Slow your roll along the Trans-Canada

Ya gotta eat, and depending on when the hunger hits, you have choices. Just 45 minutes beyond Surrey, Blackberry Kitchen is a great breakfast stop: at Abbotsford, turn off the Trans-Canada at Exit 73 and follow the signs to Mission to find this charming restaurant inside a log cabin at the Fraser River Heritage Park. Fuel up while enjoying tranquil views of the Fraser Valley from the large outdoor patio. Looking for a late lunch? It’s definitely worth the short detour off the highway at Exit 116 to visit Farmhouse Brewing in Chilliwack—about an hour’s drive past Surrey. It’s a bucolic venue, serving up award-winning craft beers, family-friendly games and delicious wood-fired pizza in a spacious barn. Keep an eye out for Monty, the Instagram-famous farm dog who likes to greet guests with a paw shake.

Just 100 km east of Kamloops is Salmon Arm, quaint home to Marine Peace Park and the largest wooden wharf in North America. Stretching 134 m into the fresh waters of Shuswap Lake, the historic wharf is a prime location for bird- and people-watching. Grab a snack at the park concession and enjoy a leisurely stroll along the nearby nature trails before hitting the road once again.

Highway 1 runs right through the centre of Yoho National Park, on the western slopes of the Continental Divide near the BC/Alberta border. Spring for a day pass and enjoy a gentle three-hour return (6-km) hike through fragrant forest to glacial Sherbrooke Lake—guaranteed to be far less crowded (but no less impressive!) than the better-known trail to Emerald Lake. Good to know: the trailhead is only signed and accessed in one direction (westbound) off the Trans-Canada. Be prepared: Dress for the trail conditions—weather changes frequently in the mountains—and always carry bear spray in the backcountry.