215 Best Sights in British Columbia, Canada

Near Siwash Rock, this centuries-old, 56-foot-wide burnt cedar stump has shrunk over the years but still gives an idea of how large some of the old-growth trees can grow. A Hollow Tree Society, made up of private citizens and donations, acts as the tree's unofficial caretaker. (You can also view an exact replica of the 43-foot-high Hollow Tree, coated in gold finish, at the corner of Marine and Cambie Streets, designed by Canadian Artist Douglas Coupland.)

This little town, tucked under the Coast Mountains on the shore of Howe Sound, marks the western edge of West Vancouver. Best known for its BC Ferries terminal, with service to Vancouver Island, Bowen Island, and the Sunshine Coast, Horseshoe Bay also marks the start of the Sea to Sky Highway to Whistler. Most people pass through, but it's worth making time for a fish-and-chips lunch at Troll's (operated by the same family since the 1940s) or any of several restaurants with ocean- and mountain-view decks. You can also make a day of it, swimming or scuba diving at Whytecliffe Park or joining an eco-tour with Sewell's Marina.

Kitty-corner to the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, this building has a five-story-high public atrium, regularly changing art exhibitions, and one of the city's more intriguing public art installations. Pendulum, by British Columbia artist Alan Storey, is a 90-foot-long hollow aluminum sculpture that arcs hypnotically overhead.

You don't have to be a Buddhist to appreciate the intricate workmanship of traditional Chinese art and culture inside this magnificent Buddhist temple, one of the most exquisite examples of Chinese palatial architecture and second-largest Buddhist temple in North America. Amid the peace and tranquility, the temple holds regular Buddhist ceremonies, lectures, and meditation classes, and conducts tea ceremonies. There is also a renowned bonsai garden, resource library, and museum on the grounds, as well as a cafeteria offering Taste of Zen lunch service on Saturdays and Sundays. Because of the sacred nature of the temple, photography is restricted to outside areas. To reach the temple by public transit, take the Canada Line to Brighouse Station, then catch Bus 403 to the temple.

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. 

Extending from Jordan River to near Port Renfrew, Juan de Fuca Provincial Park takes in several beaches, including China Beach, with soft, sandy beaches dotted with driftwood; Sombrio Beach, a popular surfing spot; and Botanical Beach, with its amazing tidal pools. The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is a tough 48-km (30-mile) wilderness hiking trail running along the shore from China Beach, west of Jordan River, to Botanical Beach, near Port Renfrew. Several trailheads along the way—at China Beach, Sombrio Beach, Parkinson Creek, and Botanical Beach—allow day hikers to walk small stretches of it.

Works by contemporary local, Canadian, and international artists make up the gallery's four exhibition spaces. It's a family-friendly space, too: there are activities and programming for children (worth noting for rainy days).

Jointly administered by the British Columbia provincial government and the Tsimshian First Nation, Canada's only grizzly bear sanctuary, 45 km (28 miles) northeast of Prince Rupert, was established in 1994. It contains one of North America's highest concentrations of grizzlies, protecting a population of about 50 bears, as well as the surrounding wilderness and wetlands that make up their habitat. Eagles, porpoises, and whales may also be spotted in the bay on the approach to the sanctuary. You can visit the sanctuary only with a licensed guide (the website has contact information) and with the proper permits, and access is via boat or floatplane only. Bear viewing is best between mid-May and late July; trips may not be offered in August and September.

This legendary pass, designated a National Historic Site for its importance as a transportation corridor in Western Canada, was punched through the Rocky Mountains in the late 1800s to allow the railway and subsequently, the highway, to pass into British Columbia. At 1,627 meters (2,415 feet), this is the highest point on the entire Trans-Canada Highway and it straddles the Continental Divide and the British Columbia/Alberta border. The pass earned its name thanks to James Hector, the first European to come upon the pass, where it's said his horse kicked him in the chest. From the lookout point, you can look down onto the transportation corridor to the west and view the Spiral Tunnels that were ingeniously engineered to allow trains to go from one elevation to another through the steep Canadian Rockies.

Spanning the Kicking Horse River in downtown Golden, at 46 meters (151 feet), this is the longest freestanding timberframe bridge in Canada. Built with a Swiss design from local wood, the bridge reflects the Swiss guide heritage of the city.

This viewpoint arguably provides the best vistas in the entire park. Situated as you begin the ascent to Sinclair Pass (from the north), stop at this pull-out for stunning views up and down the Mitchell and Vermilion mountain ranges.

Prince Rupert's dream of being the northeast's major port and tourist destination died along with Charles Hays, the town's founder and head of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, who went down with the Titanic in 1912. The story of his railway empire, and its remnants, can be seen at this small museum, which traces the lives of the linemen, agents, and operators who worked the early railroad.

On the Naramata Bench above Okanagan Lake, Lake Breeze Vineyards is one of the region's most attractively located small wineries. Their wines are known to be clean, crisp, and fruity. The tasting room and garden patio make for a lovely setting; the outdoor Patio Restaurant is open for lunch (weather permitting) between May and mid-October.

This 2.8-km (1.7-mile) trail with minimal ups and downs in elevation takes you close to the shoreline of the vibrant, turquoise-colored Lake O'Hara. You generally follow the shoreline, and at times the trail cuts higher along the mountain and across gullies above the lake. A highlight is the Seven Veils Falls that cascades into the lake. Easy.

This 6.6-km (4.1-mile) well-signed trail starts along Lake O'Hara, then proceeds past a waterfall and another small turquoise lake before reaching Lake Oesa, which is nestled among the scree slopes at the bottom of towering snow-covered mountains. Although the trail is above Lake O'Hara, elevation gain is minimal at 240 meters (787 feet) made via a series of switchbacks that pass through some grassy slopes and meadows surrounded by quartzite cliffs. In places, huge slabs of flat rock provide a stable walking surface. Moderate.

The spiraling library building, open plazas, and lofty atrium of Library Square, completed in the mid-1990s, were built to evoke images of the Colosseum in Rome. A high-tech public library is the core of the structure; the outer edge of the spiral houses cafés and fast-food outlets.

This former family fruit farm has morphed into a breathtaking 6-acre garden of flowers, trees, ponds, and streams. A path winds through a maze of constantly changing colors, passing over footbridges and beside jungles of wildflowers. Benches are strategically placed beneath weeping willows for shade or beside plants that draw butterflies and hummingbirds. The Frog City Café is an excellent stop for breakfast or a light lunch.

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.

Nestled into the precipitous North Shore Mountains, this 5,668-hectare (14,000-acre) reserve includes 100 km (62 miles) of hiking and biking trails—some that are steep and challenging. The meandering Seymour Valley Trailway is a 10-km (6-mile) paved pathway, suitable for cyclists, in-line skaters, strollers, and wheelchairs. Popular hikes include the easy 2-km (1-mile) loop around Rice Lake and the steep climb to Lynn Peak.

A definite highlight of Kootenay National Park, Marble Canyon trail starts immediately from the parking lot at the side of Highway 93. The short hike (1.4 km [.87 miles] with minimal elevation) takes you across seven bridges that criss-cross the deeply carved limestone gorge, as the torrential glacial blue waters rush downward far below. At the top of the trail, you can see a small waterfall on the river, right where it drops into the canyon.

Inspired by New York's Chrysler Building, the Marine Building is worth stopping for a look. The terra-cotta bas-reliefs on this 21-story, 1930s art deco structure depict the history of transportation—airships, steamships, locomotives, and submarines—as well as Mayan and Egyptian motifs and images of marine life. Step inside for a look at the beautifully restored interior, then walk to the corner of Hastings and Hornby Streets for the best view of the building.