Our tips on what to do and see in Canada’s striking and westernmost province, British Columbia
We thought we’d share information on the bits we love best and a guide to this spectacular province of truly glorious scenery.
The province is dominated by the majestic Rockies, a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America which runs from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico in the Southwestern United States. Here you will find glacial lakes, breathtakingly calm forests and, sometimes, grizzly bears. There are hot springs to enjoy, you can ski, cross-country or downhill, snowboard, try fishing or boating on Jasper’s alpine lake and even ride the Banff gondola. For a family this is a great place for a holiday.
Victoria, British Columbia’s beautiful capital city, is on Vancouver Island and is certainly a wonderful place to start – from stately buildings, museums showing the development of the town from its earliest beginnings to the vibrant, busy and charming place it is today, and many really excellent local restaurants. Victoria’s inner Harbour is considered by many to be one of the world’s most beautiful harbours and from here you can take a whale watching cruise and embark on other nautical adventures.
Only an hour from Vancouver you can try a trek in Squeamish to see the Shannon Falls – or view them from the Sea-to-Sky-Gondola – and moving on to the Wells Gray National Park you can marvel at the Henneker Falls, an astonishing 141 metre drop, if you are game for an 8km hike. Less energetic is a trip on the underground train run from the Britannia Mining Museum.
Still close to Vancouver is the Capilano suspension bridge; it is almost 140 metres across and it wobbles as you cross it. If you like adventure, a very popular experience at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is the Treetops Adventure, providing a priceless view of the West Coast rainforest.
There are many national parks in British Columbia, but the Pacific Rim National Park is unique in covering both land and ocean, coasts and rainforest, surfing and an immensity of unspoiled natural beauty.
Throughout British Columbia the scenery is astonishing, and the variety is enormous. It is also teeming with wildlife – beavers, Canada Geese, Cougars, black and Kermode bears and more – and the abundance of wildflowers is astonishing. There is a network of rainforests too. Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut is a provincial park and protected area located in the regional district of Fraser-Fort George. The park was established in 2016 to protect a portion of the North American inland temperate rainforest, the only one in the world. It is said to contain many trees over one thousand years old.
Whatever you choose, fishing, grizzly bear viewing by seaplane or looking for whales and dolphins, (or even white-coated Kermode bears) whilst cruising along the Inside Passage from Fjordland to Vancouver, this is a province that will be hard to forget.
For tips on where to rest your head … if starting your journey in Victoria, you can’t beat the Fairmont
Empress, one of Canada’s most iconic hotels. Other than that try Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort,
below the Cariboo mountains, if you have a desire to discover your inner cowboy!