Lady’s Places to Visit in British Columbia

British Columbia is bigger than it first appears. I used to think only of Vancouver when the westernmost Canadian province was mentioned, but every time I go I discover more places to visit in British Columbia.

Places to Visit in British Columbia

On my most recent trip it was Whistler, but on previous travels throughout British Columbia I’ve found a depth and diversity I never imagined. Now my list of places to visit in British Columbia grows longer all the time.

Salt Spring Island

Take my trip to Salt Spring Island, for example. A couple years ago I visited my friend’s parents on the oldest working organic farm in British Columbia.

Over the course of several days, I not only explored the farm, but also visited beaches and lakes, discovered the great local food scene at restaurants and markets, and went on walks through the woods and around the coast.

Victoria, British Columbia

And then there was Victoria, the capital of the province and one of the best places to visit in British Columbia.

Located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, the pretty city welcomed me with friendly locals, waterfront charm, and more good food (yes, there’s a theme here).

More Places to Visit in British Columbia

But my trips to BC have barely scratched the surface of all this part of Canada has to offer. The more I talk with locals (and look at the map…it goes really far north!), the more I learn of other areas that need visiting.

The Okanagan

The Okanagan, for example. British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley is one of the province’s most famous wine regions (and there are many wine regions in the area).

Throughout all my trips to BC I enjoyed tasting the local wines, and everyone I met encouraged me to take a trip to the Okanagan next time I’m in Canada.

Ski Resorts in British Columbia

Then there are the more challenging ski resorts, which are some of the top places to visit in British Columbia for winter sports enthusiasts.

After my ski camp in Whistler, I grew more confident in my technique and got interested in skiing in Red Mountain and other famous places. Maybe someday I’ll even try the famous heli-skiing in BC. Maybe.

Train from Vancouver to Whistler

And it’s not just the destinations, either. Friends have told me about their experiences taking the train from Vancouver to Whistler in the summer, which sounds like a great way to travel.

That’s not least because everyone I talked to in Whistler told me the area is even better in the summer than the winter (how that’s possible, I don’t know).

Local Places to Visit in British Columbia

And speaking of friends, some of my closest friends in London are from BC, and when I asked them about their favorite places to travel in British Columbia, I got a range of enthusiastic responses.

My friend from Salt Spring Island said “Tofino and Ucluelet. I’ve been there and it is beautiful any time of year. One time I took a boat to a hot springs, which was nice.”

Another friend from Vancouver said “I definitely second Tofino, and also the smaller gulf islands, which are pretty amazing. There are islands like Hornby, Pasley, Savory and others that are populated and developed to varying degrees.”

Elsewhere, she said that “Kelowna is an area in the interior that gets very warm in the summer. There are lots of lakes, boating and golf.

Fishing is huge in BC and if you go north up the coast, the Queen Charlotte Islands have amazing fishing resorts that people fly from all over the world to see. There is also fishing anywhere off Vancouver Island and in the interior.”

Culturally, she said not to miss the First Nations heritage, stating that “in addition to the Totem Poles in Vancouver, there is a museum devoted to Bill Reid, who is one of the most famous First Nations artists. There are also traditional villages that you can visit.”

This was seconded by one of her friends, who said to go to “the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. It houses a huge collection of Native art and artifacts including some of Bill Reid’s incredible works.”

She added more places to visit in British Columbia by saying “Bowen Island is a really nice day trip from Vancouver. You can take a small boat from Granville Island to Bowen that takes about 30 minutes. I like to go during the summer and will usually go on a Saturday.

Every second Saturday in the summer they have a really cute farmers’ market. Once over there, we usually walk or bike (you can take bikes on the boat) around Killarney Lake or hike Mount Gardner. They also have cute little shops and restaurants right by the ferry terminal at Snug Cove.”

She rounded out her travel recommendations by suggesting a visit to the Chief in Squamish, where you can see a First Nations chief on the side of the mountain en route to Whistler.

She says “this is another great day trip from Vancouver for hiking. Once you get to one of the three peaks, you will be treated to amazing views of Howe Sound. After hiking, we usually go to the Howe Sound Brewing Company for beer and pizza.”

Where to Visit in British Columbia

Now that I know more about places to visit in British Columbia from my friends’ recommendations and the trips I’ve taken on my own and with Destination British Columbia, many places beyond Vancouver come to mind when the province is mentioned.

How I’ll find the time to visit them all and experience what they have to offer is another story, but hopefully one that I’ll be able to tell someday.

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