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| Ranking Among Countries: #7 |
| Venturers: 10 |
| Mid-Venturers: 10 |
| Centrics-Venturers: 10 |
| Centrics-Authentics: 9 |
| Mid-Authentics: 9 |
| Authentics: 9 |
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| • Seventy-five percent of British Columbia is mountainous, 60% is forested. |
| • B.C. (364,764 square miles) is larger than California, Oregon & Washington combined. |
| • British Columbia hosts more than 30 aboriginal nations in 197 communities. |
| • Some Carmanah Walbran Park cedars are more than 1,000 years old. |
| • The province counts 451 fish species (368 saltwater), some that just pass through. |
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You’ve probably heard it said that, in real estate, success lies in “location, location, location.” The popularity of British Columbia as a vacation destination owes much to that same idea.
Its geography and topography bless it with a splendid physical setting on Canada’s west coast. With the ocean on one side and mountains on the other, it also enjoys a mild climate that makes it more inviting than the colder interior or eastern regions of Canada. And, while it’s most accessible to the western U.S., it attracts visitors from all areas.
Americans find it very comfortable to visit British Columbia (especially authentics) because border formalities are relatively unhassled, even with new passport requirements, and we speak a common language. On the other hand, they are in a foreign country, which is made even more attractive since the U.S. dollar is stronger than the Canadian. So, it’s surprising to hear from many travelers that they find Canada’s west coast to be “very different” from the U.S. in terms of scenery, local attitudes and culture. Of course, these differences are what makes travel fun for many, especially the venturers and centrics who like British Columbia so much.
Travelers to British Columbia most often discuss Victoria, the island capital, and Vancouver, the city many consider the most beautiful in North America. Many say it is a “veddy British” outpost in Canada and that Anglophiles will appreciate the ambience — civilized, but not stuffy.
In addition, centrics describe a picture-book scene when they refer to distinctive architecture, flowers everywhere, little or no congestion and, above all, a “very, very, very clean” place. They praise Victoria, the “English” city, surrounded by water and filled with flowers. In Vancouver, centrics especially love Stanley Park with its gardens, Indian totems and views of the city.
Venturers, and many centrics, enjoy diversifying their trips with excursions into the interior. Places like Whistler mountain and Emerald Lake lure the more adventurous travelers for recreation and breathtaking vistas of snow-capped mountains and the lakes below. The oft-praised clean environment and the variety of activities attract lots of adventurous travelers to British Columbia. Like others, they appreciate the amenities of Vancouver and the quaintness of Victoria, but especially like hopping on and off boats and floatplanes and the other forms of transportation required to see everything. The more venturous can fly out to Whistler or across the Columbia River to Emerald Lake. Along the way, actives can fish British Columbia’s streams, take hikes, walk trails or ski mountain slopes surrounded by some of the most spectacular, unspoiled grandeur in the world. While British Columbia seems created for the active traveler, it offers plenty of options for all personality types. For example, at Whistler, venturers can ski and hike while authentics stroll around Whistler Village, shop and sip a cup of tea or glass of wine in the afternoon at quaint restaurants and coffee houses.
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Ski or snowboard or rent a snowmobile at the Whistler/Blackcomb ski areas. They are not very far from Vancouver. Facilities are quite good, and there’s that breathtaking backdrop!
Race in Vancouver’s half-marathon, in June.
Go fishing. With the right licenses, you can go for salmon or trout or even for huge sturgeon.
Take to the air. At Whistler, you can choose flightseeing. Winter options include paragliding and heli-skiing.
Do what Vancouver locals do: Ski in the morning, go sailing in the afternoon.
Visit the Homathko River-Tatlayoko Protected Area in southwestern British Columbia. A good choice for experienced back-country users only, it has no trails or roads within its boundaries. Also, the Homathko River is considered too dangerous for canoeists, kayakers or rafters. Nevertheless, the rewards are spectacular scenery (including icefields) and wildlife viewing that can include bald eagles, grizzlies, moose, mountain goats and mule deer. And opportunities include hiking and mountaineering, as well as windsurfing and kayaking on Tatlayoko Lake.
Take courses in mountaineering at Burnie Glacier Chalet in northern British Columbia. Alternatively, take a more focused course in rock climbing or ice climbing. Then, use your new skills.
Go heli-skiing, or heli-hiking, depending on the season, in the Selkirk Mountains in the eastern part of British Columbia. Canadian Mountain Holidays describes itself as the world’s largest helicopter skiing company.
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Bike Vancouver’s seawall paths (which are flat) or join one of the daily hosted city cycle tours offered by City by Cycle.
Plan a wine tour in Fraser Valley. There are almost a dozen wineries in the valley from Vancouver to Hope. The Langley area is best for touring because of its cluster of five notable wineries.
Go hiking. The province has more than 2,174 miles of hiking trails.
Travel and sightsee by rail: Rocky Mountaineer Railtours in summer operates tourist train packages between Vancouver and other points in British Columbia (Kamloops) or points beyond (Jasper, Banff and Calgary).
Go whale watching from Vancouver Island.
Attend a wildlife festival. There are around 20 such events in British Columbia, celebrating bears, birds, whales — but most often, salmon. At some events, celebrants observe or help introduce hatchery salmon to the wild, and later in the year, celebrate the return of the salmon.
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Although flying is an option, take a ferry to Vancouver Island. Not just transportation, it also offers a memorable experience. Make Butchart Gardens, where thousands of flowers flame with color, a first stop on the island.
See the totem poles and huge carved masks at the Museum of Anthropology on the University of British Columbia campus.
Provide yourself with a self-guided tour of Vancouver using the city’s hop-on, hop-off sightseeing trolleys. Tickets are good for two days.
Play golf. Whistler describes itself as an international destination for this, but there are courses throughout the southern part of the province, including in Vancouver, Victoria and Langley in wine country. The province counts nearly 200 courses. See www.bcgolfguide.com.
Visit the Quw’utsun Cultural Centre in Duncan on Vancouver Island. It tells the stories of the native Cowichan people, the largest aboriginal band in British Columbia, with more than 3,900 members. Also, sample native foods in the Riverwalk Cafe. Groups can arrange for a salmon barbeque and Cowichan singing, dancing and drumming performances.
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For more information, consult the Tourism British Columbia at www.hellobc.com
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