Winter in Whitehorse is beautiful, but long. By the end of April 2016 we traveled down south to find Vancouver fully in bloom already. A reasonably priced and very scenic train ride along the coast brought us to Seattle. After discovering this attractive city for a few days, we took over a truck camper at the GoNorth Car and RV rental station close to the Seattle International Airport. GoNorth vehicles are not numbered, they have names, which makes your camper like a friend right away. Our truck camper answered to the name of “Josey.”

Our camping adventure with Josey started on the Olympic Peninsula. From there we took the ferry to charming Victoria on Vancouver Island. Slowly, we made our way towards the northern part of Vancouver Island – spending several days exploring the interior and the east coast. We enjoyed walking in the fairytale-like rainforest, a very different vegetation from what we knew in the Yukon. Due to travelling early in the camping season, we had a lot of great spots just for ourselves.

After an impressive ferry trip through the Inside Passage we were back on the mainland. A guided tour at the historic North Pacific Cannery in Port Edwards gave us a great insight into the salmon industry. We were also impressed with the huge dimension – 10 km by 3 km! – of the lava bed at the Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park, north of Terrace.

It was a little too early for salmon fishing in the Skeena River, but several lakes – such as the Dease Lake – along the scenic Stewart-Cassiar Highway offered great fishing opportunities. It was an awesome time of year to see lots of wildlife along this 725 km stretch of highway that runs north to the Yukon border – we stopped counting the bears on the roadside.

By the time we were back home in Whitehorse, summer was back with us! We were a little sad to drop of “Josey” at the GoNorth Car and RV rental station just across the Alaska Highway from the Whitehorse airport. This reliable truck camper was the perfect means of transportation for our spring getaway. And due to the off-season, one way special, it fitted our limited budget.

If you’re looking for a spring getaway ask GoNorth about their one-way special from Seattle to Whitehorse for USD$999 for up to three weeks if you return the vehicle before June 15. If you feel like driving further north, you can drop of your camper unit in Fairbanks or Anchorage. Similar specials, in the opposite driving direction, are available in fall.

For more information go to www.GoNorth-alaska.com/oneway or call their toll free number 1-866-236-7272.

GoNorth is a family owned business and has been in operation since 2001. Their services include a travel centre and car and RV rental stations in Whitehorse, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Seattle. Find GoNorth at the 38th Annual Yukon Trade Show on May 5, 6 and 7 in Whitehorse.

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