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We've compiled the best of the best in British Columbia - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
The interesting Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre has maritime paraphernalia, including historic vessels and model boats, displayed along a pier, which is also a great place to take in views of the village and boats at harbor. You may also be able to watch boatbuilders at work in the attached studio.
This 5.2 km (3.2 miles) hike starts by crossing two suspension bridges across the crystal blue Kootenay River and finishes at a picture-perfect mountain lake. Along the forested trail there are several spots to catch glimpses of the river and surrounding mountains, plus there's a rustic log bench at the highest point on the trail to take a break. When you reach the lake you can reward yourself with a refreshing swim. Easy
This picnic site is located right next to the brilliantly colored Faedar Lake. On a stroll along the pathway that goes around the lake, you will have stunning views of the surrounding mountain peaks, and in the summer months, you'll likely see wildflowers. Outhouse toilets are available. Note that the parking area is not suitable for large RVs or trailers and is accessible only by west-bound traffic.
Chemainus is famous for its bold epic murals. The Chemainus Festival of Murals Society started a revitalization project in 1982 that has since brought in international artists to paint more than 60 murals and 9 sculptures depicting local historical events around town. Follow the yellow footprints on the sidewalk around town for a self-guided tour of the murals. Or hop in a horse-drawn carriage for a narrated tour.
Immediately adjacent to the Field Visitor Centre parking lot, this day-use area is a popular family-picnic spot in the summer months. On hot days, the small lake is perfect for a refreshing swim. The large parking lot is suitable for RVs, and there are accessible washrooms and a shop that sells T-shirts and other tourist merchandise inside the visitor center.
On the confluence of where the Porcupine Creek joins the Kicking Horse River, with a wildly scenic backdrop of towering Rocky Mountain peaks, this is a perfect spot for a picnic. There are picnic tables and outhouse toilet facilities. It's accessible by westbound traffic only.
This provincial park, on the scenic Strait of Juan de Fuca 21 km (13 miles) west of Sooke, comprises a sand-and-pebble beach, a campground, and seaside trails. The shoreline is an excellent spot for whale-watching, as migrating grays and resident killer whales often feed in the area. Amenities: toilets; showers; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking; windsurfing.
As a major wintering area for more than 260 species of birds, this bird sanctuary is busy year round with avian activity. Shorebirds start arriving mid-August, followed by northern waterfowl; bird sightings peak in November. Nesting takes place April through June; kids love seeing the goslings and ducklings. Birdseed is 50 cents. Located on Westham Island in Ladner across the Fraser River estuary from Steveston, it takes a bit of a loop route to get there. But rain or shine, there are always birds to see.
At this exciting adventure park, a forested trail will take you across a canyon via Canada's two highest suspension bridges (130 meters [426 feet]; 80 meters [263 feet]). There are also viewing platforms where you can marvel over the canyon formation and the surrounding mountain ranges. A play park for kids is included in the fee, but there's an extra charge for the rope challenge course, mountain coaster, giant canyon swing, and zipline. There is also a climbing wall and axe-throwing in the park. Different day passes are available.
When the sky is clear, the telescope at the Gordon Southam Observatory is focused on whatever stars or planets are worth watching that night. Admission to the observatory is by donation and it's open year-round Saturday evenings, from 7 to 11, weather permitting.
North America's largest aerial tramway, the Skyride is a great way to take in the city, sea, and mountain vistas (be sure to pick a clear day or evening). The Skyride makes the 2-km (1-mile) climb to the peak of Grouse Mountain every 15 minutes. Once at the top, there are plenty of activities included in the ticket price. From spring through fall, you can catch a lumberjack show, a ranger talk, a documentary video, or a falconry demonstration. Go hiking, ride the chairlift, play disc golf, or visit a pair of grizzly bears in the mountain's wildlife refuge. For an extra fee, you can mountain bike, tackle a ropes course, go zip-lining, or take a helicopter flight. You can even pay extra to ride on top of the Skyride car. Popular family extras include a treetop canopy course and a chance to have breakfast with the bears. In the winter, you can ski, snowshoe, snowboard, sled, ice skate on a mountaintop pond, or stroll through the Light Walk, an illuminated pathway around a lake. A stone-and-cedar lodge is home to snack shops, a pub-style bistro, and a high-end restaurant, all with expansive city views. The Grouse Grind—a hiking trail up the face of the mountain—is one of the best workouts on the North Shore. Depending on your fitness level, allow between 40 minutes and two hours to complete it (90 minutes is an average time). Then you can take the Skyride down. The BCMC Trail is a less crowded, slightly longer alternative. From late May through September, you can catch a free shuttle to Grouse Mountain from Canada Place. Bus 236 from Lonsdale Quay stops at the base of Grouse Mountain year-round.
The interactive exhibits and high-tech learning systems at this center include GroundStation Canada, showcasing Canada's achievements in space, and the Cosmic Courtyard, full of hands-on, space-oriented exhibits including a moon rock and a computer program that shows what you would look like as an alien. You can catch daytime astronomy shows or evening music-and-laser shows at the H.R. MacMillan Planetarium.
Home to the Jericho Sailing Centre, this Point Grey beach is popular for windsurfing and kayaking (rentals are available), especially at the western end. Swimmers can use the eastern section, where the expansive sands and a grassy park invite sunbathing. In July, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival brings thousands together over folk, world, and indie bands. Amenities: food and drink, lifeguards, parking (for a fee), toilets, and water sports. Best for: swimming, walking, and windsurfing.
In the center of Vancouver, this park hosts community festivals and is a popular place for family picnics. There's an attractive farmers' market on summer Saturdays, and it's also home to Trout Lake, the city's only freshwater lake, which has a sandy beach and a swimming raft.
Perched on a point about a mile off the highway on Wickaninnish Beach, the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve's visitor center offers insights into local culture, flora and fauna, First Nations traditions, local history, and conservation efforts; don't miss the stunning life-size carving of a whaling canoe. Park rangers are on hand to answer questions. The outside deck is perfect for spotting whales, surfers, and storms.
The most accessible—and visited—section of the park is the Long Beach Unit, the highlight of which is a 15-km (9-mile) stretch of pristine forest-backed sand just off Highway 4 between Ucluelet and Tofino. Four-hour "beach walk" passes are available at Long Beach Parking Lot only. Amenities: parking (fee); toilets. Best for: surfing; walking.
At this two-level indoor market—less frenzied than its Granville Island counterpart—vendors sell prepared foods, just-caught seafood, and fresh produce. You can also shop for crafts, kitchenware, and toys, or sample the beer or kombucha at Green Leaf Brewing. Outside you can wander the quay and enjoy the views of the Downtown skyline across the water. The market is a short ride from Downtown on the SeaBus and just steps from the Polygon Gallery, MONOVA, and the Shipyards District.
Located right next to Lonsdale Quay and the SeaBus Terminal, this new museum explores North Vancouver's rich history–through the lens of artifacts, documents, and photographs. A definite highlight is the restored British Columbia electric streetcar located in the museum's gift shop. There are also plenty of interactive exhibits for kids.
