24 Best Places To Visit In British Columbia
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Loading... - Noelle Clarke
- 26 May 2022
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We’ve been lucky enough to have lived in British Columbia and even though we aren’t BC residents anymore, we make a point of going back regularly. In fact, I think we travel more to British Columbia now that we don’t live there anymore. We have explored all corners of the province and these are some ideas to spark your wanderlust to explore Canada’s West Coast.
Places To Visit In British Columbia
1. Vancouver
Vancouver is one of the best cities in Canada that offers the perfect blend of urban and outdoor adventures. When planning your travels to British Columbia, chances are you will start in Vancouver. This beautiful city has everything you would want in an urban center yet, it is filled with outdoor activities. Stanley Park is home to the famous sea wall that is perfect for cycling and hiking. There’s the Vancouver Aquarium which is a top attraction in Stanley Park and there are plenty of walking trails, a marina, and the Stanley Park Totem Poles.
Granville Island is a not to miss destination in Vancouver with art galleries, restaurants, cafes, and exhibits on a bustling island in the heart of the city.
2. Whistler
It’s Canada’s winter destination, but Whistler is one of the best places to visit in British Columbia in summer too. Make your way to Whistler Village to enjoy the great outdoors of the coastal mountains. Home to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Whistler is an outdoor lover’s playground with World Cup ski hills, a bobsleigh track, and endless cross country ski trails.
In the summer, there’s fantastic hiking, mountain biking, and rock climbing and Whistler Village is a year-round retreat filled with restaurants, cafes, and plenty of activities.
3. Squamish
Located between Vancouver and Whistler, Squamish is often overlooked as a quick stop on the Sea to Sky highway road trip, but this town is worth spending a few days. It’s a rock climbing Mecca with professional climbers flocking to tackle the Squamish Chief (Stawamus Chief Mountain ). The Britannia Mine Museum is a fascinating walk through time and there are plenty of waterfalls and hiking trails and whitewater rafting around Squamish. If you don’t want to hike or climb to the top of Squamish Chief, you can take the Sea to Sky Gondola up for high views of Howe Sound, where you can test your nerves by crossing the Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge. There’s excellent dining and Squamish is one of the best places in British Columbia to see bald eagles.
4. Sunshine Coast
This drive up the rugged and remote stretch of the BC coast is one of Canada’s best-kept secrets. The Sunshine Coast is located north of Vancouver along the Straight of Georgia. Located on the mainland of BC, one would think it is an easy drive, but the only way to access the Sunshine Coast is by taking a ferry, helicopter, or plane. Taking the ferry from Horseshoe Bay transforms you to one of the most beautiful coastlines in BC.
As you drive north, you’ll come into Gibsons Landing, home to the filming location of the legendary Canadian TV Show, the Beachcombers before you begin the drive up to Lund where you can jump on excursions to Desolation Sound. The Sunshine Coast is also known for some of the best mountain biking in British Columbia.
5. Desolation Sound
Lund is the jumping-off point for Desolation Sound and it is easy to book tours from the Lund Resort at Klah a Men or from Terracentric Coastal Adventures in the Marina. From here you can go out to Hernando and Savory Island which are known as the Hawaii of the North thanks to its sandy beach and Major Rock which is home to a colony of sea lions and to see a large colony of sea birds as well.
It is easy to book water taxis to the islands around Desolations Sound. Prices start at $12 per person one way.
If you visit Lund, a great place to stay in the Lund Resort at Klah ah men. This boutique resort is the first of fully-run Indigenous resort on the Sunshine Coast and it was named the Most Outstanding Indigenous Accommodations by Indigenous Tourism of Canada. Read More…
