny mix of scrub forest meets river meets industry. If you are like me, you dry camp a good spell, hook up, charge up, etc. I have been reviewing a few of the RV parks I noted, it appears you may do better in the 'burbs for your hook up. Burnaby did not review top notch either, but people did say, apart from the trains, traffic noise etc, a few said they would be back. It is still a solid 40 mins from Stanley Park. If you don't mind making it an hour and a bit you will be a "happier camper".
I can vouch for Anmore, though make sure they understand your size. some sites are smaller. Decent otherwise.
The Fort Langley Campsite has a good rep, we were going to do some camping 20 mins from home last year and did not make it out. It is across a river channel from a rail line, but I did not see complaints on a review site. Ft.Langley is a great short day by its self, a cool touristy old (for here) town, The fort, museums, ice cream etc.
If you want the full working river experience, Derby Reach park about 5 miles from Ft.Langley has camping pads on the bank. Not sure about hook ups.
There are several trailer parks that do some RV spots around as well. reading your latest post, you will be a busy family, but you can do ok if you don't mind a bit of travel time. This Rv review site has some good info.
try this review site
There are several Prov or Municipal parks close for camping.
they range from camping in farm country, surrounded by trees in the park, Forest,etc.
It is a good question if you want to start up the valley wilderness style and then move in for the town, or work your way out.
Will update more later if you like
Rob
Rob
DW Lesley
DD Fiona '99
DD Ainsley '02
Zoe the Boxer
Fly fishing is one good reason to camp!
TV 04 Durango LTD Hemi TT KZ Spree LX 240 BHS
Equalflex idlers, axles flipped.
Quote: CAN (BC) Surrey (Vancouver) Peace Arch RV Park 604-594-7009 14601 40th Ave., About 5 miles N of Border on Hwy 99 Nice destination park w/pull thrus. Each site separated by several big evergreens. Absolutely beautiful gardens and flowers throughout. A well done campground and conveniently located.
We haven't been back there since 2003 and a couple of pix of the park are in our 2003 trip album (pg3) linked in my sig below.
Personally, I would spend more time in Victoria than Vancouver - much prettier and nicer city. Victoria moves at a slower pace.
I would spend 4-6 days in Victoria very easily.
Family of four
2007 Ford Explorer 4.6 L
2008 Shamrock 23RS
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Derby Reach has no hookups and is first come first serve with a 5 or 7 day max stay. The cost last year was about $10 per day. But as has been said it can take a good hour to reach Vancouver. I don't recommend trying it during rush hour.
You can tune your radio to 1130 am and every ten minutes on the one (1, 11, 21, 31,etc) they give a good weather, traffic and border report.
If you are looking for a nice quiet place to stay with full hookups I would recommend Hazelmere RV Park [url=www.hazelmere.ca] in South Surrey. They have nice trees and grass which can be better than some of the "parking lots" around here, and it is very quiet due to it being off of main roads. It is located near the Pacific Border crossing and provides quite easy access to different parts of the City for touring. Fort Langley [url=www.fortcamping.com] is nice as well but is a bit pricey, and a bit noisier due to trains, although it provides easy access to the City as well. The downtown core is usually accessible within 1 hour from either of these parks unless a major traffic snarl up occurs. I would recommend making reservations for any park that you choose, however.
As for visiting Victoria, I don't think you'll really have any trouble finding reasonable parking for your dually. We were there 2 years ago and there are plenty of open pay parking lots throughout the City that quite easily accommodated my dually.
If you need any more help please just let us know!
2003 Ford F-350 S/C 4x4 dually Lariat, 6.0 PSD, 6 speed manual, 4.10 LS, True Blue exterior, medium flint leather interior
2005 Citation Supreme 28.5 RKS fifth wheel trailer - full load incl. winter package
What activities are you interested in doing? Attractions in Vancouver can be pricey, but well worth the $$. You can also find some discounts.
My son is 13 and has enjoyed:
Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park lots of flat lot parking and also on transit. Plan at least 2 hours, maybe more. Stanley Park is a 1000 acre park right in the city, there is a sea wall around it that is a beautiful walk or bike. There will be some repairs to the sea wall this summer.
Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver, the views are incredible, hiking trails and food services at the top. I do not think you can take the dogs though. If you are incredibly fit you can do the Grouse Grind (hike up the mountain), or take the Gondola from the parking lot. On transit too.
Science World and the Omnimax threatre will keep you buy for quite a while too. Science World is one of the stops of the Sky Train, part of Translink. The Sky Train will take you from Burrard Inlet out to Surrey or Richmond.
There are big malls along the Sky Train route if you want to shop.
Granville Island is an interesting place, lots of food, buskers, art galleries. Nice place to go for a walk and grab a meal or snack. Parking could be tight there for the truck, but you can get there on transit.
Play Land is a huge amusement park that runs all summer long.
Victoria is not a difficult place to park your truck. There are several flat lots along the waterfront, lots of street parking too. You may find it challenging to fit in a parkcade, but there is lots of open parking.
It makes sense to stay in a hotel for the night, the cost of bringing your RV across and back would easily cover the cost of the hotel. I know the Fairmont Empress allows dogs, the rates are quite pricey,but if you sigh up for the Fairmont Presidents Club, you will get monthly emails with Great Rates. That is what we do.
Just a heads up that the Travelers Inn/Vacation Inn group is in financial trouble. Quite a few of their properties are under a court ordered sale. I do not know if they allow dogs, but even if they do when you book, there could be new owners and new rules by the time you arrive.
Tothill has done a good job describing several attractions. I can offer a few bits.
The tram ride up Grouse is fun, it does cost, but there is a decent tourist focused video presentation with some native culture etc. If you want to get a possibly better view for the price of gas,drive up to Cypress Mountain to the west. The Cypress view lets you see up the valley further as there is another mountain in the way at Grouse.
Other cool things to do are China town, especially the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden.
If you want to go to another minicultural trip you can go to Little India. Food, clothing markets, etc.
Depends on Time and tastes there is the Vancouver Art Gallery- it may have something cool on, should check ahead.
UBC Museum of Anthropology for Native culture.
Wreck Beach if you need some extra sunshine in places that don't usually get any.
Some like the Mining museum at Brittania Beach, Been down in a mine lately?
The Maritime museum has the St.Roch, a small RCMP vessel that went through the Northwest (arctic) Passage 1947. If you like the "wreck hunters" the host works there.
Capilaino suspension bridge for a big look down, and some native stuff.
For free you can go to Lynn Canyon Park and go on a shorter but still scary bridge.
if you want to see the City then Cariboo or Capilano are the two realistic choices (others will have you sitting in grid lock all day).
Riverside RV Park in Whistler is full service and the only real park in Whistler. Worth it to see the area and nice too.
Alice is one of our Fav parks do that for the wilderness parts
drive up the forestry roads of the Elaho river to see wild BC
Westbay RV and Marina in Victoria is great to see Victoria City - you can see the Parliament buildings and watch float plans land and take off.
and lastly if your drive into Vancouver is going to be a long one, Merrit has a nice PP to stay at for a couple days - Monck. Then you are ~3 hours to Cariboo RV (I live 10 blocks from there )
from Caribou you can be 1 hour + to Stanley Park on a weekday. anything further out (IE on the other side of a bridge) can add at least another 30-45 min.
2008 Itasca Sunova 35J Class A
1997 TJ Sahara, hard and soft tops and AC
Held together via Roadmaster Falcon 2 tow bar and stopped by US Gear Unified Brake system.
as well you might consider taking a float plane from downtown Vancouver to Victoria harbour. Expensive but a wicked way to see the islands from the air in between.
I do if for work alot and I never cease to enjoy the view. right at the dock in Victoria is the Prince of Whales tour boats - great way to see Orca.
I am living in east langley and commuting, one has to pick your time and route for traffic. I get to Down town Vancouver in about 1-1/2hrs max in the morning commute. But you have to choose your route. I think if you are trying to take the westbound Port Mann Bridge 7-9Am you will get an extra 30-45 min trip. If you take Hwy 99, through tunnel you can be doing much better, or take Lougheed /Barnet Hwy, to Vancouver you should be better. I think that the Camping has to be strategic to the routes taken. Ft. Langley to Golden Ears Bridge(toll), White Rock, Surrey to tunnel, Anmore to Barnet. It is not a day long nightmare beleive me. We can give some local area knowledge to support decisions. Then there is transit from the burbs. Lots of things to sort out in getting around easier here. BTW, Merry Christmas one and all. Have a great holiday, no matter what your occasion or faith.
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