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Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 4:00 pm.
Afternoon: Program Registration: 4:00-5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: Orientation: 7:30-8:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to applicable COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. Lectures and field trips will be conducted by local experts. Transportation will be via motorcoach and van as noted. Breakfasts will be at the hotel, lunches will be mostly in the field, with dinners at the hotel and local restaurants featuring seasonal ingredients. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity note: Hiking up to 3 miles with stops; groomed park trails; little elevation gain. Extent and duration of elective walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Lynn Canyon
Lunch: At a scenic trailside spot, we’ll have boxed lunches.
Afternoon: We’ll board a motorcoach, and learn about Vancouver’s multi-faceted character from the past to the present from a local expert. Explore some of the city’s most notable neighborhoods, including Gastown, and Chinatown. The motorcoach will return to the hotel. Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. You might like to hike to Beaver Lake via Lover’s Walk, one of the many trails that wind through the park’s forested interior. Or, explore Granville Island, once an industrial hub and now renowned for its bustling market, or return to the hotel and relax.
Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 75 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Two hiking choices. (A) 2-3 miles, 3 hours; starting at the summit elevation of approximately 3,000 feet with slight elevation gain and loss; groomed trails and boardwalks. (B) 5-6 miles, 3 hours; starting at the summit elevation of approximately 3,000 feet with net gain of approximately 1,500 feet and loss of 950 feet; groomed trails.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will check out of the hotel, board a motorcoach, and ride along the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway to Squamish, a railway and First Nations community at the northern tip of Howe Sound. There, we’ll get into a gondola and climb to the summit of Stawamus Chief, the second-largest granite monolith in the world. With a local expert, we’ll learn about the region’s ecology, geology, and human history. We’ll walk along nearby trails and rest at several breathtaking Howe Sound look-out points. Hiking through alpine meadows and stands of Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar, Sitka Spruce, and Alder trees, we’ll listen to experts who will enrich our day’s experience.
Lunch: At a scenic trailside spot, we’ll have boxed lunches.
Afternoon: Riding on, we’ll reach the Whistler Museum, where we’ll learn about the history of settlement and development in the region. We’ll hear about the trappers, pioneers, and Indigenous peoples who shaped Whistler.
Dinner: At the hotel featuring locally sourced seasonal ingredients.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting in/out of a van; driving about 20 miles, approximately 1 hour riding timem partially on a service road. Two hiking choices. (A) 2-3 miles, 4 hours; slight elevation gain/loss; moderately smooth trails, some roots, rocks, muddy patches. (B) 3-4 miles, 4 hours; slight elevation gain/loss; moderately smooth trails, some roots, rocks, muddy patches).
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will walk beneath the towering canopy of cedars and Douglas fir trees that comprise this rainforest while learning about the ecology of the region. A local expert will discuss the spiritual significance of the Cheakamus River Valley to the First Nations Peoples, beginning with the name Cheakamus derived from the Squamish name for “people of the fish weir.”
Lunch: At a scenic trailside spot, we’ll have boxed lunches.
Afternoon: Returning to Whistler, we will explore the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. We’ll learn with an Indigenous educator about First Nation’s history, customs, and traditions through dance, storytelling, and material artifacts.
Dinner: Dinner on own.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a gondola and standing. Walking to trailheads; pavement. Two hiking choices. (A) 2-3 miles, 2.5 hours; starting at an elevation of approximately 6,070 feet with elevation changes of approximately 215 feet; groomed trails. (B) 2-3 miles, 2.5 hours; starting at an elevation of 6,070 feet with elevation changes of 400 feet; groomed trails.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will be joined by a resident bear researcher and learn about the local black bears that roam these mountains We’ll gain insights into their behavior, biology, and population ecology. We will then set out on our choice of hikes through the surrounding mountain peaks and valley views while learning about the region’s geological diversity. We’ll see the Black Tusk, recognizable for its pinnacle of jet-black volcanic rock, and ride on the Peak 2 Peak Express gondola connecting Whistler to the Blackcomb Mountains. Highlights of the hike will vary by season: walking through snow walls in May and June, across glaciers from June to September, and among wildflowers in July and August.
Lunch: At one of the mountaintop restaurants.
Afternoon: The Group Leader will stay on the mountain for those who want to continue with a more challenging hike. Those who would prefer a more relaxed activity can walk through Whistler Village. The hotel is at the base of the gondola. The remainder of the afternoon will be free.
Dinner: On your own to enjoy local fare. Whistler has a variety of culinary experiences close at hand.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 90 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time. Morning hike. 1.5 miles, 1.5 hours; slight elevation change; groomed trails. Afternoon walk. Maximum 2 miles, 2 hours; little elevation change; paved and groomed park trails.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: As a group, we will set out on a short hike along Whistler's Train Wreck trail to learn about the 1956 wreck and see the colorfully painted boxcars. Enjoy the view of the canyon and the rushing water of the Cheakamus river as you cross the suspension bridge.
Lunch: We will pick up our boxed lunches on our return to Vancouver.
Afternoon: Hike through Stanley Park with one of the park’s Ecology Society members. We’ll learn about this National Historic Site including the park’s variety of hemlock, cedar, and fir trees, and explore the encircling stone seawall while marveling at the ocean and mountain vistas.
Dinner: At a local restaurant, featuring locally sourced West coast cuisine. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity note: Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!