Backpacker Buzz

Though the minivan has almost wiped out Griswold-style summer vacations in the family station wagon, there's still a lot of fun to be had by packing the fam into whatever vehicle you've got and hitting the road.

If you don't want to camp, but you don't want to splurge on hotels, we've put together a list of the best family-friendly hostels in Western Canada to offer another option, whatever your means of getting around.

All of these hostels offer family rooms that give you privacy as well as space to spread out. At most HI hostels, the price of a family room is the same as a private room, you just pay $10 each for kids aged 6-17. Kids five and under stay for free.

5. HI-Nanaimo, Painted Turtle Guesthouse
This pretty little place in the historic centre of Nanaimo has family rooms (photo above) featuring a queen-sized bed and a bunk bed on offer, as well as rooms with two bunk beds that you can take over. The harbourfront walkway is nearby as well as tourist attractions, shopping and dining.
HI-Nanaimo is an affiliate hostel and rate policies may vary from those at HI-owned hostels.

4. HI-Athabasca Falls Wilderness Hostel
You're never too young to experience that peculiar draftiness of using an outhouse and HI-Athabasca Falls is one of the best places to do it. The hostel used to only have dorms available but a newly renovated cabin now offers family rooms. One has a double bed and four single beds, and the other has a double bed, two singles and a double pull-out couch.

There are two full kitchens in the common cabin as well as a ping pong table. There's no indoor plumbing so nature will hopefully call you outside to one of the two outhouses. Water comes from a manual pump and so long as your arms can reach the handle, you're eligible for water duty. There's a campfire pit on site  that appears to be built solely for singalongs and the mighty Athabasca Falls are within walking distance, just a short wander downriver. Bring binoculars and you can pounce when the crowds dissipate.

3. HI-Whistler
This new purpose-built hostel has had families in mind since it was in its idea stages. Family rooms have two bunk beds, sleeping four, and an ensuite bathroom. For the active family, there's plenty of bike and ski storage on site as well as parking.

2. HI-Nordegg, Shunda Creek Hostel
Nordegg is a bit of a secret oasis in between Calgary, Edmonton, Jasper and Banff. HI-Nordegg, Shunda creek is prepared for all configurations of families with rooms featuring a double bed and anywhere from two to four single beds. There's lots of space to run around here and even a hot tub on-site. There's a BBQ for guests to grill on, and a fully equipped kitchen for your more indoor culinary pursuits.

The surrounding David Thompson Country is an excellent place for hiking, biking, aimless wandering and screaming at the top of your lungs.

1. HI-Lake Louise Alpine Centre
This one has set the bar high for family hostelling in Canada, and, dare we say it, around the world. Family rooms sometimes have lofts, which is pretty fun any way you look at it. There's a kids play area in the hostel too, fully stocked with the finest in tossables and stackables. The on-site café, Bill Peyto's, appeals to the young and less young alike and yes, weary parents, it's licensed. Parking is plentiful.